Quote: "...I also know that this defense has been getting run more and more by the players - Hell, the stand-up formation has been mentioned as a players idea and not coming from the coaches. Dre Moore is a rather raw prospect, having had limited high school experience, but he has all of the physical tools to be an impact player at the position. You don't have to lead the defense to play in it...." Quack, Ellis was interviewed about the "mush" formation, and it was him that gave the reporter their name for it. I think maybe Ellis is one of the true leaders of that defense. He's not a guy who talks a lot, but my feeling is that a lot of those guys depend on what he does in a lot of calls. The fact that "statistics lie" should not be overlooked. A lot of times the interference or disruption that an Ellis creates deliberately allows the LB or Safety to make a play. The scheme is often designed that way. This Mangini defense often shows up as a team based mis-direction strategy. Of course, that's why it is so intriguing. We should also take into account that this defense involves a lot of disguised changes at the snap. Barton was in Harris' ear before during and after every play for a while before Harris began to operate independently. But the LBs are heavily dependent on the DL to keep them clean, so Barton and Harris have the chance to have a conversation. The DL have show up as monsters that grind up the offensive line a lot of the time. Having a big active guy in the middle will certainly change the dynamic a bit. But the other DLs have to work carefully in concert. Ellis is a mainstay. Forget the stats and see how Mangini and Sutton use him. Ellis does a lot of stuff. Sometimes football is more interesting when you don't just watch where the ball goes, in my opinion.
He's been our most conistent DL for a long time. Year in and year out he's one guy I don't worry about. Still has a few real quality years left in the tank.
when you are jerked off as much as ellis was by herm i wouldnt blame you for complaining. he has been through some tough years and tough changes to his game. including being asked to get away from what he does best to help the team. then getting shit talked about him because he did the work and gained the weight and wasnt as flexible as he would have been had he not been jerked off. i dont know about you but in my job if they ask me to do something out of the ordinary and go the extra mile only to about face and put me back where i was best suited and then talked shit about the job i did cause i prepared for the new job, well hell yeah id be pissed and probably have something to say about it to someone. just because he makes millions doesnt mean he thinks any different from anyone else. and if you are one who blindly follows what he is told 100 percent of the time then my apologies but realize that things never get better when nobody says anything and just follows orders. if there are two men running a business who always agree one of them is unnecessary.
We might also get the next Dorian Boose at that spot. You don't trade someone like Ellis away when you don't have a replacement on the roster. Drafting someone like Dre Moore (who I like) does not change that fact.
Hey, Quack, Dre Moore? You think this guy's worth cutting DeVito or Mosley? What makes you think so? I'm interested.
