Who To Watch For

[Kemp17]

Originally Posted by AK46um

I think a dominant OLB in the first would benefit our existing CB group. Looking into things further my opinion is our CBs are the weak link on this team. A robust edge pass rush helps mask that weakness. Ingram has shown flashes. No shame in getting a big long armed OLB in the 1st for me. Especially if we get a top 2 OLB prospect.

The next question I ask myself is should we draft a CB in the second round? Well Cason, as much as I defended him is on the hot seat. Jammer's lack of speed is becoming to give offenses confidence in throwing to his man- with success. I'm concerned Wright is injury prone despite being talented. That leaves Gilchrist whom Wright beat out at the start of the season. I'm kinda tempted to move up to get BPA CB in the late 1st to early 2nd round. Let them compete for starting spots.

So far my mock is looking like:

1: OLB
2: CB (trade up?)
3: ?
4: ?
5: ?
6: ?

Unless you project us to address OL through free agency, I think you're putting off what is probably our biggest need.

[AK46um]

Originally Posted by Kemp17

Unless you project us to address OL through free agency, I think you're putting off what is probably our biggest need.

I've yet to take a closer look into OL prospects but I get your drift. Should we get the right OLB in the 1st. One that I feel confident about with improving edge pass rushing which in turn improves our secondary play I'd gamble on Wright starting which could mean not needing a CB in the 2nd. I think that was the plan all along but he got hurt. I think Wright has a higher ceiling than Cason. With OL help I have a feeling the staff's gonna look towards free agency vs drafting one in rounds 1-2. My opinion is we should've drafted higher in OL these past few years to compensate our non-mobile QB and deep ball offensive attack.

[Kemp17]

Originally Posted by AK46um

I've yet to take a closer look into OL prospects but I get your drift. Should we get the right OLB in the 1st. One that I feel confident about with improving edge pass rushing which in turn improves our secondary play I'd gamble on Wright starting which could mean not needing a CB in the 2nd. I think that was the plan all along but he got hurt. I think Wright has a higher ceiling than Cason. With OL help I have a feeling the staff's gonna look towards free agency vs drafting one in rounds 1-2. My opinion is we should've drafted higher in OL these past few years to compensate our non-mobile QB and deep ball offensive attack.

These are our pressing needs as I see them:

- Left Guard: Green gets abused in both phases, but especially the running game. An upgrade could likely be had in the top couple rounds of the draft. Free agent options are limited with Andy Levitre being the only above average player available.

- Offensive Tacke: We need an upgrade on the right side for protection purposes, while still needing a better plan B on the left side. If we take one high enough, a rookie like Joeckel, Lewan, or even Aboushi could be both our new RT and our backup LT (with Harris being the swing tackle). I would like someone who could eventually move over to the blindside as Gaither's back problems are going to make him unreliable long term. Free agent options include Branden Albert, Sebastian Vollmer, and Andre Smith, but a draft pick seems like the more likely course to me.

- Right Outside Linebacker: Phillips and Barnes are the two main pass rushers from this side and they're both hitting free agency. Neither have been particularly good this year anyways. But I have been persuaded that this needs to be addressed before cornerback. You need to build from the front backwards if you want to be consistently successful. The only real free agent option (for a 3-4) is Connor Barwin, who is putting together a lackluster season after his breakout last year.

-Cornerback: For better or worse, we are going to at least try one of the 2011 picks at a starting spot (I have hope for Wright), but we still need another starter. Should be a good cornerback class, and the free agent pool isn't bad either. Someone like Chris Houston or Brent Grimes could really help make a difference here.

Now the way I see it, it's irresponsible to address these needs with anything less than a 2nd round pick. Of course I'm not saying that a 2nd is a guaranteed upgrade, but counting on mid rounders to come in here and make a difference at any of these positions would no longer be a calculated risk, but rather a stupid one. So I think you can turn to the draft for two of these four big needs. Free agency would need to be the solution for the other two.

And of course I see other potential issues at RB, WR, NT, ILB, and of course QB, but I think those positions need to be placed on a "second tier" of need compared to the four listed.

[WootMonkey]

I agree with your direction Kemp.

I'd like to see the team start to play people like Mouton, Green, and Taylor to see what we have there as well.

And I'd add TE to your list of second tier needs watching Gates this year.

[Kemp17]

Originally Posted by IB Bolt Fan

I think Demarcus Milliner seems a bit of a fine prospect. I only saw a highlight of him vs MICH. But from what I have seen, he is good at jamming the wr at the line, and even being physical running with the wr. He seems like a good cover corner, has a decent height of 6'1. I'm just iffy on his tackling, because it kinda looked like he didn't show good form tackling, such as trying to arm tackle. And I read somewhere that he doesn't have good closing speed. Still, it prolly might be someone to look at.

Then again, I really want Xavier Rhodes. He makes me think of Jammer, and he looks like someone that can start right away.

It's very rare in this league to find a rookie corner that can play at a high level. But, if someone out of this class can do it, it's probably Milliner. He's had the best coaching out of any DB in this class; Saban's defensive backs usually come out as prepared for the NFL as possible.

[JammerHammer23]

Milliner is definitely the most polished CB. I have him above Rhodes because while he may not be the athlete Rhodes is, he is very far along in technique.

[BearWithJetpack]

Damn, Tavon Austin is electric. Which, of course, is news to nobody.

[Kemp17]

Originally Posted by IB Bolt Fan

I'd rather have Rhodes over Milliner, to be honest. Rhodes is also capable of jamming, and bump and run, and even match stride for stride with the wr; that he's more physical and is a much better tackler than Milliner.

He's definitely bigger and stronger than Milliner. I wouldn't call him a much bigger tackler though; DeMarcus doesn't shy away from contact. But I like them both and there is definitely a lot more football left so there is time for one to separate from the other.

But as of right now, I'd take Joeckel, Lewan, or Moore over either of them.

[SDfootball61]

Originally Posted by Kemp17

He's definitely bigger and stronger than Milliner. I wouldn't call him a much bigger tackler though; DeMarcus doesn't shy away from contact. But I like them both and there is definitely a lot more football left so there is time for one to separate from the other.

But as of right now, I'd take Joeckel, Lewan, or Moore over either of them.

I gotta disagree with at least Moore. The name of the game in pass rushing is UPSIDE. Moore just doesn't hat the upsdie (from what i've seen) to merit him being anything more than an early 2nd rounder. He's kind of similar to a guy like Jerry Hughes.

For upper to mid first round picks, you're looking for guys who are freakish athletes, even over guys who have put up the numbers. There's just some things that you cant teach and length and that kind of athleticism is one of them. Guys like JPP, Orakpo, heck Connor Barwin, Derrick Morgan, Aldon Smith, Coples, Irvin and even JJ Watt, all drafted off mostly potential, or were just one year wonders. Once you add potential to some production, thats when you get those top 10 picks.

Thats the reason that i like guys (though they may not go as high) like Jordan, Ansah, Carradine, with obviously Mingo, Jones, Werner, Montgomery.

[Kemp17]

Originally Posted by SDfootball61

I gotta disagree with at least Moore. The name of the game in pass rushing is UPSIDE. Moore just doesn't hat the upsdie (from what i've seen) to merit him being anything more than an early 2nd rounder. He's kind of similar to a guy like Jerry Hughes.

For upper to mid first round picks, you're looking for guys who are freakish athletes, even over guys who have put up the numbers. There's just some things that you cant teach and length and that kind of athleticism is one of them. Guys like JPP, Orakpo, heck Connor Barwin, Derrick Morgan, Aldon Smith, Coples, Irvin and even JJ Watt, all drafted off mostly potential, or were just one year wonders. Once you add potential to some production, thats when you get those top 10 picks.

Thats the reason that i like guys (though they may not go as high) like Jordan, Ansah, Carradine, with obviously Mingo, Jones, Werner, Montgomery.

This whole post assumes that Moore doesn't have athletic upside. What is that based on? Physically, he looks about as impressive on the field as anyone I've seen and it's not as though we have numbers on anyone yet.