Had an NFC Personnel executive tell me “He reminds me of J.J. Watt, when Watt was coming out. An explosive and versatile playmaker who has a high motor and can line up at 3,5, or 7. Very strong kid” #NFL#NFLDraftpic.twitter.com/5qM3g6OrMr
Originally Posted by RunKC:
Sam Williams was my favorite player in the entire draft but I’ve been more than happy with Karlaftis. He’s been the best rookie pass rusher not named Aidan Hutchinson this season.
They are both going to be really good
Said from day 1 - if Karlaftis is the guy we hope he could be (and who he appears to be developing into), he's the HARDEST part of complementary DEs to get.
A 3-down, fundamentally sound player who can do everything at a high level. Not a super high ceiling guy (I think Thibs, for instance, has a far higher ceiling) but a guy who simply doesn't take a single thing off the table.
And who allows you to be more targeted in our DE2. You can go find a focused pass rusher.
If a defensive line is a pitching staff, in Chris Jones you have your ace starter, in George Karlaftis you have a reliable 9th inning guy. Now you need a good swing reliever (sturdy run-stopping DT) to keep things steady and jam reliever (Speed rusher) to come get that key strikeout when you have to get out of an inning. [Reply]
Until we stop looking solely at sacks, we're going to have "should have taken X" people. It's not all about sacks or even solo tackles. It's about causing a pass to be incomplete, keeping the runner from turning upfield, and not taking plays off. [Reply]
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut:
Said from day 1 - if Karlaftis is the guy we hope he could be (and who he appears to be developing into), he's the HARDEST part of complementary DEs to get.
A 3-down, fundamentally sound player who can do everything at a high level. Not a super high ceiling guy (I think Thibs, for instance, has a far higher ceiling) but a guy who simply doesn't take a single thing off the table.
And who allows you to be more targeted in our DE2. You can go find a focused pass rusher.
If a defensive line is a pitching staff, in Chris Jones you have your ace starter, in George Karlaftis you have a reliable 9th inning guy. Now you need a good swing reliever (sturdy run-stopping DT) to keep things steady and jam reliever (Speed rusher) to come get that key strikeout when you have to get out of an inning.
All true but he's currently some way off being that player. I get the excitement with Karlaftis, but less so based on his play this year. He's had moments but I don't think there's been huge or obvious growth. He's been...fine. He needs to clean up his tackling for a start before he's the 3-down DE you mention. [Reply]
Originally Posted by oldman:
Until we stop looking solely at sacks, we're going to have "should have taken X" people. It's not all about sacks or even solo tackles. It's about causing a pass to be incomplete, keeping the runner from turning upfield, and not taking plays off.
Originally Posted by Chiefspants:
Now that his pressures that didn't matter are turning into sacks, is there a reason why the sacks don't matter either?
None of that matters if you don’t like him. If you aren’t hating on him you can clearly see he has been getting better as the season wears on. [Reply]