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Both Bama DT's are mostly space eating 2-gappers.

Those typically slide in favor of pass rushers.

I'd love to team either one of them up with Rankins.

Ragland is a tweener. Kinda big for a LB but a bit too small for D-line. He's probably limited to play the Mike in a 3-4.

burningmetal

And I think that's a mistake that teams are making. DT's SHOULD be space eaters. It's lagniappe when any of them can rush the passer.

If you take a look around the league, how many pass rushing DT's are there? Suh barely got into double digits, with 10, in his rookie season and hasn't done it since. He really hasn't done much at all. After him... I can't remember anyone since La'roi Glover and Warren Sapp.

Those kind of players seem to have become almost extinct. Yet teams keep trying to find the Next Glover, Sapp or John Randle, and they get nothing. If you can stop the run and make an offense one dimensional, you've already made the Secondary's job much easier. But also if they are indeed clogging things up like they should, then that allows others to run free and get to the QB. It's basic football, and GM's/coaches would do well to go back to that formula.

Those that are doing it are winning. How about those boring Broncos DT's, last year?

I'm not directing this at you, Danno, because what you say is true. I'm just venting at the ignorance some teams have.

Edit- I forgot about Aaron Donald. He's definitely the premier DT in the league right now. Don't know I'm forgetting any others through the years, but it seems like very few tackles are legitimate pass rushers anymore.

If I had a nickel for every time I heard that, the NFL would fine and suspend me.

papz

I haven't kept up with my football but from what I'm reading, I like the pick. Sounds like we got our hands on a potentially dominant interior disrupt-er.

I'm very intrigued on how far Myles Jack and Jaylon Smith will drop. I'd take a gamble on either one. Myles in the second and Jaylon later on.

K Major

I feel especially bad for JS - potentially a top pick and rising NFL star up until the injury. Myles Jack also a top prospect who chose not to start his professional career lying to his potential employer as it relates to his injury. Guess that micro fracture thing was too risky for teams to chance on in the 1st. Maybe, just maybe both are Draft day 2 selections.

Seem like high character guys on and off the field.

SmashMouth

He was/is a Failclowns fan.... guess we converted yet another.

voodooido

Not a fan at all. When people started predicting him at 12 I started reading and watching everything I could. The man disappears a lot. Not something a the last ranked defense needs. Now, if we could get Reed, Robinson, Jack, Spence, Dodd or Billings to fall to us at 16 it may make up for the Rankins pick. Then maybe Vadal Alexander, Jerald Hawkins, Christian Westerman, Nick Martin or LeRaven Clark in the 3rd or 4th to shore up the o-line.

lumm0x

Let's reserve judgement til we see him suit up.

rezburna

I'm pleased with the selection of Sheldon Rankins. He and Nick Fairley could be a potent combination bringing the pressure up the middle as they both do consistently and well. Throw in Cameron Jordan off the edge and perhaps Kikiha being moved down to DE in what seems to be a shift back to the 4-3, and a problem seems to be alleviated. I'm really excited to see our defense this year. James Laurinaitis should make a huge difference as the signal caller of the defense, allowing Stephone Anthony to play more free and use that elite athleticism. Delvin Breaux and a healthy Keenan Lewis is a huge upgrade and downright lethal with what should be an improved pass rush. I'd love for Myles Jack or Jaylon Smith to be there for us in the 2nd or 3rd.

"The first need of a free people is to define their own terms.” - Stokely Carmichael

voodooido

He did suit up for 3 years in college. That's how you know where to draft people. I hope he becomes the next Glover but I am afraid he is the next Sullivan.

NonieT

And if he turns out to be the next Glover????