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Defense
LE: Harold Landry
NT: Daron Payne
3T: Da’Shawn Hand
RE: Bradley Chubb
SLB: Darius Leonard
MLB: Leighton Vander Esch
WLB: Roquan Smith
CB1: Denzel Ward
FS: Jessie Bates
SS: Derwin James
CB2: Jaire Alexander
It was tough for me to decide on the actual defensive front, since all three of my linebackers might be best suited for the WILL spot in a 4-3, but they simply were the top three guys at that level.
Moreover, my edge rushers actually play in a 3-4 and my 1-technique plays a true nose role for the most part. However, I don’t see why my D-ends would have a problem transitioning to positions they actually played in college and I have a shade nose that will draw double-teams and therefore allow the linebackers to flow freely, which they do best.
With two physical corners on the outside, a true center-fielder and a versatile strong safety, that likes playing in the box, I would primarily run a Seattle-style cover-three / man-bail scheme on the back-end, while having the ability to also use some two-high safety alignments because those guys are pretty rangy and my corners are not afraid of coming up to tackle people.
Of course with the depth I have at corner and all that speed at the linebacker position, I can do a lot of stuff in sub-packages.
On the edges, I really like what I have in Bradley Chubb and Harold Landry. Chubb has the frame and strength to dominate on the strong side in the run game while bringing savvy pass-rush prowess beyond his years, including a deadly speed-to-power move.
Landry, on the other hand, is more of a speed guy around the corner and I thought he was the most natural waist-bender and overall pass rusher in the 2018 draft. Both can play wide-nine, they go after the ball and they have at least some experience dropping into coverage.
Two Bama boys man the interior of my defensive front. Daron Payne is a rock in the middle of any defense, because even in the Redskins' scheme where he was asked to two-gap primarily, he was a problem for any center as a rookie, plus he is underrated as a pocket-pusher.
Next to him is a familiar face in Da’Shawn Hand, who is finally starting to live up to expectations of a former top-ten national recruit in Motown. While the Lions had a rough overall 2018, they found what I thought was their biggest need in an upfield three-technique. I want to cover up the middle and penetrate outside the guards.
The linebacker level was where I had to put a couple of guys out of position. Darius Leonard (who should win Defensive Rookie of the Year) has been unbelievable at WILL and MIKE for the Colts, but with his quick trigger, I like him on the strong side.
Leighton Vander Esch has more MIKE size to me at 6’4”, 255 pounds. I want him to be able to use his sideline-to-sideline speed, but he would probably line up in the middle for most teams (that don’t have Jaylon Smith).
That leaves me with Roquan Smith on the weak-side, which is clearly his natural fit. I have to be most cautious with him not having big bodies in his face, because that is clearly the weakness to his game. My outside backers are both excellent blitzers and my guy in the middle is tough to throw over the head of.
On the perimeter, I already mentioned how physical those two guys are. Denzel Ward had as hot a start for a rookie corner as I’ve seen in years. Through his first five games, he intercepted three passes, knocked down another six, forced a fumble, blocked a field goal and simply locked down opposing number one receivers.
While he has cooled off a little, Jaire Alexander has emerged as the top-flight cover-guy I saw him as at Louisville. He doesn’t quite have the numbers to back me up, but in his nine straight starts before getting hurt Josh Gordon was the only guy he covered primarily outside of Julio Jones that surpassed 80 yards and that was due only to a crazy scramble play for a 55-yard TD.
At safety, I have that rangy center-fielder in Jessie Bates. He has been one of the bright spots for the Bengals in a let-down season, starting off 4-1 and then dropping to 6-10. Having him in the line-up allows me to play a lot of single-high alignment.
To go with him I have who I think has played like a top-five safety in the league already – Derwin James. Nobody has lined up all over the place more than the Chargers' rookie phenom.
James has played linebacker, nickel, strong safety, half-field and even some deep middle, just because he was their best guy at it. He can cover man and zone, race up against the run and is an incredible blitzer from multiple spots.
Key substitutes
DL Vita Vea & Maurice Hurst
EDGE Marcus Davenport
LB Tremaine Edmunds
CB J.C. Jackson
S Justin Reid
DB Minkah Fitzpatrick
As far as back-ups go, I tried to put up the top players while bringing versatility to the table. On the interior D-line I went with a freakish 350-pounder in Vita Vea and a penetrator and sub-package rusher in Maurice Hurst.
Vea looks like a Stallworth in the middle for the Bucs and Hurst was one of my favorites to watch on tape at Michigan, because of the disruption he brought to the table. I decided on Tremaine Edmunds as my fourth linebacker because his upside is incredible and he already made big plays in year one.
As far as my secondary substitutions go, I think my three guys bring a lot of flexibility. I really wanted to put Carolina’s Donte Jackson up there, but his play declined as the Panthers started their downfall. J.C. Jackson has emerged as an outstanding number two corner for the Patriots, Justin Reid became a full-time starter and playmaker very early for the Texans and Minkah Fitzpatrick has been one of the top rookie corners and safeties for the Dolphins.
I can use those guys all over the place and play with six or even seven defensive backs in certain situations, which gives me that many more options.
