ALPHA

Any fans of Andrew Billings? kid has great tape

I like Spence but the season we saw from Doom and Upshaw showcase how important it is to have a pass rusher like Suggs that can convert speed to power.

He's durable and versatile, I think he becomes our new workhorse back. I hope Terrence West makes the most of his opportunities as well.

Tucker killed hotline bling

Race debate aside I think David Oyelowo deserved an Oscar nomination for Selma

Just gotta find a RB that won't get injured. How hard can it be?

Buck hasn't missed any time in his career which is a good sign. I'm interested to see what he looks like after an offseason in the weightroom.

I think we need to to put an emphasis on durability, I like Taliaferro but he just can't stay healthy. 

More sacks than Bud Dupree

Bosa kinda seems like a trap, like he's going to be Chris Long at best or fall down a flair of stairs during rookie camp.

Wright improved but I dont know if he's worth keeping around for another 2-4 years.

Yikes. Unless the love child of Watt, Mack, Sizz, Von Miller and Wilkerson was at number one, I think I'll pass.

Well there is one guy who might be, we could use a 10 year stud to build our defense around.

He's one of my favorite players, but again, how is his knee?

i cant think of any team who paid a kings ransom to move and ended up being successful.

That doesn't mean it would never happen, if you don't have a QB you don't really have a choice but to keep drafting them until one sticks.

In 2 years KO is going to be a better guard than Yanda, and thats not taking into account his ability to play tackle.

No fun league

I generally don't watch procedurals and I'm not a fan of Ballers, Banshee is insane though, also a big fan of Vikings.

Miller and Mack played in the 4-3 and Mack apparently bulked up to around 270 before the beginning of the season as a part of the switch to the 3-4.

Vic Beasley played 4-3 DE and failed to shed blocks consistently and often was found struggling to convert speed to power at the point of attack, although that MAY (I really emphasize that it is a possibility, not the sole reason) have to do with the torn labrum he played through all year.

If you consider 6'3" and 251 too small for a edge rusher (like some scouts and GMs) then you put yourself in danger of looking past players like Mack, he's a baller. Also as you mentioned some players can bulk up and retain their quickness so there are always exceptions to the rule.

there is no way you put a guy with Z smiths measurables in the middle.  He is a prototypical OLB/DE hybrid.  Inside guys in the 34 usually have less length and weigh in the 240 to 250 range.  I mean he could come up the middle on a twist or another stunt but there is no way you play the guy at ILB.  You have to let a guy like that use his size and length on the edge against the OTs.

I think he means inside on the line during passing downs much like how we used McPhee. Also 5.5 sacks is a great start for a rookie pass rusher, thats more sacks than Bud Dupree.

I expanded on my post, but the NFL views it that way as well. Most teams have an average weight of 258 and some are even pushing 280 as their average. 

Thats the ideal, but the problem is some of the best pass rushers weigh in under that even in the 240's it's not the rule or exception. Von Miller was 246 at the combine, Khalil Mack 251, Vic Beasley etc

I don't put any stock into combine numbers

Yeah, I figured it was the Boldin nostalgia. There's a lot of that so I can't fault you. Boldind dropped his fair share of balls, though, and that's something I recall happening quite a few times while he was here. Not to take away from how he played for us in the SB because he played great. I'd just rather have a player fast enough to get open and not have to rely on the contested catches. 

 

I really like Boyd as a nice fit for the team. I also like Shepard as well. 

The Boldin thing is just part of it, if we can't field a proven #1 receiver who can do it all then we need specialists who can do one thing well and compliment each other. Right now our best receiver is Aiken who is more of a jack-of-all-trades and isn't dominant in any area, Perriman and Steve Smith aren't locks to be healthy and firing by week 1.

Well, a lot of quality WRs in the NFL are able to get open. Obviously nobody is always open, but you want a guy to be open as much as possible & also find ways to get open. Those contested catches are never ideal. And every QB in the NFL underthrows the ball & even overthrows it as well. It just happens. 

 

I certainly wouldn't mind a WR who can win these matchups, mind you, but I'm just speaking my mind in that the WR we want is the one I described. That's what makes the Antonio Browns of the NFL so special. 

I guess what I'm really saying is I miss what Boldin brought to our team, if we needed a 1st down Flacco would just lob the ball in his direction and he would go up and get it, this more than made up for his lack of speed.

Also Brown is such an anomaly I wish I knew how to quantify the reason for his consistency, there are receivers bigger and faster who work just as hard but will never produce like him.

I'm not making fun of you here, but I think the whole point is to have a WR who isn't in the position to have to make a contested catch. 

Yes, ideally you want a receiver who is always open but who is always open? maybe that works on paper if Joe never underthrows the ball.

perriman is actually very physical, he's big, long, strong, and plays with quick violent hands, it was a very underrated aspect of his game in college. Perriman is gonna surprise some people if he stays healthy.

A great compliment really is gonna be Boyd or Thomas, extremely precise route runners who will gain separation with very dependable hands

By physical I mean someone who can go up and consistently win contested throws.

They also take into account penalties conceded, run blocking, yards after contact, first downs, stuff like that.