2013 Comprehensive NFL Draft Database

[DogofWar1]

Biggest problem with our run defense is that our depth isn't great. Golston gets run over a lot. Jenkins is solid enough, but he and Bowen can't be out there every defensive snap. Getting Carriker back would be huge in that regard.

Just in general we could use another complete player at the DE position. Of course, we'll be hard pressed to find one in the upcoming draft or FA. If a NT falls, I wouldn't mind taking one, not because I think we need a major upgrade at NT, but because Cofield would probably be better utilized on the outside, but that NT had better be really good. Otherwise, I'm not worrying about it until later in the draft.

ILB might have to be a priority too, if Robinson is injured and London is finally declining. Mauti could be interesting there, he'd be the kind of guy I'd be interested in in the late 3rd, 4th round range.

[Darth Tater]

I think you are over-estimating how much Sopoaga does for their defense. He's the 6th or 7th best player on that defense. Having a stout NT is great, but I really think their importance has been over-inflated by laymen.

Case in point, if NT were so important to 3-4 d's they would be drafted very early by 3-4 teams, correct? The 1st round NT I can think of are Wilfork, Poe, Hampton, Raji and Dan Williams. Williams doesn't belong grouped with the other three, too soon to tell with Poe, and Raji spends much of his time at 3 tech or DE. 6 of the top 10 defenses are 3-4, only 2 of them have elite NT play and with one of those being Ratliff (a 7th rounder at only 303 pounds) I think it shows that a 3-4 can not only function, but thrive with average NT play.

I would tend to agree with you more if our run defense was poor, but as it stands now I would even say NT is the position I'm least concerned about on defense. Even olb is of more concern because Orakpo is going into a contract year, coming off injury and we see how our defense looks with no quality depth at olb. I think our d could function if Nield had to play extended time at NT, though obviously this year he's out with injury.

If Carriker, Orakpo, Meriweather and Jackson were all healthy, we'd likely have a top-5 defense (if our defense was just 20% better that is were we'd be). With a defense like that, we'd be in the hunt for HF at this time, not just a playoff spot. Now, given the fact that those guys were injured and the guys behind them seem to be lacking, we need to focus on finding better depth there or possibly even replacement parts. True, if some stud NT falls, we need to look hard but I don't see that as a pressing problem.

---------- Post added November-26th-2012 at 10:53 AM ----------

Well I certainly don't think we're as good as our #3 ranking. But I think we're better than average.

Giving teams the pass has definitely been a factor. It's hard to say how much of one, but it would stretch credulity to say it hasn't unnaturally inflated our rush D ranking. However, I think the run D being pretty good forces teams to choose the path of least resistance and throw on us. So it's going both ways to some extent.

In general, I think the run defense is sound, independent of the numbers. There are teams like Minnesota that surely wanted to run the ball against us but didn't have a ton of success doing so. I think we've placed a high emphasis on creating a good rush defense (to the point of sacrificing ability to defend the pass) and we're reaping the fruits of that. We've got a lot of good run defenders in prominent roles. And I think a team with linebackers as good as ours is generally going to be a strong run D.

Cofield has been a pretty good run defender IMO. He's not the pure stout type, he likes to run. He's always been more of a 3 technique IMO. But I think he can be pretty effective at any of our DL roles. Jenkins is pretty much a pure run defender. Riley, Lorenzo, and London are stout players. Kerrigan is a pretty good run defender. Deangelo is excellent in run support. Doughty is a sure tackler and is solid in the box. Orakpo was a pretty good run defender when he was healthy.

I think our MO has been acquiring size and power in the defensive front rather than speed and explosiveness. We've been building a cold weather natural grass team designed to be able to excel in a slower, more physical game. I think we'd be able to feature a good rush defense even if we improved the pass defense. They should also be able to work in concert. Balance could make things like misdirection plays less of a threat.

I agree with you that NT is an area we could upgrade and that Cofield is a natural in our pass defense packages. If he can only take so many snaps in a game, I'd rather most be in pressure sets. Like you, it wouldn't be among my first concerns, but I'd always keep my eye out for opportunities to upgrade any part of the team.

Ideally, I'd want a NT who could play passing downs. In the draft, my favorites are Kawann Short and Jesse Williams. I like their versatility most of all. Their stock is hard to pin down. Short has great production but he's an inconsistent player. Probably not a first rounder, but I'd have a hard time seeing him go later than the third. His motor isn't the greatest but sometimes he can flip the switch and just start dominating the LoS. He's a deceptively excellent athlete. He led the nation with 4 blocked kicks this year. He's got a ridiculous 48.5 career TFLs and 17 sacks, he's been very disruptive. I see him as primarily a 1 technique and a NT but he has played multiple techniques for Purdue and done a good job pass rushing from wider techniques.

Williams is a tremendous athlete but his potential is not indicated by his production. He's only got 6.5 TFLs and 1.5 sacks for his career. He's a JUCO transfer and only played two seasons at Alabama. Josh Chapman was a more polished prospect, and he went in the fifth. Williams is 4 inches taller and a better athlete though. If I had to guess, I'd say the fourth probably, maybe the third. Williams looked monstrously powerful against Auburn and you can see how good a runner he is and how good his body control is from his snaps at FB. He's a really interesting long term project.

I'd also add that the threat that RG3 and our offense provides makes teams think they need to score in chunks. They wouldn't be running much even if we had an above average pass defense.

[darrelgreenie]

I so disagree with this and it really goes back to my feeling with when we drafted Taylor and Landry. We had a hit with Taylor and a miss with Landry. You can say that he made our defense so much better....

I'm not sure what you disagree with? My statement was:

Safety play particularly FS is very important to this defense and the S position/play has been a point of failure.
If there is a FS on the board that has potential to start and help the defense then imo they certainly warrant selection.

I'm not sure which part of this you disagree with.

I kinda see what you're saying here, and I'd agree with you with any other position along the line. Notice that Mike drafted Trent first because he didn't want some ZBS bum protecting his QBs blind side. If you look at our RT this year, Polumbus has been getting ABUSED by just about everybody.

Again you're preaching to the choir when it comes to OL play. I'm well aware of the level of performance from our RT position. And I'm not saying that RT shouldn't be addressed. Rather I'm saying that based on the history of Mike finding OL in the mid/late rounds and the success of the current OL/offense despite the RT play that RT doesn't need to be addressed prior to the 4th round. Now if they did draft a RT early I would be the first to applaud the decision.

I'm not sure what the relevance is of mentioning that Mike drafted Trent. Trent plays LT. And I'm sure you'll agree that the importantance of the LT is far different then of RT? Also, if you're using Mike's decisions to support your view then his lack of moves to address the RT speaks just as loud as the move to acquire Trent.

.....I'd also add that the Eagles ignored the OL thinking that Vick could scramble out of it and it led to them being 3-7

Don't mean to nitpick but this isn't accurate. I mean the results are accurate but not the process. The Eagles were beseiged with OL injuries starting from training camp when they lost their best OL and scrambled to solve by signing D. Bell from the Bills, but the injuries just kept coming and they've simply been decimated.

[Dukes and Skins]

swearinger vs clemson:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMGtp...ure=plpp_video

showcasing the talent ... and then the questionable mental aspect.

Ehh its a rivalry game, i'm not even worried about the flexing on Ellington.

[Monk4thaHALL]

Ehh its a rivalry game, i'm not even worried about the flexing on Ellington.

Again, just like in the Arkansas game I just laugh, not too concerned with it. I'm in his corner in terms of his skills and talent. I'm not getting wrapped up by it, he shows his emotion. I like to see passion. Just like tossing the ball into the stands after the pick-6, those moments are coaching opportunities.

[darrelgreenie]

I like our ILB group going into next year.
Riley, Fletch with Robinson waiting in the wings Lorenzo as depth.
If a ILB pops up in the late rounds cool, but ILB isn't high on my priority list either.

[Samurai]

Mauti could be interesting there, he'd be the kind of guy I'd be interested in in the late 3rd, 4th round range.

Mauti has torn both ACLs prior to this year and had to be carted off the field with another injury this year. I don't know if his current injury is an ACL or not, but I do think his injury history will drop his draft stock like it did Chase Minnifield to the UDFA territory. That is too bad because he seems to be the heart and soul of that Penn St team and would be a great addition to ours.

Two other players that we should keep our eyes on are Chris Thompson (FSU) and Quanterus Smith (WKU). Both with ACL tears that are early to mid round talents but might be able to be had in the 6th-7th or undrafted due to their injuries.

[Monk4thaHALL]

...Quanterus Smith (WKU). Both with ACL tears that are early to mid round talents but might be able to be had in the 6th-7th or undrafted due to their injuries.

It's a shame about Smith. He definitely turned enough heads to be drafted.

[darrelgreenie]

Top 10 overall S are these

1. Kenny Vaccaro
2. Eric Reid
3. TJ McDonald
4. Duke Williams
5. Tony Jefferson
6. Matt Elam
7. Baccari Rambo
8. DJ Swearinger
9. Shawn Williams
10. Robert Lester

This is as far as I've gotten, so far.

Roughly:

1: Reid
2: Elam
3: Rambo
4: Lester
5: Swearinger
6: Vaccaro
7: McDonald
8: Amerson
9: Wooten
X: Jefferson
Y: Hall

Who are the S you think could come in start year 1 at FS?

Monk-Cody Davis is interesting, I'm gonna keep an eye on him.

---------- Post added November-26th-2012 at 11:35 AM ----------

I would trust McDonald, Reid, Hall (i need to see more film on him) and Vaccaro

---------- Post added November-26th-2012 at 11:41 AM ----------

I would trust Duke Williams too if it wasn't for the level of opposition question

[maskedsuperstar]

Biggest problem with our run defense is that our depth isn't great. Golston gets run over a lot. Jenkins is solid enough, but he and Bowen can't be out there every defensive snap. Getting Carriker back would be huge in that regard.

Just in general we could use another complete player at the DE position. Of course, we'll be hard pressed to find one in the upcoming draft or FA. If a NT falls, I wouldn't mind taking one, not because I think we need a major upgrade at NT, but because Cofield would probably be better utilized on the outside, but that NT had better be really good. Otherwise, I'm not worrying about it until later in the draft.

ILB might have to be a priority too, if Robinson is injured and London is finally declining. Mauti could be interesting there, he'd be the kind of guy I'd be interested in in the late 3rd, 4th round range.

I'm happy with the run defense, which ranks third in the league. Orakpo is of course, a huge loss. His play is definitely missed. OL can now key on Kerrigan.
http://walterfootball.com/draft2013DE3-4.php

http://walterfootball.com/draft2013NT.php

And Chris Neild is on IR. Cofield, Neild, and Baker. I don't know if they go NT in the draft. I can see drafting a 34 DE

[Laron Burgundy]

Just checked out Kawann Short for the first time, and I'm impressed. Sometimes he seems too finesse for my tastes, but runs toward him rarely seem to find success and he gets outstanding penetration on some snaps. He lines up anywhere from 0 to 5 tech and at 315 pounds he's coordinated enough for an occasional spin move and is pretty solid at stunting.

Kevin Reddick, the ILB of UNC, is interesting to me. I've seen his range anywhere from 2nd-5th, and I might go for him in the 4th or 5th. He just seems to fly down passing lanes, really gives us a pass rushing threat at ilb that we just don't have. He makes some dumb penalties, and sometimes I wish he secured tackles better, but he has a lot of promise.

[Alcoholic Zebra]

Our offense is already above average even with all the injuries and we have good core of talent already in place that includes some young developing players in the pipeline that imo have not reached a large enoufh sample size to be passed over/given up on.

It's only above average because of RG3. If RG3 gets hurt, we lack enough tools/weapons for Kirk Cousins to do much. Moss only plays around 40% of the offensive snaps because he's 33 years old.

I want us to invest in several playmakers at DL, OLB and DB.

That sounds like you want to draft for need, and not BPA. This WR class has some serious talent that will be in the 2nd round. We need playmakers everywhere. Whether that's a RT that can push a man back while on the move, or really athletic 3-4 DE, or a WR who can run every route and is a huge threat with the ball in his hands. We need talent.

Moss is 33. Morgan is only here for 1 more year before his contract gets voided. Fred Davis has a long road back from an Achilles injury, and is a FA.

[Warpath11]

Just checked out Kawann Short for the first time, and I'm impressed.

I've watched some of him as well and I too am impressed. I think, as Stevemcqueen, pointed out a while ago the old-school 3-4 NT is getting phased out in todays game. While its hard to shake the stereotype bowling ball in the middle teams need guys that are scheme diverese and on the field full time. Making a big investment in a two down player is kind of silly IMO. You get those guys on the cheap (i.e. Chirs Baker/Nelid). To spend an early draft pick on a NT he needs to be able to stay on the field on third down and provide a push up the middle if not pressuring the QB at a pretty consistant basis.

[Alcoholic Zebra]

I think, as Stevemcqueen, pointed out a while ago the old-school 3-4 NT is getting phased out in todays game. While its hard to shake the stereotype bowling ball in the middle teams need guys that are scheme diverese and on the field full time. Making a big investment in a two down player is kind of silly IMO. You get those guys on the cheap (i.e. Chirs Baker/Nelid). To spend an early draft pick on a NT he needs to be able to stay on the field on third down and provide a push up the middle if not pressuring the QB at a pretty consistant basis.

I also agree with you and Steve. Plus it helps with injuries. I simply just don't think a "true" NT is a BPA pick in the first couple of rounds. Ngata is scheme diverse, he plays a lot at DE, because he's athletic enough to do it despite his size. Ngata is an example of a "NT" BPA pick.

[Warpath11]

I also agree with you and Steve. Plus it helps with injuries. I simply just don't think a "true" NT is a BPA pick in the first couple of rounds. Ngata is scheme diverse, he plays a lot at DE, because he's athletic enough to do it despite his size. Ngata is an example of a "NT" BPA pick.

Exactly, Ngata is a great example of where a guy was picked as a NT but his skillset and atheticism allows him to stay on the field on virtually every down without an ounce of loss against the pass or run.