They have been talking like Kuhn may be close to coming off the PUP list, which would make little sense if it actually happened and would likely only result in his being let go.
How does everyone see this playing out? Who of the three sticks, and who drops?
I think they try and find a way to keep all 3. Kuhn will stay on PUP despite reports. I think Austin is showing just enough to keep them intrigued, and such a high draft pick would be hard to part ways with.
The one thing this team will not let happen this year is getting a couple of injuries and finding themselves short on big bodies with guys wearing down down the stretch. My guess is they'll take their chances elsewhere on the roster and find a way to keep a few extra plates at the big boy table.
The fallacy of the logic of the cut Austin now crowd is treating him as a 3rd season player rather than the 2nd year player that the torn pec in rookie season has made him. Of course I am sure in their own minds they believe that Austin (a DT no less) should have gutted it out and played (competently no less) through that injury.
and collapsed the pocket. Don't know what you were watching but it clearly wasn't Kuhn.Go back and watch some film.
But, Austin and Kuhn could really be valuable in the very near future. I think it comes down to Austin v. Kuhn. While Austin was drafted high - Kuhn played last year and was developing fairly nicely. If I had to bet (guess) - it'd be Austin by a nose.
Whoever gets cut will be scooped up in a day or so.
As for whether a PUP'd player who passes a physical during pre-season must be activated, I've never heard of any such rule. I think it would be impractical to enforce it. In Kuhn's case, it's not an issue unless the team is dumb enough to give him a physical - and pass him - in the next week. Once he's on inactive PUP, it's a non-issue until Week 7.
That is impossible.
40Y dash
B. Cofield 4.95
J. Hankins 5.31
------------------
20-Yard Shuttle
B. Cofield 4.35 (Fastest time)
J. Hankins 4.61
------------------
3-Cone Drill
B. Cofield 7.43 (2nd Fastest time)
J. Hankins 7.59
I can think of no scenario that they would want to lose Kuhn at this time.
I would schedule his next comprehensive physical after the season has begun.
Rodgers - Patterson
Hankins (There's no rush to give him reps)
Patterson for all the hype was a street pick-up who has done ok but he is not going to cause Austin to loose a roster spot (age, injury, salary & upside). Kuhn without the injury more than likely allows the team not to sign Patterson and has yet to practice looks more like a week six or beyond before anything happens with him. So in final if we keep 5 DT's Joseph, Jenkins, Hank, Rogers & Austin or four then Rogers is replaced by the Hank and Austin combo.
2. watch the college tape on hank, hank got horizontal really well for a big player in college - tackling in wide space quicker that you would think.
much better than cofield did while he was here. not necessarily measured in the pre-draft numbers. cofield was great...but not a huge player in space once people got past him area.
now, conversly, hank has not learned leverage (as well as cofield had i mean...YET), but he will.
in the meantime, we tend to think that heavier players are nose types or at least primarily run defenders, "cloggers" and that's just not really logical. each player is different.
conversely, this team probably wants EACH and every of its DL to hold up vs a blocker or two AT TIMES...
the question is how to maximize the line play in the context of the overall D and how to use the extra skills that each has as well at times.
So to me it's between Patterson and Kuhn. Sorry Markus I'm going with the veteran.
Rogers
Okam
Generalised interior Run and Pass defenders:
Joseph
Strong Mobile DTs that 'could play end in a 3/4 or at the the 3 in a 5-2 types (cofield types):
Jenkins
Hankins
3 tech types
Austin
Patterson
run defending DT type
Kuhn
rogers being so old and okam maybe not making the team, next year I could really see drafting a pure NT type and thus allowing for more varied alignments.
I see hank more as a 3"+" type, that is, a blend of mobility and power probably best not asked to hold two gaps all day.
joseph seems a blended type as well, albeit more to the power side, but still not a pure NT type.
austin a big one gapper...
Hes the polar opposite of your description. Cofield had incredible stamina, he never ever gave up on a play. I've seen him chase 20+yards down the field.
Sorry alligatorpie , you don't know what your talking about.
dont remember seeing barry to that and make tackles that way very often at all.
great player barry cofield...just different.
right now hank is a fresh rookie and may not yet have the savvy to know when and how to apply the great leverage that barry used,
but the college tape on hank shows him making some great tackles behind the line in space.
thats apples to oranges vs. "chasing down a play 20 yards downfield"
not knocking the need to hold up your spot as well, which barry was effing great at...hank will need to work on that as almost any rookie does in the NFL.
In space is in space. Do you mean stretching a play out?
the play is flowing and a skill player (RB.QB other) is running past your 330lbs....
one may need to suddenly fall or drop or get horizontal to make the tackle
>in a direction OPPOSITE your momentums direction<..or at least not aligned with it.
Hanks tape seems just loaded with this. rare for a big guy.
LT was the best ever at this
hank does it on well, makes those plays, on tape in college at least.
if you can mix things up with multiple type players...or at least pair a hank or jenk or joeseph with an even bigger type (rogers, okam) and see what they can do attacking at times, do that.
but, by all means the clogging is a required skill as well..
for example, JPP is (still lets hope) great at getting horizontal to make plays for a large man
vs
the sapp type: short stumpy legs, very quick feet can stay on his feet and run a player down while making tight turns
(austin or patterson??)
vs the nose type
or just generally tough DT type
now, which of the vet linebackers make the team?
for gods sake DTs are in serious action on every darn play
people talk about pro conditioning improving players, he is one.
look at his high and lowlights of 2012 preseason on youtube.
it was not just a few sacks, the guy made a crapload of plays, including run defense plays.
towards the end see one vs the Pats where he has two blockers (a tackle and a guard?) on him and reaches out and grabs the runner for a loss. all sorts of plays.
at that size, or larger, he also a candidate to take an inside spot on those 4th and very long plays.
hustle all day.
tracy to 'LB' unit.
ojomo is a different type, a bit heavier, a hustle player
Right now he's not better than two guys who both didn't play last year. One who is 34 with a million miles of tread on his tires and the other who had brain surgery.
by horizontal I mean the ability to get ones body literally horizontal, level as opposed to plumb for you builders, if and when needed to make a tackle and suddenly.
and I agree, I would not categorize either as 'cloggers', per se although cofield became fairly stout in there and hank will also.
Big Hank gettin' horizontal against recent Giant Keith Carlos.
and thx blogger, yes, players like JPP and LT 'get or got horizontal' often to make plays....as a change of direction skill or a way to extend ones reach given a split second while moving quickly (at 320lbs in some cases)
some may call it falling down, but some great players have left their feet to make great plays...see the tapes
others (sapp??) can change direction while staying on those little stubby legs they have ;-0
I think Patterson vs Austin is decided with tonight's game.