PaattMaann

Not really a new GM - Whaley was quite instrumental in previous years draft, including trading down last year and selecting EJ But I do agree that I thought last year was perfect for trade down and get a qb and have no clue what they are going to do this year

Well him saying his focus is on protecting EJ and continuing to surround him with weapons would be very contradictory to this

For sure...please forward this to the top 8 selecting GMs, they will read it as gospel and act accordingly

I wouldn't be shocked....kid has played for four years and has good track record of success, stabilize the right side of the line and protect EJ as well as open holes in the run game The company line has been "build up for EJ" - protect him and give him weapons....so do they give him a weapon, Ebron or protect him, Martin? Neither would shock me (again, this is if Matthews, Watkins and Evans are gone as they should probably be)

the pick will have visited OBD pre draft - all previous 1st rounders in this regime have...so you can bet this one will too (read: Zach Martin if Matthews, Evans, Watkins are gone) I think I would prefer Ebron though, for the record

How so? What did he say?

When is this on?

I agree with this sentiment - but I do not think the FO agrees with us (unfortunately)

great post! couldnt agree more on all accounts EJ was a rookie, and like most rookies, didnt light the world on fire...but he did show moments/glimpses of something good to see...which was enough to make me all in on him (even though I already was when he was at FSU)...progress every day, build on every day....WIN

i LOVE the previews of the movies coming out and thats half the fun of going to see a movie in theater - i understand the mans frustrations, but maybe just punch him in the head if your THAT butthurt over it - shooting seems extreme

if he is truly a 7th rounder and can step in and START in his rookie year then I would be a red assed monkey swinging from the monkey bars im thinking your love for Iowa football may be shading you a little biased? : )

This team needs one, most likely two new starting guards - your kidding yourself if you think LG doesn't need to be addressed in a huge way - and urbik is serviceable but if an upgrade is available then go with it As to our current TEs, sure they are fine if you want big, up athletic TEs who can't really block and then drop open passes - but if you want a mismatch type athletic TE who can dominate a game, then you need to find one (and take chances in the draft) - our offenses doesn't NEED one, but what offense couldn't benefit from that type of player We need guards, RT, a big WR and an ILB to play with kiko As far as James Morris I know nothing about him - anyone know where he's projected to go? No highlight films out there? Talking head assessments?

well its not just "roster depth" - but I agree with what you are saying...the MAC isnt that big of a jump down from the SEC or other conferences...but it isnt just roster depth....the big schools get the blue chip recruits, UB/rest of the MAC just has to build their teams with GOOD talent, not elite talent that does not mean that some of those GOOD talent they get cant blossom into ELITE talent over the course of their career (Mack) - its just a matter of what they are getting to start with....no blue chipper is choosing to play in the MAC over the SEC lol but about the general thread: im all for Mack...but if it came down to Evans or Mack...i dunno who I would prefer...a big stud WR sounds real nice...so does a terrific LB, both areas of need...

im digging this thread i would quantify my EJMCL as currently 65 percent (and probably leaning that high because I was high on him since his last two years at florida state and reallllllyyy wanted us to draft him, never thinking we actually would) He has accuracy issues, duh, thats why he was going to be a "project"...if he was deadly accurate, he would have went number 1 overall, he has the tools, hes big, hes mobile, has a huge arm and a good demeanor....he just needs to work on his footwork and possibly release point, get that shored up and he could be special Im certainly not saying theres no way that he ISNT the guy, but im only 35 percent sure that he isnt the guy....lets see what a full, healthy offseason/training camp/pre season does where he KNOWS going in this is his team to take as far as he can take them I think the dudes a gamer, has led late game comebacks (even though one was fumbled away by his teamates, twice), hes calm and rebounds nicely after rough outings...kids the real deal (says my 65 percent)

BOOM you just Marrone'd him

what good is getting open if you have stone hands? and goodwin is a very good blocker (see the block on Spiller run yesterday where spiller got flagged for facemask as evidence)

if it was, thats terrible coaching....goodwin has proved in a short amount of time that he is far superior to Graham and should be used far more than him...I hope this is not the reasoning

SCHOOLED! kudos OCin

is Mack the best LB in this draft? what free agent RT's or G's will be around this year?

by rule I dont listen to WGR because they are not well informed hacks who rely on brash commentary to get listeners and yes I read the threads on here (unfortunately for the most part) my response to your post was an attempt to get some draft discussion going when you take the QB out of the equation (unless were talking like a 3rd/4th rounder brought in to compete if there is one that falls into our lap)

THIS times a hundred, who cares if none of those QBs will be available....we arent taking one So can we get this thread on the track of...who SHOULD we draft in the 12th-14th slot???? Best O-line available? Linebacker (Mack?)? WR (will the top WR on the board still be there?)? TE (is there one worth taking in round one?)?

its a problem with both of those issues AND the fact that we run every single first down - I understand you must establish the run - but the coaching staff must also understand how incredibly predictable it makes the offense, its OK to throw on first down and run on second down - thats legal in the NFL

it speaks to a losing attitude, a team full of players who dont know how to win good teams find ways to win because they have done it before, they believe, they have confidence and they refuse to lose This team needs to learn how to do that - winning out this year will go a long ways towards starting the turn around (if its going to happen in this regime) - win, gain confidence, know that this group can do it (because its largely going to be the same group again next season) - win now, and let it breed and build over the off season

in previous years I have thought along these lines - but THIS team needs to learn how to win, and going on a three game win streak to end the season gives confidence and helps to start turn around the culture of losing in this locker room, in this franchise.....win football games and the rest will come

anyone eating anything OTHER than Watsons for sponge candy is doing it wrong well done man, well done