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D help from the draft

Slaine

Slaine

Still wants to trade Fu for a third
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In past years when we drafted someone early on defense we usually ended up redshirting them because the D was too complicated for them. We've seen some production (Tuitt etc) but still very limited. Look at any of the D-Line and linebackers that we've drafted and almost all of them have had very limited / no production as rookies. You have to go back to Kendrell Bell and Big Snack before you see difference makers on our D as rookies.

Lots of people on here are looking for us to be better on defense based on this draft. Is that a reasonable expectation? Is Butler's defense easier to learn? Can we honestly think that we'll pick up a S/CB and have them start for us as a rookie?

I guess I'm just puzzled that we haven't made more moves in free agency to help the secondary as I don't see any rookie coming in and starting based on our history there.
 
I believe that may have been due in part to LeBeau's reluctance to start a defensive rookie player.
 
Correct you are. They don't grow on trees and if they did they aren't ripe when they fall off. That said, if it's complicated for a rook, why would it not be for another so-so vet coming from another system? Pick your poison.
 
Good points. I'd like to hold out hope that a corner can help immediately. Cockrell came in as a first year player for us (2nd year in the league overall) and started contributing very well halfway through the season. Same with Boykin as the season progressed. Unfortunately, safety and LB are different stories. Even Troy had some growing pains the first year or two so I get where you're coming from that it may be expecting a lot for someone like Joseph, Sua or Thompson to come in and instantly improve the D.

I think with corners it's less scheme aside from some zone coverages and more about just guarding the guy in front of you so it takes less to "get it".
 
Our secondary is bad. One of the top 4 corners would, at least, keep the status quo, if not make the D better. So, yes, we can improve this year with the draft.
 
TDX27 said:
Our secondary is bad. One of the top 4 corners would, at least, keep the status quo, if not make the D better. So, yes, we can improve this year with the draft.
Click to expand...

Drafting them is one thing. Tomlin allowing them to play as rookies is another.

Our projected starters at DB:

Gay - A very solid CB.
CB2 ? Blake, the worst in the NFL. For some reason Tomlin never tired to replace him as the starter
S Mitchell - Good, but not great.
S Golden - Our projected starter who has proven little

There you have it. But we play a lot of nickel and dime

Slot -Golson. Never played a down in NFL
Dime - Cockrell - Very solid.
 
Tomlin is poor at evaluating ,drafting and developing secondary players, don't think that will change, 9 years is a huge sampling.
 
TDX27 said:
Our secondary is bad. One of the top 4 corners would, at least, keep the status quo, if not make the D better. So, yes, we can improve this year with the draft.
Click to expand...

Don't forget, that although he had NO playing time, Golson is now not a rookie, and he will have SOME advantage over pure rookies.
 
I think any defensive rookie will be a rotational player. Enough to contribute, just not star. Instead, they'll be counting on Tuitt to develop into a force and Dupree and Golson to take big steps forward.
 
nitsuj1225 said:
Good points. I'd like to hold out hope that a corner can help immediately. Cockrell came in as a first year player for us (2nd year in the league overall) and started contributing very well halfway through the season. Same with Boykin as the season progressed.
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I think that this is the biggest part. If you're talented enough to play then you can adjust to the speed of the game. The issue is doing that and thinking about what you're supposed to be doing because of the complexity of handing off to another guy/zone in coverage. The second year guys have had a chance to pick the complexities of an NFL defense up and the thought process has slowed down so that they can react and trust themselves to know what they're doing.

As a rookie if they put you in strictly man to man and leave you to it I suppose that could work but other than that I really don't see a rookie coming in and making an immediate impact. That's why I'm puzzled about the lack of people being brought in.

Gay
CB2 ??? - Golson/Cockrell/Blake..?
S Mitchell
S Golden

Shamarko is somehow still on this roster but we could upgrade him by adding Supe to the roster.

We need a starting corner and a starting safety. Quite how the FO plan to address this I have no idea. Hopefully not with a panic buy of another Brandon Boykin to late into the season to actually make a difference.
 
Don't look through those scary shades the coach is wearing Cope, it may cause you to **** yourself.
 
We don't have the luxury of red shirting any defensive player anymore. With our second string FA defections this year, we need all hands on deck. Tuitt played very well last year. He's turning into a very good player for us and he was a steal in round 2.
 
Cope said:
In what world is Blake our projected starter this year? Are we trading with the **** to get him back??
Click to expand...

Can't tell you how thankful I am he is gone, along with probably most here. Someone was extremely butthurt yesterday when he signed with the Titans.
 
I don't expect our D to be better based on this year's draft. I expect our D to be better based on the previous few years' draftees getting better
 
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