If I were Dave I would pretty much dedicate this draft to the offensive side of the ball, which last year was, well...offensive.
I think our defense is in pretty good shape and on the rise. Load up on offense, set Bortles loose, wish for the best. I'm not usually a "pick a WR high" but this year I would go:
1) Kevin White
2) Jake Fisher
3) Telvin Coleman or David Johnson
Kevin White would provide Bortles a legitimate weapon to line up opposite of Allen Robinson. Fisher could battle it out with Beadles for LG, or potentially replace Luke Joeckel if Luke Joeckel continues Luke Joeckel-ing. And Telvin Coleman is a stud and could be a steal in the third- although he could end up going higher; I have heard some speculate that he could move as high as top of the first, but then other publications have him listed as the 7th or 8th best RB. If he is not available, David Johnson from Northern Iowa would be a pretty sweet consolation prize.
Even if you hate my picks, think its crazy outlandish, or despise the premise of the thread (obviously), go ahead and list out your three first (offensive) draft picks. Lets see what tantalizing combinations we can put together and drool over.
The team has to add a young pass rusher and probably middle linebacker in the draft. I would not be surprised if those positions end up being the first two addressed in the draft. A running back is almost a given but I don't expect to see many other skill positons drafted.
I've slowly crept towards this line of thinking. Having White and Robinson on the outside with Thomas at TE is devastating. Lee and Hurns in the slot on top of that. Wow. I'd love to see Bortles have these types of weapons around him.
Quote:The team has to add a young pass rusher and probably middle linebacker in the draft. I would not be surprised if those positions end up being the first two addressed in the draft. A running back is almost a given but I don't expect to see many other skill positons drafted.
As much as I agree with you- I assume we will go pass rusher first overall, I keep looking at it and thinking every game we lost last year was because of the offense. I feel we could get by manufacturing a rush another year with good inside push and rushing with Ryan Davis, Clemons and maybe Chris Smith.
On the other side, I just cannot see us getting by with the same offensive line and pass catchers. And yes, we picked up Parnell and Thomas to help with that, but I don't know that it will be enough. I mean....I don't think those position groups were one player away. I'd rather flood the offense with talent rather than stand by with what we did in FA and see what happens.
I just can't see neglecting LB and/or edge rusher, this is a good draft for both.
I can see RB or TE in the 2nd or 3rd round, but other than that, I expect it to be heavy on defense.
It really can go either way imo
I think we'll get a bit of everything this time. Pass rusher in the first round, running back in the second and then linebackers and maybe a safety and a young right tackle or guard in the later rounds.
Quote:If I were Dave I would pretty much dedicate this draft to the offensive side of the ball, which last year was, well...offensive.
I think our defense is in pretty good shape and on the rise. Load up on offense, set Bortles loose, wish for the best. I'm not usually a "pick a WR high" but this year I would go:
1) Kevin White
2) Jake Fisher
3) Telvin Coleman or David Johnson
Kevin White would provide Bortles a legitimate weapon to line up opposite of Allen Robinson. Fisher could battle it out with Beadles for LG, or potentially replace Luke Joeckel if Luke Joeckel continues Luke Joeckel-ing. And Telvin Coleman is a stud and could be a steal in the third- although he could end up going higher; I have heard some speculate that he could move as high as top of the first, but then other publications have him listed as the 7th or 8th best RB. If he is not available, David Johnson from Northern Iowa would be a pretty sweet consolation prize.
Even if you hate my picks, think its crazy outlandish, or despise the premise of the thread (obviously), go ahead and list out your three first (offensive) draft picks. Lets see what tantalizing combinations we can put together and drool over.
I am kinda trending towards offense too.
Only I'm not really thinking about taking a receiver high.
Ideally, if we could trade down and get two first rounders (e.g. Cleveland's 12th and 19th), I'd like to stock up on a couple of linemen first-Andrus Peat and Cameron Erving with those top two picks, then come back with a RB in the 2nd.
A Peat-Erving combo could not only upgrade at least two positions (LT and C), it would give us an insane amount of depth and competition and versatility along the OL.
It would effectively make us 3 deep at the tackle spots (Joeckel, Peat and Erving at LT; Parnell, Pasztor and Erving at RT) and two deep at C (Erving and Bowanko).
It would give us a bigger and more powerful OL to run the ball and provide better protection for Bortles.
Quote:I am kinda trending towards offense too.
Only I'm not really thinking about taking a receiver high.
Ideally, if we could trade down and get two first rounders (e.g. Cleveland's 12th and 19th), I'd like to stock up on a couple of linemen first-Andrus Peat and Cameron Erving with those top two picks, then come back with a RB in the 2nd.
A Peat-Erving combo could not only upgrade at least two positions (LT and C), it would give us an insane amount of depth and competition and versatility along the OL.
It would effectively make us 3 deep at the tackle spots (Joeckel, Peat and Erving at LT; Parnell, Pasztor and Erving at RT) and two deep at C (Erving and Bowanko).
It would give us a bigger and more powerful OL to run the ball and provide better protection for Bortles.
Love it. Let's do it.
OFFENSE!!!
Quote:I am kinda trending towards offense too.
Only I'm not really thinking about taking a receiver high.
Ideally, if we could trade down and get two first rounders (e.g. Cleveland's 12th and 19th), I'd like to stock up on a couple of linemen first-Andrus Peat and Cameron Erving with those top two picks, then come back with a RB in the 2nd.
A Peat-Erving combo could not only upgrade at least two positions (LT and C), it would give us an insane amount of depth and competition and versatility along the OL.
It would effectively make us 3 deep at the tackle spots (Joeckel, Peat and Erving at LT; Parnell, Pasztor and Erving at RT) and two deep at C (Erving and Bowanko).
It would give us a bigger and more powerful OL to run the ball and provide better protection for Bortles.
I would be perfectly fine with White at 3 as suggested in the OP, but this trade down would be repulsive. The actual picks part at least, not the trade down per se. If we wind up with OL/OL/RB in the first two rounds I will consider it a fireable offense.
Quote:I would be perfectly fine with White at 3 as suggested in the OP, but this trade down would be repulsive. The actual picks part at least, not the trade down per se. If we wind up with OL/OL/RB in the first two rounds I will consider it a fireable offense.
If it guarantees protection for Bortles...why?
We are talking about a team that surrendered over SEVENTY (70) sacks last year.
Despite what people had you believing during the BL v DG debates years ago, Bortles mobility didn't stop him from taking a complete pounding behind an inept OL.
It is imperative Bortles is protected.
Can we afford to wait another year to see if Joeckel becomes something other than a bust?
At what cost? To Bortles? To Bradley? To Caldwell?
Regarding the RB part of the analysis, I don't see why that would be either repulsive or fireable.
The teams of the decades-or perennial contenders in some decades-all developed their QB-RB-WR batteries.
Pittsburgh drafted Bradshaw-Harris-Swann & Stallworth all high in relatively short order-between 1970-1974.
Dallas drafted Irvin (88), Aikman (89) and Emmitt (90).
Indy drafted Harrison (96), Manning (98) and James (99).
All of those teams won Super Bowls with those offensive skill groups.
If you draft a QB high like we did, you have to give him the tools to succeed.
Bolstering an OL that gave up 70+ sacks and a running game that ranked 21st with a leading rusher accounting for 582 yards is the surest way to give him the tools to succeed.
Conversely, failing to give Bortles the tools to succeed, either on the offensive line or in the backfield, is the surest way for the Jaguars to fail. THAT is repulsive.
I just don't see us drafting more tackles, guards or centres. At least not in the first few rounds. They've picked Parnell to be the answer at right tackle and they're not going to drop Bowanko, Joekel or Linder (yet). Beadles may be at risk, but can you honestly see us taking a guard in the first or second rounds ?
A pity though, because Dallas have shown what you can do if you steadily build your OLine though successive drafts. My pick would have been Scherff, but it's not going to happen.
Maybe someone like Tomlinson, Harrison or Cedric O in the later rounds ?
Quote:If it guarantees protection for Bortles...why?
We are talking about a team that surrendered over SEVENTY (70) sacks last year.
I know the numbers, I saw the charting for all of those sacks a few months ago. Unfortunately a quick twitter search couldn't refind it again (I didn't favorite stuff like that back then unfortunately, sorry). I remember the vague numbers though.
The vast majority of the sacks were the RT position, failed helping of the RT during non blitzes, Bortles holding the ball, coverage sacks, and TE/backfield failing on blitz pickups. Only about a dozen of those 70 were blamed on LT/RG/C/RG combined.
Obviously it was just raw sack numbers and not pressures also, but I truly believe that 2 rookies, Joeckel essentially being a rookie, Beadles being a first year FA, and Parnell will show huge improvements. Not to mention Borles and the rookie WR being a year better.
I think we have the ability to be a top half of the league line this year with the pieces that are in house.
Also, how in the world would Peat be an automatic upgrade over Joeckel?
Joeckel was 10x the prospect Peat is and still struggled his first 2 years. I think the best thing we can do is let those guys get older and stronger together. I would like them drafting a guy or two in round 3-7 for depth/developmental purposes though.
Quote:Also, how in the world would Peat be an automatic upgrade over Joeckel?
Joeckel was 10x the prospect Peat is and still struggled his first 2 years. I think the best thing we can do is let those guys get older and stronger together. I would like them drafting a guy or two in round 3-7 for depth/developmental purposes though.
No way am I taking a Stanford linemen. Ever.
I think the draft will be very defense heavy. Pass rusher or two, at least one backer, a safety. On offense, I could see a running back early and maybe some depth guys later at receiver or on the line.
Quote:Also, how in the world would Peat be an automatic upgrade over Joeckel?
Joeckel was 10x the prospect Peat is and still struggled his first 2 years. I think the best thing we can do is let those guys get older and stronger together. I would like them drafting a guy or two in round 3-7 for depth/developmental purposes though.
I see where you're coming from here and I don't think the lineman thing is a good idea but I actually disagree about peat.
I think peat is actually underrated and will be a really good tackle in the NFL for a long time
Quote:I see where you're coming from here and I don't think the lineman thing is a good idea but I actually disagree about peat.
I think peat is actually underrated and will be a really good tackle in the NFL for a long time
He very well could be, but we have Joeckel who was and still is a way better prospect.
Thinking that peat will automatically improve our offensive line is just wishful thinking. He may just sit on the bench because Joeckel is better.
That was my point.
I am strongly against drafting offensive lineman that high in this year's draft.
Quote:I know the numbers, I saw the charting for all of those sacks a few months ago. Unfortunately a quick twitter search couldn't refind it again (I didn't favorite stuff like that back then unfortunately, sorry). I remember the vague numbers though.
The vast majority of the sacks were the RT position, failed helping of the RT during non blitzes, Bortles holding the ball, coverage sacks, and TE/backfield failing on blitz pickups. Only about a dozen of those 70 were blamed on LT/RG/C/RG combined.
Obviously it was just raw sack numbers and not pressures also, but I truly believe that 2 rookies, Joeckel essentially being a rookie, Beadles being a first year FA, and Parnell will show huge improvements. Not to mention Borles and the rookie WR being a year better.
I think we have the ability to be a top half of the league line this year with the pieces that are in house.
You have a lot more faith in Joeckel at this point than I do, I'm sorry to say.
Quote:Also, how in the world would Peat be an automatic upgrade over Joeckel?
Joeckel was 10x the prospect Peat is and still struggled his first 2 years. I think the best thing we can do is let those guys get older and stronger together. I would like them drafting a guy or two in round 3-7 for depth/developmental purposes though.
10 X? I don't think so.
Joeckel was elevated by a poor draft class.