DT Earl Mitchell thread

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by Karma:
This signing tells me several things:

1. Lynch thinks the DL is the unit to build the defense around.

2. This is a long term rebuild. Mitchell is not the most talented DL FA, but he is, by all accounts, a consummate professional. He will help AA and Buckner reach the next level.

3. I have a feeling that Lynch is going to use FA to stock up a few specific units and then use the draft to bring in multiple players for just a few specific units. For instance, I think we will see Lynch grab more Free agent DLs, FB, OL, a veteran QB or two, and STs. Then, I think he will focus the draft on LBs, WRs, QBs, and RBs. Just my guess.

4. AA, Buckner, Mitchell, and Dial are the 4 guys who will definitely be part of the DL rotation. Tank and Blair both seem to fit the 4-3 better than the 3-4, so I am excited to see what they can do. The LEO position is the biggest question on the team, besides QB of course. Lynch will have a shot or Blair could surprise in this role but no one else on the roster really fits.

Great post. I agree.

Agree as well!

Originally posted by PacTiger:

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by Karma:
This signing tells me several things:

1. Lynch thinks the DL is the unit to build the defense around.

2. This is a long term rebuild. Mitchell is not the most talented DL FA, but he is, by all accounts, a consummate professional. He will help AA and Buckner reach the next level.

3. I have a feeling that Lynch is going to use FA to stock up a few specific units and then use the draft to bring in multiple players for just a few specific units. For instance, I think we will see Lynch grab more Free agent DLs, FB, OL, a veteran QB or two, and STs. Then, I think he will focus the draft on LBs, WRs, QBs, and RBs. Just my guess.

4. AA, Buckner, Mitchell, and Dial are the 4 guys who will definitely be part of the DL rotation. Tank and Blair both seem to fit the 4-3 better than the 3-4, so I am excited to see what they can do. The LEO position is the biggest question on the team, besides QB of course. Lynch will have a shot or Blair could surprise in this role but no one else on the roster really fits.

Great post. I agree.

I disagree about dial and tank. I wont be surprised to see both not makng the final 53.

Tank is very much on the bubble, but his skill set gives him a decent shot of making noise. He is not a guy who can or should two-gap most downs. If he is allowed to one-gap the majority of downs, he could be a menace. Or, he could just be a good college player who didn't transition. We'll see.

Dial getting cut would really surprise me. He can two-gap pretty well, which would take the pressure off of the other linemen and allow them to concentrate on penetrating, and he is a solid run stopper. He's not going anywhere.

Originally posted by dtg_9er:

Originally posted by 9ersLiferInChicago:

I think people need to calm down and let Lynch and Shanny operate their vision. As I've said before. I'm not gonna complain about any signing before I've seen the product on the field, and even then imma hold my complaints. These two have 6 years to turn this around. I think a little patients is in order.

IMHO.

Good post!

Yup, we're hopefull that our GM and HC will have positive reviews after next season. Thus far, they seem to be doing well but we won't know for sure until after next season. Lynch and Shanahan have been living at Levi's studying up so thats a great sign.

I hope they can stockpile draft picks like Baalke but unlike him, make some quality picks. I can't wait for the draft!

Without being offensive, I just really dont rely to much on the workout...

I saw Allen - Myles and Cory Davis often last season, and watching them over the season is what I go with...

I mean, IMO, performances over the year(s) should be about 70% of the players report, and combine should only be 30%..

ESPECIALLY FOR LINEBACKERS !!!!

I like the Earl Mitchell signing. It definitely represents a shift in our defensive philosophy. I also would like for us to still make a run at Poe and the other dominant, two-gapping nose tackles. People have an issue with the contact, but considering our cap space situation, I do not mind if we had both on the roster. It's a good problem to have.

We are in a division where teams run the ball and our major weakness is stopping the run. Signing Poe or Hankins will not kill us, and if people consider money that much of an issue, it's very little after year 1. We can lock down the interior of our defensive line for years, and potentially solidify it altogether if we draft Myles Garrett allowing us to look at other positions for the next two drafts and free agency periods should the signings and picks work out.

I hear you, in a perfect world, we'd be able to sign Hankins, and draft Garrett. I think B. WIlliams and Poe will be tagged. Adding Hankins would give us that BEEF up the middle, and Garrett would give us a lights out LEO. These two guys would do wonders to help transform our D, and hopefully we can find some descent LB's in the draft as well to help with the D. On O, I would focus on FA to get established veterans who know the system and can help teach the current and future young guys how to be successful in it.

Originally posted by Bobdawg78:

I hear you, in a perfect world, we'd be able to sign Hankins, and draft Garrett. I think B. WIlliams and Poe will be tagged. Adding Hankins would give us that BEEF up the middle, and Garrett would give us a lights out LEO. These two guys would do wonders to help transform our D, and hopefully we can find some descent LB's in the draft as well to help with the D. On O, I would focus on FA to get established veterans who know the system and can help teach the current and future young guys how to be successful in it.

I like your thinking!

Originally posted by Bobdawg78:

I hear you, in a perfect world, we'd be able to sign Hankins, and draft Garrett. I think B. WIlliams and Poe will be tagged. Adding Hankins would give us that BEEF up the middle, and Garrett would give us a lights out LEO. These two guys would do wonders to help transform our D, and hopefully we can find some descent LB's in the draft as well to help with the D. On O, I would focus on FA to get established veterans who know the system and can help teach the current and future young guys how to be successful in it.

I've been advocating for Hankins since last year. The problem is the more I read on Mitchell, the more it looks like they envision him playing the one tech. I doubt they paid him the money up front they did to sit the bench. The problem is that the one tech is also Hankins' position. He played the three this year in NY after they signed Harrison and wasn't as effective as years past from the one.

The one connection however that Hankins has to this team is Zgonina, who was one of his coaches last season with the Giants. So can Hankins play the three, yes. However I read that they estimate he'll want in the neighborhood of 9 million a year and that would be a lot of money to pay someone if your not intending on playing them to their strengths. He works best as a good run stuffer from the one whom has the ability to pass rush as well.

True on Hankins on where he is best suited, can we not roll with both Hankins and Mitchell in there as DT's on running downs?

Originally posted by Bobdawg78:
True on Hankins on where he is best suited, can we not roll with both Hankins and Mitchell in there as DT's on running downs?

isnt Mitchell bad at run defense? i would expect to see Hankins (or someone else) with Buckner on the inside on running downs. Then probably Mitchell (maybe Armstead) and Buckner in on passing downs

Originally posted by JustinNiner:

Originally posted by Bobdawg78:

True on Hankins on where he is best suited, can we not roll with both Hankins and Mitchell in there as DT's on running downs?

isnt Mitchell bad at run defense? i would expect to see Hankins (or someone else) with Buckner on the inside on running downs. Then probably Mitchell (maybe Armstead) and Buckner in on passing downs

There is some conflicting reports online about Mitchell. I know he was rough on his run defense last year but he was also returning from injury. I don't know much about him tbh. Initially I read he wasn't good at run defense but since, majority of what I've read on Mitchell describes him as a run stuffer.

Originally posted by Bobdawg78:

True on Hankins on where he is best suited, can we not roll with both Hankins and Mitchell in there as DT's on running downs?

I think that depends on what the team plans on doing with Buckner and Armstead on passing downs. We know Lynch will be there on passing downs. So it comes down to how much money do you want sink into running down players.

For the record, Hankins can rush the passer but again, I think it really comes down to where will Buckner and Armstead be lining up on passing downs?

Originally posted by JustinNiner:

isnt Mitchell bad at run defense? i would expect to see Hankins (or someone else) with Buckner on the inside on running downs. Then probably Mitchell (maybe Armstead) and Buckner in on passing downs

He was considered a very good run defense in Houston and that's what made him a hot commodity in free agency and had the Dolphins paying him a nice size contract. He struggled with injuries and being misused last year but I found it a very good sign that Denver was really trying hard to sign him and obviously Vance Joseph is very familiar with him after coaching him last year.

Also, besides us the 3 teams that were going games after him were Denver, Seattle and Atlanta 3 of the top organizations in football who have a very good track record for FA pickups

Originally posted by Willisfn4life:

I think that depends on what the team plans on doing with Buckner and Armstead on passing downs. We know Lynch will be there on passing downs. So it comes down to how much money do you want sink into running down players.

For the record, Hankins can rush the passer but again, I think it really comes down to where will Buckner and Armstead be lining up on passing downs?

Buckner and Armstead will be inside on passing downs I think that is almost a given. Blair could see some action inside to on passing downs and in general.

Originally posted by StubbyNBY:

Originally posted by JustinNiner:
isnt Mitchell bad at run defense? i would expect to see Hankins (or someone else) with Buckner on the inside on running downs. Then probably Mitchell (maybe Armstead) and Buckner in on passing downs

He was considered a very good run defense in Houston and that's what made him a hot commodity in free agency and had the Dolphins paying him a nice size contract. He struggled with injuries and being misused last year but I found it a very good sign that Denver was really trying hard to sign him and obviously Vance Joseph is very familiar with him after coaching him last year.

Also, besides us the 3 teams that were going games after him were Denver, Seattle and Atlanta 3 of the top organizations in football who have a very good track record for FA pickups

They have a good track record for FA's and we are running the same defense that Seattle and Atlanta run so it's a very good sign we got him.