rstencel

Stroud isn't a NT in 4-3, why would he be in 3-4. It is questionable on his foot speed for outside rush, but he is very quick and is perfect for the DE playing inside the Rush LB, since would be taking inside move more often than not. My main worry is his ability to seal the edge on outside run plays, if LB on his side isn't doing containment. His strength is perfect asset for DE in 3-4, so think he will do well.

play one gap yes, but a two gap scheme he gets owned, and doesn't need to be double teamed. Most 3-4 defenses have the linemen play 2 gap, and require the NT to have to demand double teams to keep the LB's free to make the tackles. Stroud was the DT that was getting double teamed, not Williams. I agree Williams is too good to be on bench, but if play 3-4, don't see how he gets on the field more than 20-30 plays a game, if we are going to have any success at all stopping the run.

Agree that Stroud moves to DE, but doubt Willaims does. Most likely Stroud, Spencer Johnson, and John McCargo move outside, with Stroud and Johnson being starters unless they draft/sign someone better.

No way Williams starts in 3-4, at least if play traditional 3-4. He is way too slow to move to end, and isn't going to force double teams, or be able to protect the ILB if plays NT. At best he gets 20-30 snaps a game as pass rusher/rotational player. I hate to see him hit the bench, but he just doesn't fit this type of defense.

I wouldn't mind seeing them bring in Hollis Thomas for nose, then draft someone to rotate in with him. Would fit Ralph's budget and is great against the run. Is a bit old, and would need to rotate to keep fresh through a whole season however.

Lets hope Stroud can play end. Good thing about lineman in most 3-4's is their job is mostly to tie up blockers to keep the LB's free to make plays. So he wouldn't have to make allot of plays as much as make them have to double team him. If all your DLineman force double teams then you LB's can have a feild day racking up the tackles and sacks. Think Stroud could do a good job, as long as is fast enough to have threat of going around end occasionally on passing downs to keep the Tackles honest, or the primary rushing LB plays to his outside, and they force the line to shift to his side so he can work on collapsing the pocket on passing downs. The still need one more end however, as don't think Johnson is answer as every down DE. He makes a good rotation guy though, as has enough speed and size to hold his own, just doesn't have enough moves to keep defenses honest and force double teams IMO.

What about him, hes too small to be full time NT and too slow to move out to end. He would be a situational sub, most likely on pass rushing downs when go to 4 man line, or as rotational player at best. When hes in would have to play a 1 gap scheme, and ILB's would have to take on Guards on running plays, so wouldn't want him in there for too many downs.

Well, at least there are still a couple of Panthers castoffs for Rotational NT's. Maake Kemoeatu or Hollis Thomas wouldn't be bad fits for the backup or rotational jobs. They are a bit older, but have the size/strength want for NT. They at least fit the plans as far as being on lower side of pay scale, and not likely to hold out for a job with a playoff team.

Some Depth or improvement at DE would be nice as well. While Stroud and Johnson would hold their own, not sure how they would do at sealing the corners, or putting up much of a rush from outside. Johnson has played end, and he isn't much or a pass rusher from there, but is a good rotational end. Stroud I am not sure about. Not really sure he even wants to be an End. He has skills to play run and pass from inside, but not great speed so not sure on him sliding over to end. Even if isn't ideal set, still is respectable looking front if the improve the NT position and get some depth.

Maybin has a bit more foot speed, and Schobel a bit more strength and is more proven as a passrusher, that's why put them where did. I really do not know much about their cover abilities for either though, so you may be right.

Been following the topics of possible repositioning of players to fit the 3-4 and where they may fit best, and from what I have figured based on what have been hearing and where I feel the players currently on the roster fit best into 3-4, below is my guess at possible front 7 if season were to start today, and Schobel doesn't retire. SLB Maybin, Aaron WLB Schobel, Aaron ILB Posluszny, Paul IBL Mitchell, Kawika RDE Johnson, Spencer LDE Stroud, Marcus NT Harvey, Lonnie I have Lonnie Harvey listed as starting NT over Kyle Williams only because of his size, and would expect Kyle to get allot of reps there as well. This looks more like a 5-2 than 3-4 to me, as the started OLB's are converted DE's. Would be a fairly slow defensive front, but with more size than have had in awhile. Think this front would be an improvement against run but would be suspect against pass, especially from TE's or when running zone packages. Does keep one of current OLB's off the field, which may not be a bad thing though. Overall pass rush may be an issue, unless Maybin/Schobel can rush off edge consistantly, and could be exposed against teams with speed backs that can get to edge or screen games, but doesn't really looks like would be awful personnel group if could draft/sign a descent upgrade for NT position. Atleast we shouldnt wear down for being undersized defense with this grouping.

Hehe, you got that right.

Dont think its that they think he has nothing left, just that with the injurys and age, he didnt have enough left to justify his contract, and that they could release him and possibly sign him back for less at a later date. He is more of a rotational player at this stage of his career, not every down player any more.

I do not agree with that statement. It is true you don't win by building your team through free agency, but you do need to be able to fill holes and finish you team off with good free agent signings. Most of the good teams have several significant contributors that came through free agency, and most of the Superbowl winners in the last few years put themselves over the top with a free agent signing that contributed greatly to their success. The Patriots laid a good part of the foundation of their almost dynasty through free-agency, and did it through after thought free agent signings for depth of roll player positions, that allowed them to make trades of current year draft choices for future draft higher round picks. They had half their defense and their starting backfield filled with free agent signings.

Your right, was thinking of DT Jamal Williams that the Chargers released when replied to this. Not sure how got them confused in my head, expecially since Williams did play in 3-4. Lewis doesnt have the speed to move outside, but is a very good D-Lineman when healthy. Isnt a good fit for 3-4 as your main DT as you pointed out, although he is very strong at point of attack, and may be able to be a rotational type for passrushing downs in 3-4.

They are willing to ship him, because he has been requesting a trade for over a year. He wants a chance to start since he lost his opportunity in Baltimore due to an illness.

Yes would love to see this. I think he is perfect fit for this coach. He can run, but is a pass first type, and is a good athlete. I don't know if will be a great NFL QB, but I think he has the tools to run the type of offense that Chan has used at other stops, and think he would be at least average, which is a step up.

Heard some rumors that other players on the team didn't want to see Incognito come back. Not that popularity should be priority, but didn't seem like he gelled with teammates, if what I heard was true.

Yes they let a lot of good players go, but I don't think they made mistakes with letting them go on a lot of them either. They mishandled dealing with Peters the year before, so while I think he had to go, think both sides mess up on this one. Bills gave him a descent raise at time they didn't have to, but can understand why he wanted another one. While they have given allot of extensions before first deal was over, the deal wasn't even at halfway point when he wanted to do another one, so can also understand why the Bills wanted to wait another year before discussing it. Both sides too way too hard of a stand however. With Peters holdout till last day, then not reporting in shape and saying things like i missed the block that caused my QB to fumble the game away but didn't feel bad because I didn't get a raise, I was glad they were able to get so much for him. You can't keep someone on you team, and pay them the money it would have taken to keep him, which is more than Eagles ended up having to part with, after he gave half hearted efforts and alluded that even if they meet his contract demands that he would only play out the contract till could move on. I don't know all the inside information of details, no, but what I did hear about the relationship between him and the team, it was best to let him move on and start fresh. As far as some of the others mentioned. " Pat Williams, Antowaine Winfield, London Fletcher, etc ....etc. " They already had a replacement for Windfield and he would have been very expensive, and did not want to stay in Buffalo either. They also were coming out of salary cap issues at the time. London already was a retread before we got him, and the defense was better for letting him go in my opinion. Pat Williams was a huge mistake, and one they didn't have to make. He wanted to stay and wasn't asking to break the bank like the others listed. While I don't always agree with the decisions, there are other factors than just how they did after leaving that can come into play. How do they fit the style of play, how do they affect the salary cap, do I already have a player on the team that could fill the same job cheaper, and would that allow us to improve the overall team by putting that money into another position, etc.. Yes, they obviously haven't made allot of great moves or they wouldn't have one of the worst records over the last decade, but don't think some of the ones listed would be in top 10, other than losing Pat.

One issue with that stat would be the play and drop back. Some plays are designed for 3, 5 or 7 step drops, and are inherently going to give different amounts of time by the way they are blocked, and the style of offense also affects the progression of QB which will affect the blocking schemes and amount of time QB is supposed to hold on to the ball if play works as designed. There is value there, but tough to use it as a one size fits all stat.

Yes he played in 4-3 but he has size and strength to be a NT in 3-4, and is stout against the run. If can get him, I would be happy, as long as they also grabbed someone in the draft, because odds are he doesn't make it through the whole season healthy with his knee issues, unless he is in a platoon.

I sort of agree with you, in that the changing of the guard will be noted for this year. But doubt the team on the field will have a winning record their first year. With the full bore rebuilding program going on for the Defense, and the Offense needing so many fixes. Would have preferred if they fixed the offense this year, and waited to fix the defense, in some ways, so could concentrate on one side of ball, but in long run this is probably the better way to go. The lack of people on the market due to the Collective bargaining issues, makes it tough to overhaul the whole team. When they cutting people who have played major roles, in a year where most teams can keep everyone they want, makes it hard to fill those roles, and improve in other areas at same time. Basically fell timing of the rebuild is bad, but needed, since will have so many holes to fill, and very few available bodies to fill them. Looks like going to be a team needing an awesome draft, and hits in almost every round, as well as 3-4 undrafted free agents if going to be break through next year.

There is no minor league system in NFL like Baseball, that lower income teams can use to develop players and stockpile them for runs now and then either. The really good small income teams, seem to be able to keep a good farm system in place to make a good run every once in a while. While NFL teams can hold onto players from initially for 4-5 years, with Baseball they don't even start counting as accumulated years until they hit one of the milestones related to either how many years they've been in the Bigs, or how many times they have been called up and sent down again. And then they go through arbitration years where the local team can hold onto them longer. There by giving the team more time to develop the talent before they have to worry about losing it to free agency. Overall NFL system in place currently is better, as teams only have a few ways to manipulate salaries and get higher end players in ways that small market teams cant compete with. But if lose the salary cap, Baseball is better setup for small market teams to develop players, and have a chance at competing I think. Not sure how NFL could stay competitive if they keep free-agency, but lose the salary cap.

i would like to see them get some reps, but not as the 2. Would like a proven vet to come in for the 2, and if one of them can beat him out then fine, but dont like the idea of handing job to either of them, think one of them would have to earn it. They both are better suited for the same spot the Evans plays however dont see either of them winning that spot. Neither have very good short area quickness, or can go over middle at this point, so would need to either get a 3rd down type, or rely on the TE or Roscoe to fill those needs.

Theres 10 on the list, so more than I expected, but only a couple of descent ones.