Jeff Holland / The Beast

[War Knight 514]

Holy cow this young man has been on a mission! To me he deserves to be mentioned in the same breath of Ford, Lawson, Nick as far as destructive force on defense.

I feel like he should be discussed so much more and even nationally. This kid has jumped onto the scene and plays with such a nasty intensity every play. It's horrendous just how much he is pulled from behind.

Where do you guys rank him amongst recent star Auburn defenders?

[yngwie1995 2,229]

I think he's better than Lawson and maybe Ford. Memory's a little fuzzy on Dee Ford, as it's been a few years. I do remember him stopping Murray and Manziel in the final play of those 2 games, though.

I'd possibly rank him up there with Fairley. Fairley was on another level. Aside from him body slamming LSU's QB (Jefferson) that time, I most remember his fumble and recovery in the 2010 Iron Bowl. That was incredible. 

I feel like we're loaded with studs up front: Holland, Brown and Davidson. 

[api1957 1,783]

Sensai Mud!!

[MCPeePants 227]

So hard to compare recent players, what with injuries, substitutions, packages, etc.

The man is a BEAST, however, and one of many on that D-Line that have me comparing them to 2010.

[cammycam2 173]

Better than lawson. Same production as ford but with more swag. Holland is one of my all time favorites. He was my favorite player in his class coming out of high school. I just always loved the way he plays. He will be a heck of a player on sundays

[mikeholiday 132]

He doesn't create pressure as often as Lawson but is much much better at finishing. 

[bigbird 60,520]

On 11/11/2017 at 8:01 PM, mikeholiday said:

He doesn't create pressure as often as Lawson but is much much better at finishing. 

Pressure without finishing just opens up wide open rush lanes to escape

[WFE12 9,191]

We'd been saying preseason that he HAD to step up and he's done that and more. So proud!

[JDUBB4AU 5,121]

All American 

[CR 2,442]

Finishes plays that Lawson was always a split second away from making.

[fredst 9,064]

Head and shoulders above Lawson. Loved Carl but his hype greatly exceeded his production. More disruptive than Ford. Think his game is a level above each of those.

[Dan-0 479]

19 minutes ago, fredst said:

Head and shoulders above Lawson. Loved Carl but his hype greatly exceeded his production. More disruptive than Ford. Think his game is a level above each of those.

I agree. For some reason, injuries or whatever, I just don't think Lawson lived up to his potential considering he was starting as a freshman. Not that he wasn't a great pash rusher, just never as disruptive as Holland has been this year.

[tiger88 934]

Total Beast Mode. Fun to watch and then some.

[Dual-Threat Rigby 8,666]

Lawson might be the best rusher to never finish his opportunities. Maybe its the gear he lost due to all the injuries, but he'd probably be the unquestioned GOAT here if he could've finished most of his sack chances. 

Ford was like a better version of Lawson, Holland is a very good pass specialist tho. Not to say Dee wasnt but Holland's impact on passing downs is something we haven't had very often. So

Fairley, Holland, Ford, Lawson imo. Fairley might be the best single season DLineman this decade, so its tough to be much better than that

[WFE12 9,191]

2 minutes ago, Dual-Threat Rigby said:

Lawson might be the best rusher to never finish his opportunities. Maybe its the gear he lost due to all the injuries, but he'd probably be the unquestioned GOAT here if he could've finished most of his sack chances. 

Ford was like a better version of Lawson, Holland is a very good pass specialist tho. Not to say Dee wasnt but Holland's impact on passing downs is something we haven't had very often. So

Fairley, Holland, Ford, Lawson imo. Fairley might be the best single season DLineman this decade, so its tough to be much better than that

Exactly...he may have whiffed on some would be sacks but he got there plenty and would have been more if not for all those times he got held and double teamed. He wasn't chopped liver..look at what lawson is doing in the nfl...one of the best pass rushers not just among rookies.

[WDE_OxPx_2010 5,297]

We talking about the same guy here? 

 

[Aloha_Tiger 30]

Jeff Holland is amazing, and perhaps better than Carl was when he played at Auburn, but Carl's talent in the NFL can't be denied. He has been nasty for the Bengals. 4.5 sacks this season and 7 combined tackles for a rookie. He certainly plays like he's pissed about his draft selection.

That said, love me some Sensei Mud. 

[ThereGoesDavis 179]

12 minutes ago, auburn_tiger2015 said:

Jeff Holland is amazing, and perhaps better than Carl was when he played at Auburn, but Carl's talent in the NFL can't be denied. He has been nasty for the Bengals. 4.5 sacks this season and 7 combined tackles for a rookie. He certainly plays like he's pissed about his draft selection.

That said, love me some Sensei Mud. 

This. It's ridiculous to devalue the performance of a great player due to the performance of another great player. I'm thrilled that they both are a part of the Auburn family. 

[Scotty2Hotty 520]

Dee Ford is hands down the best DE I've seen play @ AU.

[ToraGirl 5,498]

What I love about Jeff Holland is that he makes you forget that we pined for an effective pass rush for a very long time.  Easy to take for granted when he is consistently there.  As well, he has stayed healthy, despite throwing himself on the field, all in, wherever needed.  Prayers for that to continue.

[mikeholiday 132]

4 hours ago, bigbird said:

Pressure without finishing just opens up wide open rush lanes to escap

Still better than not applying pressure. Holland gets shut down much more than Lawson ever did. 

Unless you want to argue making no impact on a play is better than putting pressure on the quarterback. 

If so, might as well have had me or you out there instead of Lawson. 

[Randman5000 4,228]

Dee Ford was clutch...Holland is in great company. Hoping he shines out in next five games

[Jfsmoncrief 10]

Holland more effective against the run than Ford but a better pass rusher than Carl

[AU80cruiser 1,102]

7 hours ago, cammycam2 said:

Better than lawson. Same production as ford but with more swag. Holland is one of my all time favorites. He was my favorite player in his class coming out of high school. I just always loved the way he plays. He will be a heck of a player on sundays

This is exactly how I would rank him and I really loved Dee Ford. I was very concerned with Holland taking Lawsons spot but he has greatly exceeded my expectations. Dline should be made to study martial arts in the offseason. 

@yngwie1995 Fairly was on another level IMO. He was Cam of the defense.....a damn monster.

[GwillMac6 20,671]

5 hours ago, fredst said:

Head and shoulders above Lawson. Loved Carl but his hype greatly exceeded his production. More disruptive than Ford. Think his game is a level above each of those.

Carl Lawson is one of my favorite all time favorite recruits but the hype was Fairley esque and the production was more like Corey Lemonier. NOT A BAD career at all!!! Just not the one we expected from a guy who was the number 2 player in the country. We only got 1 truly healthy season of him though.  He is showing how much of a stud he is in the nfl though! WAR DAMN LAWSON!