Draft Need Evaluation - Defense

Okay guys here is the other side of the ball. Let's see what you think.


Defensive End - Heyward and Tuitt are the starters, I think we all know that. What do we do about the depth though? Walton I think can still turn into a solid contributor. Matthews on the other hand, I would like to see an upgrade to, or at least some competition for. Maybe you take a guy in the 6th or 7th for some competition, or maybe you bring in a UFA to give him some competition. I am going to say we look at drafting one late round pick based on BPA. (DRAFT NEED: 5th - 7th Rounder)

Nose Tackle - Again we should be all set with the starter. In all reality, Hargrave is going to be really solid and is only going to get better. If he can get pressure up the middle more consistently we will go to our hybrid 4/3 a lot less which will make this D better. McCullers needs to be replaced. Yes, maybe we can get a UFA again to compete with McCullers for the spot, but I think we need to look for a replacement/competition in say the 4th round or so. (DRAFT NEED: 4th - 5th round)

ILB - Shazier and Williams are going to be here and play roles for this team for a while. Timmons is still and unknown. Big Red we really don't know what he can do in the D at the moment. Fort and Johnson are fringe players who can be replaced with talent that can start. If Timmons leaves, I think we still have a decent starter in Williams, but I would like to put another player into the system next to Shazier. LBs are our lifeblood. (DRAFT NEED: 2nd - 4th round)

OLB - Jones is gone. Chickillo and Moats are not anything more than spot starters. Harrison can't play forever. Dupree I really think is starting to come into his own, but I would really like to put a potential stud under the tutelage of Harrison for another year. We MUST fix our pass rush. It was better after a slow start, but I'm not convinced it is a permanent fix. (DRAFT NEED: 1st Round Pick)

CB - Burns is going to be a really solid starter. Cockrell I like, but I would love to see an upgrade if the situation arose. That being said, I don't think we have that opportunity this year, as we have other needs. Gay, Gilbert, and Golson are probably all going to be back, but I'm not sold yet that they help us get over the top. Gay we know as a savvy vet who can win through his smarts and knowing the system, but he has lost a step. Golson will be entering his 3rd year and we still have no idea what we have in him. Gilbert has had the year to get accustomed to what we want to do and will have mini camps to show he can be more than a special team/depth guy. I'd love for Gilbert to put his crap together and take the starter spot away from Cockrell, but I don't know if he will get that shot. I'd also love to see Golson take the slot CB spot from Gay, but we have no idea if he can even do that. We should draft someone to help and carry 6 CBs this year. (DRAFT NEED: 2nd - 5th round)

S - Golden is a solid depth guy and special teamer, but I don't want him ever starting again. Davis, I think, is just starting to scratch the surface of what he can do. Shamarko I think has played his last game here as anything other than a special teamer, but I think him and Golden might need to compete for that final spot. Dangerfield should probably be in that mix as well. Mitchell is our current starter, but I would like to see an upgrade here. I'm not sure that can be done, but to me we still have some things which need fixed in the secondary so getting a CB and a S could be huge. (DRAFT NEED: 2nd - 7th Round)

 

I'd take Jarvis Jones as a cheap back up. I'd draft a Pass Rusher...keeping in mind we play Nickel more than we do Base 3-4 anymore. Harrison is just too slow at this point. Thanks for the memories, please let him go!

Justin Gilbert seems like a dud, I would love to a add lock-down man corner, but we need to fix the pass rush first.

I don't know what to think of Timmons, he struggles running down the field on pass coverage now, but I think he comes back even though I'm not sure he should? I don't understand why Shazier isn't the guy who has those type of pass coverage duties?

I agree on Golden, he must not start. Mitchell is not super young and often has nagging injuries. Both of them don't seem to communicate very well to each other on the field. Need to add a player that can unseat some of the safeties here. I do like Dangerfield.

 

To me the goal with James is two fold. First, you play him in those situations where it is clearly a pass play and you intend to rush him to the QB. He can still be effective there. Second, I think you want him here to help tutor the next young OLB. He can set the tone for lifting, for work ethic, show him pointers, etc. that don't come from the coach. It can be very beneficial to us in the long term. What do you get from Jones that you don't get from Chickillo and Moats. If you add another guy in the draft, and even in your scenario you must add a starter, Jones isn't going to be that guy whereas James can do that some for a while.

I'm not sure we have seen Gilbert play enough or know enough about our system to be able to make that assessment. I'd like to see what he can do AFTER we have minicamp.

I'm not even sure Timmons will be back. It will come down to price tag IMO.

Dangerfield, Thomas, and Golden are nothing more than role players and special teamers. I want to see us add someone who can learn for a year, contribute on specials, and find a small role probably in goal line defense, then replace Mitchell next year. If he can replace Mitchell earlier, even better.

 

I don't dispute teams use pass play specialists. But good teams will check into plays that can put those guys at a disadvantage. At this point I think James is better against the run than he is in Pass Pro or at Pass Rush. I think we need a person for all downs and situations.

Does James really give the guys pointers? Im sure he leads by example in terms of work ethic in the gym, but he does keep to himself. I can see Joey Porter giving pass rush pointers more so than Harrison.

I know I sound harsh on James, but Coach Butts has coached up OLB's for years without the help of Joey or Harrison.

 

DE - I really like Tanoh Kpassagnon and would take him round 3 with out a doubt...but honestly would have no fear taking him in the 2nd. I see some young Keisel in that athleticism. I think he could play ST and rotate in with Tuitt and Heyward...that being said...if not him early...I probably grab a real project late or another low level FA

DT - I probably pass here.

OLB - NEED...EARLY AND OFTEN - Garret, Barret, Williams, McKinley, Harris...get one early (unless they go all out on a top flight FA) probably get another one late.

ILB - I think both Timmons, Shazier, and Williams all will be back...but I like McMillian...was sad to see Haasan Reddick have such a good sr bowl week..he was my sleeper...but I think he sleeps no more.

CB - I am always a bigger, stronger, faster CB guy. There are a few a like...but if you bring in one early he better excel in MAN...because they have to start being able to press the Pats...knock them off their routes...mess up their timing. This year I am actually pretty happy with the CB depth. Burns, Cockrell, Gilbert, Golson.....I would still grab another...and as much as he is the grizzled vet...I think its time for Will Gay to be replaced. He is easily the least athletic of all the DB's and its starting to outweigh his smarts IMO.

S - In a perfect world Malik Hookers recent surgery and not being able to workout cause him to drop like a rock.....If they think he really might be the next Ed Reed...go get him..no matter the cost IMO. Thats a game changer for a decade....there are some good guys...but I would be ok riding with Davis and Mitchell next year....got to get better athletes at the bottom of the depth chart though.

HACK

 

Ryan Anderson and or tim Williams. Problem solved. Could get Williams in first and then Anderson in second. Anderson will be a stud

 

Don't like Williams too any red flags and looks to win with speed only....Anderson I think is just a real good football player..he gets the job done.

 

Williams has changed with the off field stuff. Compare him to Bruce Irvin. He sucks in coverage. Straight pass rusher but very good at it

 

Let's just draft defensive players from Alabama .

 

I don't see a problem with it

 

DT - mid to late round need. Hargraves two concussions give me pause and McCullers needs to be upgraded. I doubt they draft one, so FA may be in play here. Depth signing.

DE - Walton stepped up nicely when Cam went down, so I would say maybe a late round need. If they have a developmental guy they like that falls to them then so be it.

OLB - double dip need in draft or 1FA/1draft

ILB - early to mid round need. LT94 is brought back imo, but they need another to develop and take over his spot eventually.

CB - slot corner early round need, outside corner late round need

S - early round need

 

I do with Tim Williams, we don't need anymore knuckleheads.

 

Dude I hate to break it to you but people smoke weed. I don't and I don't agree with it. Go to a college campus and visit the athletic dorm. Or better yet, just stand outside. You will get a buzz lol

 

Exactly why I wouldn't draft him, after Bell and Bryant screwed the team with their suspensions. Let's not forget his gun charge also, pass on him.

 

This.



Heck. If all possible edge rushing options are gone, BPA then. Teez Tabor would be nice to obtain but......

 

We need the very best Free safety and Edge rusher/OLB availiable then DE then DT CB.

 

i'm curious to see what we do with some of these futures picks we have signed. we have 3 guys very close to each other when they were ranked in the draft in 2014. cockrell, dixon and ducre. all with very good speed. cockrell is a 4.44 guy. dixon is a 4.40 guy and ducre is a 4.34 guy. add that to burns and davis both 4.42 and 4.44 and we have added some speed back there. we also added hilton which played with golson and shabazz from that same draft with cockrell, dixon and ducre. we have some talent here can they find some suitable guys out of this group?