The Vent Thread 2014 Draft

[arnie_uk]

5 of 8 players drafted were O

quality not quantity

[arnie_uk]

Doesn't matter who you have at WR with Zero pass blocking, Zero run game , and terrible play calling. All were problems were us.

Our run Defense was down right terrible and our FO clearly believes in the offense next year but not our Defense, which if you remember choked in alot of games and gave away leads and let other teams do what they wanted in the 4th quarter.

Source : http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/111469/ravens-defense-sets-unwanted-team-record

The Ravens allowed 134 points in the fourth quarter, the most in team history enough for 3rd most on the season.

In the first three quarters, the Ravens had the sixth-best defense in the red zone (allowing touchdowns 48.4 percent of the time). In the fourth quarter, the Ravens had the fifth-worst defense inside the 20-yard line (66.7 percent).

how come now its the defences fault when there was only a handful of people, myself included, that could actually see that in the regular season.

Those 4th qtr collapses were unbearable.

[arnie_uk]

Everyone lately is so full of sarcasm, that I cant tell anymore. Sooooooooo, with that said. No, we went 8-8 as a combined effort, but mostly due to the horrific offense we fielded every week.

which we done very little to improve. If we don't have a top top unit in d, we will faulter again because tbere isn't enough firepower on o

[arnie_uk]

The failure to extend drives and eat up time most certainly played a part in the defense fading in the 4th.

again, so why not draft a good right tackle to help the line, or a highly rated runner to pound the rock, or a wideout that can be press coverage and catch over the middle?

[Tank 92]

which we done very little to improve. If we don't have a top top unit in d, we will faulter again because tbere isn't enough firepower on o

Well, let's look at the reasons for offensive failure in 2013;

Horrible O line play - it would seem that adding Zuttah, getting KO back and having Kubiak at the helm will go a long way in helping here.

No dependable threat in the slot and at TE - Adding Smitty and Owens will help tremendously. Also, Pitta should be back to pre injury form. Having these guys healthy and playing will open up the field for Torrey, Jacoby and Marlon.

Poor run game - This seems to be a question mark. Will RR return to form? Will BP stay healthy? Will Forsett shine? Better line play will help, but we need some dependability from someone.

The O will look completely different with Kubiak's system. I for one am excited and think the Ravens' O will be a force to be reckoned with in 2014.

[BmoreBird22]

We paid 120 million for a 19 TD, 22 INT quarterback.

 

For comparison Tom Brady with no receivers early in the year threw 25 TD's and 11 INT. 

Granting that Joe Flacco is not Tom Brady, he was still overvalued by Oz.

 

Contrary to what many believe on this board, Oz is in hot water and primarily it pertains to the Flacco contract.

 

Flacco has limitations. He is a "System Guy" and that's another reality that slipped by Oz these last couple years.

 

Flacco has won a Championship and can win others if the Raven's surround him with the proper personnel.  This is another reality that is clearly lost upon Oz because he has not taken the actions to "protect" his Flacco investment.

 

Flacco can get the job done with the right tools. Oz on the other hand just doesn't get it any more and clearly is heading the wrong direction again with the offense.

 

Hopefully this is the last year we have to endure the missteps.

Just to let you know, before Gronk came back, Tom was on pace for like 17 TD's and 17 INT's and like 3300 yards. Just thought I'd share that with you

[BmoreBird22]

sidenote, i still think trading Boldin away was a mistake

Couldn't just let it lie. Still, a year later and nothing we can do and someone will still bring it up.

[PolishRifle]

Just to let you know, before Gronk came back, Tom was on pace for like 17 TD's and 17 INT's and like 3300 yards. Just thought I'd share that with you

 

Gronk is a beast. Every great QB has some go-to guy.

[beasy2487]

I got my email this morning. Didn't you get yours?

There have been losing seasons as well. Did someone else draft those years? Mistakes happen. We all make them. Some are more avoidable than others.

Agree and understand the collective venting but, to your point, we judge Ozzie with the benefit of hindsight. Something he simply does not have when building the team and also in the context of the draft itself. He can take calculated risks as to whom will still be on the board or not, but I'm sure that strategy fails as often, if not more often than, it succeeds.

No one wins every year. It just doesn't happen in the salary cap era. Even teams like the Pats and Colts of the mid-2000s are bolstered by terrible divisions. We play in one of the most competitive divisions in football, to say "If Ozzie would just make the right choices (read: the choices I think he should make), we would never have a losing season" is off base bordering on ludicrous. Tell me, do you really think if we keep Q and go all-in on offense last offseason, we make the playoffs? Even with our additions, the defense was middling last year. Take back those additions and you have a bottom of the barrel defense and MAYBE a top 10-15 offense (and that's being extremely generous). When was the last time an upper-middle of the pack offense and no defense won a championship? Rarely, if ever.

We're just not going to win by going all-in on offense. Not gonna happen, not with this cast. But we've proven that with a turnover forcing defense and middle of the road offense we can get to the dance, heat up, and take home the prize. That's the team our management is building.

[arnie_uk]

Well, let's look at the reasons for offensive failure in 2013;

Horrible O line play - it would seem that adding Zuttah, getting KO back and having Kubiak at the helm will go a long way in helping here.

No dependable threat in the slot and at TE - Adding Smitty and Owens will help tremendously. Also, Pitta should be back to pre injury form. Having these guys healthy and playing will open up the field for Torrey, Jacoby and Marlon.

Poor run game - This seems to be a question mark. Will RR return to form? Will BP stay healthy? Will Forsett shine? Better line play will help, but we need some dependability from someone.

The O will look completely different with Kubiak's system. I for one am excited and think the Ravens' O will be a force to be reckoned with in 2014.

your assuming ko with a back injury and pitta with a hip injury come back to pre injury form. Id rather not leave that to chance.

Need I remind you daniels was cut by Houston for failing a medical, Smith more or less just had the worst year of this career, Zuttah is the definition of average, which is actually probably a big step up from gino.

We are banking on injured players returning to full health, aging one year stop gap recovers. If either flacco or rice more or less don't have the best year of their careers here I can see this offense being one of the worst in the league again, although not as bad as last year.

If they are a top unit, im assuming rice is a stud again, we get no injuries and Flacco has a career year. If that happens, with the defence, on paper at least, we should be in with a shot at a superbowl.

[Ravensfan23]

It may all come to pass - who knows.

I guess I am the only one here who is old enough to remember 2006 - arguably better than our 2000 defense - when it just wasn't enough to overcome poor offensive play once the post season came around.

Then waiting around for a franchise QB for all those years.

Now that we have one - we hang him out to dry and don't give him support around him. It is balance that wins championships. And we're out of balance right now.

How can you remember 06 but forget about 2012? Look I get it and honestly the only reason why I'm probably not just as frustrated as you is because I believe we got the best value for each pick over the first 3 rounds and I greatly believe in our offensive system. Kubes is really able to get the most out of his players.

Now the reason I ask how could u remember 06' but forget about 12' is because we have basically the same offense we won a SB with. I now believe we have even more talent and a OC who will get the best out of it. You look at 06' it's wasn't because we lacked talent on offense, for stretches in that season the offense was really good. The problem we had was we had a washed up QB on his last legs and about week 15 that leg finally gave out. Now I love Mac9, but once we got into the Playoffs in that Colts game he could barely drive the ball 7-10 yards down field, which is why the Colts just sat on every thing. That wasn't last of talent around the QB which you seem to suggest now, that was QB not being able to maximize the talent around him.

Last year imo Joe got the most out of every guy around him. The issue was the talent around him failed along with his failure as well. Torrey had a strong year considering he was our only proven option. Brown had a solid season for any rookie. Hell Joe even got the best out of Doss. The problem was he also had to rely on Clark, Dickson, Stokely, and at least 2 olineman who just shouldn't have been on the field. Now you have a healthy Pitta and Daniels, two sure handed TEs. You have Smith sr who is a more then capable compliment to Torrey, so now Torrey won't be every teams focus. Now Brown is a #3 and basically has to force his way into having more reps with so many proven guys around him, so if you do find yourself relying on him its only because he proved reliable. This forces Jacoby too more of a specialist role, where the deep passes are more of a bonus and not something we rely heavily on.

Still haven't touched on how Juice could be used if he forces his way into the rotation and Foster had a ton of catches for Kubes, so Ithink iit's safe to say, legal issues aside that Rice will be a big part of the passing game as well. Is the oline great? Not imo but the great news is that none of Kubes olines were considered great on paper, but because they brought into the system they performed great together. I feel we have the talent on the oline my only question is how quickly do they buy in to the system?

[ravensdfan]

How can you remember 06 but forget about 2012? Look I get it and honestly the only reason why I'm probably not just as frustrated as you is because I believe we got the best value for each pick over the first 3 rounds and I greatly believe in our offensive system. Kubes is really able to get the most out of his players.

Now the reason I ask how could u remember 06' but forget about 12' is because we have basically the same offense we won a SB with. I now believe we have even more talent and a OC who will get the best out of it. You look at 06' it's wasn't because we lacked talent on offense, for stretches in that season the offense was really good. The problem we had was we had a washed up QB on his last legs and about week 15 that leg finally gave out. Now I love Mac9, but once we got into the Playoffs in that Colts game he could barely drive the ball 7-10 yards down field, which is why the Colts just sat on every thing. That wasn't last of talent around the QB which you seem to suggest now, that was QB not being able to maximize the talent around him.

Last year imo Joe got the most out of every guy around him. The issue was the talent around him failed along with his failure as well. Torrey had a strong year considering he was our only proven option. Brown had a solid season for any rookie. Hell Joe even got the best out of Doss. The problem was he also had to rely on Clark, Dickson, Stokely, and at least 2 olineman who just shouldn't have been on the field. Now you have a healthy Pitta and Daniels, two sure handed TEs. You have Smith sr who is a more then capable compliment to Torrey, so now Torrey won't be every teams focus. Now Brown is a #3 and basically has to force his way into having more reps with so many proven guys around him, so if you do find yourself relying on him its only because he proved reliable. This forces Jacoby too more of a specialist role, where the deep passes are more of a bonus and not something we rely heavily on.

Still haven't touched on how Juice could be used if he forces his way into the rotation and Foster had a ton of catches for Kubes, so Ithink iit's safe to say, legal issues aside that Rice will be a big part of the passing game as well. Is the oline great? Not imo but the great news is that none of Kubes olines were considered great on paper, but because they brought into the system they performed great together. I feel we have the talent on the oline my only question is how quickly do they buy in to the system?

 

No we don't have the same offense we won a SB with. There is no Boldin. I know S. Smith is supposed to be that guy - but he hasn't taken a snap for us and is coming off his worst year ever. Not to mention, Flacco & Boldin didn't have that chemistry right off the bat. There is no Birk. And Zuttah, while an upgrade to Gino, is no Birk. KO is coming off a back injury. Daniels was cut because he failed a medical., Pitta seemed to be back to his old self pretty much - so there is that at least. And the last time Wagner played RT he was pitiful. It is not the same offense.

 

I didn't say it was lack of talent around the QB in '06. It was exactly what you said - an aging QB who hit his last legs - but it is always something with the offense. Then it was the QB. Now it the refusal to spend high picks on offense.

 

Like I said, all these things may come to pass. I just know the defense better play lights out.

 

Everyone keeps missing the bigger picture here even though I keep mentioning it. When do we expect to get this talent on offense? We just had the deepest draft for offensive talent in years. Do we expect to be picking in the Top 10 in the near future? Or even in the Top 20 again? When exactly are we going to see a deep draft like this again having passed up this opportunity?

[Militant X 1]

No we don't have the same offense we won a SB with. There is no Boldin. I know S. Smith is supposed to be that guy - but he hasn't taken a snap for us and is coming off his worst year ever. Not to mention, Flacco & Boldin didn't have that chemistry right off the bat. There is no Birk. And Zuttah, while an upgrade to Gino, is no Birk. KO is coming off a back injury. Daniels was cut because he failed a medical., Pitta seemed to be back to his old self pretty much - so there is that at least. And the last time Wagner played RT he was pitiful. It is not the same offense.

 

I didn't say it was lack of talent around the QB in '06. It was exactly what you said - an aging QB who hit his last legs - but it is always something with the offense. Then it was the QB. Now it the refusal to spend high picks on offense.

 

Like I said, all these things may come to pass. I just know the defense better play lights out.

 

Everyone keeps missing the bigger picture here even though I keep mentioning it. When do we expect to get this talent on offense? We just had the deepest draft for offensive talent in years. Do we expect to be picking in the Top 10 in the near future? Or even in the Top 20 again? When exactly are we going to see a deep draft like this again having passed up this opportunity?

 

We all get that you are pissed and frustrated that Ozzie didn't draft offense higher than the later rounds and picked up a few UDFA's.  I would've loved to seen them pick up some offensive players higher than what they did as well but you need to ask why didn't they draft offense higher?  Perhaps, Ozzie and crew felt that they solved a few offensive problems during the off-season by signing a few cats and then wanted to focus on making the defense tougher than it was last year through the draft. 

 

You should be fine with that in all honesty because, after all, haven't YOU constantly said in here that our defense failed us in the 4th quarters of games last season because they couldn't get off the field?  And how that the defense wasn't much better than the offense (although for me the offense was just atrocious week after week)?  Well...this years draft seem to answer all of that!

 

#Mili

[beasy2487]

No we don't have the same offense we won a SB with. There is no Boldin. I know S. Smith is supposed to be that guy - but he hasn't taken a snap for us and is coming off his worst year ever. Not to mention, Flacco & Boldin didn't have that chemistry right off the bat. There is no Birk. And Zuttah, while an upgrade to Gino, is no Birk. KO is coming off a back injury. Daniels was cut because he failed a medical., Pitta seemed to be back to his old self pretty much - so there is that at least. And the last time Wagner played RT he was pitiful. It is not the same offense.

 

I didn't say it was lack of talent around the QB in '06. It was exactly what you said - an aging QB who hit his last legs - but it is always something with the offense. Then it was the QB. Now it the refusal to spend high picks on offense.

 

Like I said, all these things may come to pass. I just know the defense better play lights out.

 

Everyone keeps missing the bigger picture here even though I keep mentioning it. When do we expect to get this talent on offense? We just had the deepest draft for offensive talent in years. Do we expect to be picking in the Top 10 in the near future? Or even in the Top 20 again? When exactly are we going to see a deep draft like this again having passed up this opportunity?

 

If that's the bigger picture, then the biggest picture is that teams that consistently pick offensive talent with high picks aren't winning championships. In the past 10 years you have the Colts with Peyton and Harrison (both generational talents), the Steelers with Ben (and they won with defense), Giants with Eli (Defense), Packers with Rodgers (another generational talent), and...who else? Who are these amazing offensive juggernauts that are winning championships? You can make the "in this day and age" argument but the two best teams in the league last year (SF and SEA) were built with high picks on...you guessed it...defense. So I have to ask, do you really want championships, or do you just want to see big offensive numbers? You can't have it both ways.

[ravensdfan]

We all get that you are pissed and frustrated that Ozzie didn't draft offense higher than the later rounds and picked up a few UDFA's.  I would've loved to seen them pick up some offensive players higher than what they did as well but you need to ask why didn't they draft offense higher?  Perhaps, Ozzie and crew felt that they solved a few offensive problems during the off-season by signing a few cats and then wanted to focus on making the defense tougher than it was last year through the draft. 

 

You should be fine with that in all honesty because, after all, haven't YOU constantly said in here that our defense failed us in the 4th quarters of games last season because they couldn't get off the field?  And how that the defense wasn't much better than the offense (although for me the offense was just atrocious week after week)?  Well...this years draft seem to answer all of that!

 

#Mili

 

I never said they weren't much better than the offense. Clearly they were better than the offense. I said their inability to get off the field cost us games, which it did.

 

We did not get a CB. We did not get a playmaking FS. Two weak areas on defense going into the draft. Instead, we re-drafted 2 positions we drafted last season. We got an FS, but he is not the playmaker Ozzie talked about and promised to add. 

 

So no, while we drafted defense, even there we didn't really fill needs.

 

We might be better at stopping the run if one or two of these guys are immediate impact players. We really did nothing to help us against the pass.

 

Like I said, they need to play at least Top 10 - across the board - to warrant the high picks they've taken the last 2 seasons.

[ravensdfan]

If that's the bigger picture, then the biggest picture is that teams that consistently pick offensive talent with high picks aren't winning championships. In the past 10 years you have the Colts with Peyton and Harrison (both generational talents), the Steelers with Ben (and they won with defense), Giants with Eli (Defense), Packers with Rodgers (another generational talent), and...who else? Who are these amazing offensive juggernauts that are winning championships? You can make the "in this day and age" argument but the two best teams in the league last year (SF and SEA) were built with high picks on...you guessed it...defense. So I have to ask, do you really want championships, or do you just want to see big offensive numbers? You can't have it both ways.

 

Their offenses might not have been high powered - as with Eli - but they were not completely inept either. Let's not act like any of those offenses were anywhere near as poor as ours last season. And it's funny how when it is an offensive team - you're like excusing it. Talk about not getting it both ways.

[gabefergy]

Mosley better be an All-Pro, or this draft could look bad in a couple years.

[arnie_uk]

Mosley better be an All-Pro, or this draft could look bad in a couple years.

all those first three picks could easily bust. Mosley with injuries, jerringan as not a perfect scheme fit, Brooks just because a lot of safetys don't seem to take that next step.

Or they could all be great players proving to be a great draft.

[beasy2487]

Their offenses might not have been high powered - as with Eli - but they were not completely inept either. Let's not act like any of those offenses were anywhere near as poor as ours last season. And it's funny how when it is an offensive team - you're like excusing it. Talk about not getting it both ways.

 

I'm not excusing it, I am saying it is not the norm and the result rare-air QB play. Even our second SB was a result of such QB play and we are just not going to get that consistently from Joe without a defense that gets him the ball back. In a 10-year span we're talking 7 defensive teams and 3 offensive teams (Forgot the Saints before, and even they had a crazy, turnover-forcing defense. Notwithstanding the fact that they didn't draft Brees, Payton is a straight up offensive genius, and their receiving options were late round guys.)

 

I'm talking about the philosophy of building a team. Most teams that win use the draft (especially the early rounds) to build defense--outside of their QB. The past 10 years have borne that out. I agree that you can't win with inept offensive performances either, but when you're constructing (or in this case reconstructing) a roster, you do it with defense early and often. That is what Ozzie has done the past two seasons, and that's why I still trust him.

 

**Also I hope you don't feel like I'm attacking you. This is the best discourse I've had on this board in ages 

[BmoreInBmore]

Mosley better be an All-Pro, or this draft could look bad in a couple years.

 

That's the dumbest evaluation I've read yet. Daryl Smith has never been an All-Pro, there have been literally dozens of very good players who have either never made an All-Pro, or made a second team All-Pro once or twice.

 

And why would this entire draft look bad if one of the 8 players we drafted didn't pan out? Brooks, and Jernigan could both be All-Pros, but according to you that wouldn't matter because Mosely isn't an All-Pro? What are you talking about its not even a week after the draft and your projecting five years down the road. 

[Moderator 3]

I'm just concerned that we drafted too many leaders. Somebody has to follow or it all breaks down.

[BmoreBird22]

If that's the bigger picture, then the biggest picture is that teams that consistently pick offensive talent with high picks aren't winning championships. In the past 10 years you have the Colts with Peyton and Harrison (both generational talents), the Steelers with Ben (and they won with defense), Giants with Eli (Defense), Packers with Rodgers (another generational talent), and...who else? Who are these amazing offensive juggernauts that are winning championships? You can make the "in this day and age" argument but the two best teams in the league last year (SF and SEA) were built with high picks on...you guessed it...defense. So I have to ask, do you really want championships, or do you just want to see big offensive numbers? You can't have it both ways.

Rogers had the second best defense in the NFL when he won the Super Bowl

[arnie_uk]

I'm just concerned that we drafted too many leaders. Somebody has to follow or it all breaks down.

thats the silliest thing I think ever read

[BmoreInBmore]

I'm just concerned that we drafted too many leaders. Somebody has to follow or it all breaks down.

 

In order to lead you need to know how to follow. Rookies aren't just anointed a leader the second he walks into a locker room, they aren't given a ribbon marking them as a leader. These kids will have an opportunity to earn the respect from our current players and in time, some, may, hopefully, become future leaders. 

[gabefergy]

That's the dumbest evaluation I've read yet. Daryl Smith has never been an All-Pro, there have been literally dozens of very good players who have either never made an All-Pro, or made a second team All-Pro once or twice.

And why would this entire draft look bad if one of the 8 players we drafted didn't pan out? Brooks, and Jernigan could both be All-Pros, but according to you that wouldn't matter because Mosely isn't an All-Pro? What are you talking about its not even a week after the draft and your projecting five years down the road.

Daryl Smith played on a lot of bad teams too. I don't like Jernigan in our scheme, and he has some ugly tape. Gillmore is a reach and will need to develop. We didn't address OT or CB at all, and we missed on the best WR draft in 20 years.

[gabefergy]

This draft is a B- at best right now. We'll see in 3 years how it looks.

[BmoreInBmore]

Daryl Smith played on a lot of bad teams too. I don't like Jernigan in our scheme, and he has some ugly tape. Gillmore is a reach and will need to develop. We didn't address OT or CB at all, and we missed on the best WR draft in 20 years.

 

What does playing on a bad team have to do with making an All-Pro. That distinction is not given out based on team performance but individual performance that statement is both superfluous and inaccurate. 

 

You don't like Jernigan in our scheme? we play a 3-4, he is the perfect size for a 3-4 end, and our coaches apparently do like him and I trust their evaluation infinitely more than yours. 

 

How do you know Gillmore was a reach? Were you present in every NFL war room during the draft to see where other teams had him ranked? Marcus Smith was taken in the first was widely considered to be a 2-3 round talent; same with Bucannon. Easly was mocked in the second but both the Pats and Seahawks had him as a first round talent, pretty high regard coming from those two franchises. 

 

You are simply regurgitating what you heard from Mcshay, Kiper, and read on bleacher report.  

[gabefergy]

What does playing on a bad team have to do with making an All-Pro. That distinction is not given out based on team performance but individual performance that statement is both superfluous and inaccurate. 

 

You don't like Jernigan in our scheme? we play a 3-4, he is the perfect size for a 3-4 end, and our coaches apparently do like him and I trust their evaluation infinitely more than yours. 

 

How do you know Gillmore was a reach? Were you present in every NFL war room during the draft to see where other teams had him ranked? Marcus Smith was taken in the first was widely considered to be a 2-3 round talent; same with Bucannon. Easly was mocked in the second but both the Pats and Seahawks had him as a first round talent, pretty high regard coming from those two franchises. 

 

You are simply regurgitating what you heard from Mcshay, Kiper, and read on bleacher report.  

It means he has to be a really really good player to make this draft worthwhile. Is that so difficult to understand? Taking an ILB early is always a bit of a reach, considering he has an injury history makes it that much more questionable.

 

You have ZERO clue what you are talking about if you think Jernigan is a good fit for a 34 end. Isn't this thread a vent thread? Your towing the company line is laughable.

 

Seriously, this is probably the dumbest retort I have ever read. I don't see everything in your purple shaded glasses so I'm regurgitating what I read elsewhere even though most "experts" think the Ravens had a good draft? Are you even capable of forming your own opinions?

[ravensdfan]

I'm not excusing it, I am saying it is not the norm and the result rare-air QB play. Even our second SB was a result of such QB play and we are just not going to get that consistently from Joe without a defense that gets him the ball back. In a 10-year span we're talking 7 defensive teams and 3 offensive teams (Forgot the Saints before, and even they had a crazy, turnover-forcing defense. Notwithstanding the fact that they didn't draft Brees, Payton is a straight up offensive genius, and their receiving options were late round guys.)

 

I'm talking about the philosophy of building a team. Most teams that win use the draft (especially the early rounds) to build defense--outside of their QB. The past 10 years have borne that out. I agree that you can't win with inept offensive performances either, but when you're constructing (or in this case reconstructing) a roster, you do it with defense early and often. That is what Ozzie has done the past two seasons, and that's why I still trust him.

 

**Also I hope you don't feel like I'm attacking you. This is the best discourse I've had on this board in ages 

 

I agree you need a good defense. I never said otherwise. Just that most times the draft is deep defensively. We still passed on some good defensive players that would have filled our needs on defense. We just used our two highest picks for positions we used our high picks for last season. Somewhere are two wasted picks because you don't count a high pick sucessful if it is just used for depth. That is what the later rounds are for.

 

A deep offensive draft is rare and unless we're picking somewhere in the top 10 or 20 - we're not going to get that high potential WR any time soon. Flacco is heading into his 7th year. We just paid him $120M. When are we planning on surrounding him with some young quality talent?

 

Torrey is good but not 2nd round talent yet. Daniels & S. Smith could be good but one we have no idea if he'll recover from injury and the other is coming off his worst season ever - not to mention it is rare for a QB to have instant chemistry with a receiver. They're also at the tail end of their careers.

 

And we haven't even touched on our RB situation yet.

 

I love a good defense - I want us to get that swagger back. Teams to fear us. I'm just not willing to have a completely inept offense in order to make that happen because we won't go far in the post season that way.

[flynismo]

If you actually read what I said you would see I clearly stated that it's going to take time to figure out how good or bad this draft looks.

 

Now let me educate you about the 3-4 defensive positions. DE plays the 5-technique, meaning he lines up on the outside shoulder of the OT. This player is prototypically long and athletic. Chris Canty, JJ Watt, Even Brent Urban are great examples of this position. Most 3-4 DEs are 6'5 or taller with long arms. This length necessary because their role is two-gap in run fits. They require strength and length to lock out the OT, and be able to make plays in both the B and C gap.

 

Timmy Jernigan is under 6'2 with short arms. He never played DE at FSU, and is a much better fit as a penetrating DT in a 43 defense. He has strong hands and flashes the ability to get into the backfield and be disruptive, but he also gets knocked off the ball with more frequency than you would like to see. He's going to play in sub-packages, but where he fits in the base defense is a question. He is undersized for a NT and as I've already made quite clear the fit at DE is questionable.

 

Now that you are informed about the players that we drafted and the defense that we run, you might understand my concern a little bit.

 

If you looked up "prototypical 4-3 DT", Jernigan's picture would be next to the definition (as you more or less said).

 

However, I do think that he brings a bit of flexibility, and could adjust to a 3-4 pretty decently. I say that because him getting knocked off the ball is most likely something he can improve on; he has the raw power hold at POA; needs to be "coached up" some.

 

Then again, I might be completely wrong, and he will suck in a 3-4....lol