Quote:Michael Bennett is an absolute monster, period. Avril is better on one leg than Branch and Clemons are combined... and then some.

 

With Marks hurt, we don't have anybody who's even close to those two guys.

 

The scheme can absolutely work, but you need a nasty front four for it to really work. Even with the weapons the Hawks have in the secondary (Thomas, Sherman, Kam), there has been plenty of times this season where their front 4 has not gotten any pressure and the coverage was completely smoked.

 

When the personnel and this specific scheme is on point and rolling, it's great. When it's not, it's completely awful.

 

Another issue I really have is, why was Chris Smith a healthy scratch... He was one of 3 players last week who recorded a pressure on Rivers and you scratch him from this game? I understand he might not be the answer, but Branch is just logging reps at this point and Clemons is completely done.

 

The old saying, "play till you can't do it anymore, and then play one more year" is literally what Clemons is doing right now. Going through the motions and collecting his paycheck. It's not his fault, he has had a good career. He has just hit the father time wall and it's very clear to see.

 

 

  I realize that PFF is by no means the best indicator of how a player performed in a game.   But being that PFF puts out grades from every NFL game,  I believe that their grades for Michael Bennett and Frank Clark are going to be through the roof for the Seahawks game in Minnesota.    Clark was dealing with a hamstring injury earlier in the season.   But now that he's healthy,  the Seahawks have another versatile Defensive Lineman who can make the life of opposing QBs miserable.   Lack of enough depth up front,  especially on the edge,  is no longer an issue for the Seattle.    The Seahawks overall Defensive performance was as good as any as I have seen in the NFL this season.  

 

 We are in complete agreement that it's essential for the front 4 to play at a high level for this scheme to truly have a chance to work.    I have no idea what direction the Jaguars will be going in for the 2016 season.  If they stay the course with Gus Bradley though,  in addition to having Dante Fowler Jr.  and S.D. Marks back next year,  there's no doubt that more options up front are needed for the Jaguars to get enough heat on the QB,  with regularity.    I've believed for a long time that much like with starting pitchers in MLB,  you can never have enough quality pass rushers.   I think back to how Jimmy Johnson rotated his Defensive Lineman up front with the Cowboys.  They were deep and fresh.  A lethal combo for the opposition.

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