No way to replace the possible Pro Bowl level tackles AO was making and even getting better at what he was doing. He came in ready to make the Pro Bowl this season. Can Williams package Bates ,Ayers ,Hager and Barron in packages to make up for those tackles and coverages? Yes its always next man up but every tackle Alec O. would have made now HAS TO BE recorded by another player. Is there anyway we can make lemonade out of this sad card we have been dealt? If it leads to another player learning and being successful at making plays Alec would have made ,if not even better and really adds to this "D". I'm sure Williams has been thinking on this all night and today with Coach Fisher and staff.
Anyway we can get more use out of Ayers with real success? I hope Dunbar is just our fallback in case Bates gets nicked again. Bates NEEDS to stay healthy.May need to get Dunbar up to speed to give Bates some breather reps. This is why I want to draft Reggie Ragland who can do all that JL and AO can do right now. Maybe not at their level yet but with speed and power. His game against Georgia this last week had him rush as a DE with sacks. His pass coverage led to laid out receiver with no catch and he was laying the wood from 2 other LB positions. It was a highlight reel. NO INJURIES!!!