Why we might not Go LB in R1

[Reddog]

There is a ton of depth at LB this year. I think we get Porter and look to R2 for a LB if one of the stud NT, Offensive Tackles or a CB falls to 26. Pasquerelli article focuses on this.



http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft10/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=4959081

 

[Mitch]

There is a ton of depth at LB this year. I think we get Porter and look to R2 for a LB if one of the stud NT, Offensive Tackles or a CB falls to 26. Pasquerelli article focuses on this.



http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft10/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=4959081

This feeds right into the point I was trying to make in my Defensive Concerns post...with Whiz offering the perfect ammo...you need "big men" to in a 4 man rush...which is the most important defense in today's game...the hybrids are not classic 4 man rushers...this is why Bertrand Berry held such an important role on this team...

As of right now, who are the rush DEs in the 4 man rush? Clark Haggans and Cody Brown?

We're looking good inside with Dockett and Campbell...and to answer Garth's question to me today, I think Campbell is a rush DT in the 4 man rush, not a DE. We NEED some classic DE types on the edge.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

This feeds right into the point I was trying to make in my Defensive Concerns post...with Whiz offering the perfect ammo...you need "big men" to in a 4 man rush...which is the most important defense in today's game...the hybrids are not classic 4 man rushers...this is why Bertrand Berry held such an important role on this team...

As of right now, who are the rush DEs in the 4 man rush? Clark Haggans and Cody Brown?

We're looking good inside with Dockett and Campbell...and to answer Garth's question to me today, I think Campbell is a rush DT in the 4 man rush, not a DE. We NEED some classic DE types on the edge.

Mitch, what do you think about Gathers from South Carolina as a 2nd or 3rd round pick for cards?

 

[joeshmo]

There is a ton of depth at LB this year. I think we get Porter and look to R2 for a LB if one of the stud NT, Offensive Tackles or a CB falls to 26. Pasquerelli article focuses on this.



http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft10/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=4959081

Just follow your board. Don't wait until later to take a specific position, because what you think will be there in the 2nd or 3rd round more times then not your will probably be wrong. To many variables to try and plan what you will or wont take in a future round, which is why you just stick to your board IMO.

 

[Catfish]

There is a ton of depth at LB this year. I think we get Porter and look to R2 for a LB if one of the stud NT, Offensive Tackles or a CB falls to 26. Pasquerelli article focuses on this.



http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft10/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=4959081

While I agree that there are a lot of linebackers in this draft class, most of them either fit the 4-3 scheme, or are rush linebackers, which we also need. Our biggest need at LB right now after signing Haggans, Brown, Davis, and Baggs, is at the ILB positions. WE desperately need two of them right now. Even if we bring in Foote in free agency, we still need at least one QUALITY ILB from the top of this draft. There are very few of them after the first round is over that could step in and start if our starter is injured.

 

[BigDavis75]

We need an ILB so bad it isn't even funny, if Weatherspoon or McClain are there they should be our pick. I would be fine with Spikes too.

 

[Mitch]

Mitch, what do you think about Gathers from South Carolina as a 2nd or 3rd round pick for cards?

Good call on Geathers...interesting prospect, LIAC. He's got excellent size at 6-7, 280. I'd say 3rd on him because he may take a while to develop.

The sneaky pick for the 3rd round I kind of like is NC St.'s Willie Young.

 

[Dr. Jones]

I think the team might really want Brandon Graham in Rd 1. Or even Thaddeus Gibson in round 2.

We seem to love those Big 10 guys.

Personally... I cannot understand why Jerry Hughes is rated so low (#7 OLB - Scouts Inc.) and if he is at our #2 pick, we need to grab him. Even if we took a LB in Rd 1 as well.

 

[binkar]

We need an ILB so bad it isn't even funny, if Weatherspoon or McClain are there they should be our pick. I would be fine with Spikes too.

Spikes will plummet BIG TIME. My predicition is that he will go in the 4th round.

 

[kerouac9]

We need an ILB so bad it isn't even funny, if Weatherspoon or McClain are there they should be our pick. I would be fine with Spikes too.

This except for the Spikes comment. Spikes cannot replace Karlos Dansby.

But we have NOTHING at ILB right now besides a 30 year old with a balky back. We have to replace one of our three best defensive players with one of our first two picks.

 

[WildBB]

Nice find Reddog.

Yeah it seems that Whiz likes his big bruizers. Every year he takes one. Levi Brown first. Then Calais Campbell. Last year Herman Johnson. That means were due for another BIG on the DL. It's just when. From the article I got the sense that there will be good ones on board 3rd-4th and maybe even 5th rounds. I'd say we'll take a flyer on one.

I'd still like to see what Calais could do from the outside right edge in the 3-4 on 3rd and long.

 

[stewdog1]

I agree about Weatherspoon. If he is there you have to take him.

 

[Snakester]

This feeds right into the point I was trying to make in my Defensive Concerns post...with Whiz offering the perfect ammo...you need "big men" to in a 4 man rush...which is the most important defense in today's game...the hybrids are not classic 4 man rushers...this is why Bertrand Berry held such an important role on this team...

As of right now, who are the rush DEs in the 4 man rush? Clark Haggans and Cody Brown?

We're looking good inside with Dockett and Campbell...and to answer Garth's question to me today, I think Campbell is a rush DT in the 4 man rush, not a DE. We NEED some classic DE types on the edge.

I totally agree with you here. That is another reason I would love to see us draft Brandon Graham. But there are are couple guys in free agency like Aaron Kampman that would fit the bill.

 

[WarnerHOF]

This feeds right into the point I was trying to make in my Defensive Concerns post...with Whiz offering the perfect ammo...you need "big men" to in a 4 man rush...which is the most important defense in today's game...the hybrids are not classic 4 man rushers...this is why Bertrand Berry held such an important role on this team...

As of right now, who are the rush DEs in the 4 man rush? Clark Haggans and Cody Brown?

We're looking good inside with Dockett and Campbell...and to answer Garth's question to me today, I think Campbell is a rush DT in the 4 man rush, not a DE. We NEED some classic DE types on the edge.

The Steelers use their rush backers standing up in quarter and dime packages, don't see why we can't do the same.

 

[Garthshort]

Mitch, thanks for your take on Calais. Naturally, I'll go with your opinion. And while guessing about the number one pick (Cards'), I imagine that they have three players that they are interested in. An OLB, a CB and a NT. Whoever they have rated highest, assuming all three are still there will be the choice. As we all know pass defense improves with either a better rush or better coverage. It was interesting that KW said that in order to get a team into a passing situation, you need big bodies to stop the run on first and second downs. Hence NT is a possibility. But since teams often pass on first downs, a CB makes most since to me.

 

[Cardiac]

The Steelers use their rush backers standing up in quarter and dime packages, don't see why we can't do the same.

This is my thought. I understand we aren't running a traditional 3-4 but I thought that was because we were transitioning our personell. Btrain, Robinson at NT, Chike etc are not ideally suited for the 3-4 defense.

Passing downs would have Watson or Branch at NT, CC & Dockett at DE, and who ever steps up to be your 4 LBers. Most times the 3 down linemen will rush the passer and 1 LB will also join in on the fun. A positive the 3-4 is the Oline doesn't know which LBer is coming.

What's great about our Dline is that Dockett and CC are both very good pass rushers and move very well. I'm not sure if Branch has the same quicks and moves as the other two. Most 3-4 teams don't have DE's with the pass rush abilities of our group.

This is my take so I may be missing something in regards to Mitch's thougths on DE's. If anything we draft another 300 lb DE who may be an upgrade to DD and CC in stopping the run.

 

[kerouac9]

This is my thought. I understand we aren't running a traditional 3-4 but I thought that was because we were transitioning our personell. Btrain, Robinson at NT, Chike etc are not ideally suited for the 3-4 defense.

Passing downs would have Watson or Branch at NT, CC & Dockett at DE, and who ever steps up to be your 4 LBers. Most times the 3 down linemen will rush the passer and 1 LB will also join in on the fun. A positive the 3-4 is the Oline doesn't know which LBer is coming.

What's great about our Dline is that Dockett and CC are both very good pass rushers and move very well. I'm not sure if Branch has the same quicks and moves as the other two. Most 3-4 teams don't have DE's with the pass rush abilities of our group.

This is my take so I may be missing something in regards to Mitch's thougths on DE's. If anything we draft another 300 lb DE who may be an upgrade to DD and CC in stopping the run.

3 LBers, if you're putting a 5th DB in the game.

 

[Cardiac]

3 LBers, if you're putting a 5th DB in the game.

Good point. Or 2 LBers if a 6th DB etc.

I'm just not sure we need 4-3 type DE's.