[SamuelMcF]

The 2017 DL was Jackson, Phillips, Cotton, a limited Williams, and a didn't play much until late Swann.  Schaffer really wasn't a factor.  That's effectively 4 DL that could play.

The 2018 unit will have Jackson, Swann, Williams, Peek, DWP, Johnson, Shaffer (who may be able to contribute), Booker and Fox as Frosh who could play.  That's 6 that can play minimum, and maybe as many as 9.  I'm going to assume it ends up as 7, with Booker and/or Fox getting some PT.  So there will be more depth than the last few years, which should help, even if overall talent level doesn't improve.

+1 to this. The unit actually has depth now; the question is whether enough guys can contribute to see effective rotation. (See DL of yore with Gardner, Parry, Anderson, Mauro, Stephens, and Thomas/Murphy/Vaughters as OLB with hands in the dirt. I don't think OLB will be a problem at all this year.) The Eagles are doing this to great effect in the pros; they rotate 6ish starter-caliber guys on the DL so 4th quarter fatigue is minimized significantly.

If the number truly is 6, that's already much better than last year - Phillips was an absolute warrior, but fatigue was brutal. So much respect for him holding down the fort while the cavalry was still being prepared.

[SamuelMcF]

The 2017 DL was Jackson, Phillips, Cotton, a limited Williams, and a didn't play much until late Swann.  Schaffer really wasn't a factor.  That's effectively 4 DL that could play.

The 2018 unit will have Jackson, Swann, Williams, Peek, DWP, Johnson, Shaffer (who may be able to contribute), Booker and Fox as Frosh who could play.  That's 6 that can play minimum, and maybe as many as 9.  I'm going to assume it ends up as 7, with Booker and/or Fox getting some PT.  So there will be more depth than the last few years, which should help, even if overall talent level doesn't improve.

+1 to this. The unit actually has depth now; the question is whether enough guys can contribute to see effective rotation. (See DL of yore with Gardner, Parry, Anderson, Mauro, Stephens, and Thomas/Murphy/Vaughters as OLB with hands in the dirt. I don't think OLB will be a problem at all this year.) The Eagles are doing this to great effect in the pros; they rotate 6ish starter-caliber guys on the DL so 4th quarter fatigue is minimized significantly.

If the number truly is 6, that's already much better than last year - Phillips was an absolute warrior, but fatigue was brutal. So much respect for him holding down the fort while the cavalry was still being prepared.