With a better o-line we should be up on the scoreboard more often which forces teams to pass VS us.

Hubbard not having a groin issue is going to help a lot

Rankins was listed as the 7th best DT in pass rush win rate by ESPN so him BJ Hill, Trey and healthy Sam should give us a boost there.

The secondary playing better will help the pass rush as well.

I’m just hoping we finally can influence games with just our pass rush since Lou loves relying on his front 4 to get home

Get ready for the emergence of Myles Murphy.

(07-31-2024, 11:52 AM)Housh Wrote: With a better o-line we should be up on the scoreboard more often which forces teams to pass VS us.

Hubbard not having a groin issue is going to help a lot

Rankins was listed as the 7th best DT in pass rush win rate by ESPN so him BJ Hill, Trey and healthy Sam should give us a boost there.

The secondary playing better will help the pass rush as well.

I’m just hoping we finally can influence games with just our pass rush since Lou loves relying on his front 4 to get home

if everyone is healthy i believe so

With Sam healthy and another year under the belt for the young ones plus better play from the secondary, we darn well better have a better pass rush

(07-31-2024, 11:52 AM)Housh Wrote: With a better o-line we should be up on the scoreboard more often which forces teams to pass VS us.

Hubbard not having a groin issue is going to help a lot

Rankins was listed as the 7th best DT in pass rush win rate by ESPN so him BJ Hill, Trey and healthy Sam should give us a boost there.

The secondary playing better will help the pass rush as well.

I’m just hoping we finally can influence games with just our pass rush since Lou loves relying on his front 4 to get home

Yes, we should be much better with our pass rush this year. Myles Murphy flashed big time at times last year and I didn't expect he 
would as much as he did as a rookie. Crazy talented. Trey playing for his future contract, a healthy Sam, Rankins added etc.

The question is will we be better at stopping the run. Sounds like our communication is already better on the backend and we added
2 of the best run stopping DT's in college in the Draft in Kris Jenkins and McKinnley Jackson. 

Also, with better Offensive play running up the scoreboard it also should help our run Defense.

Sam having his ankle surgery should have him back at 100%, but what has me most optimistic is the possibility of a better rush from the interior linemen.

The team seems built to score points then rush the passer. I belive the pass rush is going to improve alot but the run defense is going to be hit or miss with a more penetrating style without DJ Reader in the starting lineup.

(08-01-2024, 08:56 AM)Synric Wrote: The team seems built to score points then rush the passer. I belive the pass rush is going to improve alot but the run defense is going to be hit or miss with a more penetrating style without DJ Reader in the starting lineup.

I agree. I think the depth is slightly improved on the DL.

(08-01-2024, 08:18 AM)Sled21 Wrote: Sam having his ankle surgery should have him back at 100%, but what has me most optimistic is the possibility of a better rush from the interior linemen.

D J Reader was great as a disrupter and immovable block of granite. Rankins though should be a better pass rusher.

I think the interior DTs will help improve our pass rush. No DJ Reader but he wasn't really healthy last year anyways. I think BJ, Shelton, and Kris will all pressure the pocket from the inside and that will also create holes elsewhere when they are double teamed.

Reader was a pretty good pass rusher as well as run stuffer. So it will be harder for us to rush the passer on first and second downs.

(07-31-2024, 12:00 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Get ready for the emergence of Myles Murphy.

I hope you're right man.  

(08-01-2024, 12:12 PM)Tiger Teeth Wrote: I hope you're right man.  

He showed good instincts and football IQ last season. He made it his mission to improve his physique this offseason, for the task at hand. Ultimately we'll see if it pays off for him, but he's looking the part so far.

(08-01-2024, 12:09 PM)J24 Wrote: Reader was a pretty good pass rusher as well as run stuffer. So it will be harder for us to rush the passer on first and second downs.

I’m disappointed losing Reader. I get his injuries. But he’s had 5 sacks the last 3 years and Rankins 14. Now Reader blew up the pocket constantly and there’s no stat for that. He was a disrupter and immovable mountain. I think Rankins will help our pass rush but no way will he better in run defense.

I think it depends on the secondary. I don't know how much of our poor pass rush in 2023 was due to the young secondary, but I do know they are correlated. I hope an improved back end of the defense will show it's worth in the form of an improved pass rush.

Bookies have set the line at 47.5 sacks.

If they offer that bet over here I’m hammering the under. I think it will be improved but I can’t see us hitting that.

I haven't heard much about Kris Jenkins, but I have heard McKinnley Jackson has been really hard to move and I know he will
only be a rookie but his comparison is DJ Reader. BTW DJ is still hurt and we don't even know if he will play this season for the
Lions. I wanted McKinnley Jackson before we drafted him, very stout against the run and has the body type for NT.

Kris Jenkins is a great run stopper, but he is still kind of a hybrid or Freak as Harbaugh called him at Michigan.

(08-01-2024, 08:18 AM)Sled21 Wrote: Sam having his ankle surgery should have him back at 100%, but what has me most optimistic is the possibility of a better rush from the interior linemen.

This.   Rankins is a stud.   Wish we'd kept Reader, but hoping McKinley develops.

Going to be very interesting.

Unlikely.

Our secondary is ass. Defense needs another offseason to fill some holes and make up for some roster turnover.

(08-01-2024, 03:16 PM)3wt Wrote: This.   Rankins is a stud.   Wish we'd kept Reader, but hoping McKinley develops.

Going to be very interesting.

I liked Reader, but he is starting the season on PUP and may very well end the season that way.