Solomon Thomas--Stanford

Originally posted by NYniner85:

we just brought in 3 new WRs and can still draft someone like Zay Jones who IMO would be a great fit for us...this isn't a one yr rebuild you're not gonna get everything you want yr one.

why can't we go Solomon at 1, Bowser at 34, and move up for Zay Jones? We have the picks to move around or even trade down in the 2nd to land more picks.

From what I've read the UT or 3-tech is one of the most important positions for a 4-3 under.

http://www.uwdawgpound.com/2013/9/13/4727200/the-4-3-under-defining-the-defense

"This is the defense's namesake. He lines up at the 3-tech on the weak-side. The Under Tackle (UT) is an undersized DT who gets by on speed, quickness and technique. Sheer girth is not very important for this position, atypical for an interior line position. A lot of UTs are former DE's who have shifted inside. Now, not all UT's are the small, quick type. It depends on what the defensive coordinator wants for the situation and position.

If the defense is focused on stopping the run, oftentimes the UT will be a larger defender. He could be similar to a 3-4 DE. There is versatility in how this position could be used. The first star UT was Hall of Famer Warren Sapp. Sapp is an anomaly, a player with great size and strength in addition to quickness.

Typically, a DC wants his best interior pass rusher at the UT. Because he will be in a lot of one-on-one situations against a guard, the UT should be able to knife his way into the backfield and fluster the QB in addition to penetrating on run plays.

One of the main ideas of the 4-3 Under is to get defenders in one-on-one situations. Take a look again at the 4-3 Under on the chalkboard. How does a team (from 21 personnel, or even 12) double team anyone other than the NT? While the defense is predicated on getting one-on-one matchups, it is specifically designed to get the UT and the WDE into one-on-one situations.

When running a 4-3 Under, it is very, very, very important that the 3-tech UT is able to beat solo blocks consistently. More than consistently, frequently. Because the defense is so predicated on getting him those looks, it becomes almost necessary that he is able to dominate single blocks.

In case you haven't noticed: the 3-tech under tackle is one of if not the number one most important player on this entire defense. His ability to rush the passer from the interior in addition to beating his blocker in hopes to stopping runs in the backfield is what the defense if predicated on."

That's what we just gave Earl Mitchell 4 mil a year for. Armstead and Blair are also perfect for this role. Seattle spent a 2nd round pick on the player to fill that role for them BTW.

I still think Mike Williams impacts this team more than Soloman Thomas. Zay Jones can't hold Mike Williams jock. They aren't even in the same stratosphere.

We can continue to build a strength and keep a weakness weak or we can build a nice strong team at all positions.

Originally posted by SteveYoung:

That's what we just gave Earl Mitchell 4 mil a year for.

That is what you are assuming. I think it is more likely that Mitchell goes back to playing nose tackle like he did for most of his career and the long term UT us yet to be on this roster.

Originally posted by SteveYoung:

That's what we just gave Earl Mitchell 4 mil a year for. Armstead and Blair are also perfect for this role.

Armstead is best suited to be a strongside DE. He won't be playing there so that leaves him 3T....I see him as anything but perfect for that role.

We can continue to build a strength and keep a weakness weak or we can build a nice strong team at all positions.

The DL is no more of a strength than WR is. Its even more of a question mark. At least at WR you have multiple guys who gave been productive at the NFL level.

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

That is what you are assuming. I think it is more likely that Mitchell goes back to playing nose tackle like he did for most of his career and the long term UT us yet to be on this roster.

If we have Earl Mitchell at NT we are in trouble.

and hasn't earned a positive run-defense grade from Pro Football Focus in a half decade

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/5884/earl-mitchell

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:
Armstead is best suited to ve a strongside DE. He won't be playing there so that leaves him 3T....I see him as anything but perfect for that role.

The DL is no more of a strength than WR is. Its even more of a question mark. At least at WR you have multiple guys who gave been productive at the NFL level.

Garcon who else? There's no receiver worth taking so I'm not arguing for 1 but our receiving core is hot garbage right now.

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Armstead is best suited to ve a strongside DE. He won't be playing there so that leaves him 3T....I see him as anything but perfect for that role.

The DL is no more of a strength than WR is. Its even more of a question mark. At least at WR you have multiple guys who gave been productive at the NFL level.

Armstead is a 3 tech. Which is the UT on this scheme. Give him 2 gaps to attack and he will dominate. If he has to diagnose where the play is going he will struggle.

Buckner is our strongside DE or 5 tech.

Originally posted by SteveYoung:
That's what we just gave Earl Mitchell 4 mil a year for. Armstead and Blair are also perfect for this role. Seattle spent a 2nd round pick on the player to fill that role for them BTW.

I still think Mike Williams impacts this team more than Soloman Thomas. Zay Jones can't hold Mike Williams jock. They aren't even in the same stratosphere.

We can continue to build a strength and keep a weakness weak or we can build a nice strong team at all positions.

and I'd bet money if they had the 2nd pick in the draft Pete would be all over him....Mitchell means zero in the grand scheme of this team. Go look at his contract it's basically a one yr deal.

yeah your right Zay Jones is just the most productive WR in the history of division 1 football...he's faster and can run routes around Mike Williams...Jones value is incredible based on his production. I like Williams but no were near two.

Originally posted by SteveYoung:

Armstead is a 3 tech. Which is the UT on this scheme. Give him 2 gaps to attack and he will dominate. If he has to diagnose where the play is going he will struggle.

I dont agree. I think Armstead from what we've seen from him thus far is an awkward fit at best. What you need from that spot is someone quick who is always attacking. Armstead isnt about that life.

Originally posted by SteveYoung:

If we have Earl Mitchell at NT we are in trouble.


http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/5884/earl-mitchell

Probably why Earl Mitchell is a short term stopgap. He isnt very good. He makes sense as a guy to help install the scheme, he doesnt make sense as a long term investment.

Originally posted by tjd808185:

Garcon who else? There's no receiver worth taking so I'm not arguing for 1 but our receiving core is hot garbage right now.

We have Garcon for our X and a Goodwin and Robinson will be ideal wide side receivers. Kerley will man the slot. We don't have an X which is a vital cog in Shanahans O.

Who will impact this team more? Soloman Thomas in a rotational role or Mike Williams demanding double teams opening up Garcon and Co. and taking that 8th guy out of the box opening up running lanes.

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

I dont agree. I think Armstead from what we've seen from him thus far is an awkward fit at best. What you need from that spot is someone quick who is always attacking. Armstead isnt about that life.

He wasn't allowed to attack in our previous schemes. He was made to read and react and he wasn't capable of doing it. Even Lynch said as much.

Give him two gaps to attack and his length and size will be impossible for a guard to block.

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Probably why Earl Mitchell is a short term stopgap. He isnt very good. He makes sense as a guy to help install the scheme, he doesnt make sense as a long term investment.

But he still won't be a NT in this scheme.

Originally posted by SteveYoung:

We have Garcon for our X and a Goodwin and Robinson will be ideal wide side receivers. Kerley will man the slot. We don't have an X which is a vital cog in Shanahans O.

Who will impact this team more? Soloman Thomas in a rotational role or Mike Williams demanding double teams opening up Garcon and Co. and taking that 8th guy out of the box opening up running lanes.

Youre talking about Williams as if he is Julio Jones. He isnt that level of prospect and that kind of rare WR prospect is the only kind youre taking at #2.


I think Thomas has better upside to be a special player in the NFL than Williams does. Clemson barely skipped a beat without Williams a year ago. He's a borderline #1 guy but he isnt overly explosive, he isnt a great route runner, he wont be able to just outleap and outmuscle DBs the way he did in college.


He is a good prospect but isnt particularly elite the way guys like Julio Jones, AJ Green and Calvin Johnson so clearly were. He has no business going in the top 10, let alone at #2.

Originally posted by SteveYoung:

But he still won't be a NT in this scheme.

Did Lynch, Shanahan or Saleh come out and say that he won't play NT?

Originally posted by SteveYoung:
We have Garcon for our X and a Goodwin and Robinson will be ideal wide side receivers. Kerley will man the slot. We don't have an X which is a vital cog in Shanahans O.

Who will impact this team more? Soloman Thomas in a rotational role or Mike Williams demanding double teams opening up Garcon and Co. and taking that 8th guy out of the box opening up running lanes.

Soloman wouldn't be rotational. Armstead would. We'd have 2 options with Thomas play him at strong side like Bennett and then have him kick in at nickel or have him bulk up and play 3. It's not what I would do but it is an option that makes sense.