Here are some thoughts on the defense and my projected depth chart after six practices.
Defensive line/star position
First team: DE Nate Clifton, DT Malik Langham, DT Daevion Davis, star: Miles Capers
Second team: DE Elijan McAllister, DT Yilanan Outarra, DT Myles Cecil, star: Michael Owusu
Davis, Lee and Christian James have yet to take a snap in camp, though Davis and James in particular seem to have upped their activity. Davis is a cinch to start if healthy enough and Langham is their biggest body in the middle and that counts for something. Clifton is also consistent with effort and basically a lock to start.
Outarra has, IMO, been the most intriguing guy in camp, though they’re severely limited his reps the last two days, and so I don’t know if that’s workload management, adjusting to the heat and humidity, or what. He’s their most gifted defensive lineman and there’s not a close second, so I’m really intrigued to see how that picks up later.
Cecil isn’t an elite talent but he seems to play with a fairly relentless motor and that counts for a lot.
Capers is a bit of a surprise (but not a total one, because he’s got ability) and if I’m making the call, he’s starting at the star position. McAllister looks like an NFL player from the waist up, but I’m just not sure he’s got the leg strength or the instincts to live up to the best of the physical talent, and with Capers being three years younger, that’s how I’d line up. Owusu has some pass-rush ability but hasn’t shown it enough and again, I’d defer to youth there. But they really need help on the other edge behind Clifton and I think that’s a way to get both on the field some if they’ll let them back up on the other side.
I don’t think the book is closed here. Brayden Bapst has some speed they can use; of course he’s new to the position and now banged up, so I wouldn’t count out him having some role if healthy. James should be able to play inside or outside and has experience, and should have a role. Michael Spencer plays hard and gets a little push from the middle of the line and he should help also.
Newcomers Bradley Mann and star Darren Agu have both shown things. Both have gotten better the last 2-3 practices and I wouldn’t count out either. I’d put Linus Zunk behind both but Zunk also has made a play from time to time, albeit against lesser competition. BJ Diakate hasn’t really practiced yet due to a health or load management situation and so I’m not sure what they have there.
Also, I need to get a better read on Tyler Bence. They had him mis-numbered on the roster for the first five days of camp and so I kept wondering where he was.
Linebacker/anchor
First team: LB Anfernee Ori, LB Ethan Barr, anchor CJ Taylor
Second team: LB Errington Truesdell, LB Kane Patterson, anchor Daniel Martin
Orji and Barr have been what you’d hope, while Patterson has a knack for making plays and covering ground (and made one of the better plays of the day today). Truesdell has ability, but he’s got the misfortune of being stuck behind Orji. However, Clark Lea said today that Barr and Orji played too many snaps last year and that opens the door for both backups.
I think they’re really happy with Taylor but I think that spot could come off the field if they’re in nickel. As for Martin, I just haven’t noticed him that much in fall camp but I’ll keep my eyes open as I may have missed something.
Secondary
First team: CB BJ Anderson, CB Tyson Russell, CB/S Jaylen Mahoney, SS Max Worship, FS De’Rickey Wright
Second team: CB Jeremy Lucien, CB Justin Harris, CB/S Ja’Dais Richard, FS John Howse IV, SS Chase Lloyd
I’d say the starting corners are fairly fluid and the competition could go on a while. The two things I’d bank on is that Mahoney will play a lot—it could be safety, it could be corner, though I think the bulk will come in the slot—and that Worship will play a ton (and he’d be my pick to lead the defense in snaps; FWIW he’s been pretty good the last two days).
I’ve said before, I think people have slept on Anderson and there’s no guarantee that Lucien starts. Russell also seems to have a lot of trust.
As for Wright, the move to free safety—where they have precious littler experience—is a way to get him on the field, and maybe not coincidentally, Harris (who’s bounced around the secondary) looks to be more of a corner now.
No, I didn’t forget the young guys; I’ll talk about them below but I don’t have a great grasp on what most of them are just yet.
I’d be surprised if Richard doesn’t play some right away, and probably CB Truedell Berry also. Taco Wright will flash some really good things, but there seems to be something lacking based on how much he’s on the field.
Now for the hard part, which is the rest of these guys. That’s compounded by the fact a lot of them like to wear their jerseys bunched around the middle of their chest, so God only knows if the guy you see knocking down a pass is 26, or 38, or 39, or another number entirely. What I know: Jameson Wharton (39) can really run and close and has talent. I’ve seen him make a few plays for sure, and maybe a few more, or maybe that was Jeffrey Ugochukwu (38)? I think Gumbo Gaskins has had his workload monitored and maybe Steven Sannienola has too as for whatever reason I haven’t noticed him as much. I’ll keep an eye out for these guys and keep in mind, two-thirds of camp hasn’t happened yet.
Defensive line/star position
First team: DE Nate Clifton, DT Malik Langham, DT Daevion Davis, star: Miles Capers
Second team: DE Elijan McAllister, DT Yilanan Outarra, DT Myles Cecil, star: Michael Owusu
Davis, Lee and Christian James have yet to take a snap in camp, though Davis and James in particular seem to have upped their activity. Davis is a cinch to start if healthy enough and Langham is their biggest body in the middle and that counts for something. Clifton is also consistent with effort and basically a lock to start.
Outarra has, IMO, been the most intriguing guy in camp, though they’re severely limited his reps the last two days, and so I don’t know if that’s workload management, adjusting to the heat and humidity, or what. He’s their most gifted defensive lineman and there’s not a close second, so I’m really intrigued to see how that picks up later.
Cecil isn’t an elite talent but he seems to play with a fairly relentless motor and that counts for a lot.
Capers is a bit of a surprise (but not a total one, because he’s got ability) and if I’m making the call, he’s starting at the star position. McAllister looks like an NFL player from the waist up, but I’m just not sure he’s got the leg strength or the instincts to live up to the best of the physical talent, and with Capers being three years younger, that’s how I’d line up. Owusu has some pass-rush ability but hasn’t shown it enough and again, I’d defer to youth there. But they really need help on the other edge behind Clifton and I think that’s a way to get both on the field some if they’ll let them back up on the other side.
I don’t think the book is closed here. Brayden Bapst has some speed they can use; of course he’s new to the position and now banged up, so I wouldn’t count out him having some role if healthy. James should be able to play inside or outside and has experience, and should have a role. Michael Spencer plays hard and gets a little push from the middle of the line and he should help also.
Newcomers Bradley Mann and star Darren Agu have both shown things. Both have gotten better the last 2-3 practices and I wouldn’t count out either. I’d put Linus Zunk behind both but Zunk also has made a play from time to time, albeit against lesser competition. BJ Diakate hasn’t really practiced yet due to a health or load management situation and so I’m not sure what they have there.
Also, I need to get a better read on Tyler Bence. They had him mis-numbered on the roster for the first five days of camp and so I kept wondering where he was.
Linebacker/anchor
First team: LB Anfernee Ori, LB Ethan Barr, anchor CJ Taylor
Second team: LB Errington Truesdell, LB Kane Patterson, anchor Daniel Martin
Orji and Barr have been what you’d hope, while Patterson has a knack for making plays and covering ground (and made one of the better plays of the day today). Truesdell has ability, but he’s got the misfortune of being stuck behind Orji. However, Clark Lea said today that Barr and Orji played too many snaps last year and that opens the door for both backups.
I think they’re really happy with Taylor but I think that spot could come off the field if they’re in nickel. As for Martin, I just haven’t noticed him that much in fall camp but I’ll keep my eyes open as I may have missed something.
Secondary
First team: CB BJ Anderson, CB Tyson Russell, CB/S Jaylen Mahoney, SS Max Worship, FS De’Rickey Wright
Second team: CB Jeremy Lucien, CB Justin Harris, CB/S Ja’Dais Richard, FS John Howse IV, SS Chase Lloyd
I’d say the starting corners are fairly fluid and the competition could go on a while. The two things I’d bank on is that Mahoney will play a lot—it could be safety, it could be corner, though I think the bulk will come in the slot—and that Worship will play a ton (and he’d be my pick to lead the defense in snaps; FWIW he’s been pretty good the last two days).
I’ve said before, I think people have slept on Anderson and there’s no guarantee that Lucien starts. Russell also seems to have a lot of trust.
As for Wright, the move to free safety—where they have precious littler experience—is a way to get him on the field, and maybe not coincidentally, Harris (who’s bounced around the secondary) looks to be more of a corner now.
No, I didn’t forget the young guys; I’ll talk about them below but I don’t have a great grasp on what most of them are just yet.
I’d be surprised if Richard doesn’t play some right away, and probably CB Truedell Berry also. Taco Wright will flash some really good things, but there seems to be something lacking based on how much he’s on the field.
Now for the hard part, which is the rest of these guys. That’s compounded by the fact a lot of them like to wear their jerseys bunched around the middle of their chest, so God only knows if the guy you see knocking down a pass is 26, or 38, or 39, or another number entirely. What I know: Jameson Wharton (39) can really run and close and has talent. I’ve seen him make a few plays for sure, and maybe a few more, or maybe that was Jeffrey Ugochukwu (38)? I think Gumbo Gaskins has had his workload monitored and maybe Steven Sannienola has too as for whatever reason I haven’t noticed him as much. I’ll keep an eye out for these guys and keep in mind, two-thirds of camp hasn’t happened yet.
