Rounds 3-7

[BlindsideD'Brick]

Yep, we all said that before the Sheldon Richardson pick and the Leonard Williams pick. I Quote,"We don't need another Defensive Linemen".

The difference being, there are 3-4 positions on a defensive line, and only one Center.

 

[mydogisajetsfan]

I for one am longing to draft a center...pun intended. That way, if Long stays healthy he can slide over to take Carpenter or Winters slot next season. If he doesn't stay healthy, you have a legitimate center. I don't think Swanson will be on the team in '19. I don't think Harrison should be on the team in '18.

 

[mydogisajetsfan]

While Mac admirably filled gaps during free agency most of those guys won't be on the team next year. The OL needs to find its core very soon. The left side will be gone after this year and there's no one in sight to replace them. We can rely on another wholesale influx of free agents but who wants to start a new offensive line the first year the new QB starts? Get a RG to start after the bye and a new center and they can jell in the second half of '18. In the worst case scenario Shell doesn't improve, Winters doesn't return to form, Long doesn't last and we need 5 new starters next year. None of the backups are young guys waiting to step up. None of them are ever going to start with any team.

Sorry to harp on this but I feel strongly about the weakest link.

 

[AFA2017]

While Mac admirably filled gaps during free agency most of those guys won't be on the team next year. The OL needs to find its core very soon. The left side will be gone after this year and there's no one in sight to replace them. We can rely on another wholesale influx of free agents but who wants to start a new offensive line the first year the new QB starts? Get a RG to start after the bye and a new center and they can jell in the second half of '18. In the worst case scenario Shell doesn't improve, Winters doesn't return to form, Long doesn't last and we need 5 new starters next year. None of the backups are young guys waiting to step up. None of them are ever going to start with any team.

Sorry to harp on this but I feel strongly about the weakest link.

Me and you both feel that way.

 

[BlindsideD'Brick]

While Mac admirably filled gaps during free agency most of those guys won't be on the team next year. The OL needs to find its core very soon. The left side will be gone after this year and there's no one in sight to replace them. We can rely on another wholesale influx of free agents but who wants to start a new offensive line the first year the new QB starts? Get a RG to start after the bye and a new center and they can jell in the second half of '18. In the worst case scenario Shell doesn't improve, Winters doesn't return to form, Long doesn't last and we need 5 new starters next year. None of the backups are young guys waiting to step up. None of them are ever going to start with any team.

Sorry to harp on this but I feel strongly about the weakest link.

I can see the team moving on from Beachum and Carpenter after the season. I agree there. I would like to see the next Brick come in via the draft.

But your worst case scenario is unlikely. Saying we might need 5 new starters next year is a stretch. Obviously, we disagree about Long. I think the team envisions him as a long term guy. Shell is a young player who’s been coming along nicely from what I’ve seen. And after reading the story today about Winters playing on a torn abdominal muscle and abductor is encouraging to me. One, he’s a tough SOB playing through that injury. And two, it explains why his play dipped last season. He was good enough the previous season to earn a big contract for a Guard.

Bottom line: improvements will be needed. But I don’t think it’s going to be a situation of completely cleaning house on the line.

Oh, and Bowles recently stated that Dakota Dozier is the most improved young player on the team from 2016 to 2017.

 

[AFA2017]

I can see the team moving on from Beachum and Carpenter after the season. I agree there. I would like to see the next Brick come in via the draft.

But your worst case scenario is unlikely. Saying we might need 5 new starters next year is a stretch. Obviously, we disagree about Long. I think the team envisions him as a long term guy. Shell is a young player who’s been coming along nicely from what I’ve seen. And after reading the story today about Winters playing on a torn abdominal muscle and abductor is encouraging to me. One, he’s a tough SOB playing through that injury. And two, it explains why his play dipped last season. He was good enough the previous season to earn a big contract for a Guard.

Bottom line: improvements will be needed. But I don’t think it’s going to be a situation of completely cleaning house on the line.

Oh, and Bowles recently stated that Dakota Dozier is the most improved young player on the team from 2016 to 2017.

I like Dakota Dozier when we drafted him and along with Shell, Winters and Long I hope that they translate into a strong Offensive line. I truly hope they do. Maybe by the midway point of the season, you can tell me, "I told you so"

 

[BlindsideD'Brick]

=AFA2017;n160373]

I like Dakota Dozier when we drafted him and along with Shell, Winters and Long I hope that they translate into a strong Offensive line. I truly hope they do. Maybe by the midway point of the season, you can tell me, "I told you so"[/QUOTE]

I would never say I told you so.


:global (23):

 

[mydogisajetsfan]

As happy as I am with nabbing Darnold, I would have taken a different course after that if I were the GM. Completely ignoring the offensive line and pass rusher needs just didn't make much sense to me. That said, trading for Henry Anderson for a 7th rounder was a solid move. All the more reason to NOT draft two DL. I would have signed the former Giants NT and drafted a tackle or OLB in round 3. Geron Christian, Orlando Brown, Martinas Rankin and Joel Noteboom were available.

 

[Old#15]

As happy as I am with nabbing Darnold, I would have taken a different course after that if I were the GM. Completely ignoring the offensive line and pass rusher needs just didn't make much sense to me. That said, trading for Henry Anderson for a 7th rounder was a solid move. All the more reason to NOT draft two DL. I would have signed the former Giants NT and drafted a tackle or OLB in round 3. Geron Christian, Orlando Brown, Martinas Rankin and Joel Noteboom were available.

I thought the same thing as far as needing help on the OL. But the more I thought about it, we had a more pressing need on the DL. MikeM's quote about roster building after the draft says it all. He said that you fill your needs through free agency and build the foundation of your team with 'value' picks in the draft. Said another way, you pick Shepherd in 3rd because he was a better player on his board, than the OLmen you mentioned. I don't know if he is right, but generally speaking every draft talking head that I have listened to or read agrees with MM.

 

[mydogisajetsfan]

I think every GM and draft 'expert' agrees with that notion. The key is to execute. Let's hope Mac has done just that.

 

[SackExchange]

I can see the team moving on from Beachum and Carpenter after the season. I agree there. I would like to see the next Brick come in via the draft.

But your worst case scenario is unlikely. Saying we might need 5 new starters next year is a stretch. Obviously, we disagree about Long. I think the team envisions him as a long term guy. Shell is a young player who’s been coming along nicely from what I’ve seen. And after reading the story today about Winters playing on a torn abdominal muscle and abductor is encouraging to me. One, he’s a tough SOB playing through that injury. And two, it explains why his play dipped last season. He was good enough the previous season to earn a big contract for a Guard.

Bottom line: improvements will be needed. But I don’t think it’s going to be a situation of completely cleaning house on the line.

Oh, and Bowles recently stated that Dakota Dozier is the most improved young player on the team from 2016 to 2017.

The two premier needs going into the 2019 draft are likely to be LT and edge rusher.

 

[lounap23]

The two premier needs going into the 2019 draft are likely to be LT and edge rusher.

I agree... and depending on the performance of our WR group and CB group this year those could be added as well but right now I like the direction in which we are headed

 

[TonyFtLaud]

The two premier needs going into the 2019 draft are likely to be LT and edge rusher.

Fortunately, those are 2 of the deepest positions in the 2019 draft.

 

[butterscotch]

We pretty much know what we have for 2018 pre-draft. What should Mac focus on in these rounds?

Offensive Line - A MUST. If we get a guy like Frank Ragnow or Mason Cole, we have a legit backup center for this year and a starter for 2019. Long can then move to guard and we can let Winters/Carpenter go. That frees up a lot of additional cap space. Nab a guy like Branden Smith in the fourth round and Mac get let both of the current starters go while getting younger and more athletic. Unless there's a project that Mac has identified the LT of the future will be a 2019 get.

OLB - Mac doesn't have a great record in this area. Jenkins is a decent run stopper but doesn't put pressure on the QB. Mauldin is a complete unknown at this point. To take the next step this teams needs to find better-than-average starters in the third and fourth round. Obo Okoronko is another potential third round LB. Mac needs to get this done this year.

TE - Can't imagine Mac intends to go with the three TE currently on the roster. A mid-round pick is likely.

CB - Unless someone too good to pass us is sitting there I don't expect Mac wants to use another pick on a corner.

WR - Not at this point.

DL - Entire possible but not as critical.

RB - Mac may be hoping for a guy like Rashaad Penny to be there in the third round. There are a lot of possible names to take in rounds 4 or 5.

If I had my druthers we would nab an OLB in round 3 and a C/G in round 4. Or the other way around.

When i saw the title on the post I thought your were buying drinks when we all meet up

 

[mydogisajetsfan]

Good one!!!