Fao and Hughes look like complete animals on the line up. If you consider our 1's and most of our 2's on the O line are really good, they struggle against Fao and Hughes. Both are incredibly strong, and disruptive. Its 630ish pounds of strong man that need to be accounted for. Since both of them each take a double team, it should allow the defense more room to pass rush.
Our defense was solid against the run last year, and it will continue to be this year. With Dedastien and Wily pushing the 2's. Supposiy Wily is up in the 290's. He doesn't look it since he managed to retain his still mobility. Pushing them is Iafeta. He's in that unique state where he could line up and look the part at end right now. I m interested to see how he develops. At 6'5 he has the frame to grow. He's a little light right now, but he will be a contender soon enough. Remember, they have the rest of spring and summer to put on muscle.
Our ends leave a big question mark, I ll leave it to Bull or Buck to write about them.
I like where our linebackers are. I thought we might be in worse off shape because we are missing 3 starteds, expecially Tau. I d label the three that stepped up in Keyes, Laolagi, and McCoy as an overall improvement. Obviosuly you can't replace the production of Tau, and he will be missed. But McCoy from the weakside is an upgrade in speed. He's fast, and he his very strong. I m not sure where he will line up, since they have been rotating him, Laolagi and a couple of over guys around the chain. Buck already touched on Keyes so there isn't much to say, except with 3 steps of force, he can push around O linemen. Laolagi is an overall upgrade to Lea in every catagory. Bigger, faster, stronger, with better vision.
In short, D line is stronger, linebackers are faster/ more mobile than last year.
