5th Year Options Declined: 2013 Draft Rregrets

[pbmax]

The issue in the past half a dozen drafts is that Thompson doesn't draft players for the 3-4 defense. He doesn't realize that you have to draft players that actually fit the scheme your team is running. Nick Perry, Mike Neal, Jerell Worthy, Mike Daniels*, Datone Jones. I struggle with the fact that Thompson fails to realize that you basically that you play 3 really big guys at the linemen position, and then draft 4 athletic fellas to play linebacker. You don't draft college defensive ends and stand them up as outside linebackers. You don't draft college defensive ends in 4-3 defenses in college and ask them to play defensive tackle in a 3-4.

I am pretty sure with the drafting of Raji and Matthews that Thompson knows the body type.

There was no reason other than health that Perry can't play OLB very well. Neal turned out to be too puffed up to be a 5 tech DT but he looked for all the world like one. He played alright as an elephant and if he wasn't bringing PED rumors into the locker room, he might still be on the roster. If you read his draft notices, 5 tech is mentioned often. Worthy and Daniels were grabs for speed and pass rush. One worked out, the other can barely stay in the League regardless of scheme. Jones looked like 1 of the 2 best 5 techs in his draft. Physically, he is tailor made for it. I think scouting/player busts have played more of a role than targeted body type.

The main problem is that they haven't been a straight 3-4 since 2010.

First, they are in 3-4 base about 25% of the time. And when they are in base, they are often aligned like a 4-3 Over defense. 1 tech, 3 tech, 5-7 tech and 9 tech (OLB).

So drafting just for 3-4 would leave you shorthanded for nickel and dime: 75% of your snaps.

[mraynrand]

First, they are in 3-4 base about 25% of the time.

If they are only in it 25% of the time, why call it base? They don't.

[mraynrand]

First, they are in 3-4 about 25% of the time. And when they are in 3-4, they are often aligned like a 4-3 Over defense. 1 tech, 3 tech, 5-7 tech and 9 tech (OLB).

So drafting just for 3-4 would leave you shorthanded for base nickel and dime: 75% of your snaps.

They've often said they wanted to draft/develop personnel that could switch to multiple alignments without substitution. I think that's at least one reason why Jones is 'standing up' and one reason why they drafted the Northwestern guy: You look at his tape and he really can play anywhere on the line except maybe nose against the run. He even looked reasonably comfortable in a zone blitz drop.

[Deputy Nutz]

I am pretty sure with the drafting of Raji and Matthews that Thompson knows the body type.

There was no reason other than health that Perry can't play OLB very well. Neal turned out to be too puffed up to be a 5 tech DT but he looked for all the world like one. He played alright as an elephant and if he wasn't bringing PED rumors into the locker room, he might still be on the roster. If you read his draft notices, 5 tech is mentioned often. Worthy and Daniels were grabs for speed and pass rush. One worked out, the other can barely stay in the League regardless of scheme. Jones looked like 1 of the 2 best 5 techs in his draft. Physically, he is tailor made for it. I think scouting/player busts have played more of a role than targeted body type.

The main problem is that they haven't been a straight 3-4 since 2010.

First, they are in 3-4 base about 25% of the time. And when they are in base, they are often aligned like a 4-3 Over defense. 1 tech, 3 tech, 5-7 tech and 9 tech (OLB).

So drafting just for 3-4 would leave you shorthanded for nickel and dime: 75% of your snaps.

Sign Peppers, move him to outside linebacker.

[mraynrand]

Sign Peppers, move him to outside linebacker.

Who cares what you call him? Sign him as a TE, but line him up where his strengths are best utilized; i.e. probably not a good idea to drop him in coverage all that often, but can do that more often with him than with Perry.