Rank the Interior D

[*bfine32*]

Time to rank Geno and Peko:
QB: 9-12 (no votes below 16th)
RB: 6-10 (19% had them top 5 and 25% had them average)
WR: 11-15 (No votes for top 5 or below 20)
TE: 6-12 (only 2 votes below 12th)
OT: 7-13 (90% of the votes had them in the top 13)
OG: 6-10 (only 4 votes below top 10)
C: skipped (but I’m sure it would not have been very high)
DE: 6-10 (1-5 came in a very close 2nd)

As always here’s the competition:

ARZ- Forsty Rucker, Rodney Gunter
ATL- Ra’Shede Hageman, Jason Babineaux
BAL- Brandon Williams, Tim Jerrigan
BUF- Kyle Williams, Marcell Dareus
CAR- Star Lotulelei, Kewann Short
CHI- Eddie Goldman, Terry Williams
CLV- Danny Shelton, Desmond Bryant
DAL- Tyrone Crawford, Cedric Thornton
DEN- Sylvester Williams, Jared Crick
DET-Haloti Ngata, A’Shawn Robinson
GBP- Kenny Clark, Letroy Guion
HOU- JJ Watt, Vince Wilfork
IND- David Parry, Kendall Lanford
JAX- Malik Jackson, Roy Miller
KCC- Dontari Poe, Jaye Howard
LAR- Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers
MIA- Ndamukong Suh, Earl Mitchell
MIN- Linval Joseph, Shariff Floyd
NEP- Terrance Knighton, Malcom Brown
NOS- Sheldon Rankins, Nick Fairley
NYG- Damon Harrison, Jonathan Hankins
NYJ- Muhamed Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson
OAK- Dan Williams, Justin Ellis
PHI- Beau Allen, Bennie Logan
PIT- Stephon Tuitt, Dan McCullers-Sanders
SDC- Brandon Mebane, Ryan Carrethers
SEA- Ahtyba Rubin, Jordan Hill
SFF- Ian Williams, Glenn Dorsey
TBB- Gerald McCoy, Akeem Spence
TEN- Jurrell Casey, Al Woods
WAS- Chris Baker, Stephen Paea

[SunsetBengal]

Giving the depth of Billings and Hardison the benefit of the doubt, 11-15.

[Brownshoe]

top 5 IMO. Geno Atkins is one of the best DTs in the league, and Peko isn't bad either. The way we rotate our DL it isn't like Peko is in there the whole time and that our guys will ever get tired. I think Billings will come in by the end of the year and become the starter. I honestly can't see too many teams that have better DTs than us. There are a few, but I still think we make the top 5.

[wolfkaosaun]

Elite tandem.

Atkins is an amazing talent. There's no question about it. In the past 5 seasons he has 40 sacks. And he missed 7 and a half games too. He's almost averaging 10 sacks a season....for a defensive tackle.

Peko, as much hate as he has gotten, has actually put together some decent seasons as of late. He has improved the past few seasons, and although he isn't the greatest, he has a motor and never stops.

Can he be upgraded? Absolutely. But the guy gives 100% and always goes hard. Oh, and last year he had a career high in sack total (5).

[SunsetBengal]

Atkins is a tremendous talent, Peko is average to just below. They play well versus the pass. Before I could even consider putting them inside the top 10, they would have to demonstrate the ability to stuff the run in critical situations. My eye test says that they are average in that department. I went looking for some statistical data to see if my opinion was accurate, but couldn't find any. Anyone have that stat?

[3wt]

I think they're top 10.  

Atkins is elite: a force against the run and the pass.  

Peko (IMO) is above average when his snap count is contained. 

When Sims is healthy he is an above average run stopper.  Thompson is decent when healthy.

Adding Billings, Hardison and Williams to the rotation should make this unit a definite top 10 unit - maybe better

[XenoMorph]

(07-01-2016, 11:29 AM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Giving the depth of Billings and Hardison the benefit of the doubt, 11-15.

Yeah with Geno bringing up the average a lot I say just above average./

Without Geno... Id say close to back of the pack  Especially just grading the DTs on their own merit

Peko is meh(if you have to play less to play well then your probly wasting a roster spot).... Sims is okay.  and the rest are unknowns.

Geno by himself doesn't bring that up to elite status.

[*psychdoctor*]

This one EZ peezy...they are elite. Atkins is back to form, and with Peko having his best year as pro and the addition of Simms and Billings...they are in the top 3 in league Interior D-line

[*psychdoctor*]

(07-01-2016, 11:29 AM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Giving the depth of Billings and Hardison the benefit of the doubt, 11-15.

I am glad I am not a student in your class

You are a teacher right???

[*bfine32*]

Giving every benefit of the doubt to other teams I could see these ahead of the double O's:

BUF- Kyle Williams, Marcell Dareus
CAR- Star Lotulelei, Kewann Short
HOU- JJ Watt, Vince Wilfork
LAR- Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers
MIA- Ndamukong Suh, Earl Mitchell
MIN- Linval Joseph, Shariff Floyd
NEP- Terrance Knighton, Malcom Brown
NYJ- Muhamed Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson

Personally, I'd only but 3-4 ahead of them at most.

[*psychdoctor*]

(07-01-2016, 03:39 PM)bfine32 Wrote: Giving every benefit of the doubt to other teams I could see these ahead of the double O's:

BUF- Kyle Williams, Marcell Dareus
CAR- Star Lotulelei, Kewann Short
HOU- JJ Watt, Vince Wilfork
LAR- Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers
MIA- Ndamukong Suh, Earl Mitchell
MIN- Linval Joseph, Shariff Floyd
NEP- Terrance Knighton, Malcom Brown
NYJ- Muhamed Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson

Personally, I'd only but 3-4 ahead of them at most.

Isn't JJ Watt DE?  

[Thundercloud]

I say top ten. One elite, one average. We'll see what Billings can bring.

[*bfine32*]

(07-01-2016, 03:43 PM)psychdoctor Wrote: Isn't JJ Watt DE?  

He's a 3-tech. He'd play the same role as Geno in a 4-3

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

Geno is the best penetrating DT in the game.

Peko had a good year last year honestly and surprised me with his play.

Billings will soon take over and we should be the best by far if he lives up to his potential.

Top 5 cause Peko is alright. We are not #1 because he is just alright.

[*bengalfan74*]

Geno is obviously elite, a top talent. Peko is average. If we're going on just those two I'd have a hard time making them a top unit. And like Sunset says they weren't setting the world on fire stopping the run last season.

I do believe we have the potential to be one of the best interior D lines this season if not the best. But that depends on whether or not Billings, Hardison, Sims and whomever all live up to being who we think they are.

I voted 6 - 10 just on the strength of Geno.

[CJD]

Our tandem of Atkins + Who gives a **** is top 5.

No doubt. Atkins elevates the play of whoever is standing next to him to the point at which it really doesn't matter how skilled they are.

Having Billings, a genuinely talented young man, to pair with Atkins will make them top 5 in the game now and for several years going forward.

[J24]

Atkins is the best 3T in the NFL anyone next to him would look good.

[*jason*]

Geno alone makes the top 5.

[SunsetBengal]

(07-01-2016, 03:31 PM)psychdoctor Wrote: I am glad I am not a student in your class

You are a teacher right???

Me? No.  My wife used to be a teacher. 

But, what makes everyone think that our DT squad is somehow elite?  Sure, Geno Atkins is a Superstar, arguably a top 3 in the league at his position.  What has Peko done to deserve any serious mention on anyone's who's who list of DTs in the NFL?  Behind them we have a raw rookie, who has never even seen training camp in Billings, a passed around journeyman who's never really done anything outstanding in Simms, and a guy that to me looks like he may have an ounce or two of NFL potential in Hardison.

[*Go Cards*]

Geno is " the man " and Peko is not nearly as bad as people claim. Had a great season last year too.

Think Billings will only help bolster it as well.

Top 5 in my book for sure.