If only we played a scheme like the one in which Brad Culpepper managed 8.5 and 9 sack seasons.
....and he did that being not a premium pick. He was picking up leftovers from Sapp. We have that that already we do not need to spend premium picks to draft a player that won't give us premium effects. This would be like drafting 2 tool safeties and guards in the first round.....see where that gets you.
I watch the Seahawks, and it doesn't seem like they worry about labels on the d-line. They just line up four badasses and get after it. They move guys around and play them at different spots on the line. They have depth and rotate guys in. They don't base everything off of one player like everyone seems to want to do here with McCoy. It's awesome that we have a great pass rushing DT again finally....but I just can't buy that as a good reason to not add another. The right DT doesn't have to be a lesser DT than the left DT. I think that is an old idea based on how hard is to find even one great pass rushing DT. All I care about is having as many well rounded D-linemen that excel at rushing the passer as possible. Donald goes a long way in that department. Add a top DE in free agency and Donald thru the draft and Lovie's first year will be a memorable one.
I can see Donald being BPA in the 2nd round and being worth the pick to play a somewhat limited role, but there's bound to be players at other positions equal to Donald's talent at #7.
I agree you want to be good but we can't be good everywhere. We could add Allen and Donald and in their prime Sanders and Urlacher and this isn't a playoff team. We've got horrible offensive problems that need to get addressed. We have a scheme designed to allow you to be effective with certain positions not being high value. That is good because Ina. World of limited assets and limits resources you need to maximize any opportunity to be successful with low value assets in play.
If only we played a scheme like the one in which Brad Culpepper managed 8.5 and 9 sack seasons.
....and he did that being not a premium pick. He was picking up leftovers from Sapp. We have that that already we do not need to spend premium picks to draft a player that won't give us premium effects. This would be like drafting 2 tool safeties and guards in the first round.....see where that gets you.
Obviously I disagree with you, but look at it from another angle. Depth. A great UT is the most important part of our defense...so what if McCoy goes down again? How valuable would it be to have a NT like Donald that could slide over and not miss a beat? Also, I am sure we will resign McCoy to a long term deal, but looking forward, how nice would it be to have Donald's rookie contract running out at the same time as McCoy's 2nd contract in 5 years? That gives us options. Is McCoy worth a big 3rd contract at that point? Or do we just resign Donald at that point? A great DT is a great DT. Having two of them is not a bad thing. Passing on one is foolish.
This isn't a case of Donald or nothing. This is about opportunity cost. Taking Donald versus taking a QB or LOT or even WR which one makes he team overall better. This isn't about adding up Madden ratings but getting a team that can win games. The defense was good enough to win games last year. The offense, wasn't. Yes, we need to add pass rush but we need to get outside pressure and Donald doesn't solve that problem either.I like the player, really like the player BTW, so this isn't to say he isn't good. I'm just not sure he creates the most value for us at 7 and I see no possible way he'd get past Dallas running Kiffins scheme later in the draft so he isn't a possibility at R2. I could make the same injury argument to say that Donks and Pats should draft a stud QB prospect. The reality is if great players go down you are screwed. If you aren't, then they likely aren't that good.
dalbuc, I'm with you completely on opportunity cost, but I think you moved the goalposts a bit during this thread.Look, it's true that Brad Culpepper was a low-level free agent when he arrived in town and we had success with him. But look at what we also did - we spent a first on Booger McFarland. Later, we spent a high second on Brian Price. The Bears drafted Tommie Harris and Tank Johnson back-to-back in 2004. That leads me to believe that the position isn't akin to the SAM or rotating safety role we used to have. And as for the asset, it's really the draft pick, not the contract. In fact, his cap cost would be less than what we paid Gary Gibson when he arrived (I'm assuming if we nabbed him in round 2, not with the 7th pick). I think someone like Donald is all about context because I think there's a good chance he could be among the best players available when we draft if he makes it to our pick in round 2. What happened in round 1? Did we draft offense? Did we trade down and get additional picks? Did we draft a DE? What did we do in free agency? How healthy is someone like Nicks?
I wouldn't take him at 7.
The Bucs have Landri on the squad along with moving Bowers or Gholston inside on passing downs so the value of Donald isn't as great. And Tuck is a free agent so we know he can play inside on passing downs so it isn't like Donald is the best choice unless a lot of holes are filled in free agency.
The Bucs have Landri on the squad along with moving Bowers or Gholston inside on passing downs so the value of Donald isn't as great. And Tuck is a free agent so we know he can play inside on passing downs so it isn't like Donald is the best choice unless a lot of holes are filled in free agency.
Mentioning Landri in this conversation is a joke but you are correct if you need additional interior pass rush on 3rd down, most teams opt to kick inside their strongside defensive end.
Landri is a proven player in the NFL and under Lovie's scheme I want to see what all the DL prospects are capable of on the Bucs squad.
Landri? Bowers? Gholston? These are your reasons for not drafting Geno Atkins 2.0?
Landri? Bowers? Gholston? These are your reasons for not drafting Geno Atkins 2.0?
I love defense..but I have thrown in the flag. This team needs offense badly.QB, OT, OG, FB, WR, TE
Landri? Bowers? Gholston? These are your reasons for not drafting Geno Atkins 2.0?
I love defense..but I have thrown in the flag. This team needs offense badly.QB, OT, OG, FB, WR,
O-line can be addressed in free agency.We aren't getting a top QB at #7.We don't need a FB. Lorig is a hard nosed blocker and Lonnie Pryor is a bigger, faster Earnest Graham. Not sure what FB has to do with this discussion anyways. You suggesting we take a FB in the first two rounds?We do need another WR or two, but we have our #1 and #2....so WR is not some huge hole that we need to throw top picks at. This draft has the deepest WR class I have ever seen. We can get one or even two great WR prospects in the middle and late rounds of this draft. Acting like a stud DT is bad value, but suggesting we take a WR at #7 when all we need is a slot and some depth.....is just silly. Also, you left off TE...which is our one actual offensive need that we should address early in the draft.
Everything I'm reading says Michael Sam is struggling at Senior Bowl practice.............AWESOME! Hope that guy slips and we get him! :D
