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After researching the defensive schemes that John Fox prefers, I have come to the following conclusions. I have broken down, position by position, the types of player that I believe Fox targets.
DE - Tall, lanky and athletic, but more than anything, a guy that can consistently get pressure on the QB. I read some where that running backs on average, league wide, only run around the OT's 9% of the time. So, it makes sense that Fox targets DE's that can get pressure over DE's that are great at containing the run.
DT - Other than last season, nearly every Fox defense was anchored by two massive DT's. He generally doesnt expect much of a pass rush out of his tackles, but rather wants them to engulf the interior OL and allow his pass rushing DE's a 1 on 1 opportunity. They are generally 315+ in weight, and can stuff the run effective enough to allow his MLB the opportunity to drop into a zone coverage and make a play on the ball (Ex. Jon Beason has a total of 29 PD's and 8 INT's, this is certainly partly because Beason is a beast, but also because he is worrying less about a runner getting through the DT's)
WLB/SLB - Fox seems to use his WLB and SLB pretty similarily. Obviously the SLB is going to have to be big/tough enough to guard the TE from time to time, but he puts both in zone cover alot and expects plays on the ball. He actually seems to use his SLB/WLB decently often at rushing the passer, so a guy with the speed/size ratio to blow by a OT is always a plus (Ex. Thomas Davis is 6'0, 240 and has a small pass rush move repotouire, but he gets a few sacks a year on speed rushing alone, similar too with James Anderson). He salivates over speed at the LB position. Look at Thomas Davis (4.52 40 at 6'0, 240lbs), James Anderson (4.48 40 at 6'2 235lbs), & Jason Williams (4.49 40 at 6'1 244lbs). Nic Harris (4.86 40) is the slowest, but as a former S, he has the coverage instincts to make up for his slower time. Also, Fox has no problem converting college safetys into OLB's, as he did with Davis and Harris.
CB - A bit of research indicates that Fox prefers versatile CB's. Guys that are equally as good in zone coverage as they are in man. It seems like he wants playmakers, as most of his starting CB's end up with a good deal of pass deflections and INT's. This could also be a result of allowing his CB's to play zone more often, facing the QB and reading him. Finally, he wants guys that are physical, although he doesnt seem to trend towards press corners. He also seems to rarely use his CB's to rush the passer.
S - Here he has recently trended, overwhelmingly, towards converted CB's. He doesnt use a traditional 'in the box' CB, but rather prefers two guys that can excel in zone coverage, and make plays on the ball.
Overall, it seems like he prefers rush specialist at DE, huge space eaters at DT, a pair of versatile SLB/MLB's that have elite speed to cover and the size to rush the passer, a well rounded MLB that is good in coverage, CB's that are equally adept at zone and man and a pair of converted safteys that can excel in coverage and make plays deep.
Here are some prospects in this draft that, IMO, would fit his scheme greatly...
DE
- Robert Quinn (Top 8)
-Aldon Smith (Top 20)
-Da'Quan Bowers (Top 25)
-Ryan Kerrigan (Top 25)
-Brooks Reed (Bubble 1st rounder)
-Jabaal Sheard (Bubble 1st rounder)
-Ugo Chinasa (4th to 5th rounder)
-Mario Addison (6th to 7th rounder)
DT
-Marcell Dareus (Top 5)
-Phil Taylor (1st round)
-Stephen Paea (1st to 2nd rounder)
-Kendrick Ellis (2nd to 4th rounder)
-Anthony Gray (3rd to 7th rounder)
-Jerrell Powe (4th to 6th rounder)
-Sione Fua (4th to 6th rounder)
-Ian Williams (4th to 6th rounder)
-Sealver Siliga (5th to 7th rounder)
-Lawton Scott (7th to UDFA)
SLB/WLB
-Von Miller (Top 5)
-Bruce Carter (3rd round)
-Mason Foster (3rd round)
-Mario Harvey (4th round)
-Ross Homan (5th round)
-Robert Sands (5th round)
-Lawrence Wilson (5th to 6th round)
-Michael Morgan (6th to UDFA)
MIKE
-Quan Sturdivant (2nd to 3rd round)
-Martez Wilson (3rd round)
-Mario Harvey (3rd round)
-Colin McCarthy (4th to 5th round)
CB
-Patrick Peterson (Top 5)
-Prince Aukamara (Top 8)
-Davon House (2nd round)
(Most CB's fit Fox'es scheme, so I will stop here)
S
-Ras-I Dowling (2nd round)
-Aaron Williams (2nd round)
-Rahim Moore (2nd to 3rd round)
-Quinton Carter (3rd round)
-Deunta Williams (4th round)
Great effort went into this, and if you are a member here please let me know so I can cp you!!
Based on this analysis I do not see us picking a DT at #2. Fox traditionally uses big run stuffing DT's that take on multiple blockers. Guys like Taylor, Ellis, Jenkins, Fua would fill those roles in later rounds.
I've heard this said before about CB's m (must be good at zone and man), and is a big reason why I don't think Peterson is in the cards.
By this report Ayers is not the ideal LDE in a Fox scheme, but I believe he will give him a chance to show what he can do on the line.
Based on this analysis, I would almost be Von Miller is the pick. He will place him at SLB, which will help compensate the ideal pass rushing talent Fox is left with Ayers on that side. It gives him the speed he wants out of the LB spot.
Also do not be surprised that A.Williams is picked if slips to second round. Fox seems to love converted CB's playing S.
Does anyone know much about Allen's philosophy and how that will mesh with Fox's?
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DE - Tall, lanky and athletic, but more than anything, a guy that can consistently get pressure on the QB. I read some where that running backs on average, league wide, only run around the OT's 9% of the time. So, it makes sense that Fox targets DE's that can get pressure over DE's that are great at containing the run.
DT - Other than last season, nearly every Fox defense was anchored by two massive DT's. He generally doesnt expect much of a pass rush out of his tackles, but rather wants them to engulf the interior OL and allow his pass rushing DE's a 1 on 1 opportunity. They are generally 315+ in weight, and can stuff the run effective enough to allow his MLB the opportunity to drop into a zone coverage and make a play on the ball (Ex. Jon Beason has a total of 29 PD's and 8 INT's, this is certainly partly because Beason is a beast, but also because he is worrying less about a runner getting through the DT's)
WLB/SLB - Fox seems to use his WLB and SLB pretty similarily. Obviously the SLB is going to have to be big/tough enough to guard the TE from time to time, but he puts both in zone cover alot and expects plays on the ball. He actually seems to use his SLB/WLB decently often at rushing the passer, so a guy with the speed/size ratio to blow by a OT is always a plus (Ex. Thomas Davis is 6'0, 240 and has a small pass rush move repotouire, but he gets a few sacks a year on speed rushing alone, similar too with James Anderson). He salivates over speed at the LB position. Look at Thomas Davis (4.52 40 at 6'0, 240lbs), James Anderson (4.48 40 at 6'2 235lbs), & Jason Williams (4.49 40 at 6'1 244lbs). Nic Harris (4.86 40) is the slowest, but as a former S, he has the coverage instincts to make up for his slower time. Also, Fox has no problem converting college safetys into OLB's, as he did with Davis and Harris.
CB - A bit of research indicates that Fox prefers versatile CB's. Guys that are equally as good in zone coverage as they are in man. It seems like he wants playmakers, as most of his starting CB's end up with a good deal of pass deflections and INT's. This could also be a result of allowing his CB's to play zone more often, facing the QB and reading him. Finally, he wants guys that are physical, although he doesnt seem to trend towards press corners. He also seems to rarely use his CB's to rush the passer.
S - Here he has recently trended, overwhelmingly, towards converted CB's. He doesnt use a traditional 'in the box' CB, but rather prefers two guys that can excel in zone coverage, and make plays on the ball.
Overall, it seems like he prefers rush specialist at DE, huge space eaters at DT, a pair of versatile SLB/MLB's that have elite speed to cover and the size to rush the passer, a well rounded MLB that is good in coverage, CB's that are equally adept at zone and man and a pair of converted safteys that can excel in coverage and make plays deep.
Here are some prospects in this draft that, IMO, would fit his scheme greatly...
DE
- Robert Quinn (Top 8)
-Aldon Smith (Top 20)
-Da'Quan Bowers (Top 25)
-Ryan Kerrigan (Top 25)
-Brooks Reed (Bubble 1st rounder)
-Jabaal Sheard (Bubble 1st rounder)
-Ugo Chinasa (4th to 5th rounder)
-Mario Addison (6th to 7th rounder)
DT
-Marcell Dareus (Top 5)
-Phil Taylor (1st round)
-Stephen Paea (1st to 2nd rounder)
-Kendrick Ellis (2nd to 4th rounder)
-Anthony Gray (3rd to 7th rounder)
-Jerrell Powe (4th to 6th rounder)
-Sione Fua (4th to 6th rounder)
-Ian Williams (4th to 6th rounder)
-Sealver Siliga (5th to 7th rounder)
-Lawton Scott (7th to UDFA)
SLB/WLB
-Von Miller (Top 5)
-Bruce Carter (3rd round)
-Mason Foster (3rd round)
-Mario Harvey (4th round)
-Ross Homan (5th round)
-Robert Sands (5th round)
-Lawrence Wilson (5th to 6th round)
-Michael Morgan (6th to UDFA)
MIKE
-Quan Sturdivant (2nd to 3rd round)
-Martez Wilson (3rd round)
-Mario Harvey (3rd round)
-Colin McCarthy (4th to 5th round)
CB
-Patrick Peterson (Top 5)
-Prince Aukamara (Top 8)
-Davon House (2nd round)
(Most CB's fit Fox'es scheme, so I will stop here)
S
-Ras-I Dowling (2nd round)
-Aaron Williams (2nd round)
-Rahim Moore (2nd to 3rd round)
-Quinton Carter (3rd round)
-Deunta Williams (4th round)
Great effort went into this, and if you are a member here please let me know so I can cp you!!
Based on this analysis I do not see us picking a DT at #2. Fox traditionally uses big run stuffing DT's that take on multiple blockers. Guys like Taylor, Ellis, Jenkins, Fua would fill those roles in later rounds.
I've heard this said before about CB's m (must be good at zone and man), and is a big reason why I don't think Peterson is in the cards.
By this report Ayers is not the ideal LDE in a Fox scheme, but I believe he will give him a chance to show what he can do on the line.
Based on this analysis, I would almost be Von Miller is the pick. He will place him at SLB, which will help compensate the ideal pass rushing talent Fox is left with Ayers on that side. It gives him the speed he wants out of the LB spot.
Also do not be surprised that A.Williams is picked if slips to second round. Fox seems to love converted CB's playing S.
Does anyone know much about Allen's philosophy and how that will mesh with Fox's?
__________________
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