I understand that completely. He's a kid figuring things out. But a cornerstone to your franchise isn't someone that you need to grow up, it's someone who you know will lead you not hope he grows out of it.
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Geno looks better but it's a little early, wait for combine to decide
Yep. Qb is definetly our biggest hole. But our lines aren't far behind. Both lines. I said this 4 years ago. BUILD THE LINES FIRST! Whatever qb we decide on, he needs some protection.
That said, I say trade out of our first pick grab McClarren, Wilson, or Bray - whoever - later in the 1st round, and use our extra picks to build these lines. For this to happen, we'll have to bring in a GM/Coach with the savvy to get this done!
I feel like the offensive line apologist for this site, but this O-line is tops in the league. ProFootballFocus has the Chiefs having the 4th best line: Offensive Line Rankings: Week 10 Update | ProFootballFocus.com
I consistently watch (and re-watch on NFL Game Rewind) and see the line blocking well. It takes a beating by the casual observer when our QBs (Cassel especially) are back there, the first read is covered, and they have no idea what to do.
This is also worth a re-post (also from ProFootballFocus)...
Cassel takes the 7th longest among all QBs to get rid of the ball (on average 2.83 seconds). However, he has the 5th best number in the amount of time it takes before he is sacked (3.78 seconds). This says a lot about how well the line is doing, despite the poor QB play.
Simply put, when you have a QB who can't go through his progressions, it's a recipe for disaster when his first read is covered.
I thought that this line would get destroyed by Von Miller with backup LT Donald Stephenson plugged in. Miller ended up with 1 sack and no other QB hits.
I agree with you about the O-line although we do still need depth. This can be addressed through FA or late round project picks.
My bigger question is what do you think about the D-Line? Let's assume that Dorsey is gone and Jackson restructures. That'd leave us with (Bailey, Powe) for RDE, Poe at NT and Jackson at LDE. Do we still need more top tier (read 1st, 2nd or 3rd round picks) for the D-line? We started to get to Peyton but that's simply because as you or someone else said earlier our secondary put a blanket over Denver's WR's.
Poe will be in his 2nd year so I'm good with keeping him. Put Powe as his back up. Jackson has been good with the rush and can take up a double team but even with our LB's don't seem to get to the QB enough. Bailey seems to be the same even though this is his second year. Do we let these guys have time to grow together? Are we at depth filling time too(4th - 7th rounders or FA)?
To me we need another guard in the 3rd or 4th. Someone that can step in if/when our guys go down. This patchwork we have going on now (getting an UFA from Iowa State off waver wires?!?) isn't going to work long term. Same goes with our D-line unless Shaun Smith stays I think we need more depth.
Teo has been tearing it up. I'd LOVE to see Belcher finally replaced and then we'd be pretty much set in our LB'er core for years to come. Pick up a QB or trade our two 3rds to get back into the first to get our new QB. So here's my thoughts...IF no QB really asserts himself as a top tier guy that should go first.
1st - Teo
2nd/trade back into 1st - Wilson
3rd/4th (Hopefully we have one third left) - best guard available.
5th - best WR available
6th - best WR available
7th - best fullback available
A QB does assert himself as top tier guy:
1st - best QB
2nd - best WR
3rd - best WR available
3rd- best CB available
4th - best guard available
5th - best safety available
6th - best fullback available (yes in the 6th!)
7th - best guard available
Thoughts?
I think you bring back Shaun Smith. He can pretty much play anywhere. I don't think you use another early pick on a 3-4 DE though. Next year is the time when guys like Bailey and Powe will have to step up. They've had 2 years to groom now. You take these guys in the mid rounds for a reason, and that's to groom them to take over someday (but obviously not right away).
I would like to see some sort 3rd down situational pass rusher at the DE position though. We get none of that with what we have.
Also lets not get to excited until the combine is done. T'eo could have a terrible bowl game and a terrible combine, same thing with all these QBs.
I would love to see Manti haev a terrible bowl and or combine. Only so that his stock will drop, making it easier for us to try and grab him. LOL.
Honestly, I dont care what his combine numbers are, he has that IT factor! It shows in the game footage. When it is crunch time he is blasting through the line making plays.