How Important Is An Interior Pass Rusher In Today's NFL?
 

http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/article...6-a9d552687f9e

Cool article on the KC Chiefs website on a guy I believe will the next All Pro player on our defense. The Chiefs "finally" seem to now be pushing Mike Catapano on KCChiefs.com and I'm very glad to see that because it means that we will see what he can do in 2014. I have been singing this kid's praises since pre season because i feel he is a very talented key piece for this defense but was frustrated watching him sit on the sidelines. I truly believe that having a dominant pass rushing presence on the line (whether it be from 3 technique or 5 technique...or better yet BOTH) is HUGE in making a good defense into a great defense.

People downplay QB pressure and it drives me nuts. You CANNOT stop Peyton Manning (or Philip Rivers or Andrew Luck for that matter) without knocking them off their spots. Just look at the production and the sack totals our defense had the first half of last year and the results it created in the win-loss column...thats because there IS a direct correlation! Also our dominant edge rushers will be more effective when the O Line also has an inside 3 technique rusher they have to worry about as well.

An athletic 290 lbs Catapano who can rush from inside or the outside creates versatility on passing downs. Teamed up with Houston and Hali I really believe all 3 will have double digit sacks in 2014. All today's defenses are really becoming a hybrid blend of 3-4 and 4-3 fronts and a lineman who can rush is a key part. We didn't have that last year (or had on sidelines but didn't use it). I like the addition of Walker but he isnt a true pass rusher...Catapano is. Personally I'd rather see Cat as the starting DE opposite Devito if at 290 he proves to be an effective run stopper, but either way I believe he is a key piece for us in an effective 4 man front on passing downs.

As with all KC fans I was a bit frustrated watching the NFL's most dominant defense slide and become our achilles heel ultimately costing us a playoff win. With no pressure on the QB the second half of year I was frustrated knowing we had a guy who averaged 1.2 sacks a game his senior year sitting on the sidelines. But apparently he was being groomed and making the obvious transition going from a small school to the NFL. Based on all the press coming from inside the Chiefs organization I'm encouraged that we will get to see what a 23 year old 2nd year bigger and better #77 can do.

I said it last year and still believe that Catapano and Poe rushing alongside Houston and Hali will be a VERY disruptive front on passing downs. 3 double digits sack guys = defensive success. Pressure busts pipes. If Catapano can break out and have a double digit sack season it will go a LONG way in getting back to the playoffs and NOT giving up a 4 TD lead. We need a 2013 defensive draft picks like Commings or Cat (or both) to step up and become key contributors in 2014 to build and improve on what we did last year. Since we aren't building through free agency it has to come from within. This guy stepping up would be huge.

I don't think I can take any more of this Catapano bullshit.

Does it have you seeing red?

Rather have Catapano replace Jackson as our RDE and Walker replace Devito as our LDE.

Or Kush.

Houston, Hali, AND Catapano with double digit sacks?

ROFL

why do you say that? what is your solution for an interior pass rush? :hmmm: because if its not him then we need somebody. Personally I look forward to seeing what the kid can do. If not him then we better find some stud in the draft who can rush the QB from the inside...because this was a key piece missing on our defense in 2013. It killed us the 2nd half of the year. Yes the back end needs to improve but giving up a 4 TD lead should never happen. We gave QBs too much time. And when you give great QBs (like Manning, Rivers and Luck) too much time...well...we saw what happened.

Yeah. I can see as many as 7-8 from Cat in his second year if he gets significant time over Bailey and even that is hopeful wishing. But double digits? That's a bit much.:spock:

yes...all 3. This is my prediction. And IF it happens then we will win alot of games!

I saw a lot of potential in Catapano last season. He's a rare physical specimen and will only improve with more playing time. The best interior pass rush is provided by a strong pocket collapsing push up the middle. Dontari is the key to that.

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that you could count the number of teams that have done that, in the entirety of modern NFL history, on one hand.

In fact, it might never have been done.

Yeah, he could definitely get 6 or 7.

I was talking more just about the statistical probability of a team having 3 players with 10 or more sacks. See my previous post.

Well, an improved interior pass rush should help Hali and Houston out a lot as both guys seem to like going wide most of the time. Too many times last year when Poe would get double teamed, Hali and Houston would get pushed wide, and our 4th guy would do absolutely nothing with his 1 on 1 opportunity.

JJ Watt got 20 rushing from a 3 technique so why is 10 so unreasonable? This kid has skills...put him on the field and he will produce. I hope....because it would help our defense a lot having an inside rushing presence. 15 sacks coming from inside (whether it be Catapano, Poe, Walker or a combo of them all) would allow Houston and Hali to destroy QBs from the outside. Of those 3 (not including Bailey because I just don't see him contributing in that way) Catapano is clearly the most talented rusher...so no, I don't believe 10 sacks or more from him is unreasonable at all actually. Hopefully I'm right. We'll see.

If he gets 10, either Hali or Houston will get less.

They're not going to break NFL records for sacks.