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Rams43
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zn
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The reality is, AD is producing like an elite edge defender.
Which is harder and more imperative to defend. The DT is closer to the ball than an edge rusher. If he is being disruptive, it has a much quicker, more direct impact on the play.
Now why aren't a lot of DTs like that?
Because elite DTs are far more rare than edge defenders. Not just now...in all of league history.
If you look at sack totals from last year, of the 16 defenders who got 10 or more sacks, they are all DEs and LBs. So that's 16 edge defenders---DEs and OLBs---capable of 10 or more sacks. In 2015 it was 13 LBs/DEs and 3 DTs.
Most DTs are not elite. They can't do the folllowing: attract extra attention (because you can't allow an interior lineman to disrupt plays), AND be productive ON TOP OF THAT EXTRA ATTENTION. So the elite DT is both causing the offense to pay extra attention to him, thereby making things easier on the rest of the front 7, AND being productive at a high level ALSO, AND ANYWAY.
That's just not a common thing.
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No question that AD is a transcendent player, zn.
The question on the table was whether he should be signed at any cost. And whether an elite DT was as valuable to contributing to team wins as is an elite QB or Edge rusher, maybe an elite CB.
That's YOUR question.
I have different questions. For one thing, it's not "at any cost." It's more along the lines of commensurate with the top 3-5 or so defenders in the league. And I say yes.
And there's no conflict between having both a top qb and a top defender. It actually is not an either/or question.
And there's nothing that says they have to choose between an OLB who can rush the passer (obviously) and a DT. You can have both and the former (rushers) are more common and easier to find than the elite DT.
Do you want BOTH an elite DT and an edge rusher? (Which is going to happen, basically.) Yes, because in fact having the DT makes the OLB's job easier. So it's better, and it's doable to do it that way.
My question is, do you keep a player who ranks as one of the 3-4 best defenders in the league? Absolutely, yes, I have no doubts, and I have no doubts Phillips thinks so too, along with McVay.
What is the price of keeping him? None, really. The way it usually plays out, all teams dedicate 50% of their cap to 8-10 guys. With the Rams that will eventually include both Goff (assuming he earns a traditional starting qb's 2nd contract) and Donald. What will they lose because of that? IMO nothing that having an elite DT whose presence makes the defense better won't make up for.
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