(07-22-2018, 10:51 AM)Bullseye Wrote:

(07-22-2018, 09:39 AM)SeldomRite Wrote: Just what you're looking for in a 3rd overall pick.

How many times do people have to see Fouler's story before they understand that drafting is all about getting great players regardless of the position, not about trying to fill roster slots.

Well, wait a minute.

Fowler's only real strike has been getting hurt.

He got into the road rage incident that led to his one game suspension.  It happens.  No big deal to me.

In 2016, his first action, he had a lot of penalties and did not make too much impact.

But last year, under coaches that hold players responsible, two full seasons removed from his ACL, he had a very good year.

Even if you view Fowler as a complete bust (and that would be a stretch given his performance last year, including the two sacks in the AFC championship) Caldwell has proven he knows how to draft.

He also had that bizarre incident with the two women outside an elevator where he watched them have a fight rather than do anything to help anyone.

The way I look at his 2017 is he was the benefactor of a lot of help sliding away from him, and he still was mostly just the guy that got his stats as cleanup of what other guys did.

Two sacks in the AFC Championship, both were coverage sacks where he ran Tom Brady down. Don't get me wrong, he's a good athlete from a standpoint of running fast straight ahead for his size, but he's not a good pass rusher, and I expect a DE taken #3 overall to be more like Joey Bosa than Dion Jordan.

---

(07-22-2018, 11:35 AM)flsprtsgod Wrote:

(07-22-2018, 11:28 AM)Bullseye Wrote: Stop gap gap guy trying to replace?

In Philadelphia, his 8 sacks (not counting his two in the playoffs) would have been good for second on the team for the world champs.
He would have also been second in sacks in Dallas, tied for second in Washington, and a half sack off the lead on the Giants.

In the NFC North, Fowler's 8 sacks would be second on the Vikings, Bears and Lions, and would have led the Packers.

In the NFC South, his 8 sacks would have been good for second on the Saints, 3rd on the Panthers (they had two guys tied for first with 11 sacks), 2nd in Atlanta, and would have led Tampa by 2 sacks.

In the NFC West, his 8 sacks would have 3rd on the Rams (behind Aaron Donald who had 11 and a half sack behind Quinn), 3rd on Seattle (one sack behind the leader, and a half sack behind Bennett), easily 2nd behind Jones in Arizona, and would have led the 49ers.

In the AFC East, Fowler would have led the Patriots, Bills and Jets in sacks, and would have been 2nd on Miami.

Among AFC North teams, Fowler would have been tied for 2nd on the Steelers (ahead of rookie T.J. Watt), tied for 2nd on Baltimore, 3rd on the Bengals, and would have led the Browns.

Fowler would have led Tennessee, easily led Indy, and would have been 2nd in Houston behind Clowney.

In the AFC West, Fowler would have been 2nd in KC, 3rd on the Bolts behind two other great DEs in Bosa and Ingram,tied for 2nd on the Raiders, and 2nd on Denver behind Miller.

So of the 31 other teams, he would have led or been in 2nd in sacks on 26 of them, based solely on his productivity last year.

Keep in mind, Fowler was playing as a situational rusher, not full time.  Now it's possible Fowler may not have been as productive in other systems.  But it's possible that playing more and in other systems, he may have been even more productive

You may think him a disappointment as a 3rd round pick for the Jaguars.

But given his still young age and productivity last year, he certainly wouldn't fit into the category of a guy teams would readily look to replace.

Fowler wouldn't have those numbers on those teams though, he's a product of those around him.

---

(07-22-2018, 11:35 AM)Bullseye Wrote: Do those things damage his rep?

Certainly.

Do those things make him a complete bust when he is 24 years old and coming off of a 8 sack season (10 counting the playoffs) playing in a part time role, after missing all of his rookie year with a torn ACL?

Certainly not.

I don't think he's a complete bust; I don't think he's ever going to be 3rd pick value.

Nail on the head right here.

---