8 hours ago
(Yesterday, 12:06 PM)samhain Wrote: I gave it an F.
For positives, we replaced Hubbard with a guy in Stewart who's solid vs the run and can kick inside. His potential is obviously far greater than Hubbard. He's a souped up Sam until he managed to turn pressures into actual sacks. Problem is, Sam wasn't the 17th overall pick. At least he seems like he has a really good work ethic.
I'm unsure about the linebackers. Prioritizing the position is new to this regime. Knight seems like a 2 down backer in an established defense. Speed seem like an issue, but it's not like this defense was lighting the world on fire vs the run. Time will tell if it sticks.
Fairchild seems like the lower end of potential plug and play guards. It's another reflection of what the organization think of positional value on the interior. They most definitely could have done better by using a 2nd. Rarely will they throw more than a 3rd at it, and they have no qualms about sticking a failing player in there to fill a hole. Hopefully Fairchild isn't that. Volson was.
The rest is fine. Expecting to hang our hat on late day 3 guys is a stretch. Some on here point to the lack of success in later rounds as an indictment on the team's draft strategy. IMO, guys taken in that range are all suspects anyway. If you get a solid backup that plays for 4 or 5 years, you're playing with house money. The real indictment of the draft approach is what happens in rounds 1 and 2. Despite the locks like 9 and 1, these guys piss away more high value draft capital than they can afford. Also, they consistently do it when actual solutions are staring them right in the face (Starks, Ratlege).
Geno Stone remaining a starter is a failure and a big one. I think passing on a TE like Helm to fill in for the loss of All is another oversight. Gesicki is a TE in name only. Dude is our slot receiver. If you remove him from that room, what are you left with?
In summary, this team isn't much better than they were when the season ended from a personnel standpoint. That leaves me at the key point of concern for us as fans: It's on the staff to make this work. It all hinges on development of talent that is in sore need of it and fast. I personally have zero faith in that happening. As I've said, he's Al freaking Golden, not Monte Kiffin or Bill Bellichick or Steve Spagnuolo. He has less success as an NFL DC than Third and Teryl Austin. That's a lot of hopes and dreams tied up in an unknown.
I get not liking the Stewart and Knight picks a bit because you wanted Starks and Ratledge more, but we don't know Golden's plan for
the Defense nor if Fairchild ends up being the better pro than Ratledge. Knight they definitely wanted and didn't think he would be there
in the 3rd round. I also understand wanting a TE after the All injury, but other than that we have to wait and see.
I still think the upside of Stewart, the way Knight attacks the LOS, how physical Fairchild is makes this at least a B Draft. I don't get giving
it an F. Stewart might be the most talented End we have ever drafted if he can keep his head up and finish. Love this after getting Mims
last Draft on the other side of the ball.
