Mr.TaterSalad

Dan Gilmore, I'm not sure what you are confused about with my post. I am assuming it is the DT/DJ Reader/snap count and the need for another starting DT take. If it is not, I apologize. I looked at snap counts for some of the top defensive tackles in the league in 2026. For example Dexter Lawrence had 754 snaps, Jalen Carter had 639 snaps, Jeffery Simmons had 764 snaps, Quinnen Williams had 640 snaps, Leonard Williams had 812 snaps, Vitea Vea had 763 snaps. DJ Reader had 583 snaps last year in 17 games started. So Reader started games even when both McNeill and Williams were healthy at the same time. Alim McNeill had 524 snaps in 10 games started last year and 782 snaps the last time he played a full season. Tyleik Williams had 446 snaps in 10 games started last year. With Reader out of the lineup, and no other starting DT on the roster, someone has to cover those snaps. Since it was told to me that Reader isn't a starter and McNeill and Williams are the starters, are we to infer that each of those guys will be getting an additional 583 snaps give or take, bringing their totals to near a 1,000 snaps? Not even the top DT's in the league approach a 1,000 snaps in a season. Are those snaps going to be split up among an additional 2-3 players? If so, who? It was inferred that we don't need another starting DT to replace Reader. Judging by his snap counts and time spent on the field, I'd say we do need another starting DT. Do we bring Reader back? Do we elevate his replacement in one of Mekhi Wingo (whose played 13 games in 2 seasons with 235 total snaps and can't stay healthy) or starting Levi (who can't stay healthy either)? Do we sign a free agent or draft someone? So who is replacing Reader's time on the field and starting in his place? I would argue we need to either sign a free agent or draft someone in the first 3 rounds to replace Reader. I think it is not earth shattering, but still significant that Reader is gone and someone has to carry that load.

Needing to replace 4 starters, 5 depending on Arnold, is not giving up. It's merely pointing out they gave a lot of holes to fill and haven't yet filled them. Being concerned and expressing that is not giving up by any means. We don't all have to be state TV around here, at all times. We can express reasonable amounts of unease and concern.

That's still a lot of snaps for two big, 300lb interior Dlineman to take. Someone, somewhere, is going to need to be in the field taking snaps that Anzalone had, whether it's at LB, an extra DB on the field or they run heavy up front or on the edge. We also don't know what, if anything, comes of Terrion Arnold and the legal situation. He could be clean and innocent and nothing comes of it or he could be the next Cam Sutton and off the team. We all obviously hope it's the latter, not the former.

Agreed. Furthermore, I think the edge player Brad does add in the draft will be less a pass rusher and more a multi-tool player that can play inside and out on the line. They'll be someone who is as good against the run as they are pass rushing and getting pressure on the QB. That may infact be why they moved on from Muhammad, as they may have been looking for a more stout run defender up front versus just a pure pass rusher like Muhammad was. He'll draft a Josh Paschal type replacement before he drafts a Muhammad type replacement imo.

DJ Reader started 17 games last year and had 583 snaps and was on the field 53% of the time. Someone has to make that playing time up. Barnes himself started 17 games and had 940 snaps. Anzalone started 16 games and had 1,004 snaps. So whether Barnes is an SLB or WLB, someone has to make up Anzalone's 1,004 snaps. I don't want that to be Rodriguez that guy as he's primarily been a special teams player and only once in his career has he had more than even 350 snaps on defense. I certainly don't want career backup Trevor Nowaske or Zach Cunningham starting. So in my eyes, they probably need a SLB or WLB to replace Anzalone. Rock Ya-Sin had a PFF grade of 61.8 and ranked 54 out of 114. So he was middle of the pack. He started 16 games and logged 611 snaps, so he was indeed a starter, with a high snap count. Amik, even with Ya-Sin starting and playing, had 17 starts and a snap count of 843. He primarily took those as a nickel or in the slot. Someone has to make that up. Ya-Sin's snap count isn't going to go up by 843 snaps.

2-0 Tampa Bay. The collapse continues onward.

I'll be elated if we bring in Cam Jordan. He's got a history with Campbell too. I hope it happens because they need a pass rusher or two in the worst way.

What did this front office see in Marcus Davenport that they needed to bring him back but didn't see in Muhammad?

I hope they have a better option for getting double digit sack totals and pressuring the QB. They already ranked near the bottom of the league in pass rush win rate, QB pressure rate, and QB time to throw in the pocket. I don't see how losing Muhammad helps this. They already needed another pass rusher with him on the roster imo.

Do you expect the 4 starters they will add on defense from now to training camp will be better or worse as a group than the combination of Anzalone, Muhammad, Reader, and Robertson? They're missing 4 starters on defense as of now. You can't get 4 starters in the draft given that you need a tackle as well and have no 3rd round pick. We also probably don't want to be starting 4 rookies on defense. Furthermore, we could need as many as 7 new starters on defense if Arnold gets arrested, Kerby isn't healthy, and Branch isn't ready to go until mid-season. I can only hope there are more moves to come and Brad still has other moves to make.

We have no DE worth a damn after Aiden currently in the roster. We needed a pass rusher and edge before letting Muhammad go. Now, it seems we need two guys on the end. Furthermore, $6 million in the grand scheme of the salary cap is nothing. I get them not going out and paying big for a Trey Hendrickson or Bradley Chubb. But Muhammad was relatively productive last year and the contract he signed with Tampa Bay was very reasonable. I wanted a free agent signing plus a draft pick at DE/edge.

This offseason is very underwhelming thus far. In-fact, it damn near flat out sucks. Does Brad Holmes realize you need 11 starters on defense? We have only one starting tackle along the OL, one starting DT along the DL (assuming Levi isn't healthy), no DE opposite Hutch, no strongside LB, no starting nickel CB (unless Izien is your starter), and potentially no safety if Joseph can't play next year. On top of that $6 million for one lousy year was potentially too rich for Brad and so he let Muhammad walk? I would be understanding if Muhammad had gotten in the ballpark of $13-$15 million, but he wasn't close. Don't worry though, maybe we can bring Marcus Davenport back again.

WHAT THE ****? We couldn't have paid Muhammad $6 million @ 1 year of term? Why wouldn't Brad do that deal? Does he have some master plan for who is going to start opposite Hutch and get any kind of pass rush?

So he is the new, cheaper Amik Robertson?

It looks like he plays both in the slot as a corner and as a safety. So he gives them some much needed depth and versatility for the secondary.