Who should be the other starting DE

[Calinative]

That’s fine. Just telling you, teams are going to scheme them to the field and they’ll get smoked with open grass.

Hope they do try that with Bain there. We just need out LBs to be solid. To me if that is what we force them to do, it's a good sign if they avoid our interior, given our weakness of the Dline SHOULD likely be DT. If they want to Run to Bains side, I'll take that bet 100/100. Maybe he gets beat a few. I'll put my money on Bain though.

 

[F-MarioCristobal]

Hope they do try that with Bain there. We just need out LBs to be solid. To me if that is what we force them to do, it's a good sign if they avoid our interior, given our weakness of the Dline SHOULD likely be DT. If they want to Run to Bains side, I'll take that bet 100/100. Maybe he gets beat a few. I'll put my money on Bain though.

You would be out of money. Bain isn’t even my concern. Hes a lock to start. The other side is up in the air and id rather see a pass rusher with speed to defend the field.

We’ve never played a system like this, it’s more needed now than ever at UM.

 

[F-MarioCristobal]

What’s the concern? Because they aren’t 4.5 guys? Osu just won the chip and had a top defense with 2 DEs who wasn’t considered athletic guys

Sawyer and Tuimoloau ran 4.6 40s at their pro day - in the 90th-91st percentile for DEs.

We’re talking 4.7 at the very best and 4.8-4.9

 

[kyle_schick]

Against Notre Dame, we need to have our run stoppers in. Our edge rushers aren't going to get into the backfield or even come close to touching the QB in that game. Need to have the run defense in.

Guys who can hold their own against that Offensive line.

 

[RangerGranger]

Blount should start day 1 due to his ceiling.

If he can't float, then insert Mesidor.

 

[Calinative]

You would be out of money. Bain isn’t even my concern. Hes a lock to start. The other side is up in the air and id rather see a pass rusher with speed to defend the field.

We’ve never played a system like this, it’s more needed now than ever at UM.

Yeah, I just full on disagree with you because Mesidor if ever was to the wide side would be compensated with a LB. And if Bain is there, I'm taking that bet all day long if they want to run at Bain. **** Mesidor is a good run defender too. Yeah you want to see a pass rusher with speed, well I'm sure Lightfoot will be on the field a lot. But to say Bain/Mesidor/Blount can't be on the field together is straight wrong imo. I feel perfectly fine having Bain on the field with literally any other DE on this roster.

 

[RangerGranger]

One of these two guys. They have been fighting for years

 

[IbzRlz]

Start Mesidor week 1 and go from there. The best players should be playing, ie everyone should be earning playing time and not given a starting job

 

[D_G87]

Starting a light DE vs Notre Dame would be a death sentence. Unless Blount makes a big leap, it’ll be Bain and Mesi most of the year. Mario ain’t starting a light DE ( Lightfoot), but he will see plenty of snaps.

 

[Jassid82]

The month of September is for the grown men only. We can’t take any chances with ND and UF rolling out kids who haven’t played in big games yet and haven’t seen the type of physicality that will be on display in those games. Blount, Lowe and Lightfoot will have their chances down the line.

 

[AUcane]

Sawyer and Tuimoloau ran 4.6 40s at their pro day - in the 90th-91st percentile for DEs.

We’re talking 4.7 at the very best and 4.8-4.9

I think you are underestimating Bain and mesidor’s athletic ability. They may be 4.7-4.8 guys but they are legit short burst, quick 10 yard profiles. Not all 4.6 guys are built alike just like not all 4.8 guys are built alike

 

[canecrazy23]

based on everything I've heard if we see mesidor starting its simply because he's "older"

You heard wrong. He has lost some weight and is poised to have a breakout year.

 

[Cribby]

Messidor was asked to do something last year that was completely unfair. Get a tad bigger and play inside when anyone with a brain knew he was too light in the ***. That’s also not his game. Hopefully he’s around 270-275 tops this year which allows him to play more to his strength.

Just another example we’ve been lacking in recruiting / talent acquisition at that position.

 

[smack99]

Mesidor unfortunately. He's a solid player especially when healthy but having two jumbo DEs isn't going provide much of a rush. Lightfoot, Lowe, etc. are going to need to develop quicker so we can use them on rush downs. Need to build DL depth quick. Game 1, Mesidor and Bain might work pretty well against ND's run game.

 

[htownkidd]

Agree with most. Mesidor will start vs ND (and should), but would like to see someone with a little more pass rush juice surpass him eventually. He will still play a lot regardless and is an asset for us.

 

[Cribby]

In a perfect world I’d like him used situationally outside with smaller quicker guys on obvious pass downs. But we need him against the bigger , more physical teams.

 

[SotaCanespiracy]

I think you are underestimating Bain and mesidor’s athletic ability. They may be 4.7-4.8 guys but they are legit short burst, quick 10 yard profiles. Not all 4.6 guys are built alike just like not all 4.8 guys are built alike

Sawyer and Tuimoloau ran 4.6 40s at their pro day - in the 90th-91st percentile for DEs.

We’re talking 4.7 at the very best and 4.8-4.9

To me your manipulating certain points to win your argument. There is no reason to believe Lowe and Blount are not athletic enough to play opposite of Bain. There are plenty of Big Ten teams that play with 2 big base defensive ends like OSU and Iowa.

The two dudes you listed are not freak athletes at the position. They are average. What they have is size and strength.

When our D was good in the 2000s that's actually how are ends looked. The reason we were abused on the edge last year had everything to do with leverage, strength and dudes not understanding their assignments. I saw an athletic problem at Linebacker not D End.

 

[JHallCanes]

I don’t understand the obsession with 40 times for DEs

 

[F-MarioCristobal]

To me your manipulating certain points to win your argument. There is no reason to believe Lowe and Blount are not athletic enough to play opposite of Bain. There are plenty of Big Ten teams that play with 2 big base defensive ends like OSU and Iowa.

The two dudes you listed are not freak athletes at the position. They are average. What they have is size and strength.

When our D was good in the 2000s that's actually how are ends looked. The reason we were abused on the edge last year had everything to do with leverage, strength and dudes not understanding their assignments. I saw an athletic problem at Linebacker not D End.

I’m not arguing. I voiced my opinion and don’t really care who starts. This isn’t the 2000s. Offenses are different.

I’ll just watch it happen. Notice, I didn’t mention Lowe. You did.

Bain and Mesidor should play the same position and be the 2 deep on one position on the line and maybe 1 of them or even both line up inside on occasion. I’ve lumped Blount in here too but I’ve not seen enough from him to make a call if he can do what I think the opposite DE needs to do. Maybe he can. Mesidor can’t. Good player with weaknesses that will get exposed playing that position (where most teams use a jack/pass rusher specialist type). That’s all I’m saying.

Hoping the weight loss and body fat % cut for Mesidor and another year off the foot injury makes a bigger difference than I assume it will make.

 

[Canes_N_Cats]

Sawyer and Tuimoloau ran 4.6 40s at their pro day - in the 90th-91st percentile for DEs.

We’re talking 4.7 at the very best and 4.8-4.9

I was actually surprised by this, especially Sawyer, and looked deeper into it. I dont think either of them ran 40's for the Combine or Pro Day.

The google search is messed up and picking up some sites projected number I think