![]() ![]() Second, Runyan had to deal with Tomlinson’s evil combination of stack-and-shed power, and quickness around the blocker when he’s beaten. for a couple of reasons: First, the Vikings were in a bear front with the defensive tackles to the outside shoulders of the guard, which forces one-on-ones. This sack of Aaron Rodgers in Week 17 was just bad news for Packers right guard Jon Runyan Jr. ![]() He’s never had more than 658 snaps in a season though six years with the Vikings and Giants, so there is a rotational aspect to his game, but when Tomlinson is on the field for your defense, your defense is simply better. In 2022, Tomlinson was good for three sacks, seven quarterback hits, and 20 quarterback hurries in 348 pass-rushing snaps, and he had 26 stops in 256 run defense reps. Most human beings his size (6-foot-3 and a conservative 325 pounds) move to and through the pocket the way he does. New DC Brian Flores will improve things merely by his presence, but if the Vikings can’t get Tomlinson back, that will be a problem. ![]() The Vikings’ defense was an abject disaster in most areas last season, ranking 27th overall in DVOA, 26th against the pass, and 19th against the run, but the list of people to blame for that (starting with former defensive coordinator Ed Donatell) should not include Tomlinson, who had his most productive season as a pass-rusher in 2022. You don’t want to pay Pocic as you would a center who can come right in and be the epicenter of your offensive line, but with the right supporting cast and coaching, he should continue to ascend. Ask Steelers DI Larry Ogunjobi about that on this Nick Chubb one-yard touchdown run in Week 4. Pocic has obviously been hitting the weightroom lately, as those previous play strength problems didn’t show up in 2022. He allowed two sacks, no quarterback hits, and eight quarterback hurries in 461 pass-blocking snaps, and as the sacks he allowed were to Quinnen Williams in Week 2 and Daron Payne in Week 17, we’ll give him a couple of mulligans there. Bookended by the NFL’s best guard duo in Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller, and coached by Bill Callahan, Pocic looked like a completely different player. Amazing what a one-year flier deal with the Browns last year did for Pocic’s professional future. The Seahawks took Pocic in the second round of the 2017 draft out of LSU as part of Tom Cable’s Island of Misfit Toys, and through his first few seasons, Pocic struggled with play strength and technique issues. ![]() Hernandez can occasionally get beaten by stunts and games, but if you’re running a heavy gap offense in which you want your guards to fire out and eliminate people, he’s a prime candidate. 76) seals defensive tackle (and 2020 seventh-overall pick) Derrick Brown inside, and then mirrors him through the rep. On this Kyler Murray deep pass to Marquise Brown against the Panthers in Week 4, watch how Hernandez (No. Hernandez is a mountain of a man at 6-foot-2 and 335 pounds, but he’s more than just a slobberknocker who pushes defenders down into the dirt. In 2022, he allowed three sacks, one quarterback hit, and 12 quarterback hurries in 565 pass-blocking reps, and looked solid in the run game. Then, Hernandez signed a one-year, $1,187,500 with the Cardinals last season, and started to get his game in shape at a different level. The Giants selected Hernandez in the second round of the 2018 draft out of UTEP, and watched his up-and-down play through four seasons. Again, I’m not sure why Mike McDaniel allegedly didn’t think that Gesicki was his brand of spice, but I’d like a tight end on my team who can get open in short spaces, and maintain the play outside of structure with scramble drills. And in the red zone, those attributes seem to magnify. Gesicki isn’t a burner, but he has a great understanding of how to get open in zones, and how to press man coverage. This was a major step down from his 2021 season of 73 receptions on 113 targets for 780 yards and just two touchdowns. Last season, he caught just 32 passes on 52 targets for 362 yards - but he also scored five touchdowns. The doghouse was an obvious thing, though - Gesicki started just one game in 2022 after starting nine in each of his two prior seasons, and his productivity went down as a result. We heard through the 2022 season that Gesicki wasn’t an ideal fit for new head coach Mike McDaniel’s offense, and while I’m not going to impugn McDaniels’ offensive wisdom, this one had me shaking my head a bit. There are times when you wonder about coaches realizing what their players can do, even if they’re brilliant coaches. ![]()
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