I think a lot on here, me included, are excited about the potential of the DL group. I think you could argue that it will be the strength of the team next year.
But something I don't think has been considered much that could amplify the production of this group is a strength of Coach Bowen's - drawing up a pass rush. Going back to 2008 (Bowen's first year as DC), here are the sacks per game numbers:
2008: 2.23 spg
2009: 2.50 spg
2010: 1.08 spg
2011: 0.75 spg
2012: 0.92 spg
2013: 1.75 spg
2014: 1.58 spg
Bowen was not the DC from 2010 - 2012, the worst production in terms of sacks per game we have seen by far during this stretch. Now the 2013 and 2014 numbers aren't quite on par with the 2008 and 2009 numbers, but something that gets me excited is that it looks like Bowen is going to a four man front defense more similar to what we ran in 2008 and 2009. I think this defense has the potential to generate more of a pass rush simply due to design of the defense of that 3 man line in 2013 and 2014 as that defense (depending on how you draw it up) can have completely different focus (run/hold down blockers more than pass rush) than what a four man front would.
Then there are the players of course. There are likely to be four JUCO players that will play a bunch on the DL this year in Olobia/Mosby/Bolton/Fletcher. The last year they played JUCO ball (not counting injured year) they had 8/7.5/9/6 sacks respectively. Then throw in some young talent like Ehambe/DJ Williams/Daniel Wise/Dorance Armstrong. I wouldn't be surprised at all if we see this unit produce more than 2 sacks per game collectively next year...
But something I don't think has been considered much that could amplify the production of this group is a strength of Coach Bowen's - drawing up a pass rush. Going back to 2008 (Bowen's first year as DC), here are the sacks per game numbers:
2008: 2.23 spg
2009: 2.50 spg
2010: 1.08 spg
2011: 0.75 spg
2012: 0.92 spg
2013: 1.75 spg
2014: 1.58 spg
Bowen was not the DC from 2010 - 2012, the worst production in terms of sacks per game we have seen by far during this stretch. Now the 2013 and 2014 numbers aren't quite on par with the 2008 and 2009 numbers, but something that gets me excited is that it looks like Bowen is going to a four man front defense more similar to what we ran in 2008 and 2009. I think this defense has the potential to generate more of a pass rush simply due to design of the defense of that 3 man line in 2013 and 2014 as that defense (depending on how you draw it up) can have completely different focus (run/hold down blockers more than pass rush) than what a four man front would.
Then there are the players of course. There are likely to be four JUCO players that will play a bunch on the DL this year in Olobia/Mosby/Bolton/Fletcher. The last year they played JUCO ball (not counting injured year) they had 8/7.5/9/6 sacks respectively. Then throw in some young talent like Ehambe/DJ Williams/Daniel Wise/Dorance Armstrong. I wouldn't be surprised at all if we see this unit produce more than 2 sacks per game collectively next year...
