Many years ago now it appeared Chad Greenway was going to be one of the best 4-3 linebackers we’d see but as his reputation grew his production fell – such is the beauty of the NFL. If last season with its 21 missed tackles (third-worst at his position) wasn’t the final bell it likely only because his contract is so onerous and as a result he now looks set to complete a group of linebackers that vies for the worst in the league. In a system where quality play from that position group is so vital, it has to be upgraded.
However, the position at QB is equally dire and that will take precedence – redshirt or not – it has to be addressed.
“Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that.” --- Bill Shankly
@evansilva Bill Polian & Mark Dominik both said Aaron Donald makes sense to #Buccaneers at 7. "Most pivotal part of that (Tampa 2) defense." RE: Aaron Donald. Lovie's Ds in Chicago & St Louis always operated at their optimum levels with deep rotations of pass rushers inside & out.
“Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that.” --- Bill Shankly
Slick Rick wrote:What players do you think Rick would legitimately select at #8? I think it's very likely that it's either a offensive lineman, quarterback, corner, linebacker, or maybe receiver.
I'm stoked to find out who we pick first.
I think the only way he's going to select an offensive lineman at that spot is if all the other players he considers worthy of the #8 pick are gone and he's "trapped' in the spot without trade options. Ditto for receiver.
I'm guessing they will go with a quarterback, mainly because they know they need one, they've spent a lot of time this offseason scouting and talking about the position and there's been so much talk about how they won't draft a QB at that spot that I'm now thinking that's a smokescreen and they're ready to snap up a QB.
If not a QB, it could be a player at almost any position on defense.
80 PurplePride 84 wrote:
Why would they pick a OT?
Even if you plan on moving him I'm not comfortable using a top 10 pick on a G.
OT is not my top choice of scenarios, but here's a couple potential reasons:
1. You see once in a generation talent and feel you can move folks around on your line.
2. Trade potential--again, assuming the player in question is a game changer and will have suitors.
I'd rather have a LB, QB, S, or CB. I'd be fine with DL or WR, though I don't think either is a glaring need. OL would cause my eye brows to raise, and I'd want to look into what the plan is.
Texas Vike wrote:OT is not my top choice of scenarios, but here's a couple potential reasons:
1. You see once in a generation talent and feel you can move folks around on your line.
2. Trade potential--again, assuming the player in question is a game changer and will have suitors.
I'd rather have a LB, QB, S, or CB. I'd be fine with DL or WR, though I don't think either is a glaring need. OL would cause my eye brows to raise, and I'd want to look into what the plan is.
Robinson would be the only OL I'd take at 8. I'd have a hard time pulling the trigger at 8 on any of this draft's top safeties as well. To me, it will be very interesting if one of Watkins or Evans is available at 8. If that's the case, I can certainly see Rick trading down and taking the extra picks. I have a hard time believing both will be gone by our pick, so the chances are good one will be there. The question is, would Rick take one of them?
“Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that.” --- Bill Shankly
dead_poet wrote:
Robinson would be the only OL I'd take at 8. I'd have a hard time pulling the trigger at 8 on any of this draft's top safeties as well. To me, it will be very interesting if one of Watkins or Evans is available at 8. If that's the case, I can certainly see Rick trading down and taking the extra picks. I have a hard time believing both will be gone by our pick, so the chances are good one will be there. The question is, would Rick take one of them?
If I were THE RICKER in that spot I'd probably pull the trigger on Watkins or Evans, unless someone made me an offer I couldn't refuse (and made the offer with the Godfather's voice). In fact, I think this might be one of the best ways for us to move down and pull in a nice haul---someone really covets Evans, for example.
I think Watkins, especially, is going to be a top notch receiver for years to come.
80 PurplePride 84 wrote:Spielman said in his presser today that he does read mocks for fun and "you guys are missing some potential players for us"
The most common picks for us recently have been Bortles, Donald and Dennard. Bridgewater, Manziel, Mack, Mosely, Gilbert and Carr have been mocked in the past.
Who are they missing? Mike Evans? One of the Tackles? Another Ponder like reach we're not thinking of?
Or, most likely, this is just more gamesmanship.
I was thinking about this and one guy that we have been overlooking is Zack Martin OT out of Notre Dame. Mayock has him ranked as the #4 OT but he would be the #1 Guard or Center and he has Buffalo taking him at 9. This would make sense for us because Spielman likes Notre Dame football players and we could plug him in at guard next to kalil or loadholt. Kalil, Sullivan, Martin, and Loadholt would make one hell of an offensive line.
I'd actually be okay with a guard at #8 if he's really high quality / BPA. We have Peterson, we have shaky QB play, better protection is a big deal for this team. I know this probably won't be popular but I actually think left guard is the weakest position on the team right now. All we have is a really bad journeyman there, at least at LB we have some young bodies who have an outside shot to become average starters, same thing at CB.
Shoring up that spot would do wonders I think because we could focus on giving loadholt extra chips / help when he's struggling against those speed rushers or if the protection is doing well the RB / TE can focus on getting down field on their routes.
mondry wrote:I'd actually be okay with a guard at #8 if he's really high quality / BPA. We have Peterson, we have shaky QB play, better protection is a big deal for this team. I know this probably won't be popular but I actually think left guard is the weakest position on the team right now. All we have is a really bad journeyman there...
They have the same situation at QB. I wouldn't call it "really bad" but I wouldn't actually characterize Johnson that way either. At both positions, they have players that are sub-standard starters but one position is far more significant than the other.
Mothman wrote:
They have the same situation at QB. I wouldn't call it "really bad" but I wouldn't actually characterize Johnson that way either. At both positions, they have players that are sub-standard starters but one position is far more significant than the other.
I agree, but the need at QB is well documented so when spielman says "you guys are missing some potential players for us" guards came to mind.
