I don't panic because we moved down a few spots and took a guy who by all accounts is a player, he's obviously talented and people question his speed but IMO no LB should be judged on his 40 time. The only time he's ever going to run 40 yards in a straight line is if intercepts a pass or picks up a fumble. I care about if he can tackle and if he can get to the QB. By all accounts he can. He seems like a high character guy and a hard worker, those are important qualities as well. If we get a starter or quality depth guy with that pick we got from Houston then the trade was a success. It doesn't matter how the guy we passed on turns out if we can end up with 2 quality players from that one pick.
There was no QB to be had, so I have to grade this draft an A. If we can find some OL help in these later rounds, I will be a happy camper.
You realize of course that football is a team game. Lining up with both Marshall (particularly)or even Decker... If Smith is lined up inside, against a third corner and runs downfield... thats going to be like a fork (in chess) for the safety... do you roll toward the guy with an open shot at the end zone, or keep Brandon Marshall from being one on one...(orDecker against a two)... Then there is (as you pointed out) the bubble screen, a tool we haven't had the speed to use since Leon Washington left... Then there's punt returns. Oh, and the fact that he's an excellent gunner. Oh, and he's arguably the best tracker of a ball in the air in the draft.... Yeah, one trick pony, and useless in this offense and special teams...
What the fuck?? We filled needs at OLB rusher, deep threat WR, QB development, and got the best prospect in the entire draft. Based on needs, we are an A+++++
1. We got a good OLB in the 3rd let's not call him speedy edge rusher just yet 2. If you read the thread I like this pick 3. We drafted Petty yesterday? 4. That filled a need?
I don't. I think Smith can be an elite #1 receiver in the NFL. It just sucked for him to be in a run first college offense with crappy QBs.
Williams - A (BPA, great value, excellent talent. Wish Cooper fell, but he didn't) Smith - C+ (his game is not complete enough to warrant this high a pick. not great value) Mauldin - B- (like the player, but lost value in trading back. very good players were available before trading) Petty - A (great value for a developmental QB with upside. 3rd best QB in draft landed in 4th round) it's a little up and down for me. Guess B overall..
Williams: A++ got the best player in the draft at #6 without trading up. enormous. Smith: B Very good player at an area of need. we need a deep threat and we got it. his catch and run and him not retuning kicks are minor ticks, him being a gunner another positive for him. really liked the pick Mauldin: A- best pass rusher available at a major area of need. got not just an outstanding pass rusher but one who can play 3 downs and who can be the leader of this defense for years to come. nothing but positives on this one Petty: B- Rolled the dice on a QB. arguably the BPA and has an elite arm. it was certainly a need. ignroed oline here but qb was the one position you could accept that for overall a fantastic draft
I'm starting to think we messed up a little bit by trading back and not taking Duke Johnson in the third round last night. I guess we will see what happens with this fifth round pick, but I really thought we would walk away with a running back and it doesn't look like we're going to.
We don't have nearly as many needs as last year.....except one glaring massive hole at QB.We are a pretty deep roster right now I'm really liking this roster right now.... if we only had a qb
this isnt true at all. and if the shoe were on the other foot the Bears would have taken Williams too
You realize that we ended up filling that need at wide receiver with a player that is a better fit in the second round right? White is a luxury. Smith is a fit.
duke johnson is a runningback. you dont take runningbacks before round 6. thats throwing the pick away. you can get a runningback as a UDFA. you can sign one who get cut off another team. its the least valuable position in football (not counting holder or long snapper as positions)
agreed. inside linebacker worries me. outside of davis it is scrubs and no depth. but that is minimized a bit with how much nickel we will play. would still like a better option then harris. especially for that kind of money
