One take on the DEs including Long

from off the net

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jrry32

[Long is the]..worst run stopping DL amongst our starters imo. Long really doesn’t do a lot of the dirty work. Long does his job but he doesn’t make the game changing splash plays to be called a difference maker vs. the run. He’s average. He’s not the run stopper Quinn is. Quinn had 12 TFLs as a run stopper in 2013. Long has 12 TFLs as a run stopper since 2010. Quinn is quite a bit better because he does make those sort of plays. He was one of the best run stoppers in the league last year at 4-3 DE.

Quinn started out as a so-so run defender but he’s matured into a great run defender. Although, playing next to Brockers definitely helps as Brockers frees him up to make splash plays.

Still, every single one of the Vikings 10+ yard runs against the Rams in Week 1 came to the OPPOSITE side of the field of Quinn. And they knew better than to try running one of those end-arounds with Patterson towards Quinn.

Quinn isn’t pulled in obvious run downs…that I’ve noticed. Quinn is given a breather on some first downs because…think about it…where would you rather Quinn have a breather…1st and 10 or a passing down like 3rd and 7? Where will he be missed more? Where will he have a bigger impact? The Rams aren’t going to spare Quinn on passing downs. He’s too much of an impact player. Logic would dictate that you pull him on 1st and 10 when you want to get him a breather because it’s a long distance down but also not an obvious passing situation.

Hayes is one of the best 4-3 run defenders in football at DE. He’s certainly not an obvious pass rusher. In fact, usually, we bring him in at DT on passing downs because of his strength. IIRC, he played DT in 2012 for Brockers when Brockers had his ankle sprain because of how good of a run defender he is as a DE.