You Heard It Here First

[retailguy]

My point is that blowing our wad now would only result in mediocrity. I'm willing to take a risk and lay it on the line for excellence. I'm willing to allow a guy to build it the right way; that chance of finding a special player to hang our hat on. I'm sick of sticking one finger in the hole of an old canoe to find another one popping up 3 inches away. Eventually you run out of fingers as Harlan found out when he fired the douche bag that preceeded Thompson. The only hope was to build a new, state of the art canoe with a fucking 120 horse yamaha outboard strapped to the back rockets on the side. Bring in the best damn canoe tradesman you can find and let him do his work. That is where we are at. You knew it at one time but apparently the imrpovement and massive amounts of money have you forgetting how impossible this task once was. That alone is a good sign if you would take the time to see it.

You should talk with Guerski... He could tell you a story about the value of a Taco, and the value of a Running Back.

You guys need new metaphors. Bad.

Enjoy your canoe. I'm planning to watch some football, win or lose. And, I fear, that they'll be many more losses than wins, and probably only about 6 players of Sherman's left.

You need a new excuse. Bad.

[Bretsky]

Re: You Heard It Here First

This will go down as a good draft class. That's going out on a limb for most people, but I'll say it now. I'm optimistic and realistic. I don't like how Ted Thompson has handled FA this offseason. I understand that he probably tried to get a lot more guys than we even know about, but he wasn't successful.

However, I can't think this is a bad draft--since we drafted so many guys that I liked when I did my pre-draft research (Harrell, Jackson, Rouse, Barbre, Clowney). I liked the Crosby pick. I liked the TE in the last round. Not sure about Jones or Wynn. I didn't really research Jones, and I didn't like Wynn much, but maybe he can be a good hybrid RB/FB (like Da Poop). Don't like the Bishop pick because I'm not sure he has the speed to succeed in our scheme. I think Johnson and Simpson have a good shot at making the team over him--provided they stay clean. Not sure about the Hall pick, but we could use some help on ST. Plus, he provides some roster flexibility with FB and LB background.

Overall, I think this class will fall somewhere between 2005 (hard to say; looks average, but Rodgers could change that and losing Murphy really hurt) and 2006 (looks very promising). Grades are silly, I know, but looking back in 5 years, I'm going to predict this will look like a solid B+ draft class.

Actually I've heard it from a shitload of analysts on the Internet

Then again many of them don't like it as well.

I'm taking a new approach. Knowing we have little chance of contending in the near future, my expectations are low. It feels much better.


Cheers,
B

[RashanGary]

RG, there are only about 7 players of Shermans left in the whole NFL. I think you need a new excuse. Bad

[Bretsky]

RG, there are only about 7 players of Shermans left in the whole NFL. I think you need a new excuse. Bad

Are there really only 7 left ? OK, I need to think about this one

[Joemailman]

RG, there are only about 7 players of Shermans left in the whole NFL. I think you need a new excuse. Bad

Oh, come on. There must be that many in Houston alone.

[Bretsky]

1 Barnett
2 Kampman
3 Ahmad Carroll
4 Hunter Hillenmeyer
5 Corey Williams
6 Scott Wells
7 Javon Walker
8 Marques Anderson
9 Najeh Davenport
10 Craig Nall
11 Mike Houghton (I think he is still a backup on Buffalo, but not positive)
12 2003 Round Two Pick---Traded for Al Harris

[RashanGary]

1 Barnett
2 Kampman
3 Ahmad Carroll
4 Hunter Hillenmeyer
5 Corey Williams
6 Scott Wells
7 Javon Walker
8 Marques Anderson
9 Najeh Davenport
10 Craig Nall
11 Mike Houghton (I think he is still a backup on Buffalo, but not positive)
12 2003 Round Two Pick---Traded for Al Harris

Pretty bad.

[ND72]

I just laugh, cause in the 4 years as GM, Sherman had 23 draft picks total. Thompson had 23 total picks after his 2nd year, up to 34 picks now. we might less guys not make the team from Thompson, than still in the league from Sherman....it's just the different philosophies...Sherman wanted to win NOW, didn't care about later. Thompson wants to win, but also sees there needs to be a later.

[Bretsky]

1 Barnett
2 Kampman
3 Ahmad Carroll
4 Hunter Hillenmeyer
5 Corey Williams
6 Scott Wells
7 Javon Walker
8 Marques Anderson
9 Najeh Davenport
10 Craig Nall
11 Mike Houghton (I think he is still a backup on Buffalo, but not positive)
12 2003 Round Two Pick---Traded for Al Harris

Pretty bad.

Well, he's drafted two Pro Bowl players and another potential one in Barnett.

Kampman, Williams, Barnett, Walker, Hillenmeyer, Wells are current starters

For the record, I did not and do not like Sherman the GM. His moves in managing the cap severely hurt us.

But he's not as bad as drafter as I use to think he was. If you count Al Harris, he's produced seven starters in three years and four to five current backups.

Two Pro Bowl players and possibly three when Barnett makes it, if he does.

He erred terribly in some draft moves and in packaging picks to trade up for the wrong players; TT consistently trades down to gather up multiple picks and hopes he hits.

I definitely prefer the TT route; but Sherman isn't as terrible as I use to think he was.

[esoxx]

1 Barnett
2 Kampman
3 Ahmad Carroll
4 Hunter Hillenmeyer
5 Corey Williams
6 Scott Wells
7 Javon Walker
8 Marques Anderson
9 Najeh Davenport
10 Craig Nall
11 Mike Houghton (I think he is still a backup on Buffalo, but not positive)
12 2003 Round Two Pick---Traded for Al Harris

13 Kevin Barry
14 Antonio Chatman
15 Tony Fischer
16 Terdell Sands

There may be others

[HarveyWallbangers]

Of just his draft picks?

[ND72]

1 Barnett
2 Kampman
3 Ahmad Carroll
4 Hunter Hillenmeyer
5 Corey Williams
6 Scott Wells
7 Javon Walker
8 Marques Anderson
9 Najeh Davenport
10 Craig Nall
11 Mike Houghton (I think he is still a backup on Buffalo, but not positive)
12 2003 Round Two Pick---Traded for Al Harris

13 Kevin Barry
14 Antonio Chatman
15 Tony Fischer
16 Terdell Sands

There may be others

I believe those were undrafted Free Agents. You're right...but they weren't draft picks

[Partial]

Re: You Heard It Here First

This will go down as a good draft class. That's going out on a limb for most people, but I'll say it now. I'm optimistic and realistic. I don't like how Ted Thompson has handled FA this offseason. I understand that he probably tried to get a lot more guys than we even know about, but he wasn't successful.

However, I can't think this is a bad draft--since we drafted so many guys that I liked when I did my pre-draft research (Harrell, Jackson, Rouse, Barbre, Clowney). I liked the Crosby pick. I liked the TE in the last round. Not sure about Jones or Wynn. I didn't really research Jones, and I didn't like Wynn much, but maybe he can be a good hybrid RB/FB (like Da Poop). Don't like the Bishop pick because I'm not sure he has the speed to succeed in our scheme. I think Johnson and Simpson have a good shot at making the team over him--provided they stay clean. Not sure about the Hall pick, but we could use some help on ST. Plus, he provides some roster flexibility with FB and LB background.



Overall, I think this class will fall somewhere between 2005 (hard to say; looks average, but Rodgers could change that and losing Murphy really hurt) and 2006 (looks very promising). Grades are silly, I know, but looking back in 5 years, I'm going to predict this will look like a solid B+ draft class.

I know half of this place won't believe me when I say this, but Harv, I don't necessarily disagree with you.

That being said, I'm not sure that this draft class will help much in 2007, which is what I've maintained all along. Will they play supporting roles? Of course, hell the RB might even end up starting. But, realistically, how many balls are the 3rd rd WR, and the 5th rd WR going to catch? 10 to 15 each?

Maybe the DT comes in and lights the world on fire, but, that sure didn't happen with Mario last year. Heck even Julius Peppers needed some time to get acclimated and he's a far better talent than this guy. The RB has the best hope of contributing, and that's not even a sure thing.

Harv, what ticks me off, (not with you, just in general), is this is what I've been saying for 2 months now. WHO IS GOING TO HELP in '07? Everyone told me to wait for the draft, I did, NOW WHAT?

As for the draft class, it could wind up being OK, maybe even good. Don't know, and today, don't care. I want to know what happens in September 2007, not September of 2009.

Jpepp had 12 sacks his rookie year after missing 4 games. He lit it up right away!!!

[esoxx]

Yeah I know. Just thinking of players signed into the league under GM Sherman's watch. Or was it sleep?

[HarveyWallbangers]

13 Kevin Barry
14 Antonio Chatman
15 Tony Fischer
16 Terdell Sands

There may be others

These guys weren't drafted.

Houghton has been out of the league for 3 years, so that drops it back down 10 players.

10 drafted players over a 4 year span are still in the league? Ugh!

I wonder how that would compare to Seattle's drafts over the same 4 years.

Koren Robinson*
Steve Hutchinson
Ken Lucas
Heath Evans
Orlando Huff
Dennis Norman
Jerramy Stevens
Maurice Morris
Rocky Bernard
Marcus Trufant
Ken Hamlin
Wayne Hunter
Seneca Wallace
Rashad Moore
Josh Brown
Marcus Tubbs
Michael Boulware
Sean Locklear
Niko Koutouvides
D.J. Hackett
Craig Terrill
Donnie Jones

Looks like 22--if you count Koren Robinson.