The Breakthrough of Cliff Avril

The number 1 benifactor to Kyle and corey will be Avril. Less focus on him and Suh just takes more off of him. Avril could end up are best lineman this year simply because he will get one on one with a tackle. Gaurds will be focused on the DT posistion and doubles on KVB.

as I recall, Marinelli spent a lot of individual time on Avril—teaching him how to use his hands. He must have seen something in him. If there is one thing I liked about Marinelli is that he favored character guys. Avril is a character guy. I remember watching Avril injure himself chasing and diving for a guy down 30-40 yds downfield. There is a little KVB in him.

Schwartz is a great coach. I think he recognized that a guy like Avril just desperately needed guys on the player-side like KVB and DeVries to be around this year and show him how to be a pro. I wonder if this came up in the Schwartz/KVB drunken make-out fest night we signed KVB—that is, a little discussion about his role as a mentor to some good guys (Hill, Suh, Avril) that would be likely to positively respond to KVB’s obsessive drive and motivational hoorah rather than mock him and distance themselves from him and shy away from his demonic competitiveness and severe work ethic. I could see other types of players not responding and not getting up to work with a KVB.

Not just the character thing and motivation, but I think our biggest improvements in talent have come on the DL interior which should really boost our DE play. I look forward to seeing Avril respond magnificiently this year as he has the size and tools to play his position. The sky is the limit for this guy right now.

Dude will definitely have a breakout year, and I’ve been telling people this for some time. He’s never had any help on the D-line, now that he’s playing next to quality players he should be able to show us what he can really do.

I’ve heard he’s bulked up. Like everybody else has stated, learning from KVB is only going to make him better.
I’m optimistic about Jason Hunter, too. I think there will be no drop-off when he is rotated in.

avril will not only benefit from who is beside him. . .i really think Kris Kocurek will get the most out of the d-line. . .watching his intensity during the senior bowl practices gave me a good feeling about the development of our d-line

Always have. He shown us that he can get to the QB, he just hasn’t ‘broken’ out yet. Maybe it is this year, with the talent that’s now around him.

Will he get chances to do well in pass rush situation. Yes, of course, but pass rush isn’t the issue. 5.5 sacks in 12 games is about 8 sacks in 16 games. Thats more than good enough pass rush. The problem has been and will be his run defense. Suh, Corey and KVB are stout run defenders. If there is one thing we can count on those three to do well, its defending the run. That means teams will more towards Avril like they did last season. His inability to defend the run got him benched last year. If he can improve on his run D, then he is going to be one of the bright stars on this team.

I jest… That said, Avril’s numbers are respectable, but he really has been a one-dimensional player in that he really didn’t stop the run, nor is he used in that capacity. He has all the ability in the world to be a Dwight Freeney type pass rusher and I hope with some favorable talent he will be able to put the pieces together

He will get you somewhere between 4-7 sacks a year, and nothing more. Hopefully one of the other 3 guys, or Jason Hunter, can come through and get double digit sacks for us, but if you are counting on them from Avril, it is going to be a long year! The guy had 9 sacks his senior season in high school as a DE. 6 his best year in college. And how many are you expecting from him in the NFL?