Balancing Offense and Defense in Draft

[Phlegm Alley]

Seeing as how we finished 28th overall on offense and 29th overall on defense last year, we obviously have some glaring holes to be filled in the draft. ToDo spent the majority of the last few years drafting on the offenseive side of the ball with very little success statistically. Yes, we do need significant help in the trenches, but on which side of the ball is considered more important?

 

With 10 picks in the upcoming draft, I want to know how many picks should be utilized for each side of the ball.

 

I feel that if we draft an OT and an OG early (Justice in the first and Joseph, Latui, or Jean-Gilles in the second), we could have the makings of a solid o-line.

 

Justice-2nd rd pick-Fowler-Villareal-Peters

If we sign Reyes, we'll have him, Anderson, Gibson, Preston, Geisenger, Jerman adding quality depth.

 

With our talent at the WR and RB skill positions, JPL could blossum behind a stellar line with the line giving WM holes to run through as well. This would give us a potentially dangerous Offense.

 

 

Jauron is a defensive minded coach, which makes me think that we may draft more on the defensive side of the ball. I DO NOT WANT TO SEE A DT with our #8 pick, esp Ngata, who would only be on the field for first and second downs while getting paid #8 $$$.

 

IMO, you draft O-Line early to aid in the deveolpment of your investment in your young QB, then finish out the draft on the Defensive side of the ball. Pat Williams, afterall, went undrafted and has become one of the best DTs in the game.

 

Hopefully, we can trade down as well, and still get Justice PLUS an additional 1st day pick that can be used for D-Line.

 

4 picks offensive (OT, OG, RB, OT) in that order of importance

 

7 picks defensive (DT, DT, CB, S, DE, LB, LB) in that order of importance

 

This is what my mock would look like: Trade #8 to St. Louis for pick #11 and #46

 

1-Justice-OT

2a-Joseph, Latui, Jean-Gilles (whoever is rated higher and still available)-OG

2b-Gabe Watson-DT

3a-John McCargo-DT

3b-Alan Zemaitis-CB

4-Anthony Smith-S

5a-Julian Jenkins-DE

5b-Spencer Havner-OLB

6-Cory Ross-RB

7a-Michael D'Andrea-ILB

7b-Mark Levoir-OT

[ganesh]

1-Justice-OT

2a-Joseph, Latui, Jean-Gilles (whoever is rated higher and still available)-OG

2b-Gabe Watson-DT

3a-John McCargo-DT

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Where did you get that extra 2nd round pick for the bills ?

[Phlegm Alley]

Where did you get that extra 2nd round pick for the bills ?

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In a trade with St. Louis who moved up from #11 to #8. They take Cutler or Huff and we are still in a justifiable position to take Justice with the #11.

[frogger]

I think that it would be easier to fill the defensive side of the ball. But remember it is very important to protect our LBers, so we need DL. Also, something not said but kind of important, are we sure we want this as our offensive line in 2006 from left to right. Justice-Jospeh-Folwer-vill- Peters. two rookies starting on the leftside, Justice has played right, and don't give me that Mike Williams played right for a lefty talk, while Joseph played LT. Basically both would be making a position change.

 

I don't think that 3 spots equals a 2nd rounder, i would expect a 4th and a 6th.

 

but if we got that draft done, I'd be happy.

[Peter]

In my view, they should take the best player available (provided there is a meaningful difference) whether the guy is on the offensive or defensive side of the ball. Otherwise, trade down. There is no reason to reach.

[Pyrite Gal]

In my view, they should take the best player available (provided there is a meaningful difference) whether the guy is on the offensive or defensive side of the ball.  Otherwise, trade down.  There is no reason to reach.

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I aggree, however, looking at the specific players its hard for me to imagine a scenario where a plsyer who is simply good enough to make a meaningful difference drops to us at #8.

 

Super Mario looks like a good enough player that even though I think our need dictates taking a DT rather than a DE, Mario looks like a good enough player who is head shoulders above the DEs and DTs that I take him if the impossible occurs and he drops to 8.

 

The same goes for D'Brick. I think this LT's play easily will make him BAP at some point early in the draft and thus he will not drop to us, but if he falls to 8 we not only take him, but he also satisfies a huge need for us to upgrade on the OL.

 

The couple of exceptions I would make to a BAP approach would be Vernon Davis and AJ Hawk if they drop to 8. While both would likely fit my description of BAP if they were available at 8, we have a variety of options (no sure thing at all but a variety of possible options for stud TE play) on our roster that it seems clear the team would be most helped to generate Ws by trading th #8 for additional high picks to some team salivating for a shot at VD.

 

This would be even more true if Hawk dropped to #8. We likely could get tremendous value by trading the right to pick Hawk to another team. If we picked Hawk despite the fact he is a great player individually, choosing another LB when we hve major contract commitments to TKO, Fletch and Crowell thi year and even the likelihood of cutting Posey assuming reports of TKO recovering nicely are true likely means we end up with multi-millions sitting on the bench at LB. Meanwhile we still have to fill holes in this line-up because we passed on getting the BAP on the OL, DL. or SS at #8 or more likely trading down.

 

My sense is we can most help build this team by looking generally at the BAP, but the priority is to trade down if someone offers us a compatible or better offer for the #8.