(03-08-2021, 10:27 AM)Mikey Wrote:

(03-06-2021, 01:03 PM)Bullseye Wrote: Judging them solely as players, wholly irrespective of need, who would you take at 25 between Teven Jenkins and Zaven Collins?

I am genuinely torn between the two.

Collins.

Reasons are twofold. I see a lot of Cam Robinson in the write-ups I see on Jenkins, and I think there are better tackles that can be had either here at 25 or if you wait till 33. He'd excel at RT, but I don't know if I want him on the left as a long-term solution.

Second, I think someone with the instincts of Collins can come in, and learn the ropes from a guy like Schobert, and allow us to move on from him. It allows us to be multiple in our defensive fronts, where both LB can line up in a 3-4 or hybrid look. I don't really complain about Schobert, but he's going to get a little more expensive each year he remains on the team, and I'd be happier having a replacement in place that doesn't force our hand a year or two down the road. I don't see an immediate trade or release, but next year it begins being affordable where we actually save cap room by moving on should we choose to do so.

In the clips I have seen, Jenkins is more of a physical player than Cam Robinson.  One of the things that surprised me in studying Robinson at Alabama and with Jacksonville is despite his build and Alabama pedigree, he seems more a wall off blocker than a guy who would bury his opponent.  Just in the clips provided above, you saw Jenkins pancake his guy.  I also think it helps the analysis with him that he is more of a RT.

Admittedly, I have not considered the cap ramifications of a "glut" at ILB with the drafting of Collins.  I just think about the athleticism and versatility our LB group would have if we added Collins.

Pass drops?  If Collins started over Chaisson at OLB in a personnel grouping, all four starters could effectively drop.  Man coverage?  In that personnel grouping, I would be comfortable with three of those guys covering the average TE in man coverage, with Schobert being the exception.  Blitzing?  All of our LBs could be effective blitzing.  Adding Collins into the LB group would enable us to disguise the defense better.

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