How good is the dline now

[CR91]

as it stands, the starting dline will most likely be langford hankins anderson

 

with ridgeway parry hunt woods and mcgill as depth. how good can this line be?

[PrincetonTiger]

It has potential to be great

[Buck Showalter]

With Hankins & if Anderson comes into his own/full potential, it could be a significant improvement...

[PrincetonTiger]

3 minutes ago, Buck Showalter said:

With Hankins & if Anderson comes into his own/full potential, it could be a significant improvement...

Agreed

[Jdubu]

We won't know what we have until these guys get some playing time this season. We have had some rosters before that on paper, looked super good and then turned into a turd. Hard to think we haven't improved an awful defense into at least a viable option to give our offense a few more possessions without surrending 30+ points nearly each game. 

[Buck Showalter]

7 minutes ago, PrincetonTiger said:

Agreed

Ha, but before we go & give each other too many high fives, I have to remind myself that as a Colts fan, my "D-Line barometer" has never been set too extremely high...

 

I'll stay optimistic though!!!

 

Hankins signing today has given me a decades long flashback, to the late 2000's back when this forum was SCREAMING for a solid defensive tackle every year during this pre-draft time period...

 

It's like, finally...

[PrincetonTiger]

1 minute ago, Buck Showalter said:

Ha, but before we go & give each other too many high fives, I have to remind myself that as a Colts fan, my "D-Line barometer" has never been set too extremely high...

 

Hankins signing today has given me a decades long flashback, to the late 2000's back when this forum was SCREAMING for a solid defensive tackle every year during this pre-draft time period...

Me too

 

I am a bit of a OL specialist

[2006Coltsbestever]

2 minutes ago, Buck Showalter said:

Ha, but before we go & give each other too many high fives, I have to remind myself that as a Colts fan, my "D-Line barometer" has never been set too extremely high...

 

I'll stay optimistic though!!!

 

Hankins signing today has given me a decades long flashback, to the late 2000's back when this forum was SCREAMING for a solid defensive tackle every year during this pre-draft time period...

 

It's like, finally...

We can always honor him by giving him a double Baconater with a loaded Potato with Butter. I am sure he would oblige. With a big large chocolate  shake!

[MTC]

As long as everyone remains healthy, it has the potential to be good.

[PrincetonTiger]

2 minutes ago, MTC said:

As long as everyone remains healthy, it has the potential to be good.

Agreed

[throwing BBZ]

Anderson should have his hands full beating out Ridgeway in the 3-4 and the 4-2.
And surely this means the last of Parry, Please!
I would expect McGill will have some competition for his spot.
 How good! At least a top 5 group. chuckle
 Seriously, this group could be a handful!
 I like the thought of Hankins and Ridgeway together against the run and pass in our more often used 4-2.
 

 

[Defjamz26]

Depends if Anderson returns to form. Also depends on if Langford or Ridgeway starts.

[TheRustonRifle#7]

27 minutes ago, throwing BBZ said:

Anderson should have his hands full beating out Ridgeway in the 3-4 and the 4-2.
And surely this means the last of Parry, Please!
I would expect McGill will have some competition for his spot.
 How good! At least a top 5 group. chuckle
 Seriously, this group could be a handful!
 I like the thought of Hankins and Ridgeway together against the run and pass in our more often used 4-2.
 

 

Too many discount Ridgeway.....

[JColts72]

We are not the fearsome foursome or sack pack.

[krunk]

6 minutes ago, TheRustonRifle#7 said:

Too many discount Ridgeway.....

I like Ridgeway a lot.

[OffensivelyPC]

We shouldnt even put our D-line and "great" in a sentence until we get better on the edges.

[CR91]

14 minutes ago, OffensivelyPC said:

We shouldnt even put our D-line and "great" in a sentence until we get better on the edges.

 

The dline has nothing to do with the edge

[OffensivelyPC]

6 minutes ago, CR91 said:

 

The dline has nothing to do with the edge

How is that so? Because there's an "LB" in their position name? LOL

[BR-549]

57 minutes ago, throwing BBZ said:

Anderson should have his hands full beating out Ridgeway in the 3-4 and the 4-2.
And surely this means the last of Parry, Please!
I would expect McGill will have some competition for his spot.
 How good! At least a top 5 group. chuckle
 Seriously, this group could be a handful!
 I like the thought of Hankins and Ridgeway together against the run and pass in our more often used 4-2.
 

 

I have liked Ridgeway from minute one... folks claimed him as a bit lazy initially but I really feel that he has a tremendous upside once he gets some experience (I hope so at least).

 

Henry played really well year one and improved week to week as the season progressed until he was hurt so I have high hopes for him this year too.

 

With Hankins coming aboard today, I seriously feel we will be watching a much more interesting defense this year, especially line play ... barring injury of course.  As we all know.... the D line keeps the OL off the linebackers... we may even be surprised simply because they did not have that privilege last year.

 

I simply can't wait to see what happens in the draft now... today took a lot of pressure off the DL, or at least presumably... 

[CR91]

2 minutes ago, OffensivelyPC said:

How is that so? Because there's an "LB" in their position name? LOL

 

That's LB not dline. Dline consist of a DT NT and DE. Playing the edge is the responsibility of the OLB

[OffensivelyPC]

Just now, CR91 said:

 

That's LB not dline. Dline consist of a DT NT and DE. Playing the edge is the responsibility of the OLB

I think you need to read up on those positions again. There is plenty of overlap between DE and OLB.

[CR91]

Just now, OffensivelyPC said:

I think you need to read up on those positions again. There is plenty of overlap between DE and OLB.

 

Isn't the main objective for dlineman in a 3-4 to occupy space so the LBers aren't being blocked

[BR-549]

19 minutes ago, CR91 said:

 

The dline has nothing to do with the edge

Why do you say that?  I respectfully disagree

 

[OffensivelyPC]

The off ball ILBs, yes. The OLBs do the same in a 3-4, their primary responsibilities is to set the edge and maintain gap (occupying blocker in the process), rush the passer and drop back in coverage. They spend the vast majority of their time doing the first 2 things. I dont have exact numbers, but I seem to recall some number above 80% of their snaps. 

[BR-549]

5 minutes ago, OffensivelyPC said:

I think you need to read up on those positions again. There is plenty of overlap between DE and OLB.

I would agree with this statementt.. there are stunts and slants and all type of line play where not only DE and OLB but all DL positions are depending on each other 

 

7 minutes ago, CR91 said:

 

Isn't the main objective for dlineman in a 3-4 to occupy space so the LBers aren't being blocked

And this is true in any front.... 

[BR-549]

4 minutes ago, OffensivelyPC said:

The off ball ILBs, yes. The OLBs do the same in a 3-4, their primary responsibilities is to set the edge and maintain gap (occupying blocker in the process), rush the passer and drop back in coverage. They spend the vast majority of their time doing the first 2 things. I dont have exact numbers, but I seem to recall some number above 80% of their snaps. 

Sorry fellas, I didn't mean to jump in... sometimes my computer doesn't keep up with posts...  Carry on!

[OffensivelyPC]

3 hours ago, BR-549 said:

Sorry fellas, I didn't mean to jump in... sometimes my computer doesn't keep up with posts...  Carry on!

No problem at all. Dont mind your 2 cents.

[oldunclemark]

We can win with this line....

This was a 'win now' move.../I like it...

[Shepman]

For me all these off season additions mean one thing.  Pagano and his staff have to excel at their job which is coaching and scheming.  Really should see improvements and if not then it is time to go.

[AZColt11]

I don't think they are the Steel Curtain by any means but they just filled the biggest hole on the DL, so no doubt they are better today than they were yesterday.

[ThorstenDenmark]

We have the beste D-line in football.

No team in the NFL has a better d-line than the colts.... if you think they do, then you cheer for another team ;)

 

Go colts

[2006Coltsbestever]

1 hour ago, ThorstenDenmark said:

We have the beste D-line in football.

No team in the NFL has a better d-line than the colts.... if you think they do, then you cheer for another team ;)

 

Go colts

I wouldn't go that far with it but todays signing was huge. Hankins is a bad dude!

[csmopar]

Well, I look at it this way, a healthy Langford and Anderson plus Hankins, hankins will eat a double team where before, teams simplify went one on one with parry and doubled the DEs , now they'll have to respect the middle more so it should in theory make it harder for teams to block us. If that makes any sense.

 

gonna be an interesting first couple rounds in the draft though. I really think we're going CB in the first and thought we'd go NT/DT in the second but now, not so sure

[UKColt13]

Potential to be much better than the last few years. Particularly against the run.

[Colt Overseas]

I like the fact were young on tge line too. Anderson and Hankins are our 2 best players on dline and they're just 25, Ridgeway is coming on very strong too and he is only a baby at 22. TY McGill is just 24 too and can create good interior pressure. Also, I think we will see a continual effort from Ballard to improve group, so I wouldn't be surprised if the Colts take a DE with one of 4th round picks. 

 

I think there's great potential with this group. 

[ztboiler]

13 hours ago, CR91 said:

 

The dline has nothing to do with the edge

Oh the irony of your actual words....a line without and edge?  That's funny stuff.  Me thinks you may actually be describing a circle.

[B~Town]

Hard to be optimistic last year our d line was suppose to be great but were one of if not the worst in the NFL . It does feel as if they are trending in the right direction though hopefully it shows on the field this up coming season .

[Hoose]

2 hours ago, csmopar said:

Well, I look at it this way, a healthy Langford and Anderson plus Hankins, hankins will eat a double team where before, teams simplify went one on one with parry and doubled the DEs , now they'll have to respect the middle more so it should in theory make it harder for teams to block us. If that makes any sense.

 

gonna be an interesting first couple rounds in the draft though. I really think we're going CB in the first and thought we'd go NT/DT in the second but now, not so sure

I agree with you. The remaining weaknesses on this Defense are in the secondary, along with needing an elite edge rusher. Not sure they can get the latter in the draft, but there is plenty to choose from in the secondary. The Colts need two CBs in this draft; hopefully the starting #2 CB of the future, and another slot CB now that Butler is a full time safety. But the safety position could use some depth as well....the only player I have full confidence in back there is Geathers, and he's become injury prone. If the Colts focus their draft on improving the secondary, the defense has a strong future. 

[King Colt]

So now before the draft, would it be fair to say the Colts appear to be building to win the AFC South this year over Houston with no QB, Jacksonville with Bortles and Tennessee with a suspect OL to protect?

[Mr. Irrelevant]

13 minutes ago, King Colt said:

So now before the draft, would it be fair to say the Colts appear to be building to win the AFC South this year over Houston with no QB, Jacksonville with Bortles and Tennessee with a suspect OL to protect?

I think the goal always was/is to win the AFC South. That doesn't mean that Irsay believe in the possibility of a deep playoff run, but getting to the playoffs is always a goal, I think. And it should be, if you want to create any winning mentality within an organization.