Let's Replace DJ
 

Who in this draft do you think is up to the job, either right away or after some development?

I really love the tape I see on Denzel Perryman right now.

I think he needs some development -- his tackling and his run support against the downrill rungame need lots of work, but he is very athletic, crashes the line of scrimmage like a wrecking ball, and plays with the kind of passion that this defense is going to need if it loses DJ and Hali in the same offseason.

I think he can last to the 2nd -- I don't think he's a 1st round prospect, as he doesn't appear to be an elite athlete.

I like Shaq Thompson a lot as a MLB for this pass oriented league. He can cover like a safety and make plays all over the field from the ILB position. However, if you ask him to take on blockers all of the time, he's going to struggle. He's a playmaker though.

Ramik Wilson in the middle rounds would be a pretty decent addition.

Jake Ryan from Michigan is another option, he is beginning to return to the form that he had prior to his ACL injury. Very instinctive LB with good size and athleticism.

Stephone Anthony is an alright prospect.

AJ Johnson is too slow, IMO.

There is also free agency to turn to. KJ Wright out of Seattle is one of the best coverage LBs in the league. Mason Foster is going to leave Tampa because he doesn't fit their Tampa 2 scheme, he'd be a pretty solid addition.

Jake Ryan - Michigan - I'd take him round 2.

Don't think he'll be available in the 3rd?

Looks to be getting back to being what he was. Hard to find big tough linebackers that can attack the LOS like he can and still be a 3 down player. I think he bottoms out as top 90 player, so 3rd is possible, but I wouldn't wait that long.

Don't care about a thumper. Get a guy that can cover and run.

It'd sure suck to find the next Patrick Willis huh? Ryan isn't a 255 pound thumper type. He's a 235 pound missile when fully healthy. It really is a shame he tore his ACL last year.

http://www.btn2go.com/video/broadcas...tember-20-2014

At 38:30 or so... Closing speed to make a play (and fully upend Travis Wilson)...

I hate U of M so you won't find me pimping much... but Funchess and Ryan are players.

It depends on how well he tests during the pre-draft process.

One guy who really intrigues me is Eric Striker. I feel like he can play ILB and replicate what Washington does for Zona.

It always matters, I agree.

Check out around 46:35 of that vid I posted and watch his blitz... He's getting closer to full speed this year.

He will go 1st round. The top ILB/MLB that can play either 3-4 or 4-3, and also rotate OLB in 3-4 will ALWAYS get drafted 15-25 in every draft, ever. Happens like clockwork.

That being said, if you want a replacement for DJ, you're looking at Eric Kendricks. Go find some tape on him and get comfortable with the notion, because he's smart, he's got a motor, sideline to sideline type, and he's probably the only guy out there I see being able to take on the responsibility of defensive adjustments on Day 1, from this draft. Listen to his interviews, I promise you will fall in love. Should easily be available by our 2nd, and at worst by our 3rd. Depends a lot on the combine I suppose, but If we land PJ, Amari, or Scherff at #1, I expect #2 to be an ILB without so much as a batted eye.

I don't like Shaq, but I like your point about Ryan, however do you really want to risk his injury? He's going to fall in the draft I bet, and come under major scrutiny over that injury. The pick for replacing DJ though, is Eric Kendricks.

Wayyyyyyyyyyyyy early. He's going to go late 3rd at best. No way does he end up top 50-60.

Bingo. I expect him to barely break into the top 100 picks of this draft, on a good day.
I think his ceiling is about 75ish, with an average selection around 110. Which will put him right around 3.13 to 4.11 depending on compensatory selections of course.

There's soooooooo many thumpers in this draft, and on the best day there are 3 ILB's worth even so much as a look for being cover/signal caller types to replace DJ.

Doubtful Ex... hes the best LB in this draft at 100%, hands down.

Hands down is poor technique.

Bust.

truth... hahahha

Best LB? Nahhhhhh. There's a lot better LB talent elsewhere. Now for the specific role? He's maybe 1 of 3 or so, give or take, and he's the #2 option.

Who's your #1?

As with all injuries, I agree Ryan will have his looked at hard. He did have a hamstring tendon graft done rather than a patellar tendon graft, which usually is better for an athlete, but it does sometimes affect strength in the hamstring.

Kendricks, duhhhhhhh.

If we're replacing DJ, he's the only option that I can see. Seriously, go listen to his interviews and you'll completely understand what I mean.

AJ Johnson looked really slow on a blitz vs Ole Miss, Qb had no problem getting away from him. He's too slow for my tastes.

He's had that mark on him up until this year, after spending the year training with the DB groups and their strength and conditioning coaches and assistants. He's not blazing fast this year, but there is a noticeable difference this year. Furthermore, the guy is like crushing his position right now with consistent tackles, its almost alarming. This could be that guy here in a month or two that we're talking about that improved his pre-combine draft stock to round 1 or 2, bumping a few others down.

That being said, I don't think he's the guy to replace DJ.

Bendardrick McKinney.

/thread

He's not the worst option, but he's not the guy to replace DJ specifically in this draft.

I'd be stoked for McKinney/Kendricks combination draft though.

Kendricks is a very nice player, but I'm not sure how his size is going to effectively translate to a 34 alignment at the next level.

McKinney has great length and size while still maintaining crazy athleticism.

Both are having terrific seasons, but if I had to choose for this team, I'd go with McKinney.

Personally, I would have rather have had them draft Kyle Van Noy last season specifically for this situation. He was a DJ clone at the college level.

Eh, there's much debate about the new "era" of 3-4 coverage backers nowadays with the almost compounding additions to the passing attacks in the "new" NFL, the old prototype sizes and metrics are all but gone, giving way to the potential for the league to be overran with smaller, lighter framed guys. Personally I'm not a huge fan of that notion, but its almost a guaranteed "thing" at some point. Kind of like guys talking about bulking Berry up to play linebacker in some of the threads this year. He could do it, but why? He's the best SS in the league when he's healthy, and with DJ there, anything extra beside him is wasted talent at that level. But I find its going to be paramount that we get an intelligent young linebacker in there to replace DJ who can be a surefire coverage guy FIRST, and tackler second. Can McKinney be that guy? I'm not sure. I can't seem to find much for interviews with the guy where they talk about "Football smart" concepts, and that could end up being super important going into this draft if a guy like Kendricks performs well at the combine, because you know he's got the football smarts and IQ to handle being the defensive signal caller, but the question for Kendricks is a little bulk.

I wouldn't rule McKinney out though, I mentioned him in the other thread as one of my three Linebackers that I'd take to shore up the middle, and at the moment I don't know if Denzel is truly "the guy" the transitions best into the NFL for that role, so I left him out of there.

I don't see the "crazy athleticism" in McKinney.

Looks more like a thumper. He's massive. That's not going to replace DJ.

Here's a rare occurrence where we both agree on a player. LMAO

He's extremely athletic.

He's effective dropping into coverage as well as rushing the pocket.

Quite versatile.

He's going to put up some pretty solid combine numbers.

We need to plant some film in this thread and break it down.