Getting Solomon and Gibbs cleared would go a long, long direction in making that happen.
Front seven should be scrappy, big bodies that can muddy things up and give us a shot. I like Gooden, Solomon, Butler. We should get some depth from a few guys like Bumphus, Williams, Middleton, Mincy, Emerson, Harris, or Blakely. Ideally, without there being any super-starts on the list, if you could get a 6 to 7 man rotation for the big 3 down lineman, we should be a fresh, scrappy bunch.
At inside LB we should be pretty decent as well. Bituli could have an all-conference type year. Reid looks like a player and a classic overachiever for a undersized guy. Ignont and Crouch will provide depth here. Obviously Crouch has a lot to learn, but the physical skills are off the charts. A guy like TooToo could make some noise and take a spot in the two deep as well.
Outside LB's look solid as well. Taylor and Johnson are good players. Taylor could have a double digit sack year. Allen looked much improved in the O&W game. Bennett is a good football player as well and will probably play more than many would predict. Roman Harrison is the newcomer who could steal some time here. Bituli and Crouch playing on the edge on passing downs will likely happen as well.
Overall, the front seven does not have a ton of NFL talent right now, but they could overachieve as a group.
The back-end has potential to be the best unit on the team.
We have two future NFL corners with Thompson and Taylor, but I am not sure about our CB depth.
Warrior at Nickel, if he understands how to play the position in terms of schematics and leverage, could be a real difference maker. We all know how critical this position is in today's game. No knock on Baylen Buchanan, but Warrior is just a different level player.
Safeties could be above average as well with some combination of Gibbs, Flowers, Jackson, and McCoulough.
There's a plethora of young DB talent that could emerge in the two deep as well. That needs to happen at CB, in-particular. Good news is, CB is the one place that a freshman can survive.
Front seven should be scrappy, big bodies that can muddy things up and give us a shot. I like Gooden, Solomon, Butler. We should get some depth from a few guys like Bumphus, Williams, Middleton, Mincy, Emerson, Harris, or Blakely. Ideally, without there being any super-starts on the list, if you could get a 6 to 7 man rotation for the big 3 down lineman, we should be a fresh, scrappy bunch.
At inside LB we should be pretty decent as well. Bituli could have an all-conference type year. Reid looks like a player and a classic overachiever for a undersized guy. Ignont and Crouch will provide depth here. Obviously Crouch has a lot to learn, but the physical skills are off the charts. A guy like TooToo could make some noise and take a spot in the two deep as well.
Outside LB's look solid as well. Taylor and Johnson are good players. Taylor could have a double digit sack year. Allen looked much improved in the O&W game. Bennett is a good football player as well and will probably play more than many would predict. Roman Harrison is the newcomer who could steal some time here. Bituli and Crouch playing on the edge on passing downs will likely happen as well.
Overall, the front seven does not have a ton of NFL talent right now, but they could overachieve as a group.
The back-end has potential to be the best unit on the team.
We have two future NFL corners with Thompson and Taylor, but I am not sure about our CB depth.
Warrior at Nickel, if he understands how to play the position in terms of schematics and leverage, could be a real difference maker. We all know how critical this position is in today's game. No knock on Baylen Buchanan, but Warrior is just a different level player.
Safeties could be above average as well with some combination of Gibbs, Flowers, Jackson, and McCoulough.
There's a plethora of young DB talent that could emerge in the two deep as well. That needs to happen at CB, in-particular. Good news is, CB is the one place that a freshman can survive.
