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Saints roster preview(Advocate): Questions about the defensive line
Posted on 7/24/16 at 10:50 am
Posted on 7/24/16 at 10:50 am
Defensive line (8 or 9)
Locks: Cameron Jordan, Sheldon Rankins
Good bets: Kasim Edebali, John Jenkins, David Onyemata, Nick Fairley
On the fence: Darryl Tapp, Lawrence Virgil, Bobby Richardson, Tyeler Davison, Davis Tull, Obum Gwacham
Long shots: Ashaad Mabry, D.J. Pettway, C.J. Wilson
The success of the season, in many ways, lies with the defensive line's ability to answer a pair of lingering questions.
Ask any defensive player about the most disheartening thing that can happen on the field and one of the popular answers will be when the team gets ran on. That happened far too often last season, as evidenced by the 4.9 yards per carry surrendered by New Orleans last season.
That, of course, was the fault of the entire defense. But it starts up front, and New Orleans needs to be better up the middle. Answers need to be found.
And answers need to be found for the pass rush. With Hau'oli Kikaha suffering a torn ACL earlier this offseason, the team needs to find another player to step up at defensive end. Will it be Kasim Edebali? Obum Gwacham? Davis Tull? All three players have potential. All three are unproven.
In the middle, the team drafted Sheldon Rankins and signed Nick Fairley to help provide some interior pass rush. One way or another, the Saints should be improved in this regard, which should help speed up quarterbacks and help the other players coming off the edge.
For this season to be a success, the Saints need to field a better defense. That starts in the trenches.
Advocate
Locks: Cameron Jordan, Sheldon Rankins
Good bets: Kasim Edebali, John Jenkins, David Onyemata, Nick Fairley
On the fence: Darryl Tapp, Lawrence Virgil, Bobby Richardson, Tyeler Davison, Davis Tull, Obum Gwacham
Long shots: Ashaad Mabry, D.J. Pettway, C.J. Wilson
The success of the season, in many ways, lies with the defensive line's ability to answer a pair of lingering questions.
Ask any defensive player about the most disheartening thing that can happen on the field and one of the popular answers will be when the team gets ran on. That happened far too often last season, as evidenced by the 4.9 yards per carry surrendered by New Orleans last season.
That, of course, was the fault of the entire defense. But it starts up front, and New Orleans needs to be better up the middle. Answers need to be found.
And answers need to be found for the pass rush. With Hau'oli Kikaha suffering a torn ACL earlier this offseason, the team needs to find another player to step up at defensive end. Will it be Kasim Edebali? Obum Gwacham? Davis Tull? All three players have potential. All three are unproven.
In the middle, the team drafted Sheldon Rankins and signed Nick Fairley to help provide some interior pass rush. One way or another, the Saints should be improved in this regard, which should help speed up quarterbacks and help the other players coming off the edge.
For this season to be a success, the Saints need to field a better defense. That starts in the trenches.
Advocate
2
Posted on 7/24/16 at 10:53 am to GMoney2600
Saints need big push from new DTs Nick Fairley, Sheldon Rankins
No. 18 DT Sheldon Rankins
Last year’s rank: N/A
The Saints drafted Rankins with the 12th overall pick this year. And he has exciting potential to be a much-needed force in the middle of their line as both a pass rusher and run defender. The 6-foot-2, 305-pounder had 14 sacks and 26.5 tackles for loss over his final two seasons at Louisville.
However, the No. 17 guy on this list is a reminder of why you can't overrate rookies too much on lists like these until you see them produce on the field.
No. 17 DT Nick Fairley
Last year’s rank: N/A
Fairley was drafted 13th overall by the Detroit Lions in 2011, but he battled injuries and inconsistency in his first four years, facing some questions about his weight and his motivation. The 28-year-old has turned things around in recent years, however, drawing praise in both of those areas. He quietly had a strong 2015 as a rotational backup with the St. Louis Rams. Although Fairley had only 29 tackles and 0.5 sacks, he was lauded by Pro Football Focus for being a disruptive presence up the middle. The Saints beat out other suitors to sign him to a one-year, $3 million contract.
Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen recently described Fairley as a “pleasant surprise” throughout the offseason. Fairley and Rankins both project as three-technique tackles, so they will likely split time in base packages and play together on passing downs.
No. 18 DT Sheldon Rankins
Last year’s rank: N/A
The Saints drafted Rankins with the 12th overall pick this year. And he has exciting potential to be a much-needed force in the middle of their line as both a pass rusher and run defender. The 6-foot-2, 305-pounder had 14 sacks and 26.5 tackles for loss over his final two seasons at Louisville.
However, the No. 17 guy on this list is a reminder of why you can't overrate rookies too much on lists like these until you see them produce on the field.
No. 17 DT Nick Fairley
Last year’s rank: N/A
Fairley was drafted 13th overall by the Detroit Lions in 2011, but he battled injuries and inconsistency in his first four years, facing some questions about his weight and his motivation. The 28-year-old has turned things around in recent years, however, drawing praise in both of those areas. He quietly had a strong 2015 as a rotational backup with the St. Louis Rams. Although Fairley had only 29 tackles and 0.5 sacks, he was lauded by Pro Football Focus for being a disruptive presence up the middle. The Saints beat out other suitors to sign him to a one-year, $3 million contract.
Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen recently described Fairley as a “pleasant surprise” throughout the offseason. Fairley and Rankins both project as three-technique tackles, so they will likely split time in base packages and play together on passing downs.
Posted on 7/24/16 at 11:45 am to GMoney2600
Is this about who will simply make the 53 man roster or who will start? I don't see Rankins as a lock to start at all.
This post was edited on 7/24/16 at 11:48 am
Posted on 7/24/16 at 11:48 am to rmnldr
He isn't a lock to start, but I think there's a good chance that he will. Either he or Fairley will start in the base defense at the 3 technique. Jenkins/Davison won't be in the game during passing situations. Rankins & Fairley should both get plenty of playing time.
This post was edited on 7/24/16 at 11:58 am
Posted on 7/24/16 at 11:56 am to Chad504boy
Oh okay. It's just really disheartening to see only two locks. 
Posted on 7/24/16 at 12:06 pm to rmnldr
I think Cam Jordan, Rankins, Fairley, Jenkins, & Onyemata(due to being a developmental 4th rounder) are locks. Davison also has a very good chance...he just has to beat out Lawrence Virgil & Ashaad Mabry.
DE is a different story. Lots of competition. Kasim Edebali, Bobby Richardson, Obum Gwachum, Davis Tull, Darryl Tapp, & DJ Pettway.
DE is a different story. Lots of competition. Kasim Edebali, Bobby Richardson, Obum Gwachum, Davis Tull, Darryl Tapp, & DJ Pettway.
This post was edited on 7/24/16 at 12:12 pm
Posted on 7/24/16 at 12:07 pm to GMoney2600
God, I'm tired of all this foreplay.
Bring on actual news already.
Bring on actual news already.
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