Polite and Josh Allen were the only NCAA pass rushers with double digit sacks and at least 5+ forced fumbles. I'm an FSU fan (ACC) but I love SEC defenses and we just landed a legit outside pass rusher and a Gators household name and Q is an Alabama animal. Mosley another Bama' beast. Just added an extra 3 SEC defenders this offseason. Jamal Adams (LSU). Marcus Maye (Florida). Q. Williams (Alabama). Polite (Florida). C.J Mosley (Alabama). Avery Williamson (Kentucky). Jordan Jenkins (Georgia). I see you GM Maccagnan and I see exactly what you're doing; he's built our defense throughout the SEC and I don't think any NFL defense has as many SEC players as we currently do. It's going to payoff too as we're going to field a mean and nasty defense around SEC players.
Didn’t appear to me that the Jets defense was a top NFL defense, where was it ranked? The BIG-10 puts out some damn good players, draft picks, HOFers.
Polite has a great first step & a nice spin move, the knock on Allen is his lack of counter moves. He's more of a straight speed rusher. But what I feel sets them apart is Polite's knack for stripping the ball. He led the nation last year with 6 forced fumbles. Does anyone know how good Polite is in dropping into coverage. I know Allen is fairly good in coverage.
Maybe I'm missing something (or somebody), but to me, the SEC hasn't put a lot of great defenders in the NFL lately. Jadeveon Clowney, Patrick Peterson, Darius Slay, Geno Atkins, Melvin Ingram, Fletcher Cox, Myles Garret, maybe Eddie Jackson or Jamal Adams?.... those are the best defenders I can think of that are SEC guys. I stared thinking of the best defenders in the NFL right now (you may rank them differently), and I got though all these non-SEC guys before I filled out those: Aaron Donald Von Miller (A&M wasn't SEC when he was there) Luke Keuchly Khalil Mack J.J. Watt Jalen Ramsey Calais Campbell Everson Griffen Joey Bosa Bobby Wagner Cam Jordan Chandler Jones DeMarcus Lawrence Marcus Peters A.J. Bouye Earl Thomas Xavier Rhodes Ndamukong Suh Richard Sherman Micah Hyde Cameron Wake Kevin Byard Marshawn Lattimore Derwin James *Note I did this off the top of my head, so I may have completely forgotten some defensive superstar, or I may have somebody's college mixed up--If I'm wrong, I'm sure my fellow posters will let me know.
Taking Quinnen Williams #3 overall is what makes this Polite selection during the 3rd round an absolute steal. Back to Q. Williams real quick it all starts up front because without a push up front it's extremely hard for an outside pass rusher to sack a QB who's comfortable enough to step up in the pocket in order to avoid pressure. This kid was the best defensive player on the best defensive team and has over 10+ QB pressures than any player just drafted. Back to Polite, I don't think Polite is great in pass coverage he's a big boy but he doesn't need to be great in coverage because with Leonard Williams and Quinnen Williams up front, C.J Mosley in the middle and Jamal Adams causing havoc all we'll need for this kid to do is pin his ears back and go after the QB @ OLB and as you mentioned he led the Nation in strip sacks. Not only did he rush the QB as a Gator with double digit sacks but he always keeps his eye on the ball and once he gets to the QB he knows exactly what to do; go for the turnover. His I.Q pops off the screen once closing in on QB's I love his game tape we really just landed ourselves a 1st round pass rushing prospect during the 3rd round I can't wait to see this defense take the field under Williams as D.C
The reason I'm excited about this defense is that is should be very stout through the middle of the field: Williams/Williams in the middle up front, Williamson/Mosely in the middle of the middle, and Adams/Maye in the middle out back. That's how a defense is supposed to be built.
Let's not forget Henry Anderson, he had 7 sacks and only played 60% of the snaps. God I can't wait to see this defense play with G Williams coaching them up. The weak link of the defense is the CB. If we can't find a starter, I expect them to sign Clayborn. I expect J. Johnson to have a better year with Williams coaching him.
I'd like to agree by saying I'm a firm believer in drafting players from major college football programs (blue blood P5 schools) instead of players from Directional School State.
We drafted 2 pass rushers. On 3rd and long Quinnten will be charging up the middle from 20ft away against 2 defenders. While Polite will be charging off the edge from 30ft away against 1 defender. Cant wait!