Re: I was wrong about AD and Gurley.

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RockRam
I've been posting for some time that paying Donald Suh-type money is not the smart move because DTs just can't affect a game the way other positions can.
I'm ready to eat some crow.

This is the 2nd time today I disagreed with you, and, that's just an accident of fate. I agree with a lot of things you say too. So, bear with me, the zn onslaught will abate. Besides I am only partly disagreeing with you here.

My response to the DT issue now is the same as before. YES elite DTs do have an impact on the game. The problem is that elite DTs are so rare that we don';t normally see them.

Here;s the thing. The combination of an elite DT and a good edge rusher (DE or OLB ) is just absolutely deadly. That alone can make an average defense better and a good defense great.

AND it's far easier to find a good edge pass rusher than it is to find an elite DT.

So if you have an elite DT--something very few teams in the history of the NFL could ever say---you keep him no matter what. Then add an edge rusher, who, again, are far easier to find.

Example: at this point, looking at DEs and LBs, there are 23 players with 8 or more sacks. There are 3 DTs with 8 or more sacks. Donald has 11.

I agree with every word of this:

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That guy is so good, that he DOES affect the game in the same way that "skill" players do. He constantly terrorizes the other team's offense, and no matter what they do, except in the rarest of occasions they simply can't contain him. DTs shouldn't be able to do what he does. He can play anywhere on the Dline and does and that's what makes him all the more effective.

And while the sacks are impressive enough, that's not all he does. The pressures are staggering. He draws double and triple teams (teams are crazy for trying to single up on him), and this frees up other guys to pressure the QB. He also blows up running plays before they can start. If his Dline teammates don't work as hard and smart as he does on game day, it makes them look bad. In other words, he elevates his Line mates.

Yes on every word of that.

And it's worth paying him the big money for that. Meaning, I would rather have one Donald doing that then two other guys at 11 M each.

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Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 12/19/2017 04:51AM by zn.