I've been reading up on all of the prospects this year and I'm nervous about which way the team will go in this draft. There is some real good talent that should be available at the #9 pick. However, there are some players who should be there that are questionable but would fill a hole. Two players come to mind that I see repeatedly on mock drafts as being the Fin's pick: Levi Brown and Alan Branch.
While Brown was a steady player in college, he has a couple of red flags that worry me. He has had torn meniscus left knee and he had an awful lot of flags thrown his way this past season. I've also read where he is projected as more of a RT...which we have already in Vernon Carey.
Branch seems to be the classic plugger in the middle that helps a 3-4 defense excel (Look what Ngata did for the Ravens). But one thing that I hate hearing about players is that they have bad attitudes. And word is that he didn't interview well and he was out of shape for his pro day. Could be a smoke screen but wouldn't be the first time a highly rated DT gets drafted high only to self implode. The laundry list is long for DT busts in the 1st round.
Both of these guys are good players who would no doubt fill a position of need. But are they worthy of the 9th pick when players such as Landry, Willis, Okoye or Revis may be there (and possibly Quinn or Peterson)? All of those guys are not only physical specimens but they are disciplined, high character football players. Guys who give it all from whistle to whistle. Team first players. They may not fill immediate needs but how can you pass on them?
Landy is a near flawless safety with unreal numbers. Do we pass on him because we took Allen last year?
Willis was a tackling machine his whole career at Ole Miss. Do we pass on him because we have Thomas, Porter and Crowder?
Okoye is 19 and full of potential, I've heard nothing but good things about him. But does he get passed over because of his experience.
Revis has great numbers and would fill two holes: shutdown corner and returner. But does he get passed up because there are greater needs on the team?
And we may have paid a steep price for DC and Ronnie Brown, but could you pass up on Quinn or Peterson because of what we have invested in those guys?
I just wonder if we're going to continue the Wannstedt/Saban plan of bypassing good players and reaching for a position of need (Fletcher/E.Moore/Carey/J.Allen) or just draft the BEST DAMN FOOTBALL PLAYER regardless of position.
I'm tired of watching the Patriots having 10 picks every draft and constantly reloading. They get it: you can never have TOO many quality players. And if you continue passing on them to pick the guy who fills a hole or the guy who has a great workout, you'll never get over the hump. They always have someone waiting to pick up where a traded/cut/lost to FA player has left off.
Let's hope our team takes that direction this year. I'd rather have one Patrick Willis sitting behind Zach Thomas than ten Jamar Fletchers standing in the unemployment line.
Go Fins!
While Brown was a steady player in college, he has a couple of red flags that worry me. He has had torn meniscus left knee and he had an awful lot of flags thrown his way this past season. I've also read where he is projected as more of a RT...which we have already in Vernon Carey.
Branch seems to be the classic plugger in the middle that helps a 3-4 defense excel (Look what Ngata did for the Ravens). But one thing that I hate hearing about players is that they have bad attitudes. And word is that he didn't interview well and he was out of shape for his pro day. Could be a smoke screen but wouldn't be the first time a highly rated DT gets drafted high only to self implode. The laundry list is long for DT busts in the 1st round.
Both of these guys are good players who would no doubt fill a position of need. But are they worthy of the 9th pick when players such as Landry, Willis, Okoye or Revis may be there (and possibly Quinn or Peterson)? All of those guys are not only physical specimens but they are disciplined, high character football players. Guys who give it all from whistle to whistle. Team first players. They may not fill immediate needs but how can you pass on them?
Landy is a near flawless safety with unreal numbers. Do we pass on him because we took Allen last year?
Willis was a tackling machine his whole career at Ole Miss. Do we pass on him because we have Thomas, Porter and Crowder?
Okoye is 19 and full of potential, I've heard nothing but good things about him. But does he get passed over because of his experience.
Revis has great numbers and would fill two holes: shutdown corner and returner. But does he get passed up because there are greater needs on the team?
And we may have paid a steep price for DC and Ronnie Brown, but could you pass up on Quinn or Peterson because of what we have invested in those guys?
I just wonder if we're going to continue the Wannstedt/Saban plan of bypassing good players and reaching for a position of need (Fletcher/E.Moore/Carey/J.Allen) or just draft the BEST DAMN FOOTBALL PLAYER regardless of position.
I'm tired of watching the Patriots having 10 picks every draft and constantly reloading. They get it: you can never have TOO many quality players. And if you continue passing on them to pick the guy who fills a hole or the guy who has a great workout, you'll never get over the hump. They always have someone waiting to pick up where a traded/cut/lost to FA player has left off.
Let's hope our team takes that direction this year. I'd rather have one Patrick Willis sitting behind Zach Thomas than ten Jamar Fletchers standing in the unemployment line.
Go Fins!
