D Line: 2017 vs 2024

[PimpCane]

Which one do you think is better on paper? (Obviously 2024 hasn't played together yet)

2017:

Ends
Chad Thomas
Demetrius Jackson
Trent Harris
Jonathan Garvin
Joe Jackson
Scott Patchan

Tackles
Kendrick Norton
Gerald Willis III
RJ McIntosh
Anthony Moten
Jonathan Ford
Pat Bethel


2024:

 Ends
Tyler Baron
Rueben Bain
Akheem Mesidor
Elijah Alston
Marquise Lightfoot
Cole McConathy
Armondo Blount
Booker Pickett

Tackles:
Simeon Barrow Jr.
CJ Clark
Marley Cook
Justin Scott
Ahmad Moten
Joshua Horton
Anthony Campbell
Artavious Jones

 

[DMoney]

Ends are better now, although 2017 was very good. The 2017 tackles were more talented (not including the 2024 freshmen) but the 2024 crew has more age.

 

[PimpCane]

Ends are better now, although 2017 was very good. The 2017 tackles were more talented (not including the 2024 freshmen) but the 2024 crew has more age.

I agree with you. If you had to pick one of these lines to enter a season which one you rocking with?

 

[Shooter McGavin]

Gerald Willis sat out the 2017 season. There was also that highly ranked dude from out west who stayed here for a year then went to Oregon. He was a DE. I think it was DJ Johnson?

 

[PimpCane]

Gerald Willis sat out the 2017 season. There was also that highly ranked dude from out west who stayed here for a year then went to Oregon. He was a DE. I think it was DJ Johnson?

Good catch about Willis and yea DJ Johnson got homesick.

 

[DMoney]

I agree with you. If you had to pick one of these lines to enter a season which one you rocking with?

If health is guaranteed, this one. Age plays.

 

[Shooter McGavin]

Good catch about Willis and yea DJ Johnson got homesick.

That’s right thanks. But yea I think this years DL will be better than the 2017 DL. Will be fun to watch for sure. Nervous about the secondary tho.

 

[HurricanePhilly]

Cam McCormick would have been a sophomore blocking those ends.

 

[OrangeBowlMagic]

The 2017 defense was 3rd in the country in TFLs per game and led the country in sacks per game.

We also finished 8th in the country in YPP allowed, 29th in points per game allowed, 17th in yards per carry allowed, only gave up 9 rushing TDs all year (tied for 7th), allowed the 21st best passer rating and forced 29 turnovers.

If we get anywhere close to those numbers, we are gonna win this league with our feet up. Cam Ward is gonna be making Instagram reels on the sidelines during the 2nd half of games.

 

[mcnaire2004]

I miss those Manny as DC defenses.

 

[Hurricane23]

2024 Ends are definitely better, Tackles might be about even, the 2024 backers are way better than the 2017 backers though

 

[PimpCane]

Norton and McIntosh were a nasty duo on the inside

 

[canes_226]

I miss those Manny as DC defenses.

I dont miss the delayed LB blitzes though on 3rd and long. LOL

 

[E1k]

2017 better DTs clearly imo. Id give 2017 the edge at DE as well because of the depth but its close.

 

[Shooter McGavin]

I dont miss the delayed LB blitzes though on 3rd and long. LOL

Nah man they were corner blitzes and it took 8 years to get to the qb

 

[MumbleRap]

2017 better DTs clearly imo. Id give 2017 the edge at DE as well because of the depth but its close.

2017 had a bunch of “good” players at DE.
2024 has the chance to have 3/4 GREAT players at DE.

 

[sstcane]

2017 better DTs clearly imo. Id give 2017 the edge at DE as well because of the depth but its close.

Gerald Willis didn't play so it was McIntosh and Norton. Depth was Moten, Ford and Bethel which wasn't great. The depth on this year and versatility of Ends that can line up inside on passing downs makes this years upside higher IMO

 

[Kn[]_[]ckles3o5]

Ends are better now, although 2017 was very good. The 2017 tackles were more talented (not including the 2024 freshmen) but the 2024 crew has more age.

2017 DE group was deep and consistent. Every one of those guys could play and when they were all healthy our rotation was pretty nasty.

We know what we have in Bain. We know that a healthy Mesidor should be a high level player. I think both Baron and Alston are question marks until they prove it and the young guys the same. 2024 definitely much more potential than 2017 based on skill and body type.

I don’t have eyes on the team, so like most of us I have to go on what the other guys have already put on film. I’d say the ceiling for this years DE group is much higher but the floor could be lower. The young guys may flash but they may not be as consistent as that 2017 group. At the end of the day you might not be able to say you had 6 guys that could go out there and play and not be a liability.

I think 2024 is clearly better if comparing top 4 but not sure any of the young guys could crack that 5th or 6th spot on that 2017 roster

 

[MumbleRap]

I will say this, if there’s ever anything that correlates overall team success, it’s DL.

The last two times UM has won 10+ games (2003 & 2017) both teams had 7 plus NFL players on the DL (regardless of age).

Do y’all see 7 NFL players on this DL? I say yes with ease.

 

[Manfred_Cane]

2024 both.

Bain is already better than any of those dudes on the 2017 DE group. I'd also take Mesidor and Baron probably over any of them.

2017 McIntosh was really a monster in the middle. Norton had some good moments too. However, I think the 2024 DTs are deeper and could reach the same level of impact as McIntosh/Norton had, we just haven't seen it yet.