MrEpsYtown

Ideally? Dawkins Bates Morse Issac Seumalo or Connor McGovern Brown Likely: Dawkins David Edwards Morse Bates Brown

I saw him on the ground a lot, which is one of those red flags for O-line play. But I like him. He isn't my favorite. Looking forward to his drills this week. I like Avila, and I would love Torrence in round 2, though he doesn't get there. I also like guys like Steen to move inside. Jaxson Kirkland is pretty interesting to me as well. Cody Mauch looks like the kind of guy they look for and I think he will test well. I really like Nick Broeker, not sure if he is a day starter, but I like his game.

I'm going to keep beating the dead horse, but this is why I love Germaine Pratt. I know he got some heat for calling out his teammate for pushing Mahomes out of bounds. I loved what he did. The play was incredibly stupid and I am glad Pratt called him out. Pratt is like Diggs but on defense. He wants to win. He has an edge, a toughness to him and he will be demanding of his teammates. McDermott's Carolina teams had guys like Greg Hardy, Thomas Davis, Charles Johnson, and Luke Keuchly. Josh Norman was a bit annoying with some of his antics, but the dude had an edge. We are sorely missing that edge. That super bowl team also had Jared Allen, and Cortland Finnegan. In Philly he had guys like Brian Dawkins, Trent Cole, Jason Babin, and Jeremiah Trotter, just tough nasty players who demanded of each other and other teams feared. As much as I was never really a huge Jerry Hughes guy, his attitude brought something to the defense that felt missing this year.

I'd do it in a heartbeat. I don't think you will find a big receiver upgrade in free agency or where we are drafting.

Replace Tremaine with Germaine Pratt and that is already a massive step in terms of bringing that edge and nastiness to the D

Unfortunately, there are exactly zero receivers in the draft that do all of those things. For the mid round guys, it’s not even close to meeting that criteria. Maybe the top guys like Johnston have a shot, those guys are out of reach. There aren’t really guys in free agency who meet that criteria either. Basically it’s OBJ, or bust if you want those six criteria. If you really want all that, you are basically looking for another Diggs. It would have to OBJ or be a vet for trade.

I took that in a little differently. He said that they want that 5th wide receiver spot to have special teams ability. On the surface it sounds like Beane let Hodgins go to keep Kumerow. That is not true. He let Hodgins go to keep McKenzie/Shakir…Beane is basically saying that Hodgins was not in their top 4 and didn’t play special teams so he was expendable. The mistake they made here was keeping McKenzie over Hodgins. You can totally justify keeping Hodgins over McKenzie if you intend to have him be a part of the offense. But you can’t justify keeping Hodgins over guys you need on gameday, special teams guys. If I recall, it was at the trade deadline when they had a bit of a roster crunch adding Marlowe and Tre White coming off IR and they probably thought they could slip him through.

I could see it. I do think there will be a meltdown when it is a defensive player. However, I don't think they will be willing to rely on a rookie at that spot. I like Sydney Brown just because he seems like a really good projection into our system having played in that Lovie Smith-style Tampa 2. But I think the linebacker and safety holes are more likely to be filled with young vets. Perhaps another underappreciated slow corner (like Hyde and Poyer were) who can make the switch. I just don't think they will be willing to stick a rookie in that spot aside from maybe Brian Branch or Brown. I love Johnson, but I'm not sure if it is the perfect fit. But that is JMO.

Well I just hope he drops to 27

Agreed. I think he is a second/third round pick. It depends on the need for safeties this year. Last year's safety class was loaded and most went in the 2-3 range. Depending how he runs, and I think he will test well, I think he's a second round pick.

Yeah, I'm not sure this matters. God forbid there is an unfortunate situation, this team has no chance to compete without #17. Then you play for the #1 pick at that point and look forward to the following year. In reality, maybe Keenum, or Barkley, or Trubisky, or Kyle Allen or something like that. But see? Does it matter?

Probably whoever replaces Tremaine. The level of play will probably be the same but PFF might come out with some BS coverage score and people will go nuts. Also Ryan Bates/Spencer Brown.

One other thing that I found interesting and we have been talking about on here is that Beane talked about the need for playmakers. He basically said that 11-15 play drives down the field are how they want to play…however he said they need more 3 play 60 yard drives. I like that they recognize the need for more playmakers and I hope they are able to find some whether its WR, RB, TE…I think that is their emphasis in the draft and I think they will look to add a starter and depth with cheap young FA vets on the OL. I don’t seem them using high luxury picks on guards. True playmakers, whether its RAC guys or take the top off the defense guys will help take some of that coverage away from Diggs. Playmakers in free agency are expensive, in the draft they only cost picks. We need those explosive plays.

To me he is one of those post draft league minimum signings if you can’t find a complimentary back in free agency or the draft.

I’m not sure Jackson is back. He is an RFA and the tender is 2.6 million. For what he provides as a depth corner, I just think it is too pricey when they are pinching pennies and can get much cheaper players in the draft or UDFA. Perhaps he is non tendered and brought back at a cheaper price as they did in the past with McKenzie. But I would not bank on him being back for sure. Unless they truly believe he is a part of their future…then the 2.6 million is fine

Yeah but this is a pretty lively message board and I think it creates conversations. Some people need to be heroes I guess, but reading between the lines is a fun activity and I think making predictions is part of the fun.

Yeah I mean Beane said “we have Dion, Mitch, Bates, Spencer back and need to fill LG since Saffold is a UFA. Also its possible we bring Saffold back.” I would not expect wholesale changes honestly

Yeah I really do think that OBJ is coming. I get the sense they feel, and I feel this too, that all those first round WR are going to be gone, and is a 3-4th round guy this year better than Gabe? Not sure.

Beane said he had a high ankle sprain that took away from his route running because he had to take an extra false step on his release. Interesting point. He also said he’s would love to have some of those drops back.

Some of my interpretations…right or wrong JMOs Edmunds and Poyer are definitely gone. They are clearly upset about losing Tremaine. Benford stays at corner, unless they can’t find someone better. McDermott got excited talking about Benford playing corner, and I just don’t think you move him unless you think he can’t play corner. He would have to be one of the best 11 for the move. They like Shakir. When talking about WRs, McDermott brought him up really unprovoked, and no one else. I think McKenzie gets cut. They want smart route running players over speed and RAC ability. Ideally they want all these things. So I am not sure who that is in the draft or UFA. Gabe Davis dealt with an injury and there is a maybe a little more there with Gabe. I do think they bring in competition. Tight end could be a possibility early in the draft. Bringing in a tight end would also potentially upgrade the offense and Beane mentioned the idea that playing two tight ends could keep teams in their base defense. Bernard is not in the running to replace Tremaine. They will look to upgrade left guard. The rest of the line is coming back as is. They will bring in a running back, but I do think Hynes will stay. They will continue to add to the defensive line. Protect your quarterback and disrupt the other teams’ QB. Josh is the man.

Last name I will throw out there, Brendan Daley the linebackers coach from the Chiefs. He was brought into the NFL as a member of Leslie Frazier’s staff in Minnesota, coached on Belichick’s staff for the Patriots and for the Rams and Chiefs under Steve Spagnolo. He is the type of guy with experience under a number of different big time regimes defensive systems who could have great potential as a DC. He also has 4 Super Bowl rings.

Ron Rivera just called Sean McDermott a very aggressive playcaller on NFL network

Curious to see if he reaches out to Manny Diaz, who is his close buddy. Sean Desai is an interesting name, though it looks like he may wind up in Philly. He’s a Fangio guy so those 4-3 under concepts may meld. I like the Jim Leonard idea, though the defense would probably change a bit. Chris Shula (his uncle is on staff) is starting to become a bit of a hot name in the league, but he shouldn’t jump Butler or Babich imo. Kris Richard is another guy who would be interesting.

Butler is already the defensive pass game coordinator. They probably make Babich or Holcomb defensive run game coordinator and McDeromott calls the plays. I don’t love the head coach calling plays because it distracts from the in game decision making, which he is already pretty bad at. But I think this is desperation mode a bit. If McDermott himself can’t do a better job getting the defense going, he really doesn’t deserve the job.

Been spending some time looking at Iosivas. Obviously the competition level is an issue, but he catches everything, has excellent size, and has a track background. I’m guessing he is pretty smart too.