Milroe Gets a Test

[Sibelius Hindemith]

This I believe is what that article I posted was about, they just passed a rule allowing three suited qbs. I'd have to look at how to apply the rule but I think the deal might be Milroe would actually be the backup qb but would be used for gadget plays, Lock would be the emergency 3rd qb if they really needed a qb replacement.

Wouldn't Milroe have to get injured in order for Lock (as the 3rd QB) to be able to play?

[Donn Beach]

This I believe is what that article I posted was about, they just passed a rule allowing three suited qbs. I'd have to look at how to apply the rule but I think the deal might be Milroe would actually be the backup qb but would be used for gadget plays, Lock would be the emergency 3rd qb if they really needed a qb replacement.

Wouldn't Milroe have to get injured in order for Lock (as the 3rd QB) to be able to play?

Yeah, or disqualified, so you would have to be willing to use Milroe in the case of a Darnold injury, but at the same time you wouldn't need to be concerned about a Milroe injury on a gadget because you could use Lock. So its kind of a Trade off. You could be using both Darnold and Milroe in the game and still have Lock as the backup qb without using an active roster spot on him

[Donn Beach]

wonder if you could argue the chance of a Darnold injury is reduced by Milroe taking snaps, or you could reduce it

[Donn Beach]

Here's a look at the nose tackle situation, turns on if Morris's days are numbered

When he was in Baltimore, Macdonald had the massive Michael Pierce in the middle of his defensive line. Pierce was listed at 6’0”, 355 pounds, but had surprising short-area quickness for a man his size. Macdonald began developing the 6’4”, 341-pound Travis Jones as a nose tackle when Pierce was getting on in years.

Pierce has now retired, and Jones will play nose tackle for Baltimore this year. That did not stop the Ravens from signing the veteran John Jenkins to back up Jones. At 6’3”, 360 pounds, he is the biggest nose tackle yet.

Last year, apart from Johnathan Hankins, Seattle did not have anyone naturally suited to playing that role. Jarran Reed and Byron Murphy II lined up over center at times, and both can use their quickness to make plays from the position. But you don’t want them in there taking on double teams too often.

That’s why Hankins was re-signed when a lot of people thought he was done after last season. That’s why a lot of people are high on Brandon Pili right now.

I think there is a better than 50/50 chance going into the final preseason game that Macdonald will choose a second nose tackle over Morris if his choice comes down to that. He may not have to make that call. The coach will have some wiggle room at tight end, wide receiver, and in the defensive backfield.

But if he is going to keep five defensive linemen, with Riley Mills beginning the year on PUP or IR, then I think Morris could be in jeopardy.

Pili has looked quick. His safety in the Chiefs game is exactly the kind of play Macdonald wants from his nose tackles. Johnathan Hankins hasn’t played this preseason. 33-year-olds with back injuries are an iffy proposition in the NFL.

I think that opens the door for Quinton Bohanna to grab the last D-line roster spot and essentially serve as a rotational nose tackle with Pili. That would allow Reed and Murphy – and eventually Mills – to move around the line, which should benefit them. Of course, Leonard Williams, DeMarcus Lawrence, and other situational edge rushers will all be out there as well.

Great defenses are usually built from the inside out, and I think Mike Macdonald wants more size in the middle. In the final preseason game, I’ll be paying particular attention to Bohanna – how much he plays and how disruptive he looks.

[Sibelius Hindemith]

So Hankins isn't expected to make the roster?

[douche]

Most likely. I'm not convinced they are very high on Milroe, though.

That's interesting. Why don't you think they are high on him? I don't think he has done anything since the draft to change their opinion of him, and they were high enough on him to use a third round pick. I am excited about him, but only because I watched the raw athleticism he had.

Completely agree.

[Donn Beach]

So Hankins isn't expected to make the roster?

yeah, he hasn't practiced i guess, injured. Pili is favored, won't cost them anything

[Sibelius Hindemith]

Here's a look at the nose tackle situation, turns on if Morris's days are numbered

When he was in Baltimore, Macdonald had the massive Michael Pierce in the middle of his defensive line. Pierce was listed at 6’0”, 355 pounds, but had surprising short-area quickness for a man his size. Macdonald began developing the 6’4”, 341-pound Travis Jones as a nose tackle when Pierce was getting on in years.

Pierce has now retired, and Jones will play nose tackle for Baltimore this year. That did not stop the Ravens from signing the veteran John Jenkins to back up Jones. At 6’3”, 360 pounds, he is the biggest nose tackle yet.

Last year, apart from Johnathan Hankins, Seattle did not have anyone naturally suited to playing that role. Jarran Reed and Byron Murphy II lined up over center at times, and both can use their quickness to make plays from the position. But you don’t want them in there taking on double teams too often.

That’s why Hankins was re-signed when a lot of people thought he was done after last season. That’s why a lot of people are high on Brandon Pili right now.

I think there is a better than 50/50 chance going into the final preseason game that Macdonald will choose a second nose tackle over Morris if his choice comes down to that. He may not have to make that call. The coach will have some wiggle room at tight end, wide receiver, and in the defensive backfield.

But if he is going to keep five defensive linemen, with Riley Mills beginning the year on PUP or IR, then I think Morris could be in jeopardy.

Pili has looked quick. His safety in the Chiefs game is exactly the kind of play Macdonald wants from his nose tackles. Johnathan Hankins hasn’t played this preseason. 33-year-olds with back injuries are an iffy proposition in the NFL.

I think that opens the door for Quinton Bohanna to grab the last D-line roster spot and essentially serve as a rotational nose tackle with Pili. That would allow Reed and Murphy – and eventually Mills – to move around the line, which should benefit them. Of course, Leonard Williams, DeMarcus Lawrence, and other situational edge rushers will all be out there as well.

Great defenses are usually built from the inside out, and I think Mike Macdonald wants more size in the middle. In the final preseason game, I’ll be paying particular attention to Bohanna – how much he plays and how disruptive he looks.

That guy really nailed it

[Donn Beach]

yeah, cutting Pili seems to have raised some eyebrows, I guess he was injured and they will probably bring him back or try

To make matters a bit more confusing, the Seattle Seahawks appear to have left themselves intentionally thin along the interior of the defensive line. Jarran Reed remains, of course, but Pili, Quinton Bohanna were cut, and Jonathan Hankins was added to the reserve/non-football injury list.

12s can safely assume that while the 53-man roster is set for now, it could change quickly. Teams aren't forced to keep the players they initially name to their roster; the team just has to get down to 53 to begin with. Seattle could nearly immediately release a player that surprisingly made the team, such as tight end Nick Kallerup, and replace him with Pili or Bohanna.

read another article that argued Ivey and O’Toole making the team shows MM favoring his pass rush over his run stopping. That it would be a MM identity sort of thing, he puts out a top defensive team without actually being top ten against the rush. Kind of interesting in that he promotes the rush on offense

[Donn Beach]

I don't remember cut down day being quite this interesting in the past, see what Michael has to say about that, there weren't so many surprises, seems this is the season MM really puts his identify on the team