This quote, from an article on the draft at the Arizona Cardinal's website says it all. Does this sound like a Tanging quote or what?.... "Whatever gets me on the field," Blalock said. "I'm looking at that as a positive attribute. You have to learn to play two or three positions. That's just how it is for NFL teams. I'm more than willing to play any position. If they need a tackle, I'll play that. If they need a guard, I'll play that. It doesn't matter. I'm just a football player." Also, here's an interesting tidbit you may not have know, turns out Blalock's cousin is our old friend Jonathon Goodwin. Think he gave him some insights on what it would be like playing for the Jets?.... "Texas is a football factory and produces a great deal of the top talent every year for the NFL. Just by going to that school can give you a leg up. But Blalock has another resource to pull from. His cousin is Jonathan Goodwin, a sixth-year backup guard for the Saints. Goodwin was taken in the fifth round of the 2002 draft and has played 75 games in his career. As the time for Blalock has passed and he has gotten closer to the draft, Goodwin has been full of useful advice for his younger relative. By being the role player in the NFL for as long as Goodwin has, all the talks have been invaluable. Goodwin didn't get a start until his third season in the league. Just like anyone coming out of college this year, the same could happen to Blalock. "He has told me it's all business," Blalock added. "There are times when it's fun when the team's out there playing and you're winning a bunch of games. But as a young player you really need to be focused when you're behind the older guys and follow them. And also you have to keep up the intensity. That's pretty much it.""
there are so many reasons he'll be our pick. I think about it all the time, and I just keep coming back to him as the most sensible pick.
I really want this guy...we can have one of the strongest line for years to come if we pick him. We could even trade down a few spots and still possibly snag him.
I hadn't known about Blalock's intelligence and character up until the past week or so, but he seems like a very well spoken and smart guy who puts the team before anything and has a great love of football. I'm not an advocate of the term "Mangini guy", but Blaylock fits the mold for all the intangibles you want from a player in his position. He was a leader in Texas' locker room and plays with a mean demeanor to boot.
KC has even bigger needs at OT, DT and WR. And w/ that said, the players at those positions will offer much better value at their spot than Blalock, who would be a big reach at that time.
Jets made a decision last year to build their foundation with two 1st round picks for the offensive line. They deliberately passed up some of the glamour/skill positions to work on creating a solid infrastructure. There's no sense in switching philosophy now. I REALLY WANT TO SEE THE JETS GRAB THIS GUY (AND ANOTHER T OR G) AND COMPLETE THEIR LINE FOR THE FUTURE.
I too would like to see Blalock selected. W/ that said, I don't think the 1st round selections last year were deliberately made as some sort of advanced plan. I just believe, at the 2 spots we selected, Brick and Mangold were the 2 highest valued players left.
I agree in general, BUT they have options albeit mostly poor options at tackle and no depth whatsoever inside. (They did sign Damien Macintosh at tackle, plus they have young Kevin Sampson and old Chris Gray, BUT are facing the possible retirement of Weigmann AS WELL as Shields inside) TO me, this suggests that maybe OG is a bigger need that OT. PLus, at DT they just resigned our old friend James Reed, and while he's not great, it may allow them to pick a DT that may need some grooming rather than one up front. Of course, there's really not a single redeeming player at WR, so you'd think they'd draft one right away, especially given that there will definitely be a few nice options, BUT they seem to ignore this need every single year. Just a long-winded way of saying that Blalock may be on their agenda. I do know for a fact that he is one of four players on OUR first round agenda, so that's great and I really hope we get him, but the Chiefs do scare me a bit and they only pick two picks ahead of us, so whatever is a good value pick to us, surely follows for them as well.
If we drafted Blalock I would be jumping up and down screaming almost to the point where I went through my TV. First off our OL depth is horrible, the pass blocking is solid, but run blocking questionable at best. people think by nabbing two OL last year the holes been patched up and we can move on. WRONG. kendall will be gone soon and moore is avg. anthony clement is here to hold the spot until we find our answer. we draft Blalock, man...........first off we would have a foundation to have one of the best OL's for the next decade. the next decade my friends. having these three studs would allow us to go trigger happy with skill position players in the next few years drafts. last yr was the start of the foundation, and blalock would be the perfect step forward in solidifying it. also I think a double team of mangold and blalock could make wilfork a non factor twice a year.
this would be excellent. wilfork is a beast in the middle and neutralizing him would take away a big advantage the pats have over us.
I would be fine with drafting Blalock, but I just don't see us spending another first round pick on the Offensive line.
I wouldn't worry about KC. Shields retirement is a worry, but they have 30 something at all the skill positions, no wide receivers of any worth, and no left tackle. Guard should be a lower priority for them. I still don't remain sold on this guy. I worry that Texas lineman succeed in college for the most part because they are so physically superior to the competition, and I feel that players who are allowed to rely on this physical ability face a crisis of confidence and a lack of technique when they get to the pros. Give me a solid technician with adequate size any day of the week. That said, he can't be a downgrade from Brandon Moore. -X-
His above average intelligence should allow him to learn technique fairly quickly though. As others have pointed out, you cannot teach the raw power he has in the run game.
I also want him. My theory is that at 25 it's very hard to get someone who can make both an immediate and a long-lasting impact. But if you take a guard at that point, you get the best one available in the draft, and get someone that can make that type of impact. I want to build through the lines. Remember Chris Ward and Marvin Powell.
I couldn't agree anymore than this pick. Improving the right side of the OL with a young, intelligent and versatile talent like Blalock does three major things. First, it will enhance the running game significantly. After the acquisition of Thomas Jones, the next logical that insures the success of the ground attack is to provide a stronger and more talented line. Second, it will provide Penny with more time to throw. Third, it will free up the tight ends more than before from the pass protection scheme and allow them to become weapons in the passing attack. Chris Baker is more than adequate at the position and anyone who has watched the Jets the last several years have seen what he can do given the opportunity. It would be even better if we can still get him after moving down several slots for an additional pick.
