Originally posted by NinerPrideinNJ:
Originally posted by 5280High:
He will start once Franklin leaves.... New DC, New mentality.
You know he wasn't gonna beat out J. Smith, and Manusky preferred to have another NT sized DE in Soap rather than a "mirror-image" of Smith like he always preached in McDonald. Soap was great at occupying blockers but he was never gonna terrorize the backfield like Smith. Ray has that capability.
Looking at our roster, we will need a DE when Soap moves over to NT and Ray would be a seemless transition. That will allow Tukuafu to get another year of understudying in and RJF can keep learning the NT position. We will probably bring in a FA for depth hand selected by our new DC.
Sounds like we're all on the same page:
1. No idea why the hell this guy hasn't been starting at DE in place of Soap.
2. Let Franklin walk and start Smith, Soap and RayMc.
I really really like the idea of putting Soap at NT because he's really only good for occupying blockers and that's a NT's primary responsibility.
Smith and McDonald rushing the edges could be lethal!
You still have no idea even though it's been mentioned several times up to the point of this post?
Ray McDonald can't stop the run or occupy blockers like Sopoaga does. He's a liability in run support. He came in on obvious passing downs because of that reason. It's the same reason guys like Ahmad Brooks don't start. He's had a lot more playing time than your average backup, but he's inconsistent and is often taken completely out of the play when the tackle or guard allow him into the backfield only to end up eating him alive - away from the QB or ball carrier. This looks like pressure, but it's a technique that OL's use to take guys like Ray McDonald out of a play. He over-pursues and only thinks about that sack.
This is why he didn't start and may not start if they re-sign him unless Franklin leaves and Sopoaga moves inside. I wouldn't mind seeing him start, but he's definitely not as good as people in here want to believe.