Defensive End - How Big is Our Need?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but from what I've read about Carriker he sounds like a guy who plays with a high motor and is stout against the run, but his pass rushing abilities are lacking a bit. That concerns me. Plus I've read that he might be a better fit in a 3-4.Yeah, that's generally the vibe.

Pass rushing skills tend to develop later in a guy's career than any other skills, so while he may never be a dominant pass rusher, theres a chance he gets better at it than scouts ever think he will be.

He's got the blend of size and atleticism we will need to compliment a speed rusher. The fact that he is stout vs. the run peaks my interest in him even more. He seems like the kind of guy that you could stick at LE, and he will keep your line from being weak vs the run for the next 12 years.

My point is that I'd rather take Okoye now, and reevaluate the DE situation later. Strange stuff can happen like Demetric Evans develops mad pass rushing skillz and earns the starting role at LE. Our DT situation has little youth beyond the pair of 6th rounders we took last year (well, 5th in Montgomery's case). If we can grow a starter out of Golston, that'd be fantastic, but 3-4 years down the road, we could have our hands on the most dominating force at DT in the league, and he'd only be 23.

i agree with you about the biggest need being defensive tackle. but, i don't want Branch. so who would be the next choice? thats why i want Adams, to turn up the pressure on opposing quarterbacks

I like Carter, I don't trust Daniels, however, I think if the Skins get a guy who can bring pressure from up the middle then that'll free up the D Ends. I like Okoye, they were talking about him on Sirius yesterday and said he's even quicker off the of snap than Sapp used to be, when he was young. If the Skins pass on Okoye, I'm not gonna be too pleased, however, I really hope they just draft a linemen. If they go corner, I might kill someone. I'm really hoping for Okoye.

i agree with you about the biggest need being defensive tackle. but, i don't want Branch. so who would be the next choice? thats why i want Adams, to turn up the pressure on opposing quarterbacksWhat becomes of Carter then?

I wouldn't be opposed to drafting Carter's replacement now, but what happens when if we were to get a Drew Brees effect, and Carter becomes a machine. You hurt your run defense bad if you play two undersized ends at the same time, so essentially with Adams it's him or Carter. That leaves three DL positions that still need to be filled.

Drafting Okoye gives us the interior pass rush that not even Adams can bring, and he's going to be better vs the run. Theres a chance that Carter doesn't pan out and you still have to fill 3 spots, but at least we are talking about a situation that CAN improve. If we take Adams, he becomes the RE no matter how good Carter becomes, which isn't a good thing.

in my eyes the ends are only as good as the guys playing inside. If our tackles are getting doubled that frees up the end for one on one, or against a TE. Daniels is big and strong and can generate a pass rush one on one, as well as Carter. My most glaring need is for a DT who demands a double. When Grif was at his best two seasons ago down the stretch he demanded doubles and Joe wasn't all that bad. Which led to Daniels having some pretty big games at the end of the season. Plus, if the DT's are taking up space and holding up the guards and center, that frees up the LBs to make more plays against the run. I dont think anyone on our D line was playing up to those standards last year.

DT is definately the way to go. If we can trade down and get a later 1st and 2nd, then we could draft both. The draft is really deep at quality DT's and DE's.

i agree with you about the biggest need being defensive tackle. but, i don't want Branch. so who would be the next choice? thats why i want Adams, to turn up the pressure on opposing quarterbacks


I likes Gaines Adams also but I think the concern is about his size (despite the fact he could easily put on another 6-10 lbs.) and whether he would, or would not have to be a situational player since I'm convinced the team feels it can get another serviceable year out of Daniels. Like I said before DT or DE is fine with me. Adams at DE or Okoye at DT......How I wish we could land them both.....Just call it wishful dreaming.

For those concerned about the size of Adams, he's the same size Dexter Manley was playing at the same position. I like him, it's just a matter of how he would fit into the defensive rotation at this time.

I likes Gaines Adams also but I think the concern is about his size (despite the fact he could easily put on another 6-10 lbs.) and whether he would, or would not have to be a situational player since I'm convinced the team feels it can get another serviceable year out of Daniels. Like I said before DT or DE is fine with me. Adams at DE or Okoye at DT......How I wish we could land them both.....Just call it wishful dreaming.

For those concerned about the size of Adams, he's the same size Dexter Manley was playing at the same position. I like him, it's just a matter of how he would fit into the defensive rotation at this time.

Yeah but today's tackles are bigger than the ones Manley faced.

Yeah but today's tackles are bigger than the ones Manley faced.


For a player who relies on speed as opposed to power and strength, this could be to his advantage. Granted many tackles are bigger now than the one's Manley faced, around the league you see the smaller DE's having success against bigger guys using their speed and quickness.

I think Carter really improved the latter part of the season, if he can pick up where he left off, I think we are in pretty good shape.

DE or DT either way, I also like Adams and Okoye. Can't have it all.

I really like the idea of drafting Branch at DT. He is a beast in run support with tremendous size and power, something the defensive line lacked last year. He wouldn't need to start immediately, but if he rotated with Salevea at DT, he would be ready by (or before midseason). His play would boost the production of the other DL flanking him (Carter and Griffin) and free the linebackers up to make tackles.