After trade back. Double dip at d-line.
After trade back. Double dip at d-line.
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Will he play NT?
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at 336 I suspect that is the plan but they have to get him squared away technique wise if he is to be successful as he plays to high in his stance .... at a low man wins positionOriginally Posted by tube517
Kenny Pickett is who I though he was .. Eagles didn't value him either , now he is a Stain at the Mistake by the Lake 3 teams in 4 years more of a shooting star than a superstar
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He doesn't need to start right away. Benton can still play nose and Adams isn't bad either. Question though who is likely out now on the d'line?
Defensive linemen presently listed on roster: Slade, Otomewo, Adams, Benten, Black, Davis, Ekuale, Harmon, Cam, Leal, Lee, Loudermilk.
Soild I'd say: Cam, Black, Harmon, Ekuale, Adams. That leaves one or two spots for the rest. I think Lee gets a push because they liked him last year and he got hurt. That would leave maybe one spot for the rest. Loud milk or Leal duke it out?
sounds about right , interestingly they announced him as an end not a nose , wonder if that was intentional or they actually plan to have him play end ?
Kenny Pickett is who I though he was .. Eagles didn't value him either , now he is a Stain at the Mistake by the Lake 3 teams in 4 years more of a shooting star than a superstar
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Maybe they see him as too tall to play on the nose? Only listed as 1 inch taller than Benten and Adams. Likely will get a look everywhere on the line.
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Don't forget Dean Lowery.
D line was a need and now we have the #1 pick to play DT/DE next to Cam and Benton. And Yahyah for depth along with Adams and the others
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I did mis Lowrey, thank you. Probably then likely fighting with Loud Milk and Leal. Of course, just early speculation. There are always injuries that open opportunities for others.
Dunbar said they are good with Benton at Nose and that Black they see more playing 4 technique. So they have him pegged at DE head up on the OT, could shade 4i depending on strength of formations.
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Why? The one quality Black is lacking is athleticism and ability to chase down. Unless he's going to be an edge setter to turn runners back inside, which is not only a different role for him as he's not a gap penetrator, but a different DL alignment all together. Curious to see what he means in practical use.
Big body, tall with long arms. Maybe matches up on the OT better than C. He isnt going to set the edge, as he will get reach blocked in a 4 technique, but wont get pushed on skates by OT's, G's like Loudermilk.
Plays with higher pad level, so maybe not a natural NT, but could spell there. Benton is just so much better at NT, with quickness, strength. Either way, I am happy they doubled down on D linemen. It was needed.
This I agree with but had hoped they would have went after a true Nose so Benton could move outside in a rotation with Cam and the rookie and eventually take over at end full time (Cams days are numbered) and at 36 he shouldn't be playing more than half the defensive snaps IMO to keep him fresh and healthy all season ... I just don't see Black as an athletic enough guy to be a difference maker at end , maybe if he drops 25 pounds that changes some ... that said I still like his chances at unseating bottom of the roster / fringe player such as Leal or Loudermilk as IMO both of those guys have outlived their usefulness on this roster
Kenny Pickett is who I though he was .. Eagles didn't value him either , now he is a Stain at the Mistake by the Lake 3 teams in 4 years more of a shooting star than a superstar
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If he gets used straight up on the OT, and Watt/Highsmith line up outside the OT, whichever side Black lines up on sorta forces protection to that side or a pull to that side. Not every single time but it will. I'm curious to see what it looks like. Cam is still going to be out there.
I don't remember us ever using Dan McCullers/Loudermilk in the described role.
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Leal has not been able to stay on the field. He's been often injured but even when healthy his snaps have decreased. He may be better suited for a 4-3 alignment. No big surprise if he gets cut. We didn't get to see Lee play last season and he is more of a gap penetrating DT as well, so who knows.
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I didn't understand it either, but the matter-of-fact way in which Dunbar said it made me think he was serious and not trying to deflect or mislead. He also pointed out that Benten plays end on some sub packages. What type of front did Iowa run? Maybe they are just trying to make the transition easier for the kid?
Last edited by oneforthetoe; 04-27-2025 at 12:48 PM.
I think they like Benton's mix of strength, stoudtness and quickness. Just think that a lot of teams that combination block on inside zone and then 1 of the O linemen goes to a LB. A guy that isnt as quick is going to get reach blocked and sealed for an A Gap, B gap run. Benton's quickness can stretch that out and force the RB to bounce outside.
Black will work in as a rotational guy, but I think he has been playing in a 4-3 at Iowa, so there is some bit of a learning curve, but he is still effectively playin Interior line. Nothing to say that he cant be coached up to not get reached outsiide, but the main thing is to hold the point of attack and not get displaced like Loudermilk has been.
DE's in the 3-4 are not often responsible for outside the OT, unless there is a TE. Its normally the OLB that has responsibility for C and D gap. Its not much new. Have a look at some old game plays and you see Cam lining up on the OT and the OLB is outside in obvious run downs.
In obvious pass downs ist normal to see the OLB's like Watt and Highsmith on the OT(4-Technique) and then the 2 down linemen are on the Guards(3-Technique).
No matter where he puts his hand in the dirt, I am still happy they doubled down on some real D linemen that play with leverage.
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Adam Schefter is reporting that the Steelers are releasing Montravious Adams.
The forum controls aren't available for me to post a link, but it appears to be a done deal.
The rebuilding of the DL position and the pieces they are choosing to move forward with has already begun.
I'm hoping that Black is a player that develops in their defensive system and can be used in multiple techniques. His natural power is evident, but he gets knocked off his feet too often. Learning to play lower and with better technique and coaching will be paramount. If he can develop into what they think he can do, he has the makings of a player that can be a problem at the point of attack.
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I get all that. If 8'-900LBs is going to play straight up on the OT, with Watt/Highsmith outside the OT, it seems to me the 'help' will have to go to that side offensively. It would be the same with Cam and has been. If Black is the run stuffer, does it make sense we have 2 guys setting the edge on the same side?
No team just deploys a Defense and then the Offense has to "help on that side offensively". The offense rolls out their formation, for instance 1TE, 1RB and then the Defense adjusts to strength.
So in 11 personnel, with TE on the defensive left, Watt would be outside the TE, DE(Black) head up on the RT, NT in Strong A, Heyward in 4 or 4i (Weak B gap) and Highsmith outside the LT. There isnt 2 guys setting the edge, as each has a gap responsibility(Including ILB). Some players will have 2 gap responsibility, but never 2 players have 1 gap. I dont understand your questioning or logic.
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The question stems from the DL coach saying Black is going to play straight up on the OT. That statement alone. What doesn't make sense is if that's going to be his role, it makes for some odd defensive alignments. I understand DTs can move right to left or the other way. Is he saying Black is going to line up on the OT each and every defensive snap? Cam is normally on the right side of the defense, yes or no? It's normally, for us anyway, a 4-2-5, yes or no? Whoever is on the strong side slides out and weak side will slide in, yes or no? That's what I think I'm used to seeing with our front. If Black is going to line up over OT each snap he's gonna have to switch sides, yes or no? We rarely play with 3 DL anymore.
Maybe I'm confused because I thought Black was drafted to play NT and just trying to understand why he's expected to play out.
Dunbar just said they see Black as a 4-technique and they have a pretty good NT in Benton already. But he also said that Benton plays some 3-technique on the guards as well. Its just defensive speak for where they line up.
In a base 3-4 Benton will be on the nose and the OLB's outside with DE's playing 4 or 4i (inside shade). In nickel or dime packages with more receivers, they would often rotate out 1 D lineman and then the 2 D linemen (often Cam and Benton) would play over the guards and the OLB's outside. That is what Dunbar means that Benton sometimes plays 3 Tech. There is no need for linemen to switch sides, you just shade inside, head up or outside depending on alignment and strength call.
But by Dunbar saying they project Black as a 4 tech, they definitely see him at DE, whether he lines up head up or inside shade or even outside shade. I think its body type of height and arm length and play strength. None of our DE's are expected to really be wide contain or "set the edge" like a lineman playing a 5 or wide 9 technique. But if a guy is head up and the motion goes outsiede, then he needs to be able to move with the O lineman and not get reach blocked, if outside responsibility is his.
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