Does addition of Alton Robinson change the DL outlook this season?

[RF2044]

With the creative addition of Alton Robinson to the roster, it begs the questions: have we solved our depth / pass rush issue at DE, and can we field an adequate rotation at both defensive line positions?

Here's what we have on the roster:


Defensive Tackle:

• Slayton
• Williams
• Ruff
• Samuels
• Harper
• Grosvenor*

Defensive End:

• Coleman
• Berry
• Black
• Robinson
• Walton
• Jonathan
• Ellis
• Pickard**

Seems as though we'll be able to field a more than functional rotation at both positions. Wish we had Clark at DT, as he seemed to have the physical tools to hold up even against the FSUs and Clemson's of the conference, but depth should be adequate at both spots.

How much will pass rush improve with the addition of Berry / Robinson? Will Black bounce back from injury? Will Walton make any substantive contributions as an edge rusher? Will Jonathan emerge as a platoon contribtor?

At DT, can we hold up at the point of attack? Is Samuels in better shape? How improved is McKinley Williams? And what will his high school teammate, Ruff, bring to the table at a new position? How ready is Harper for significant minutes?

*Probably doesn't play much
**Might not play at all, due to injury

 

[CusefanATL]

Wait... WHAT?!! Pickard may be out for the year?!!? I've been slightly more MIA than usual - but how the heck did I miss that? Last I heard, he was dealing with minor knee stuff.

 

[UnknownOrange]

Wait... WHAT?!! Pickard may be out for the year?!!? I've been slightly more MIA than usual - but how the heck did I miss that? Last I heard, he was dealing with minor knee stuff.

Babers said that "all those guys will be okay" in regards to Black, Pickard, and Servais so... we shall see

 

[Nick44]

We're still 1-2 players short at DT. Losing Clark really hurts. Based on past 5-7 seasons, we are bound to lose at least one more significant contributor due to injury. That only leaves 2-3 players with significant experience. Will likely need help from Harper and/or Grosvenor.

Curious if Elmore can help or Pickard can move inside in emergency situation.

 

[elimunelson]

i'm always very dubious when a diamond is found this late in the process. I'll expect nothing from this guy and if he shows anything, i'll be pleasantly surprised. i have pure faith in the D being better, no matter the #s, on the coach instilling his program/system for a whole year versus last year which was a STEEP learning curve.

Can't wait to fire this up.

 

[Chip]

We're still 1-2 players short at DT. Losing Clark really hurts. Based on past 5-7 seasons, we are bound to lose at least one more significant contributor due to injury. That only leaves 2-3 players with significant experience. Will likely need help from Harper and/or Grosvenor.

Curious if Elmore can help or Pickard can move inside in emergency situation.

Agree. Not enough humans, and outside of Slayton who do really have confidence in? He should be the one practicing with a black jersey.

Robinson is a big get at DE though, I hope he's up to full speed by the Pitt game. (NC State would be good too but Pitt is more critical).

 

[blizz]

You left Morton out (even though he likely will not contribute this year). And I think Grosvenor sees time before Harper.

The addition of Robinson certainly doesn't hurt, and looking at his JUCO highlights he could turn into a major contributor if not an outright starter and impact player in short order. I'm more bullish on the D-line with him on board. Depth at DE is decent if Black and Pickard are able to work back from injury. Depth at DT is still very thin, any injury would be bad to outright disastrous. Will be a white knuckler with that group this season, but I'm anxious to see what we get from the younger guys and newcomers. I think Ruff could break out this year and Grosvenor has some potential. Williams has taken a big step in development, very excited to see what he does on the field. Definitely need 2 to 3 solid adds to this group this cycle.

 

[Nick44]

Agree. Not enough humans, and outside of Slayton who do really have confidence in? He should be the one practicing with a black jersey.

Robinson is a big get at DE though, I hope he's up to full speed by the Pitt game. (NC State would be good too but Pitt is more critical).

Agree. Slayton is the most valuable player on this team aside from Dungey. MVP of the defense.

McKinley Williams is getting my vote for most improved. Think he could be a star.

First team defensive line could be very solid this year. But such little depth could determine bowl eligibility.

 

[texascpa]

Babers said that "all those guys will be okay" in regards to Black, Pickard, and Servais so... we shall see

And yet Pickard is still in a brace that doesn't allow his knee to bend. I'm not optimistic.

 

[Chip]

Agree. Slayton is the most valuable player on this team aside from Dungey. MVP of the defense.

McKinley Williams is getting my vote for most improved. Think he could be a star.

First team defensive line could be very solid this year. But such little depth could determine bowl eligibility.

Yeah I think it's like the OL. It's a problem that will be solved with time (unless we stay DQ happy). But short term, line of scrimmage play could be ugly this year.

 

[SoBristol]

Ideal depth at DT would be 2 5th years, backed by 2 juniors, and a couple of all league candidates in the mix. We don't have that.

But what we have at DT is better than in 2015 and 2016, and what we have at DE is better than what we had in 2016. That is true not only at DL but through out the D.

 

[retro44]

Adding Robinson should be a Hell yeah, but time will tell for sure. His credentials and films say yes.

 

[orangepassion]

Feel better about DE than DT. Don't like the depth there.

 

[Consigliere]

I think there are a number of X factors here. I'm hoping at the very least that Robinson can be a situational pass rusher at one end and reduce the need to blitz extensively to get to the QB. Thought Samuels looked quite a bit more mobile during the Spring game and then again at Fan Fest then he was last fall. I'm confident he can contribute as more than a run stopping, clog the middle NT. I felt a 3 man rotation of Slayton, Williams and Clark would have been very solid, so yes, losing Clark is a devastating blow but a more ready to run Samuels mitigates a little of that. Beyond that it impacts flexibility as I think Slayton and even Williams could have taken some snaps at DE. Athletic enough and the size would be very helpful against power running teams. Would be nice to see one of the other 3 DTs step in. Ruff might be the most ready but a bit undersized. We'll see if the added weight has affected his mobility and if his quickness can offset what would ideally be another 20 lbs. of muscle mass. And I don't expect to see Elmore on defense at all. Sounds like he will have a role on offense.
At DE I see more options but fewer sure things. Despite Dino's comments I don't expect to Pickard to contribute at least early in the year. Brace he is wearing is VERY cumbersome and he has missed virtually all of camp. Would be surprised to see him until mid season and then only if there is a need. Think he would be a candidate for a sixth year, no? Can Robinson be more than a situational player as mentioned above? Will Black / Coleman make sophomore leaps? Love Walton's athleticism and aggressiveness. Will it translate to the new position? Can Berry be plug and play? Will Jonathan's physical maturity overcome a lack of experience? Answer 3 of the 5 with yesses and I feel pretty good. LBs will be even better than last year and looking for a HUGE jump in the defensive backfield. With some productivity up front this can be a pretty representative ACC defense.

 

[JackBauer44]

Love the DE pickup and players we have there. Berry is going to be very good and surprise people. He has been getting reps with the 1's since the. Grinning of practice. Unfortunately, I'm not too optimistic about pickard, which is a shame. I thought this was the year he was going to put it together. He has done good things with his body.

Staff is very high on Williams in the middle this year. They expect big things. DT could be very good, but very thin as well.

 

[bcubs9497]

I think there are a number of X factors here. I'm hoping at the very least that Robinson can be a situational pass rusher at one end and reduce the need to blitz extensively to get to the QB. Thought Samuels looked quite a bit more mobile during the Spring game and then again at Fan Fest then he was last fall. I'm confident he can contribute as more than a run stopping, clog the middle NT. I felt a 3 man rotation of Slayton, Williams and Clark would have been very solid, so yes, losing Clark is a devastating blow but a more ready to run Samuels mitigates a little of that. Beyond that it impacts flexibility as I think Slayton and even Williams could have taken some snaps at DE. Athletic enough and the size would be very helpful against power running teams. Would be nice to see one of the other 3 DTs step in. Ruff might be the most ready but a bit undersized. We'll see if the added weight has affected his mobility and if his quickness can offset what would ideally be another 20 lbs. of muscle mass. And I don't expect to see Elmore on defense at all. Sounds like he will have a role on offense.
At DE I see more options but fewer sure things. Despite Dino's comments I don't expect to Pickard to contribute at least early in the year. Brace he is wearing is VERY cumbersome and he has missed virtually all of camp. Would be surprised to see him until mid season and then only if there is a need. Think he would be a candidate for a sixth year, no? Can Robinson be more than a situational player as mentioned above? Will Black / Coleman make sophomore leaps? Love Walton's athleticism and aggressiveness. Will it translate to the new position? Can Berry be plug and play? Will Jonathan's physical maturity overcome a lack of experience? Answer 3 of the 5 with yesses and I feel pretty good. LBs will be even better than last year and looking for a HUGE jump in the defensive backfield. With some productivity up front this can be a pretty representative ACC defense.

Slayton is THE one that has to stay intact. If he goes down, doubt seriously that the D will be able to defend the run much, or collapse the pocket.

 

[texascpa]

Slayton is THE one that has to stay intact. If he goes down, doubt seriously that the D will be able to defend the run much, or collapse the pocket.

bcubs, how's Steven doing? Does he have to sit this year?

 

[bcubs9497]

bcubs, how's Steven doing? Does he have to sit this year?

Answer to the appeal has YET to come in. We were supposed to get an answer on Friday. His coaches are operating on the assumption that he'll be cleared and so have him practicing with the 1s.

 

[javadoc]

Answer to the appeal has YET to come in. We were supposed to get an answer on Friday. His coaches are operating on the assumption that he'll be cleared and so have him practicing with the 1s.

This is a film the NCAA should stop rebooting. It has never been good, and never will be.

 

[Rocco]

Bear Williams is going to be really, really good.

 

[bcubs9497]

Bear Williams is going to be really, really good.

He's a good 3-tech. Not strong enough to play NT. Can see Slayton moving to the NT spot and Williams at the 3-tech. That'd be a great pairing. As a matter of fact, I'm betting that's going to happen.

 

[Ish88888]

Wait... WHAT?!! Pickard may be out for the year?!!? I've been slightly more MIA than usual - but how the heck did I miss that? Last I heard, he was dealing with minor knee stuff.

Yup, sad, kid seems a bit soft. Has had opportunity

Agree. Not enough humans, and outside of Slayton who do really have confidence in? He should be the one practicing with a black jersey.

Robinson is a big get at DE though, I hope he's up to full speed by the Pitt game. (NC State would be good too but Pitt is more critical).

Agree. Not enough humans, and outside of Slayton who do really have confidence in? He should be the one practicing with a black jersey.

Robinson is a big get at DE though, I hope he's up to full speed by the Pitt game. (NC State would be good too but Pitt is more critical).

By the Pitt game? These 20 yo kids are machines. Assuming he was keeping in decent shape and waiting for an opportunity, and that opportunity is here and now; cant imagine it taking more than 2-3 weeks to get in football shape and understand the scheme. Love the pickup, much needed.

 

[Ish88888]

We're still 1-2 players short at DT. Losing Clark really hurts. Based on past 5-7 seasons, we are bound to lose at least one more significant contributor due to injury. That only leaves 2-3 players with significant experience. Will likely need help from Harper and/or Grosvenor.

Curious if Elmore can help or Pickard can move inside in emergency situation.

I have mentioned elmore previously for DT help, some on the board didn't like the idea. Maybe they know he might not have the mentality to play in the trenches. Also, pickard has proven to be a bit soft and cant put on the weight to slide inside.

 

[bcubs9497]

We're still 1-2 players short at DT. Losing Clark really hurts. Based on past 5-7 seasons, we are bound to lose at least one more significant contributor due to injury. That only leaves 2-3 players with significant experience. Will likely need help from Harper and/or Grosvenor.

Curious if Elmore can help or Pickard can move inside in emergency situation.

I'd say keep Elmore as a RB, use Grosvenor or Harper as a backup if needed. Pickard will never go to the interior because he'll never get past 260ish. And, pray mightily that Slayton and/or Williams don't go down.

 

[bigmike]

Don't think the term soft is on the mark for JP.