Will we see Greg Gaines taking "any" significant snaps THIS season?

[PressureD41]

I for one am hoping coach Wade & Henderson can get this kid up to speed asap. We need him badly. SJD isn't worth any snaps moving forward imho. And Smart is another wasted option.

 

[Jacobarch]

I think Gains lacks strength at the point of attack. SJD has been ok so far this season. I wouldn't say he's reached his potential but you can definitely see a lot of push and get off from him. I'd give him time to develop, and Gains should be a nice rotational guy who eventually takes over for SJD when he's ready. I know he'll be active against the Steelers.

 

[TheTackle]

SJD has played well in recent weeks, so it will be interesting to see whether Gaines can break into the rotation. The DL as a group have played at a high level, albeit against weaker opposition

If we stop the run and pressure respective QBs, we beat SF and the Hawks in those rematches - bank it

 

[badcop]

Gaines is the far better option. Plays low and is unmoved by double teams. Requires double teams. Has pressured the QB. Completely disrupts the interior of the offensive line and controls multiple gaps. Able to shed and tackle close to the line of scrimmage not 5 yards downfield. Can play more than one position. Needs to play next to AD as both will need doubles and they don't have the numbers for that and they'll have to choose.

 

[jrry32]

Gaines has taken snaps. We'll see if he earns more.

 

[Merlin]

If it were me he'd be up every week and Smart would sit. At least Gaines plugs things up and he offers an ability to put him or SJD at 5T or to sub for AD without getting road graded in the run.

Not to mention for all of Smart's supposed pass rush skills he is easily handled on the rush.

 

[hotanez]

If it were me he'd be up every week and Smart would sit. At least Gaines plugs things up and he offers an ability to put him or SJD at 5T or to sub for AD without getting road graded in the run.

Not to mention for all of Smart's supposed pass rush skills he is easily handled on the rush.

I agree with you Merlin that Gaines should be activated and sit Smart. But I disagree with the other posters that say he's a better option than SJD. Also remember that the NT will only see a very limited amount of snaps.

 

[BonifayRam]

Just takes time for a college NT to get up to where they need to be to play NT in the NFL. GG to get stronger & better on holding his turf. He is not there @ this point SJD is. Next season after a good solid off season worth of work & effort he should claim much more playing time in this defensive front. Wade constantly moving more & more of using only two DL'ers this season also has left GG in the not needed category.

In 2020 GG should easily by-pass DT Tanzel Smart on the depth chart (who I have never thought was worth a 53MR spot) & help fill the void with the departure of veteran Micheal Brockers on run downs. I believe that DT Marquise Copland & some HD use of DT Greg Gaines sprinkled in with some ER Og Okoronkwo will do fine in replacing Brockers.

 

[SierraRam]

Gaines is Donald without the speed, strength, experience, low BMI...

 

[shovelpass]

SJD isn't worth any snaps moving forward imho.

Well you've been beating this drum since week 1 and the coaching staff has yet to notice so....

Not happy w/ SJD, he's getting man handled on the LOS

 

[shovelpass]

Gaines will get more snaps once he proves to the coaching staff that he deserves snaps over SJD, Smart, and Fox
NT is a part time position so it's pointless to activate 2 players and in nickle/dime formation you have 4/5 DL to fill 2 spots. So much hype for a NT.
I think that SJD has been playing better than some think. He's only in his 2nd season, and first active/starting, he has yet to reach his potential. He's not good at getting into the backfield, but he plugs up the middle well.

 

[fearsomefour]

Joseph-Day has improved a lot.
The next three games will be against teams that want to run the ball....a lot.
He may get more snaps.
Especially next week.

 

[Soul Surfer]

Gaines is the far better option. Plays low and is unmoved by double teams. Requires double teams. Has pressured the QB. Completely disrupts the interior of the offensive line and controls multiple gaps. Able to shed and tackle close to the line of scrimmage not 5 yards downfield. Can play more than one position. Needs to play next to AD as both will need doubles and they don't have the numbers for that and they'll have to choose.

Dude.
I'm not sure if any of that is true but you should write for Walter Football.

 

[Memento]

Dude.
I'm not sure if any of that is true but you should write for Walter Football.

That's not a compliment, if you were intending on making it a compliment. WalterFootball is complete trash.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

If it were me he'd be up every week and Smart would sit. At least Gaines plugs things up and he offers an ability to put him or SJD at 5T or to sub for AD without getting road graded in the run.

Not to mention for all of Smart's supposed pass rush skills he is easily handled on the rush.

Yeah I don’t understand the love for Smart. SJD has been playing well. Early on I thought Gaines was playing better than him. But then we started seeing less of Gaines and more of Smart. When Gaines is in there he does a good job clogging the middle.

One difference I see is SJD gets more push on pass plays and I know Wade loves pushing the pocket and getting to the QB. This may be why Tanzel Smart is being favored over Gaines. Maybe they think he will pressure the QB more. The result is getting gashed on the ground. It’s not worth it imo. I’d be playing Gaines over Smart. Was Gaines not on the starting roster in London?

Maybe Gaines has some minor injury that he’s working through?

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Gaines is the far better option. Plays low and is unmoved by double teams. Requires double teams. Has pressured the QB. Completely disrupts the interior of the offensive line and controls multiple gaps. Able to shed and tackle close to the line of scrimmage not 5 yards downfield. Can play more than one position. Needs to play next to AD as both will need doubles and they don't have the numbers for that and they'll have to choose.

I think he’ll become this in time. That’s who he was in college. He’s better against the run than Fox and Smart imo but he is in his first season and only played 12 had a rest and then a bowl game. These NFL Olinemen and the blocking schemes are a lot more difficult to play against. They may feel his pass rush skills aren’t matching up with what they expect. I think he’s a good run defender right now. But Phillips likes his front four to push the pocket. I think subbing Smart instead is a mistake. This staff loves to take it slow with rookies.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Gaines will get more snaps once he proves to the coaching staff that he deserves snaps over SJD, Smart, and Fox
NT is a part time position so it's pointless to activate 2 players and in nickle/dime formation you have 4/5 DL to fill 2 spots. So much hype for a NT.
I think that SJD has been playing better than some think. He's only in his 2nd season, and first active/starting, he has yet to reach his potential. He's not good at getting into the backfield, but he plugs up the middle well.

I agree that SJDay has improved since the start of the season. I like Fox also. But I don’t think Smart is an upgrade. I also don’t think Gaines was drafted strictly as a roymtational piece at NT. In college he got plenty of pressure on the QB. I don’t think he’s getting enough pressure right now and that’s the part of his game that he needs to work on but I don’t think Smart offers much against the run or pass. I’d rather see more Gaines than Smart, even if it’s with SJD on the field too.


I’m hoping the plan is too have a top defensive backfield and a DLine that can stuff the run as well as pressure the QB. If Gaines can get his pass rush up to what it was in college then he could be more than just a NT and a top three option on the DLine rotation. I haven’t rewatched that uninspiring snooze fest of a game but I’m wondering how many of the run plays for Cincinnati came with Smart and Fox in and Gaines and SJDay out.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Looking at it from a coaches standpoint it could be simple. Ganes is a rookie. Smart hasn’t had much playing time, neither has Fox. You face two teams on the road (one in London) that have struggled to run the ball all season. It’s a good time to give the rookie, Gaines, a rest and to give playing time to some others that also work hard in practice and deserve a shot. It also gives the coaches a chance to see these guys in action and have tape to review. It was a low risk move that could pay dividends for everyone.

 

[Zaphod]

I agree that SJDay has improved since the start of the season. I like Fox also. But I don’t think Smart is an upgrade. I also don’t think Gaines was drafted strictly as a roymtational piece at NT. In college he got plenty of pressure on the QB. I don’t think he’s getting enough pressure right now and that’s the part of his game that he needs to work on but I don’t think Smart offers much against the run or pass. I’d rather see more Gaines than Smart, even if it’s with SJD on the field too.


I’m hoping the plan is too have a top defensive backfield and a DLine that can stuff the run as well as pressure the QB. If Gaines can get his pass rush up to what it was in college then he could be more than just a NT and a top three option on the DLine rotation. I haven’t rewatched that uninspiring snooze fest of a game but I’m wondering how many of the run plays for Cincinnati came with Smart and Fox in and Gaines and SJDay out.

I agree, I don’t know about 0T, but I believe he was drafted to play 1T and 3T, and for rotational depth early in his career.

 

[Zaphod]

Just takes time for a college NT to get up to where they need to be to play NT in the NFL. He just needs to get stronger & better on holding his turf. He is not there @ this point SJD is. Next season after a good solid off season worth of work & effort he should claim much more playing time in this defensive front. Wade constantly moving more & more of using only two DL'ers this season also has left GG in the not needed category.

In 2020 GG should easily by-pass DT Tanzel Smart on the depth chart (who I have never thought was worth a 53MR spot) & help fill the void with the departure of veteran Micheal Brockers on run downs. I believe that DT Marquise Copland & some HD use of DT Greg Gaines sprinkled in with some ER Og Okoronkwo will do fine in replacing Brockers.

For sure, assuming the Rams can’t retain Brockers, next year Copeland and Gaines should get more snaps.