BigUgly

We just need to survive 2017 and hopefully position for a wildcard. That means shoring up our defensive secondary, shoring up the O-Line, restructuring Wallace, maybe maneuvering for Marshall, and committing to the run. The "Flacco effect" on the cap and the bulk of our dead money begins to come off the books in 2018 ($60+M in cap space), and more so in 2019 ($106M+).

Ideally, yeah, but we have so many holes to fill. Can probably find developmental OL, DL, ILB and maybe a KR in those rounds. Wish we had Pittsburgh's skill in finding starting-caliber WRs that late.

Not necessarily. Lewis is an unknown at RT, but is of the same mold as Wagner. Hurst, too, in a pinch could play there. I think Wesley or Nembot may have a shot as well. Regardless, even a slight downgrade over Wagner is acceptable if we can deploy the additional $6-7M/yr he is likely to command elsewhere on the team. Also, if the RT has Gillmore or Boyle blocking next to him instead of Pitta, that will be an improvement. As for the edge rusher, I'd rather take a flier on Sheard than hope that Doom gets back to his old form. You are right though, in that a productive Doom would be harder to replace than Wagner or Williams.

Cut Pitta and Watson and resign one of the two on a cheaper 1-year deal closer to camp. Cut Doom, Wright and the rest of the flotsam and jetsam secondary pieces. Let Wagner, Williams and Juice walk, and restructure Wallace to add a year and spread out the cap hit (2018 and 19 are more cap friendly). Sign steady FA options at OL, ILB, FS/CB, backup QB and FB. Draft BPA, getting playmakers (WR, CB, Edge Rusher) in rounds 1-2, and solidify the OL and pick up a 3rd down back/KR in rounds 3-4.

Perhaps, but then Joe's other knee could've been shattered by whatever stopgap they threw in at LT. Ozzie made the smart move with the 1st pick last year (though Stanley will always be compared with Tunsil going forward - too early to judge).

I think we can nab Pocic or Elfein in the 2nd or Orlovsky in the third and be set at C for years. Let Wagner walk, slide Lewis out, and backfill inside with a 4th-rounder, Hurst, Urschel, Jensen, or one of the talented dudes Ozzie stashed on the IR (Wesley and Nembot). I'm really not that worried about the line, so long as they are coached up and the scheme fits.

#16 is so average, just like our 8-8 season. Perfect opportunity for Ozzie to move up or down. With a draft this deep at CB (and some nice WRs available outside the top 3), I could see trading back a few spots. There's so much variance in the reviews of Dalvin Cook, Peppers, Corey Davis, Taco Charlton, Tabor and Wilson, and nearly every 'Bama defender that I'm not sure what to think. In Ozzie I trust....?

So long as we are considering cherrypicking another Viking, might as well add Adrian Peterson to the shopping cart and call it an offseason.

What's the over/under on the number of 'Bama players selected? I think 2.

Unless Banner can lose about 30 pounds and keep his weight down, I think he will be a disappointment at tackle in the NFL. He got beat several times in the senior bowl, and he looked slow-footed at times. If we switched out of a zone blocking scheme, he could be a dominant mauler at Guard but may still have issues in pass protection (kinda like Ducasse)

That sounds absolutely ideal. 2 of my favorite players in the draft by far Would be a good move to completely shore up the defensive backfield for several years in one draft. Nabbing a safety might increase pressure on Webb to take a pay cut.

Williams, Wagner and Zuttah should go. We can draft a C/G, and pick up another in FA, and move Lewis to RT. Keep Hurst, Urschel and Jensen as backups. Ducasse was OK in run blocking, but a real liability against the pass.

Williams is a great guy and a nice player for his role. The Ravens have too many holes on the roster to be able to afford even a true "competitive offer". They will offer market, regretfully wave goodbye as he takes an above-market offer elsewhere, and hope he results in a 3rd round comp that they can use to draft another Williams-like player (he was a 3rd-rounder, btw). Besides, we already have his replacement on the roster. Pierce is a space eater, which is the minimum you want from a 3-4 NT, and he has a better burst up the middle than Williams and can actually rush the passer. We need to replace the guy BEHIND the NT first. We need another ILB that can hope to come close to matching Orr's 132 tackles and coverage skills.

Inability to get a yard when you really need it is a hallmark of the West Coast Offense and the Zone Blocking Scheme. The former doesn't typically commit to the run, and will more likely rely on a quick pass - it has been a hallmark of the Andy Reid offenses, which Harbs is most familiar with. I'm generally a fan of zone blocking in the right scheme, but it is a very reactive, east-west approach: O-lineman steps in a direction, and doesn't really know who he is going to block until the defense slants, bulls, or stunts. Our offense is a hybrid of West Coast and Zone Blocking. That yard will continue to be hard to come by. That's why we need a bigger center. When in doubt, QB sneak and pray.

Z'adarius Smith is not will never be a very effective edge rusher, but with some work could be an edge setter in the mold of Courtney Upshaw. His 5.5 sacks his rookie year did not come within 2-3 seconds of the snap, where he immediately beat an OT. They were the result of continuing to hustle as the QB scrambled in the pocket looking for his 2nd or 3rd progression. Good, player, nice motor, but not an elite pass rusher or someone the offense has to game plan for. At best, he's a complementary player who lines up on the right side of the offense who can on occasion bring some pressure.

Sure we can. Have him put on 60 pounds and play right tackle to replace Wagner, and occasionally run a tackle eligible just to keep opposing defenses on edge.

If I am in front of you please look down NOT UP Wow, Swifty, you're a confident one. You know that breaks the men's room protocol.

Great enhancements to the stadium, which was already the best gamed experience in the NFL. A nice commitment to the fans and the on-field product. Now, can we get some TVs in the Men's bathrooms? Those lines are kinda long, and I hate missing a big play.

Not worth trading back in the first for an interior O-Lineman. I agree with you that Orlovsky could be the target in the third, though we may have to move up a couple of spots to get him. I think Pocic projects better at OG than C, due to his height, and I think he goes before the 3rd. None of the OTs in the senior bowl looked good, Banner being the prime example.

It is relatively easier to acquire quality O-Line talent later in the draft or via free agency than trying the same approach to nab a quality CB, edge rusher or other "playmaker". The only exception is left tackle, which we wisely addressed last season Case in point: Yanda, 3rd rounder; Wagner, 5th, Jah Reid, 3rd (hey, he starts for KC), Jason Brown, 4th. What's really killed us is the over-investment in failed defensive players, especially at LB and safety. I know that many of these guys are also targeted as special teams players, but the likes of Elam, Brooks, Arthur Brown and John Simon haven't helped us (though Simon has helped the Texans)

If somehow Malik Hooker fell to us, we could solidify the backend of our D, and then add corner depth in the 2nd, even trading up to do so if need be. Of course, that strategy would require that edge rushers on the roster develop, an d possibly mean fitting in Doom for another year. Regardless, if we don't grab a corner in the first 2 rounds, we'll be in trouble.

I didn't watch because I thought this would be another two-hand touch game. I guess I should've known that, with Ray coaching, there would be some hitting and some fire in the game.

Well, I guess if you consider his abysmal 2013 and injury-shortened 2015 seasons to be his benchmarks, then you're right, he didn't regress.

Of course you realize this means Ozzie will draft O.J. Howard, the Alabama TE, with our first pick just so we can have ALL the tight ends.

After watching the Senior Bowl yesterday, I found the O-Line play to be generally poor, particularly at the tackle positions. The best prospects I saw were on the interior: Pocic (C/G), who was quicker than I expected; Feeney (G), who was the best lineman out there; Toth (C) did a great job with seal blocks and getting to the second level; Orlovsky (C), who didn't give up pressure up the middle and opened some nice holes for Hunt, and Morgan (G) who was solid next to both Pocic and Orlovsky. Banner is too slow and sloppy, as is Moton. Dawkins looks like an Urschel-type of pick, and may require a year or two as a backup to develop. Davenport, the tall athletic kid from Bucknell is very raw and lacks strength - PS player at best for now.