Is Groot On The Team?

[Coach Tuesday]

11 minutes ago, Simon said:

 

Watch him.

It's not like he's getting blocked or pushed around; he's setting the edge or rushing contain on most of his snaps.

He's nto getting opportunities to make plays that people see (i.e sacks or tfls) because he's rarely being allowed to actually attack the backfield.

This is what McDermott wants from him because he wants his defense responsible to a fault and Rousseau is also really good at it.

 

Agree with this but it’s odd he’s not knocking down more passes.  That’s been his calling card - using his length to disrupt passing windows and occasionally reach over his blocker and grab the QB.  He used to do both of those things to Tua especially.  For whatever reason we haven’t seen much of it this year (I think he had one pass block against the Jets).

[LABILLBACKER]

I laugh every time I watch Rousseau & Epenesa flail around doing nothing.  Thank God Joey is bringing pressure. Greg's not good enough to deserve a nickname. 

47 minutes ago, GolfandBills said:

Need Hairston back.   Secondary needs more athleticism 

Tre struggled most of the night. We need Oliver, Hoecht, Milano and Hairston back very soon.  I appreciate the teams effort grinding out that W, but our ST play tonight was ugly.

[Richard Noggin]

To be fair, he's still only _____ years old. 

 

Or whatever we always said about Edmunds.

[NewEra]

I don’t think I’ve noticed him once in 3 games. 

[billsfan89]

Groot hasn’t had much in terms of splashy plays. He looked to set the edge well against the Jets, I think he also had a knock down against the Ravens. Thursday games I just write off. I will give Groot a couple of more games on normal days before I panic.

[HappyDays]

FWIW PFF has him graded as their 12th best EDGE this season (not including tonight's game) with an 82.5 grade which is just below elite by their metrics. Not that PFF is gospel but it indicates he has been performing well at the little things that you don't really notice live because the impact on the play isn't obvious. The problem is we're paying him $20M per year and you expect more than just "the little things" for that contract. He has yet to flash once as a pass rusher this year. If Bosa and Oliver and Walker can provide the flashy plays while he's doing the dirty work I guess I can live with that but it's quite the contract to give out to a guy that is basically just a role player.

[LABILLBACKER]

2 hours ago, ChronicAndKnuckles said:

I want to see Epenesa in there more often. Groot has been underwhelming so far. Having some fresh legs in there might make a big difference. Also don’t discount Ed Oliver’s absence and the impact on the guys around him. 

AJE is just as worthless as 50.  We're still patiently waiting for these 2 to ever breakout.  I don't think it's ever happening.  Thank God for Joey....

[Richard Noggin]

2 hours ago, Simon said:

 

Watch him.

It's not like he's getting blocked or pushed around; he's setting the edge or rushing contain on most of his snaps.

He's nto getting opportunities to make plays that people see (i.e sacks or tfls) because he's rarely being allowed to actually attack the backfield.

This is what McDermott wants from him because he wants his defense responsible to a fault and Rousseau is also really good at it.

 

 

I have no evidence to prove you wrong about Rousseau's quiet, mostly stat-less effectiveness, but it immediately reminds me of how some fans defended Tremaine Edmunds for years. 

Edited September 19 by Richard Noggin

[DrPJax]

2 hours ago, stlbills13 said:

I thought we extended him? Is he on the roster? 

     
ROI on COOK  has certainly been more valuable so far. He is what he is by now.  Fits Beanes great talent evaluator ability regarding the dl position. At least he’s better than boogie I guess or Von for example. Great guy , but as others suggested , maybe calling him moot or root might be more appropriate   Maybe he will show up on the all 22 , so the experts  can explain how you lack understanding ( sarcasm) of his stardom. 😂

[juno999]

6 hours ago, pi2000 said:

Who?

Greg Whousseau. 

[Livinginthepast]

7 hours ago, ChronicAndKnuckles said:

I want to see Epenesa in there more often. Groot has been underwhelming so far. Having some fresh legs in there might make a big difference. Also don’t discount Ed Oliver’s absence and the impact on the guys around him. 

Saw Epenesa shoving some Miami player on the kickoff in the first quarter for a penalty and that was the last time I noticed him.

[RyanC883]

If he really has an effort issue I can’t see McD tolerating it for long.  Use him in a trade for another D guy.   

[Offside Number 76]

8 hours ago, uticaclub said:

Only had 5.5 sacks in the last 19!games of the year last year. He is who he is

 

For those who don't want to do the math, that's over 100 quadrillion games.

 

[DCofNC]

8 hours ago, BillMafia716ix said:

Yeah well he can’t do it all himself. We’re weak in the interior line and linebacker. 

The only pressure the other team has felt is from Bosa and the interior line, don’t know what you are watching.

[Saint Douggie]

Coverage Sack Rousseau has never been a difference maker. He is an average to above-average D-end in this league. 

 

I personally didn't think he was worth re-signing to a second contract but I understand that Beane didn't want to create another hole on the defense and there is probably a moderate step down going from Rousseau to Epenesa

 

He's never going to be a guy that takes over games or makes a big impact. He is a decent edge setter that will occasionally get pressure on the QB but will be largely invisible for stretches of games

Edited September 19 by Saint Douggie

[balln]

8 hours ago, uticaclub said:

Only had 5.5 sacks in the last 19!games of the year last year. He is who he is

Yup. He’s never going to be an instant win DE. Or splash dynamic pass rusher. They paid him a mid contract bc he’s a piece of THIS defense that mcbabich want to run - hold the edge. Stop run. Collapse pocket 

[DCofNC]

6 hours ago, HappyDays said:

FWIW PFF has him graded as their 12th best EDGE this season (not including tonight's game) with an 82.5 grade which is just below elite by their metrics. Not that PFF is gospel but it indicates he has been performing well at the little things that you don't really notice live because the impact on the play isn't obvious. The problem is we're paying him $20M per year and you expect more than just "the little things" for that contract. He has yet to flash once as a pass rusher this year. If Bosa and Oliver and Walker can provide the flashy plays while he's doing the dirty work I guess I can live with that but it's quite the contract to give out to a guy that is basically just a role player.

This is why I said contract extensions to guys like him, Oliver, Bernard are the killers in ever getting over the hump.  You can’t tie that money up in guys who are marginally better than average.   You need studs somewhere on the team and when you pay a bunch of guys who are just “good” you don’t get better.  The defense is a perfect example of it.  The ONLY player on the D who was worth extending is Benford and you won’t convince me otherwise.  Everyone else could have been/should have been replaced with another rental vet like Bosa and got more for it.  For the money they paid Groot, the could have signed Bosa and Floyd and a starting safety, tell me the team wouldn’t be better that way.

[Sierra Foothills]

8 hours ago, Victory Formation said:

I’m not worried about him yet. He has earned the benefit of the doubt for now.

 

My enduring vision of #50 is from the divisional round with Travis Kelce effortlessly driving him downfield as if he was wearing roller skates.

 

8 hours ago, qwksilver said:

Now that Kincaide is playing better I introduce Rousseau as TBD's new target!

 

Were we planning on having a formal ceremony?

 

[Sierra Foothills]

16 minutes ago, Saint Douggie said:

Coverage Sack Rousseau has never been a difference maker. He is an average to above-average D-end in this league. 

 

I personally didn't think he was worth re-signing to a second contract but I understand that Beane didn't want to create another hole on the defense and there is probably a moderate step down going from Rousseau to Epenesa

 

He's never going to be a guy that takes over games or makes a big impact. He is a decent edge setter that will occasionally get pressure on the QB but will be largely invisible for stretches of games

 

This exactly.

 

[RunTheBall]

The Cover 1 guys will tell us how great he is and we just don’t know how to watch film to see just how effective he really is.

 

Like they did when they ball washed Edmunds for years.

 

I’m not anti-Groot, but for a guy who’s best move is to set the edge he really blew it in the AFC Championship when he drove inside several times and Mahomes made him pay with a TD and number of first downs.