Who Should TT Pick In 1st Round? - Pre-Senior Bowl Edition

[call_me_ishmael]

I would like BDPA.

I keep trying to write something about picking the guy who best compliments Burnett, but that makes no sense. Pick the best player, period.

Haha is a freak athlete I've read. Like a top 5 guy outta high school. That could make for a great center fielder. On the other hand, Pryor is an intimidator. It's a tough call.

[mraynrand]

I think the learning curve on safety is generally steeper and it's more difficult for a rookie to play well right away there than at a DL position. Let Burnett play SS and get a FS who know what he's doing and can run, like a younger and less whoring Eugene Robinson.

[mraynrand]

I take back my pick, I would go with Calvin Pryor or HaHa. Getting a starter at safety is a must, we can sign veteran guys on the D-line.

Damn, I thought we were on the same page!

[wist43]

You're talking right past me. I know all about the defensive failings. You accused me of supporting the failing 2-4. I'm trying to explain that I think it is mostly a personnel issue - guys lost to retirement and injury have compromised it's effectiveness. For some reason, you think that changing the scheme would make the group of guys they had this past year better, and I'm saying perhaps, but not by much, because of the personnel.

I'm also offering an alteration of the 2-4, that tries to compensate for the loss of Woodson but putting Mattews at ILB (but really he could play a modified "W" role)

I really don't know what you want to convince me of, other than the Packers should get rid of Capers. Since they played pretty well in 2010 when they had a pretty nice core of outstanding players, I think it is less Capers and more personnel, but I'm perfectly fine with laying some blame on Capers too.

On a personal note, in a number of threads I've asked you specific questions about the defense which you've ignored. I would have been interested in your answers, but you seem more interested in ranting. That's OK, I won't ask anymore. Enjoy the rant, it's part of being a fan too

ayn... apologies, not ducking questions, probably didn't see them - I'm still not well. Went back in the hospital last weekend, they kept me until Monday night. If I don't respond, or miss something - just understand that my responses will likely be spotty for a while.

[wist43]

I take back my pick, I would go with Calvin Pryor or HaHa. Getting a starter at safety is a must, we can sign veteran guys on the D-line.

I really like what I saw of Pryor - haven't researched much, but I liked what I saw of him. Our secondary is such a mess.

[wist43]

All those failures could cook Capers' goose. But McCarthy and Thompson clearly think differently about it.

What we are disagreeing about are the contrary pieces of information like the Cardinals game, where a complete lack of pass rush (not nickel or run D) led directly to a passing game catastrophe for 3 Quarters. I think the Cardinals eventually got tired.

Well a lack of pass rush, at least within that intial 2.3 second window, is a failing of the front seven. Coverage sacks happen, but if you're not getting good initial pressure, pressure up the middle, confusing their blocking scheme, and disprupting their timing - you're going to be at the mercy of QB.

A guy like Kurt Warner is going to light you up big-time.

The adjustment, nickel at a higher rate, worked great until teams discovered that A) the pass rush still wasn't all that great unless the Packers overloaded a blitz and B) they could run at it.

So you could yo-yo back to 3-4 and psycho all the time but then all hell would break loose in the passing game with the safeties now, even if you consider Woodson replaced by Hayward/Shields. I like the middle road of finding pass rush from base lineman and not fatties alone.

And that is what Rand is trying to tell you. A more conventionally weighted D line might possess more pass rush and allow 3-4 more of the time, solving one of your primary concerns. It might also provide better run D in nickel because those displaced ends (Neal and Perry) can then play end and defend run as well as pass rush while the interior is adequately manned by others.

Controlling the LOS is priority #1 to playing good defense IMO. Stopping the run, and generating pressure - pass coverage looks a hell of a lot more effective when the passing game timing is off.

You know all that...

As for our current problems, pressure and creating confusion up makes the backend easier, doesn't it??

We've loaded up on round pegs to fill the square holes... we're stuck with what we have now, at least for a while. Given the way Capers is using people, I'd prefer we resign Neal and start him at LOLB, look at moving Mulumba inside, and use Perry, Jones and Daniels in pass rush sub-packages.

A guy like Donald would help a lot, and we desperately need another 2 gap fatty to go with Pickett - if they resign him. I have absolutely no use for Brad Jones and AJ Hawk - to be sure, Capers had to have a lot of influence in giving Jones the big contract... if B. Jones is what Capers is looking for, then it shouldn't be a shock that our defense sucks.

I desperately want to see a lot more 3-3 nickel - you know how much I hate the 2-4

[mraynrand]

ayn... apologies, not ducking questions, probably didn't see them - I'm still not well. Went back in the hospital last weekend, they kept me until Monday night. If I don't respond, or miss something - just understand that my responses will likely be spotty for a while.

gotcha. Get better!

[Brandon494]

Damn, I thought we were on the same page!

After watching Seattle's defense I'm kinda jealous of their safety play, Pryor has also been getting a lot of comparisons to being a bigger Bob Sanders. I still wouldn't mind Hageman but we have gone DL early in the draft plenty of times, time to draft some skill players with our high picks.

[Joemailman]

I think drafting either Prior or Dix provides an immediate huge upgrade at Safety for years. That's the way to go if they're available, especially because I think there's a real dropoff after them.

[run pMc]

...and the backup plan is to put Hyde at safety and draft someone in the middle rounds like that Dixon kid from Baylor.

[smuggler]

I'm nervous about safety being the first round pick. If they take Pryor (or HAHA - who I believe will be gone by #21) I will be optimistic and not criticize it, but the guys I'm hoping for are Hageman, Mosley, or Nix.

That's all assuming there isn't some kind of situation where a top-10 talent just falls into our laps.

[Brandon494]

I'm nervous about safety being the first round pick. If they take Pryor (or HAHA - who I believe will be gone by #21) I will be optimistic and not criticize it, but the guys I'm hoping for are Hageman, Mosley, or Nix.

That's all assuming there isn't some kind of situation where a top-10 talent just falls into our laps.

Come on, when has that ever happened?

[smuggler]

Depending on who you trust for prospect rankings, 2012. I remember seeing Perry as #12 on one list or another.

Of course, the prevailing opinion had him as a mid to late first rounder.

[Brandon494]

Another safety I like in the later rounds is Brock Vereen http://www.nfl.com/draft/2014/profil...een?id=2543820. His brother plays on the Patriots and seems like a guy who could step in right away.

[mraynrand]

Another safety I like in the later rounds is Brock Vereen http://www.nfl.com/draft/2014/profil...een?id=2543820. His brother plays on the Patriots and seems like a guy who could step in right away.

Cock fights?