April Thoughts......

[MikeCurtis]

At this stage, no one really knows what Ballard will do in this draft (I dont)

 

I believe that our options for success are many

 

I was hoping for more results in FA, (especially a DE) but at this stage,

I truly hope at a minimum,  that we bring in one of the vet FA FS and resign Blackmon

 

This team will be improved over last year IF

1) AR is healthy ( and Team)

2) We get a WR in the draft that can stretch the field......  MANY options in round 1 or 2

3) We get a play making free safety

(I would not trust this VERY IMPORTANT ROLE to the draft in a weak safety draft)

4) Resign Blackmon

 

So.......  IMHO.......At a minimum, IF we get a vet FS and resign Blackmon, we could go in the draft desperately needing just one player (WR)

 

More than ever, this approach allows more of the BPA picks in the draft.

 

There are some excellent positions that I could get behind

 

Defensive End

Many options in round 1

Latu - most advanced pass rush moves in this draft

Turner - amazing first step - Highest ceiling of the DEs

Verse - tough kid  gets pressure

Note:

We have no superstars at DE on this team.........

There isnt a DE on this team than concerns the OC's that we face

Latu and Turner have potential to be that guy for this team

 

Defensive Tackle

Z Newton - was almost unblockable at times, (Watch the Penn State Game)

He lined up many times at LDE on early downs 

He is actually a better potential player than B Murphy. (Possible pro bowl)

 

Byron Murphy was also almost unblockable at times

He will make a difference on whatever team goes to

He is the outland trophy winner, and I expect him to reach pro bowl levels in the NFL

 

Buckner will inevitably start to decline at some point the next 1-3 years. 

Newton  can begin at LDE on early downs/ shift over to interior on passing downs

 

You may ask, with Buckner, why in the world would you draft Newton or Murphy ????

 

One of the very first moves made by Ballard was to lock down his 3 tech...... Its so very important to running this zone defense.

Buckner is kept on the field almost always, and when he gets a rest our defense drops off. 

Buckner just hit 30. 

He will need MORE of a breather than he needed at 29.......  at 28..... at 27

Aging players are seem to get injured a bit more......

Can you imagine how bad this defense would be without Buckner???

 

We could very well choose a player at 3 Tech to help this year and the future

 

Cornerback

 

There are some excellent ZONE CBs available in rounds 1-4

 

I would be happy if they go with a player like Q Mitchell.   

 

But

 

There are some PERFECT FOR ZONE players that can be had later

Khyree Jackson should be available in round 3-4

Cam Hart should be available in round 3-4

Watch the Ohio State game.......  ALL-World WR Marvin Harrison was held to just 60 yards

 

Both tall with long arms, both fast enough to work in a zone

Both are big enough to support the run

 

An IF .........  a BIG IF, if we have a play-making speedy Free Safety vet that can cover the back end we can go with another "big" CB to man the other side  

 

 

Wide Receiver

 

There are two candidates that jump off the page to me that we can be had at 15 or a bit later

 

Brian Thomas

AD Mitchell

 

Both are blazers, and could open up the offense so that we stop seeing the dreaded 8 man box from our opponents defense

 

Can you imagine how much better Taylor could do if the offense had a receiver that could take the top off the defense?

 

If we do go defense with the first pick, there are several speedster WRs that we could go with in round 2

 

Roman Wilson

Tez Walker

X Leggette

 

 

 

Its easy to get locked in to one or two players, but at this stage, I believe that a legit case could be made for many different approaches.......

 

It will be interesting to see what Ballard does with the pick

 

 

There were many that thought that we would use the 4th pick for Will Levis........ I at least thought it could happen......

 

We wont know until draft day....... whats in the mind of Ballard  

 

 

 

 

 

[OLD FAN MAN]

On 3/30/2024 at 10:31 AM, MikeCurtis said:

At this stage, no one really knows what Ballard will do in this draft (I dont)

 

I believe that our options for success are many

 

I was hoping for more results in FA, (especially a DE) but at this stage,

I truly hope at a minimum,  that we bring in one of the vet FA FS and resign Blackmon

 

This team will be improved over last year IF

1) AR is healthy ( and Team)

2) We get a WR in the draft that can stretch the field......  MANY options in round 1 or 2

3) We get a play making free safety

(I would not trust this VERY IMPORTANT ROLE to the draft in a weak safety draft)

4) Resign Blackmon

 

So.......  IMHO.......At a minimum, IF we get a vet FS and resign Blackmon, we could go in the draft desperately needing just one player (WR)

 

More than ever, this approach allows more of the BPA picks in the draft.

 

There are some excellent positions that I could get behind

 

Defensive End

Many options in round 1

Latu - most advanced pass rush moves in this draft

Turner - amazing first step - Highest ceiling of the DEs

Verse - tough kid  gets pressure

Note:

We have no superstars at DE on this team.........

There isnt a DE on this team than concerns the OC's that we face

Latu and Turner have potential to be that guy for this team

 

Defensive Tackle

Z Newton - was almost unblockable at times, (Watch the Penn State Game)

He lined up many times at LDE on early downs 

He is actually a better potential player than B Murphy. (Possible pro bowl)

 

Byron Murphy was also almost unblockable at times

He will make a difference on whatever team goes to

He is the outland trophy winner, and I expect him to reach pro bowl levels in the NFL

 

Buckner will inevitably start to decline at some point the next 1-3 years. 

Newton  can begin at LDE on early downs/ shift over to interior on passing downs

 

You may ask, with Buckner, why in the world would you draft Newton or Murphy ????

 

One of the very first moves made by Ballard was to lock down his 3 tech...... Its so very important to running this zone defense.

Buckner is kept on the field almost always, and when he gets a rest our defense drops off. 

Buckner just hit 30. 

He will need MORE of a breather than he needed at 29.......  at 28..... at 27

Aging players are seem to get injured a bit more......

Can you imagine how bad this defense would be without Buckner???

 

We could very well choose a player at 3 Tech to help this year and the future

 

Cornerback

 

There are some excellent ZONE CBs available in rounds 1-4

 

I would be happy if they go with a player like Q Mitchell.   

 

But

 

There are some PERFECT FOR ZONE players that can be had later

Khyree Jackson should be available in round 3-4

Cam Hart should be available in round 3-4

Watch the Ohio State game.......  ALL-World WR Marvin Harrison was held to just 60 yards

 

Both tall with long arms, both fast enough to work in a zone

Both are big enough to support the run

 

An IF .........  a BIG IF, if we have a play-making speedy Free Safety vet that can cover the back end we can go with another "big" CB to man the other side  

 

 

Wide Receiver

 

There are two candidates that jump off the page to me that we can be had at 15 or a bit later

 

Brian Thomas

AD Mitchell

 

Both are blazers, and could open up the offense so that we stop seeing the dreaded 8 man box from our opponents defense

 

Can you imagine how much better Taylor could do if the offense had a receiver that could take the top off the defense?

 

If we do go defense with the first pick, there are several speedster WRs that we could go with in round 2

 

Roman Wilson

Tez Walker

X Leggette

 

 

 

Its easy to get locked in to one or two players, but at this stage, I believe that a legit case could be made for many different approaches.......

 

It will be interesting to see what Ballard does with the pick

 

 

There were many that thought that we would use the 4th pick for Will Levis........ I at least thought it could happen......

 

We wont know until draft day....... whats in the mind of Ballard  

 

 

 

 

 

great post

[FalseStart]

28th Defense in the league... I believe.

 

For me;

 

1st. Newton/Murphy/Latu/Turner/Verse

2nd. Tampa/Kinchens/Cooper/Beebe

3rd: WR/TE/CB

BPA...