Dan Williams

[wildcat]

Regardless of weather we trade down or not, I think Williams is our pick.

We obviously have huge needs at S, LB, and DT. There are other big needs, but in my opinion, those are the biggest. Of the three, only a DT would be worth investing top 5 money in. If we want to invest a huge amount of money in an LB or S then we would sign a FA that was already proven in the NFL.

I honestly believe that, if he lives up to the hype, a guy like Eric Berry would make our entire team better. However, he has bust written all over him, and that's not his fault in my opinion. The media would already like to make him the highest paid safety in the league. They would probably even put him in the Hall of Fame, and he has not played a single down yet. It would be tough for anybody not to let this go to their head. If I am right, he is going to feel like everything will come to him this easily and he will not put in the kind of work that I guy who feels like he has to prove himself will.

NT is supposed to be the most important position in a 3-4 D and, going into our second year of running a 3-4, we do not have one single potential long term answer at that position. This is our greatest area of need period.

I realize that Cody could potentially be available in the second round, but I honestly kind of doubt it. There are a lot of teams out there looking for a NT. Besides, even if he did fall to us, Cody is a risky project. He is not a 3 down player, and we do not know how he will play at a lighter weight or if he can even keep the weight off.

Ideally, we would trade down to around #10 and pick up an additional draft pick or two , but, either way, I think Williams is the best choice for our top pick.

[chief31]

While its not ideal, he's got the size and talent to play NT in a 3-4. I think he'd instantly make TJ and GD better.

That being said, the point of my post wasn't to say that I think we should do everything we can to get him, it was to point out if we're going to take a DL in the 1st, we need to take one that can rush the passer, which is why I DON'T think Dan Williams is the pick.

So you want to switch back to a 4-3?

I mean, since 3-4 D-linemen aren't expected to get to the QB and all.

[slimdagreat]

So you want to switch back to a 4-3?

I mean, since 3-4 D-linemen aren't expected to get to the QB and all.

Where did I say that?

I said I think McCoy CAN play in a 3-4, and that he could make Dorsey and Jackson better.

My point was, if we take a front 7 player, they have to be able to rush the passer, the only DTs that can do that effectively are Suh and McCoy.

[Ryfo18]

Where did I say that?

I said I think McCoy CAN play in a 3-4, and that he could make Dorsey and Jackson better.

My point was, if we take a front 7 player, they have to be able to rush the passer, the only DTs that can do that effectively are Suh and McCoy.

You expect a guy listed at 6'4" 295lbs to play the NT in a 3-4D? He'll get crushed, I don't care how much raw talent he has in a 4-3 scheme. McCoy is another Dorsey/Jackson in a 3-4 scheme.

[slimdagreat]

You expect a guy listed at 6'4" 295lbs to play the NT in a 3-4D? He'll get crushed, I don't care how much raw talent he has in a 4-3 scheme. McCoy is another Dorsey/Jackson in a 3-4 scheme.

Well Ryan Pickett from GB is 6'2 310. I'm sure if he had to McCoy could put on 15 lbs.

Jason Ferguson is 6'3 310

Bryan Robinson is 6'4 304

I don't think his size would be that big of a deal if these guys can play NT.

Again, McCoy at NT wouldn't be ideal, but he could do it.

[Ryfo18]

Well Ryan Pickett from GB is 6'2 310. I'm sure if he had to McCoy could put on 15 lbs.

Jason Ferguson is 6'3 310

Bryan Robinson is 6'4 304

I don't think his size would be that big of a deal if these guys can play NT.

Again, McCoy at NT wouldn't be ideal, but he could do it.

You know, the more I look into McCoy I tend to agree with you that he could be a better NT than Williams if he puts on a few pounds. Williams is a bit short for a NT. Nevertheless, I think both could be capable NT's for us.

[buffman316]

There is no way we take a DL with that pick. Not in a 3-4 Defense.
We need Berry in this pass happy league

[chief31]

My point was, if we take a front 7 player, they have to be able to rush the passer

the point of my post ...was to point out if we're going to take a DL in the 1st, we need to take one that can rush the passer

Do you see the misunderstanding here?

In one post you tell us hat your point is to get a pass-rusher for the "front seven", but in another you say that the point is to have a D-lineman that can get to the QB.

3-4 D-linemen are at a huge disadvantage for getting to the QB because the first thing they do is position themselves to occupy blockers. Not the best strategy for getting to the QB.

Rarely does a D-lineman get the green light to "pin his ears back" and go get the QB. And, knowing this, the players who are put at those positions are generally not those with great pass-rushing skills. Why bother? They will rarely use those skills in a 3-4.

Where those guys help in the pass rush is not by getting to the QB, but by creating enough havoc that the blockers are distracted from being able to concentrate on where the blitzer(s) is/are coming from.

[Ryfo18]

Yes, 3-4 NTs are not going to be sack leaders. They need to take up space to free up the linebackers to get to the QB. A good NT may have 3-4 sacks a year, but I'd be willing to bet a lot of these are "coverage" sacks. This is just an assumption though.

[slimdagreat]

Okay, I guess I could have worded that better.

What I was saying was that we need to improve the pass rush first and foremost. If we take a front 7 player, they have to be able to rush the passer.

If we take a DL, they have to at the very least be able to clog things up enough to help the rest of the pass rush.

That's what I was trying to say.