(11-29-2023, 01:53 PM)flgatorsandjags Wrote:

(11-29-2023, 09:02 AM)Caldrac Wrote: It's completely rational to think like this. Even with an 8 - 3 team. Especially when you get down the stretch and the good teams begin to separate themselves from the average teams. Once you get into the play off's though? Trench Warfare gets real and it get's real FAST.

It sets the tone man. It always has. You want to know how a play-off game might go? Watch how the offensive line either gets rocked or bullies their opponent on their first drive. 

You want to know which offense is going to have a long day? Watch how fast a defensive line knifes through a gap down the middle or gets around the corner on their first drive without any additional help. 

This team has several needs NOW that will carry over into the off season and you'll be one of the first ones on here losing your [BLEEP], when, you see a QB like Mahomes, Tagovailoa, maybe Stroud again playing against our defense with allllll [BLEEP] day to step up inside a clean pocket to pick our secondary apart. 

The interior pass rush argument was on here last year. A lot of folks were split on who should have been the 1st RD pick. We were even linked to guys like Mazi Smith, who ended up in Dallas when he came out of Michigan and he was basically what we're hoping DaVon Hamilton can turn into, which that odd injury in preseason set him back significantly. 

We were all screaming for an edge rusher or an interior rusher last year. We were all looking for improvement on the offensive line, with or without Taylor's impending departure or staying in JAX. We still needed to fix the issues we've had there. Ultimately, it's about value and the board. 

After the bowl games, the senior bowl game, the combine and pro days? A lot will go up and down but we're looking at interior needs on both sides. Period. It's the two biggest and most obvious areas of weakness on this team right now.

We need more cushin' for the pushin' on both sides my guy. Tighten up!

I'd add edge as well and just as important imo.  We really have nothing after Walker and Allen.  If either go down and we be in trouble on defense and we also need someone to spell them.

You can never have enough pass rushers they say, and I think they are correct. 

We did just spend capital on Abdullah - so we gotta hope that turns into value - but adding another guy (a bigger one preferably) to develop that way would make sense. 

The urgency of a quality IDL disruptor will largely hinge upon what happens when Hamilton is finally conditioned and strong enough to play near his former ability pre-illness. If he lines up after our wildcard week bye and starts compressing the pocket consistently - they can spend less and look for someone to rotate in more effectively than the current second tier DTs on the roster. But if a DT/NT with big upside falls in their lap - they have to consider it regardless. I don't think it is a position they have the luxury of addressing in free agency because of all the guys requiring new deals who are vital to our current roster.

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