crazy idea for defense

[misterpc]

Front 7:

Mario-Okoye-Maddox-Babin
Anderson-Clark-Ryans

Babin is our best pass rusher, so he is on the weak side. Ryans moves to WLB behind Babin. Ryans is probably our best pass rushing LB, and he is good against the run and quick enough to play decent pass coverage. He has all the measurables of a WLB (he was originally projected to play that position, but started him in the middle based on need). Clark's best seasons were as a MLB, he was even co-captain of the Raiders defense. Maddox, Clark, and Ryans can defend against the run well enough to justify Babin being in the game. Mario moves to the other side because he is big and strong enough to defend the run. Putting him next to Okoye will make it very hard for the O-line to get away with a double team. I think Mario would get more sacks next to Okoye with Babin on the weakside disrupting the backfield.

This is a little crazy because Meco did so well at MLB, and you dont mess with success. But I think he would be just as good at WLB, maybe even help out our #2 corner in pass coverage some. Danny Clark is a proven sturdy MLB who will stuff runs up the middle. This defense would be stout against the run and tremendously effective in pass rush (Babin and Ryans overload the weakside, while Mario and Okoye bull rush from the other side). Just mixing things up a bit, why not give it a shot its only preseason right?

[El Tejano]

Well I think the team is going to put Mario at a position where he can shine. That side would be on the weakside according to the coaches. I don't think they want Mario to be a run stuffer DL because of the kind of investment they put on him.

[Double Barrel]

From what I gather, Mario will be playing RDE no matter what formation the offense uses.

And with Ryans being our 'defensive QB', the Mike is the best place for him to see the plays and make adjustments accordingly.

And I'm not sure Babin is our best LDE, to be honest. His run stopping skills are suspect, IMO.

[misterpc]

I think Mario would shine on the strong side, kind of like Charles Grant for the NO Saints. Grant is a leader on that defense, and last season he got 50 tackles and 6 sacks (not to mention a fat contract extension). You can get sacks from the strong side too. Mario has played there before, and he certainly has the size and strength for it. Being next to Okoye would probably help him break loose some, in terms of the double teaming. There is a chance Mario might be more valuable on the right side, in my opinion.

[misterpc]

And with Ryans being our 'defensive QB', the Mike is the best place for him to see the plays and make adjustments accordingly.

And I'm not sure Babin is our best LDE, to be honest. His run stopping skills are suspect, IMO.

Thats true about Ryans, but its possible he could still lead our defense as an OLB. And yes Babin's run D is suspect. Thats why he would be better on the weakside where his pass rushing skills are most effective. Plus he would be next to DT Maddox (our run stopping specialist) and would have Ryans and Clark behind him. I was thinking those players are good enough against the run that they could compensate for Babin's run defense. It makes more sense than putting Babin on the strong side anyway.

[misterpc]

I am not so sure about moving Ryans myself, I just think its worth putting on the table. DeMeco is our best linebacker, but our coaches say he is not very vocal in his leadership. He knows exctly how to play, but he isnt comfortable barking at the rest of the defense. Danny Clark was voted defensive co-capitain by his temates on the Raiders defense, so he must have some leadership qualities. And his only productive seasons have come as a MLB. His biggest weakness is in pass coverage, and if he lines up at SLB he could get burned by TEs regularly. In the middle Clark could play less man to man and more zone. Also he is physical and will be quite helpful stuffing runs up the gut.

In July 2006 (right before leaving the Raiders and getting picked up by the Saints) Clark said in an interview: "[I] plan on playing middle linebacker. That's what I am focused on and where I plan to be." He makes it clear that he has strong ambition to start.

http://www.realfootball365.com/nfl/articles/2006/07/raiders-clark-interview072506.html
"Clark joined the Raiders in 2004 and promptly took over the team's starting middle linebacker slot. In his first season in Oakland, Clark registered a team-leading 129 tackles, along with five pass deflections and a pair of sacks."

[NaCl H2O Angler]

From what I gather, Mario will be playing RDE no matter what formation the offense uses.

And with Ryans being our 'defensive QB', the Mike is the best place for him to see the plays and make adjustments accordingly.

And I'm not sure Babin is our best LDE, to be honest. His run stopping skills are suspect, IMO.


I actually agree with everything you just said, DB.

[Shawn E. Supergenius]

From what I gather, Mario will be playing RDE no matter what formation the offense uses.

And with Ryans being our 'defensive QB', the Mike is the best place for him to see the plays and make adjustments accordingly.

And I'm not sure Babin is our best LDE, to be honest. His run stopping skills are suspect, IMO.I would think that the Texans would use Babin on the Right edge and move Mario inside on long yardage plays. when you have a pass rush of ND Kalu, Okoye, Mario and Babin, that is a lot of attack speed.

[Wolf123]

You don't move the DROY of the year to a new spot, but I do like the idea of Babin getting more playing time.

[HydrOshocK]

You don't move the DROY of the year to a new spot, but I do like the idea of Babin getting more playing time.

It sounds like Babin's having a very good camp. He really impressed in last weak's game. I'm hopeful that he'll carry the good play into this week against the Cards.

[misterpc]

I would also like to see more Babin. He is our probably our best pass rusher (team leader in sacks last year despite very limited playing time), but he is not so solid in run D. If we are going to use Babin, the best place to put him would be the weak side. We also will need the LBs behind him to be extra vigilant in defending the run.

Ultimately the two overriding duties of a front 7 are to stop the run and pressure the QB. Our lineup should be tailored in the way that is most effective at achieving both these objectives. For QB pressure, imagine the combined attack of Babin and DeMeco from the weak side (arguably the two best pass rushers we have), while Mario and Okoye collapse the pocket and bear down on the QB from the other side. Its almost scary. Putting Clark in the middle and Meco behind Babin would also solidify our run defense. i think that playing Babin on the strong side would do the opposite, it would weaken us against the run.

[HydrOshocK]

I would also like to see more Babin. He is our probably our best pass rusher (team leader in sacks last year despite very limited playing time), but he is not so solid in run D. If we are going to use Babin, the best place to put him would be the weak side. We also will need the LBs behind him to be extra vigilant in defending the run.

Ultimately the two overriding duties of a front 7 are to stop the run and pressure the QB. Our lineup should be tailored in the way that is most effective at achieving both these objectives. For QB pressure, imagine the combined attack of Babin and DeMeco from the weak side (arguably the two best pass rushers we have), while Mario and Okoye collapse the pocket and bear down on the QB from the other side. Its almost scary. Putting Clark in the middle and Meco behind Babin would also solidify our run defense. i think that playing Babin on the strong side would do the opposite, it would weaken us against the run.

Babin is definitely a pass rusher first and foremost, although he did a fine job last Sat coming around the edge to catch the RB from behind for a loss (or very short gain). Coach K has said that they plan to utilize ALL of our D-linemen with a steady rotation to keep them fresh. I expect Babin to be used mainly in pass rush situations, where I think he'll build on his success from last year now that he's been back in a 4-3 scheme for the second year. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him lead the team in sacks again this season.

[B.Diddy]

I totally agree with wolf, last year demeco was the best in the league at his position now you want to move him i don't care if clark wants to be middle he will either be weak side or he will be replaced by Anderson or Diles