The new head coach said last month that he had yet to meet with Simmons about the rep program. Asked about his expectations for how that conversation will go, Simmons said he’s ready to prove he can handle the workload.
“I want to be in the mindset of, ‘No, Coach, I could go more,’ or whatever it may be,” Simmons said during minicamp. “The way I practice, the way I try to get my body ready, I want to show him that maybe I could go six games instead of the four they’re talking about.
Simmons said he is in the best shape of his career after fixing an elbow issue that had plagued him in recent seasons.
According to Saleh’s scheme, Simmons will attack more easily than the “two gap” defense he played in before – which required keeping the double team at the line of scrimmage. Saleh wants his DT to penetrate, switch double plays and disrupt the backfield. The plan should unleash Simmons.
Even in systems that don’t exactly put defensive tackles in primary positions to make plays, Simmons was disrupted. According to Next Generation Stats, Simmons generated 60 QB pressures and a 13.9% pressure percentage with 11 sacks last season, all of which were league-highs for a DT. He also led all interior linebackers with 26 rushing yards and a 6% rushing QB pressure.
Now send those numbers to a defense that begs him to get into the backfield. Even taking away a few reps to keep him fresher shouldn’t hold back that production in 2026. Simmons has DPOY upside in Saleh’s scheme.