Solomon Thomas--Stanford

Originally posted by tjd808185:
I don't think the 5-2 changes anything. We're still looking for an Irvin and a Avril/ Beasley. They want the sam to have blitz potential. It doesn't surprise me some might see Thomas as too small for the 5. Outside of Bennett it's played by 300 pounders. That's the dilemma with the tweener it's always a struggle to see where he best fits.

Like who?

Bennett has easily been the best guy for that scheme on the whole DL by far. You want to point out the other guys who haven't had the same impact and say they're a better fit?

The dilemma with a tweener is usually a dilemma because they're kind of one dimensional so you run into issues because do you have them put on more weight and have them lose speed/agility or do you have them drop weight and lose strength and get pushed around?

Thomas is only a tweener due to his weight. The kid is strong and he's very athletic for that weight. He doesn't have to drop weight or put on weight to be successful. Once again this is not a Tank Carradine situation. Thomas uses the bullrush and speed rush. He's not a one dimensional player.

If you watched the NC game I think whoever the announcer was said it best something like "What position will he play? Football"

This dude just plays, he makes plays, he hustles, and he'll inspire others with any ounce of competitive nature to give their best when he's playing on the same field as them.

You're playing the "I don't want to just forget our first rounder from the other year and I want to add first rounders at other positions" but that's how teams get in trouble.

Originally posted by Ninerfan84:
Sure, but let's not pretend that Thomas is the perfect prospect on the inside. He's undersized for any interior DL position in base, which is why he is more athletic, has a better motor, creates better leverage, etc. Aaron Donald is undersized himself and he is about 20 lbs heavier than Thomas.

I like Thomas as a player but I think he belongs on the outside at least in base. At this point, if we get a great trade offer I'm moving down.

Donald is also 2 inches shorter and actually only 12 lbs heavier.

I think the whole idea of a guy like Thomas playing inside is for his pass rush ability, not for his run stop though he certainly does that very well. And outside is the best fit for us and where he makes the most sense. The fact that he CAN play inside just adds value to him.

Originally posted by genus49:

Like who?

Bennett has easily been the best guy for that scheme on the whole DL by far. You want to point out the other guys who haven't had the same impact and say they're a better fit?

The dilemma with a tweener is usually a dilemma because they're kind of one dimensional so you run into issues because do you have them put on more weight and have them lose speed/agility or do you have them drop weight and lose strength and get pushed around?

Thomas is only a tweener due to his weight. The kid is strong and he's very athletic for that weight. He doesn't have to drop weight or put on weight to be successful. Once again this is not a Tank Carradine situation. Thomas uses the bullrush and speed rush. He's not a one dimensional player.

If you watched the NC game I think whoever the announcer was said it best something like "What position will he play? Football"

This dude just plays, he makes plays, he hustles, and he'll inspire others with any ounce of competitive nature to give their best when he's playing on the same field as them.

You're playing the "I don't want to just forget our first rounder from the other year and I want to add first rounders at other positions" but that's how teams get in trouble.

Red Bryant was great too and he's (Sea) 330, Tyson Alolou (Jax) 300, Babineaux 300. If you read any description of the d they want a heavier guy there but as Bennett shows Thomas can play the position and he can still grow into a 290-300 pounder.

Also try and follow along because I've always said he'd be a great 5 prospect but we may end up with Buckner there (that's in the air right now). I have used the weight argument as a blast at leo because that's a spot Thomas only nicked in college but strongside end/ tackle yeah you can point to the game tape.

Anyone saying we couldn't afford to pay both Thomas and buck in a couple yrs...JPP just got extended plus they have snacks and Vernon long term.

People need to stop comparing our d to Seattle and jags cause end of the day we have no idea what RS wants he's never been a DC before. I'm sure he's gonna put his own wrinkles on what he wants and use what he's learned in Texas, Seattle, and Jacksonville

Originally posted by tjd808185:

Originally posted by Ninerfan84:

As Heroism mentioned he moved to SAM last year which I did not know. The reason he moved to SAM is because he couldn't hang against the run on a T but still primarily was a pass rusher as you brought up. We have guys now who can handle the run on the edge as a LEO plus there are LEO prospects out there that we can add. I just don't think having Thomas as our primary outside pass rusher is the right move.

It's the coverage aspects that you seem to be missing on. Beasley is much lighter and more athletic than Thomas. 250, 4.53. Even for 20% of plays you don't want Thomas covering.

I don't see it being a problem. It's not like we'll be asking him to cover TEs one on one and his main responsibility is attacking from the edge.

Originally posted by NYniner85:
Anyone saying we couldn't afford to pay both Thomas and buck in a couple yrs...JPP just got extended plus they have snacks and Vernon long term.

People need to stop comparing our d to Seattle and jags cause end of the day we have no idea what RS wants he's never been a DC before. I'm sure he's gonna put his own wrinkles on what he wants and use what he's learned in Texas, Seattle, and Jacksonville

Here's to Thomas blowing off his hand and becoming half the player he once was.

Originally posted by tjd808185:

Originally posted by NYniner85:

Anyone saying we couldn't afford to pay both Thomas and buck in a couple yrs...JPP just got extended plus they have snacks and Vernon long term.

People need to stop comparing our d to Seattle and jags cause end of the day we have no idea what RS wants he's never been a DC before. I'm sure he's gonna put his own wrinkles on what he wants and use what he's learned in Texas, Seattle, and Jacksonville

Here's to Thomas blowing off his hand and becoming half the player he once was.

Great thing about Thomas is he's not a dumbass like JPP

Originally posted by NYniner85:
Great thing about Thomas is he's not a dumbass like JPP

I meant that in terms of I doubt we'll get him on a 3 finger discount.

Originally posted by tjd808185:
Red Bryant was great too and he's (Sea) 330, Tyson Alolou (Jax) 300, Babineaux 300. If you read any description of the d they want a heavier guy there but as Bennett shows Thomas can play the position and he can still grow into a 290-300 pounder.

Also try and follow along because I've always said he'd be a great 5 prospect but we may end up with Buckner there (that's in the air right now). I have used the weight argument as a blast at leo because that's a spot Thomas only nicked in college but strongside end/ tackle yeah you can point to the game tape.

Red Bryant was never "great" neither are Aloulou or Babineaux. Michael Bennett took that defense from very good to historic.

Things change. Smart coaches take special players and put them in positions where they can help the team. Justin Smith was too small to play 3-4 DE and yet there he was being a straight up stud for us. But if you read the description of a 3-4 DE they were typically bigger guys who just tied up blockers while the linebackers did all the work.

Once again we need to stop worrying about where he'll play. He'll make plays wherever he plays and playmakers on the DL are crucial and help teams win.

Originally posted by genus49:
Red Bryant was never "great" neither are Aloulou or Babineaux. Michael Bennett took that defense from very good to historic.

Things change. Smart coaches take special players and put them in positions where they can help the team. Justin Smith was too small to play 3-4 DE and yet there he was being a straight up stud for us. But if you read the description of a 3-4 DE they were typically bigger guys who just tied up blockers while the linebackers did all the work.

Once again we need to stop worrying about where he'll play. He'll make plays wherever he plays and playmakers on the DL are crucial and help teams win.

No, the d was ranked 1 in points while he was in TB. It was great and then went to historic with the additions of Bennett and Avril too. The driving force behind them has always been the secondary though. Which is rare but in this case true. Yeah where he plays is a pretty big issue. You just can't think we'll put him somewhere who cares if his skills don't align.

Originally posted by tjd808185:

Originally posted by NYniner85:

Great thing about Thomas is he's not a dumbass like JPP

I meant that in terms of I doubt we'll get him on a 3 finger discount.

Lol nice...$54 million guaranteed isn't a discount though

Originally posted by tjd808185:

No, the d was ranked 1 in points while he was in TB. It was great and then went to historic with the additions of Bennett and Avril too. The driving force behind them has always been the secondary though. Which is rare but in this case true. Yeah where he plays is a pretty big issue. You just can't think we'll put him somewhere who cares if his skills don't align.

And his skills align to pretty much everywhere on that line he's played zero to 9 tech at Stanford...he creates mismatches on a weekly basis.

I thought you were gonna take a back seat on the Solomon debate since there's been a ton of push for him at two in NFL circles

Originally posted by NYniner85:
Lol nice...$54 million guaranteed isn't a discount though

It's a nice contract but not the $ he would of got without the accident. Miller got 70 mil guaranteed.

Originally posted by NYniner85:
And his skills align to pretty much everywhere on that line he's played zero to 9 tech at Stanford...he creates mismatches on a weekly basis.

I thought you were gonna take a back seat on the Solomon debate since there's been a ton of push for him at two in NFL circles

I don't think they align at Leo especially for a #2 pick. You want Avril athleticism sub 4.6. Combine that with him playing interior, most scouting reports kicking him inside and I don't see it. At least not there. At strong side there's a very good argument for him.

Originally posted by NYniner85:

Anyone saying we couldn't afford to pay both Thomas and buck in a couple yrs...JPP just got extended plus they have snacks and Vernon long term.

People need to stop comparing our d to Seattle and jags cause end of the day we have no idea what RS wants he's never been a DC before. I'm sure he's gonna put his own wrinkles on what he wants and use what he's learned in Texas, Seattle, and Jacksonville

It's a stupid idea anyways. Hey let's not make our line beastly because we won't be able to pay them anyways in five years. Should we draft players with lower ceilings because we can afford to keep them forever? Let's shoot for being mediocre so we can keep the band together.

With that logic. Why even look for a solid group of receivers or a solid group of an o line? No way you could afford to pay each of those linemen 8-12 mil a year anyways.