Distant Early Warning: Defensive Tackle

January 21, 2009 at 12:00pm by Scott   •  6 Comments »

I covered the entire offensive line in one entry because the needs there were relatively few and the analysis was straightforward. The Bucs’ defensive line, though, is a different story. A sadder one. For example, if the offensive line was Lassie, the defensive line would be Old Yeller. Sorry, didn’t mean to make you think about dogs getting shot. Anyway, that’s why we’re splitting up the defensive line. Prior to Friday, I would have said that defensive tackle is definitely the biggest need on the team. But after all the personnel changes and the fact that we don’t know who the defensive coordinator is going to be or even what kind of scheme they’re going to run, it’s a little harder to predict what the team needs are going to be. Let’s assume for now that they’re sticking with a standard Tampa 2 as their base and go from there.

The Bucs ended the season with three guys listed at defensive tackle on the roster. I say it like that because a lot of these linemen rotate positions based on need and situation, so it’s not uncommon for a defensive end to line up on the inside from time to time, but we’ll leave that wrinkle out for now. The starters were Jovan Haye at under tackle and Chris Hovan on the nose, with Ryan Sims backing up.

Monte Kiffin saw something in Haye that told him to give him a shot in 2007 even when he had relatively little production in 2006. That worked out and Haye started all 16 games, getting 68 tackles and 6 sacks. No one thought he was the next Warren Sapp yet, but he was at least getting the taste of Anthony McFarland out of our mouths. And I’m sorry for that analogy. But in 2008, Haye’s production dropped way off. His tackles were cut in half and he had zero sacks. The weird thing is that when he was out for a couple games with an injury, the entire defense seemed to fall to pieces and when he came back, things picked back up again. I refuse to believe that opposing offenses are so intimidated by Haye that they adjust their entire scheme around him. I’m chalking it up to coincidence at this point. It’s too bad for Haye, too, because all last year and into this year they were trying to get Haye to sign a long-term contract but he wouldn’t. His current deal expires next month and the offer the Bucs were making is off the table now. And because Haye had such a shit season, his free agency value is going to be pretty modest.

Sims had 16 tackles and 1.5 sacks in relief duty this year, which seems to be what he’s best at. He’s been a good change up and a fresh set on legs, but when he came in as the starter for Haye, he did nothing. The under tackle position in the Tampa 2 is not meant to tie up blockers or stuff the run. It’s meant to get pressure on the quarterback up the middle and, if it happens to be a running play, disrupt it in the backfield — on the way to the quarterback. Neither Haye nor Sims is getting the kind of pressure the Bucs need to make this defense work, and both will be allowed to test free agency.

Hovan has been a rock at the nose and is doing exactly what he needs to be doing there. Last year he had 43 tackles and 1 sack, which is good but down a little from previous seasons. He was also out one game for the first time since he’s been in Tampa, but he came back quickly. Jimmy Wilkerson started in his place for one game, but is more suited to defensive end and a reserve one at that (I’ll cover him when I cover the rest of the ends.) The line wasn’t the same with Hovan out. He’s signed through 2010 and I’m pretty sure he’s not going anywhere next year, although he will be 31 when the new season starts.

So, we all know who the top free agent defensive tackle is, right? Albert Haynesworth was Tennessee’s franchise player in 2008 and had incentives in his contract that allowed him to avoid being franchised again. The Titans are working to try and get him signed to a long-term deal before he hits free agency, and they have the cap room to do it. But he may prefer to wait what he can get on the open market. Chances are good that he will be the highest-paid defensive player in the league in a couple months. Haynesworth himself had 51 tackles and 8.5 sacks in 2008, which by themselves are good but not “best ever” numbers. His real value comes in his complete disruption of the offensive line and his ability to make his other teammates better simply by his presence. He’s so big (6-6, 320) and so powerful that quarterbacks have a tendency to scramble a second or two before they have to and run right into Kyle Vanden Bosch (4.5 sacks in 10 games) or Jacob Ford (7 sacks in 14 games with only 3 starts).

Haynesworth comes with some baggage. Since he’s a Volunteer, I’ve had to opportunity to watch him closely. He has always been kind of an angry dude, getting into more than his share of fights, coming at a teammate with a big metal pole, getting benched for half a game, kicking Justin Hartwig (another teammate) in the chest during a fight. And then there was the Andre Gurode incident in 2006. Lest we forget, check out this video. The best view is at about 1:48.

So, yeah. To his credit, Haynesworth immediately apologized and actually sounded like he meant it. He was handed a five-game suspension (the longest ever for an on-field incident) and did not appeal, saying, “For what I did, whatever they give me, I deserve it. I did it, and it’s wrong.” He hasn’t had an incident since then and has made the Pro Bowl the past two seasons.

The questions Raheem Morris has to ask himself are if he thinks Haynesworth has the potential for more trouble, if he was just playing at a high level for a contract, and if he wants to be the guy to set the high-water mark for defensive tackles in the league. If it were me, I would do it. I would probably do it even before signing a quarterback to make sure I had the cap room. If Morris is sticking with the Tampa 2, then defensive tackle has to be the #1 concern to get resolved in the offseason and Haynesworth is the best player available to do it. If you’re okay with the Jerramy Stevens reclamation project, you should be okay with Haynesworth who already has two years of good behavior behind him to build on. It can’t be a stupidly big contract, though. Having the cap room to sign these top shelf guys is nice and you don’t want to burn it all on one player. This team has a lot of needs that have to be addressed, but this is the most important one.

Other guys out there:

Rocky Bernard: Has been a good under tackle for Seattle in the past, but has faded in the last couple years. His run defense has gotten better, but his sacks have been suffering. He may be worth a look if the Bucs think they can improve on Sims for the job of role player.

Chris Canty: Canty is a defensive end in a 3-4 scheme in Dallas, but could be an effective under tackle. Maybe. He’s 304, but he’s 6-7 which would be pretty tall for a tackle, but he’s got strength and speed. Canty will be in demand, though, and it may not be worth the high price to take a chance on a guy that we don’t know will fit the scheme. IF WE KNEW WHAT THE SCHEME WAS, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO ANSWER SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS. I’d look for Miami to make a run at Canty this offseason.

Shaun Cody: Cody has been a major disappointment for Detroit since he was drafted in 2005, and that’s really saying a lot. He was a second-rounder and was going to be a franchise under tackle. Instead, he’s a backup nose with 1.5 sacks in four years. If anyone still thinks the raw talent is there, he might get some play, but I’d rather the Bucs stick with what they have than take him.

Tank Johnson: Johnson played this season as a backup nose tackle in a 3-4, which is just silly. He’s not a nose and Wade Phillips should know that. The last two seasons for Johnson have been pretty much shit, but he had some good games in Chicago before he was discovered to have an unhealthy fascination with guns. Personally, I don’t care for him and I don’t think this is the year to be taking on projects.

John Thornton: Thornton will not be re-signed by the Bengals after serving his six-year sentence. On a team of criminals and attention whores, Thornton is an exception; he’s a high-character born leader who plays pretty good under tackle. If the Bucs don’t intend to re-sign Kevin Carter, they should sign Thornton who will take Carter’s place as elder-statesman backup. It doesn’t matter that they play different positions; there’s enough flexibility and Morris is going to need a locker room leader on that defensive line in addition to Hovan.

The draft has a bunch of talented defensive tackles all throughout, so I fully expect the Bucs to pick at least one high (first or second rounder) and then perhaps a later round one. Everyone is talking about B.J. Raji (Boston College) and I think he would make a great nose tackle in either a 3-4 or a 4-3. But the Bucs don’t need a nose that high and I wouldn’t trust him as an under tackle. Sorry, but you need a student of the game to play that position, and I think Raji is all brawn. That’s also why I’d pass on Peria Jerry (Ole Miss), although I’d take Jerry if I had to pick between the two. Jerry likes the game more and never seems to quit on a play. Plus I like him better as a backfield penetrator.

No, if it were me, I’d take Ziggy Hood (Missouri). Hood has a great punch, is fast, and is an instinctive defensive tackle. His main problems are technique-related, and those can be coached out of him. He was voted team captain at Missouri, is a natural leader and is just the right size to be an under tackle in the 4-3. I’ll bet he’s a great interview. He’s not rated as high as the other guys and will definitely be available in the second round… possibly the third. But I really think he’s the best fit for the current Tampa 2 scheme.

Want a couple steals and project pieces for the coaches? Vance Walker (Georgia Tech) won’t go high, but he’s got all the tools to be great. He’s got an attitude and can get into the backfield in a hurry. His main thing is that he’s not all that strong. He needs time with a pro trainer to help him shed blocks after the initial punch. He’s also had ankle problems this year, which will cause him to drop some.

A guy who won’t get drafted is Mitch King (Iowa). He’s been playing DT, but he’s too light to do it in the NFL. The guy runs a 4.75, though, and if he can put on another 15 pounds or so and keep his speed, he can be very good as a reserve DT. He may be better off losing a little weight and playing linebacker. But either way, this dude is fucking intense. He loves the game and all he wants out of life is to beat the shit out of quarterbacks. He needs to have his enthusiasm reigned in a little because he sometimes plays too aggressive — like a smaller Jeremy Trueblood. He may not ever amount to much, but if you’re looking for a guy who’s got some physical skills and will pour everything he has onto the field for you, he could be worth a UFA contract.

Both Sims and Haye are free agents and they probably both won’t be back, so there are some holes to fill and upgrades to make. The Bucs should seriously go after Haynesworth as the franchise under tackle and, if necessary, scrimp on a couple other areas. If they don’t and decide to put that money into, say, a quarterback or something, they absolutely need to take Hood in the second and another developmental guy lower. In that case, they also need to ensure that they re-sign Haye or Sims (probably Haye) or go after one of the other free agents like Canty or Thornton to keep the depth up.