I agree. I'll trust the opinion of a fan who has watched every game a guy has played in college over a bunch of talking heads whose sole job is to generate ratings. Guys I call the weathermen of pro sports.
Well unless the fan is a real homer for their college team like me or Cbus.
But I was right about Sam Acho and all the weathermen and most of the NFL scouts were wrong so there's that.
What makes the draft difficult is the negative perception on drafting players with low ceilings in the first round, and the focus on perceived positional value. The draft isn't about "winning" or "grades" and in the end is truely about identifying what the individual positions in your scheme require and taking players that best fill those requirements. As an organization, you should put a priority on addressing positions which make the biggest impact on what you want to accomplish on each unit.
Sam Acho is a perfect example of this. In a 3-4, you have to have versatile OLBs who can both impact the run game, rush the passer, and drop into coverage. Acho was never a supremely athletic player, and was therefore devalued because of his low ceiling. However, when put into our defensive scheme, he flourished because he was able to do all of the required responsibilities consistently and on a high level. This is one reason I feel we will make a move on Melvin Ingram if available, and is because he brings similar traits as Acho with a bit more natural athleticism.
It is why players who contribute in nickel packages should be at an all time demand. They have a greater effect against an offense than traditional "run stoppers" or "box safeties" because offenses are so pass oriented and it makes these players more difficult to scheme away from. I would much rather have players that can stop Green Bay's passing game, because as a defense, I want them to run the ball. I want the ball in James Starks' hands rather than Aaron Rodgers.
Also, this is what has frustrated me so much about the Cardinals lack of drafting offensive linemen. Offensive linemen have a direct impact on the success rate of every offensive play, and regardless of the position the play on the offensive line, there should be an organizational priority on acquiring the best players possible to play in that unit. A teams ability to effectively block any given play as designed is directly correlated to the consistency of that play being successful. An inconsistent offensive line will always lead to inconsistent offenisive productivity. This is why I will generally prioritize an offensive lineman over a wide receiver. Given enough time, almost any professional wide receiver can get open, but without time, very few can do so. This is even more necessary if you lack a top QB.
