http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/pos...ence-fede-looks-poised-to-make-jump-in-year-2 Dennis Hickey can put a defense together.
If Fede makes it unnecessary to sign OV to a (probably overpriced) contract after this year, that will do wonders for us cap-wise. Maybe we can sign Miller with that money and keep building through the draft.
I was excited when Fede was drafted. If the light ever turned on he could be a monster. It looks like the light is starting to come on.
I feel like it is already on, him and Anthony Johnson have been very impressive so far during camp albeit going against the 2nd string guys most of the time. I'm really looking forward to next week's preseason game against the Bears.
Fede, McCain, Aikens.. About ****ing time UDFA and late round picks shine and contribute. Hickey is a boss.
Don't forget Anthony Johnson (mentioned above) and Damien Williams were undrafted last season, also add in Jordan Tripp if you're including anyone drafted in/after the fourth round (since you mentioned Aikens). Jelani Jenkins was a fourth round pick the year before, led the team in tackles last season. Don Jones was drafted in the seventh round and Jordan Kovacs was an udfa, both solid special team contributors.. but that wasn't Hickey's work.
It's unnecessary to re-sign OV regardless of Fede. There should be more appropriate right defensive end options for this system in the draft who are at least equal in talent level w/o the need to dish out $36+ million for a guy who likely won't give you $36+ million in value. The only viable reason for re-signing OV, one that I'm not fond of however, would be if the organization believes Wake won't be around much longer and they're sending his future money to OV while simultaneously tweaking the defensive front to where OV's responsibilities on the right side much more resemble that of a true weak-side end, unlike what we currently see due to Wake being a left side only guy [typically the offense's strong side] despite his ability & size being best suited as a weak-side rush end [typically the offense's right side].
This is big for the kid, his first national article, man if these players that hickey has selected over the past two years pan out we got ourselves a boss like rush says... Can't freakin wait for preseason film
This team needs to hit on Fede and Sims from prior drafts. After the waste of picks Ireland did, that can at least help balance stuff off Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I agree with you, but what matters is what the team's FO thinks, and if OV has a very good year (not unrealistic given who else is on the DL) it could be very tempting for them to re-sign OV to an overpriced contract, so if Fede can help make their decision for them, it would help us a lot longer term. Either way, I think we'll have to spend a high pick on a DE next year because you can't rely on Wake for too long.
I think if Fede and OV both turn it on this year you have to keep both, because Wake isn't getting younger.
Unless Fede has a really big breakout year, he's more likely to make Derrick Shelby redundant than Olivier Vernon. He's likely to be more of a closed end than a wide rusher.
Dare I say Dion Jordan with regard to a DE spot next year?? Regardless of what's said, considering cap space, etc., he still is someone to recognize as an option if Vernon does cash out with another team. He's a couple of years behind, BUT.....
I think you've got to see how they're lined up to take that to mean something, though. He's opposite Shelby on the second team, and I think what they've described sounds like a similar role especially now that he's gettinf 3-technique snaps.
Hey...you know its not outside the realm of possibility that we also get Dion Jordan back next year and he begins to contribute. Not saying hes going to produce like we thought...but the kid does have freakish athletic ability. Maybe what ever has his head messed up right now gets solved...who knows? And...think about it, we could actually get him really cheap.
I may have mis-understood your original post then? It seems like Fede is the backup to OV (Closed End at RDE) and Shelby is the backup to Wake (Wide End at LDE). Not sure why Fede makes Shelby redundant, since they play different positions? What did you mean by that?
It's a little convoluted because, well, that's our defensive front for you. Everything's all ****ed up because you're running a 4-3 Under front with two wide rushers in the base defense, and you don't shift to match offensive strength. When Shelby comes in for Wake they typically play more of that normal "Under" front defense and Shelby plays that Closed End role. I tend to think that if Fede shows something it'll be in that general mold, and they'll let Shelby walk when his contract is up next year and he'll fill that role. If it's the same defense, that is.
Not counting on it, but anything's possible...cat could come in and have Suh up his *** 24/7, and maybe find the light.