"Relying solely on a player who hasn't played his first NFL snap and coming off injury to solve out LEO issue is simply ridiculous."

 

Even if you could guarantee that Fowler will be 100% to re injury form this fall, and even if you could guarantee he would be a good pass rusher at the NFL level, it would still make a ton of sense to stock up on edge rushers in the next draft.

 

We need quality starters (plural) and depth to rush the passer effectively.  Outside of the Miami game, Odrick hasn't provided much pass rush from LDE, and neither has Alualu.  Clemons is gone after this year, as is Branch, and Ryan Davis is underutilized and when he IS used, he is used inside. 

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Worst to 1st.  Curse Reversed!

"Relying solely on a player who hasn't played his first NFL snap and coming off injury to solve out LEO issue is simply ridiculous."

 

Even if you could guarantee that Fowler will be 100% to re injury form this fall, and even if you could guarantee he would be a good pass rusher at the NFL level, it would still make a ton of sense to stock up on edge rushers in the next draft.

 

We need quality starters (plural) and depth to rush the passer effectively.  Outside of the Miami game, Odrick hasn't provided much pass rush from LDE, and neither has Alualu.  Clemons is gone after this year, as is Branch, and Ryan Davis is underutilized and when he IS used, he is used inside. 

 

Yeah I definitely agree with these sentiments. To do so, would be repeating the same mistakes we made last season...when our defense "relied" on the addition of a #3 pick at LEO, and the return of Marks to provide pass rush.

 

As we saw, Marks was slow to come back and Fowler got injured. While the timeline for Fowler is further ahead of Marks, its still not a good idea to just rely on those two guys again...

 

1) Fowler is coming back from an ACL

2) Pass rushers don't tend to make great impact their 1st year (unless they are truly special, but even guys like Watt and JPP didn't blow up until year 2)

3) Clem, Branch are likely gone

 

Add all of those things up and it only makes sense that we continue to add to our d-line, especially guys who can affect the passer and force teams to double.

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Fowler has done nothing to suggest he will earn his paycheck.

 

He hasn't played a single snap for crying out loud.

 

We don't even know what he could produce at the NFL level before the injury.

 

Being optimistic about him is insane.

 

Have zero expectations, then see what he becomes before prematurely pegging him somewhere.

 

At the same time, we MUST bring in more pass rushers.

 

Relying solely on a player who hasn't played his first NFL snap and coming off injury to solve our LEO issue is simply ridiculous.

 

 

I'm not suggesting we don't bring in more pass rushers. I'm just saying it's not like the Blackmon situation where we needed to proceed as though he's not there. If the BPA in the draft in round one happens to be a pass rusher, then maybe he's still the pick. But there is zero reason to reach for a pass rusher early. We don't need another Marquis Lee situation when there are better picks to be had. If we're reaching, reach for a Safety.

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'02

Has Victor Cruz made it back from his knee injury?

 

Is he playing yet?

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Has Victor Cruz made it back from his knee injury?


Is he playing yet?

Pretty sure it's a calf injury that's keeping Victor Cruz from playing

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10 years ago we had Bob Hope, Johnny Cash, and Steve Jobs..... Please don't die, Kevin Bacon.

"Relying solely on a player who hasn't played his first NFL snap and coming off injury to solve out LEO issue is simply ridiculous."

 

Even if you could guarantee that Fowler will be 100% to re injury form this fall, and even if you could guarantee he would be a good pass rusher at the NFL level, it would still make a ton of sense to stock up on edge rushers in the next draft.

 

We need quality starters (plural) and depth to rush the passer effectively.  Outside of the Miami game, Odrick hasn't provided much pass rush from LDE, and neither has Alualu.  Clemons is gone after this year, as is Branch, and Ryan Davis is underutilized and when he IS used, he is used inside. 

 

Agreed.

 

Our sack leader is a CB.  In second place is a backup.  We need everything we can get.

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"You do your own thing in your own time. You should be proud."

I'm not suggesting we don't bring in more pass rushers. I'm just saying it's not like the Blackmon situation where we needed to proceed as though he's not there. If the BPA in the draft in round one happens to be a pass rusher, then maybe he's still the pick. But there is zero reason to reach for a pass rusher early. We don't need another Marquis Lee situation when there are better picks to be had. If we're reaching, reach for a Safety.

 

We reached for a pass rusher in Fowler.  Their value is as inflated as top quarterbacks these days.  After all, they are the premium defensive position - second only to QB in overall value.

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"You do your own thing in your own time. You should be proud."

We reached for a pass rusher in Fowler. Their value is as inflated as top quarterbacks these days. After all, they are the premium defensive position - second only to QB in overall value.

why was Fowler a reach, because you think he was? Fowler was a top 3 prospect by many. Mayock had him as the number 1 guy on his board. Fowler wasnt a reach

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We reached for a pass rusher in Fowler.  Their value is as inflated as top quarterbacks these days.  After all, they are the premium defensive position - second only to QB in overall value.

Fowler was a top 5 prospect on virtually everyone's draft board. I disagree in calling him a reach.

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THERE IS A SKELETON INSIDE OF YOU.

 

RIGHT NOW. THIS IS NOT A JOKE.

I do think he'll come back to 100% of what his capabilities were. As most know I never thought that was more than a secondary effort/clean up sack pass rusher, however. Useful player, but not worth the #3 pick even before the injury, and we will still need the type of pass rusher you have to gameplan for. Maybe/hopefully Bosa. 

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I agree with the idea of both Fowler coming back 100% and the idea of stocking up on more linemen. You can never have enough pass rushers. Plus alot of them bust out. The more you get, The quicker you find 2 or 3 you can stick with for a bit. 

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Can't wait to see whats next. 

I do think he'll come back to 100% of what his capabilities were. As most know I never thought that was more than a secondary effort/clean up sack pass rusher, however. Useful player, but not worth the #3 pick even before the injury, and we will still need the type of pass rusher you have to gameplan for. Maybe/hopefully Bosa.

teams will have to gameplan for Fowler, that said we need another pass rusher opposite of him

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Fowler won't be back 100% from injury and frankly I don't believe that he'll make much of an impact in his first year back. We need more pass rushers.

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"It was Blake Bortles the whole time. They believe in this kid. He reminds me a bit of a young Ben Roethlisberger." ~Mike Mayock

Apparently, all his ligaments are intact other than the ACL which I imagine will be helpful in his recovery. He will be back 100 percent after a year off. He just turned 21.


But still, I'm getting Bosa, Nkemdiche, or another pass rusher. I remember the days of Freeney and Robert Mathis

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Fowler was a top 5 prospect on virtually everyone's draft board. I disagree in calling him a reach.

We needed a pass rusher. Drafting Fowler at 3 and claiming he was our answer makes him a reach. He was not the best pass rusher in the draft.


I, too, was disappointed in the pick. Solid player, but not worth the #3 pick.

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Reach.  

 

 

No Reach.

 

 

Don't care. 

 

 

He'll be healthy next September and I think he'll help the pass rush.  He won't fix it. But he'll help it. 

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We needed a pass rusher. Drafting Fowler at 3 and claiming he was our answer makes him a reach. He was not the best pass rusher in the draft.


I, too, was disappointed in the pick. Solid player, but not worth the #3 pick.

He was the best pass rusher in the draft and best defensive player in the draft.  Not a reach but ok

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We needed a pass rusher. Drafting Fowler at 3 and claiming he was our answer makes him a reach. He was not the best pass rusher in the draft.


I, too, was disappointed in the pick. Solid player, but not worth the #3 pick.

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THERE IS A SKELETON INSIDE OF YOU.

 

RIGHT NOW. THIS IS NOT A JOKE.

He was the best pass rusher in the draft and best defensive player in the draft.  Not a reach but ok

 

That just isn't true, Leonard Williams is the best defensive player in the draft. Then and now.

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That just isn't true, Leonard Williams is the best defensive player in the draft. Then and now.

I disagree but ok

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