AZ54

Last year when camp started the offense was a mess. Of course it was all new and lots of stuff to learn blah blah... Players now know what is expected of them come day 1. I think we'll have an idea what we've got in the first week of camp. Burden was injured in OTAs and missed some practices and had some catching up to do when he finally started getting reps. Loveland also missed all OTAs and had a lot of catching up to do once he started getting reps in camp. Now we're just trying to bring rookies up to speed and in more limited roles.

Watching this 30 play game film makes me very optimistic for what we can get out of VDB. I don't know how good Syracuse's Oline was but I'd also say it simply does not matter because they are still big strong dudes. If Van Den Berg can handle a double team and literally not even move his feet because those two cannot move him off his spot that's a win. Triple team him? Ok he'll just stand here and won't be moved. Granted NFL Olineman are going to be stronger but IMO it raises the floor considerably for what we can get out of him. Last year Billings was getting moved all over on double teams. At a minimum if that's all we ask him to do we should be better. Then there are some pass rushes showing his ability to bend around an OG to get to the QB like an edge rusher does against OTs. That's not common. We're not exactly sitting on great depth at DT but I'm more confident now that VDB will show he belongs in the rotation early in the season. His burst and power to get through gaps should make him good at beating wide zone concepts.

We never saw our starting defense last year. Some of the depth players we rotated through were just bad. IIRC we had one game with our top 5 LBs out. This year the depth in our secondary is much better. Both starters at safety are better. Backup CBs are better. Totally agree on Edmund’s. He was only a cover 2 coverage fit in the deep middle and fit nothing else. Edward’s will still be a bit of a liability in coverage. I’m not sure which version of Bush we’ll get but he at least likes hitting. Again depth here has improved. DE I think can be ok once we get the two back from injury. I never liked what I saw from Dayo and he’d be 4th in my rotation. DT might be better. It’s hard to express how bad Billings was last year. Gallimore and Street are both lighter faster DTs. If all we want is penetration and they do that we’ll see some disruptive plays against the run. None of our DTs are good at anchoring especially against double teams. So it has to be get in your gap stay in your gap. That includes the LB. I’m less worried about pass rush because I think our coverage options are so varied we can easily blitz from anywhere and still have a talented guy who can cover the gap. Still we need one more piece. DT or DE (offset injury recovery risk). Can a rookie or two fill the gap? I think we’ll be watching the waiver wire as camp closes. Or do something at the trade deadline mid season.

If he stays healthy, by week 8 fans will forget about DJ Moore.

First time hearing what?

Seattle just won a Super Bowl with castoff QB Sam Darnold. They had also just moved on from their star WR in the same offseason. No team has a perfect roster.

Lot of cash for a UDFA.

Yeah. Luther burden was upset where he was drafted and that worked out well for us.

Makes sense

Too funny. Squirrel can at least catch.

I've watched his highlights 3 times now. There is no zig zag to his game, he's a linear athlete and a little one at that, and doesn't appear to have good vision in traffic. That's not the kind of guy you want as a kick returner. He also goes down very easily. I think without much lateral quickness he's going to struggle getting off the LOS or even just when DBs or LBs body up on him at the 5yd mark and they will reroute him. Years ago, before I started watching players closely, I used to think fast guys will find a way to be successful. Nowadays, after many years of scouting feedback here on this board, then watching which players ultimately succeed in the NFL (i.e. I was wrong), I value quickness in/out of cuts and open field agility far more than speed. There's a reason Jaxon Smith Njigba just got big money and it wasn't because of a 4.3 forty. Antonio Brown ran a 4.6 forty but nobody could cover him in his prime. By the way I've come to learn that agility matters equally as much for the trenches. See Gervon Dexter struggle to get off blocks because he can't flip his hips. Don't misconstrue me because obviously this is not the only trait to make a player successful. It definitely makes a difference in what you see on the field.

Who do you see Squirrel White beating out for a roster spot? Zavion? Bigger, faster, more agile, and more versatile and most importantly does not always go down the first time someone touches him. Khalif Raymond who already knows Ben Johnson's offense? Who do you see Caden Bennett beating out? Newman? McFadden? Bradbury? Both played well when called upon last year and a year of experience in this offense is a big help for them. I don't see a rookie UDFA from a small school beating either out. Jayden Loving might have a shot since our DT depth after Gallimore is so weak. Street reportedly had some decent years under Dennis Allen but nobody here is counting on him. If Loving can show some positional versatility (i.e. line up some at DE) he might wiggle his way onto the 53. We have a lot of risk at DE until Dayo and Turner return from injury. Of course Van den Berg is also a pretty good athlete. If we don't sign a FA DE this is something to watch as we head into camp.

I feel good the team prioritized protecting Caleb and didn’t just let the draft play out according to the experts. See the guy you really want and go get him. They backed it up with an insurance plan in Bradbury.

Clowney made $3.5mil last year.

Oddly our new OC was a high school sprinter. Easily replaces Dalman

If he Keeps Caleb upright and the offense scores more points than last year I’ll buy your swamp. 🙂

Dude was limping and still outran everyone.

Pro Football RumorsBears Restructure Contracts Of TE Cole Kmet, OL Jonah Jac...The Bears restructured a few contracts last week to ensure they have financial flexibility during the draft.

There were clearly some issues with DJ early on in the new offense. Caleb clearly didn't trust him early on in the season. Ben figured out how to get something out of him early on but I believe you are right Ben's demands on disciplined route running never quite fit DJ's style.

Why didn't this guy get drafted? I see him handling double teams and staying at the LOS, sometimes splitting them to make the tackle. He's got some knock-back power in 1v1 to push the pocket. Can get off the blocks push/pull to get after the QB, and enough agility to handle stunts. He's like Billings except he can actually run. Seems like a dude who can develop into a rotational depth player. Even in the highlights I can see some plays where he's slow off the LOS and looks fatigued. I'm sure there are some other deficiencies but still seems like a guy some team would take a flier on in the 7th Rd. I see him earning a spot on the practice squad.

I can see where he develops enough on the practice squad to take Bagent's place. If not, we try again. No long speed some happy feet but love the quickness in his cuts. Practice squad candidate.

Clearly needs to work on the legs but great seeing him doing every day things with no brace.

Good catch on the hands. Very odd that at LSU he bodied the ball more on his catches. Wonder if that is something coaches wanted but seeing the hands catches gives away from his body gives me more confidence in the pick.

Yeah those AI summary videos are all over the place and really boring.

Don't look at a forty time when White was coming off an injury and still rehabbing. Reportedly he hit 24mph in one game. However, I just watched some highlights of him and he is more of a long speed guy and doesn't have the same quick burst Zavion has, nor the quick agility in his cuts and he does it at 190lbs. Among 170lb WRs, Tank Dell a couple years back had elite quickness in his cuts that made him so hard to cover. We drafted the better player and I doubt Squirrel ever amounts to much more than a practice squad guy.