2014 Recap: A Lackluster year after a impressive start by this unit. Still, believe it was an off year and improvement in the middle and a better rotation will help this unit flourish this year. Wake is Wake a very good pass rusher and a declining player in the run game. The more I watch him I'd like his role to become Elvis Dumervil where it's more 2 down pass rush specialist. He disappeared for weeks on end this year which hasn't happened before but he will be 33 next year. Olivier Vernon despite down numbers I thought was much improved against the run where he was a huge liability in 2013. Hopefully he can get back to sacks as he will always be more effort than pure pass rush moves but I am ok with that. Dion Jordan I want a SLB as having him on the field more is needed and with Wake and Vernon on the roster more than likely for 2015 doesn't give him that chance. Shelby had a decent year very stout against the run but is FA. Fede didn't play much on defense but I hope after the offseason we see an improved player and he is ready to contribute. Chris McCain is the player I have the highest hopes for wherever he plays. Funny as it is some think he is a LB, I prefer him as a pass rusher to Dion and would move DJ to SLB before playing McCain there. McCain is scary lengthy and has ridiculous get off the edge. He needs to get some stregth and may just be a pass rusher but again never can have enough. The Unit: Not a problem or a need just yet but keep an eye on Wake this year. I am actually hoping he may restructure to help our situation. At one point I thought looking to trade him is the best route but with significant needs this offseason that just may not be the best move. Still, if we do for a decent pick it may not sting as much if we make a good pick with that. Vernon hopefully keeps improving. Fede/McCain need more opportunity this coming year. If DJ play here and there at DE I'd be ok, but I am going to struggle to watch him get stonewalled at DE and have another dud at SLB when he could really exceed there (Coyle don't you do it). Areas of Concern: Depth Free Agents: Derrick Shelby Possible Cuts: Nada Potential Free Agents: Again, not really concerning myself with this unit. WE have four capable on roster and I'd like to resign Shelby on the cheap as he is good against the run. We have a good youth core behind Wake as he ages and we can survive another year and if need be address DE next offseason if this group ain't cutting it. Top Draft Options: Refer Above not really going there. My Plan: Resign Shelby. Get McCain rushing off the edge situationally. Allow Fede to earn his keep. Ween our dependance on Wake so he is fresh come the end of the year, which seems to always be a problem for him. Move Vernon around more as he is versatile. Allow DJ to get some blitz package at DE/SLB.
I think Kevin Coyle is still looking for his 6-technique. He's probably not going to get it unless Terrence Fede suddenly hops up and is the answer to all his problems, but he'll act as if he has one anyway. He wants someone big and strong enough to line up between a tackle and tight end but athletic enough to edge rush. The only guy in this defense who has played it worth a **** is Carlos Dunlap. The rest of the time you've got guys who are big but too slow to challenge around the edge(Odrick), or edge rushers who get pushed around when asked to play covered up by blockers(Wake, Vernon). We even had a pretty reasonable medium in Derrick Shelby and that didn't seem to stick. Instead they tried to get Dion Jordan to gain a bunch of weight for it to be the next Mario Williams or whatever. Arik Armstead might be the only guy who Coyle likes for the position this offseason, and I'm hoping they have the sense to refuse him.
