(03-29-2024, 02:22 PM)Protozoa Wrote:

(03-29-2024, 12:39 PM)Caldrac Wrote: 2022 hasn't been that bad. Walker took significant strides in the right direction in year two. Lloyd did as well, felt like a night and day comparison from year one to year two. Had he not had that injury with his hand, midseason surgery and a cast on it I think he would have played even better. 

Fortner is a bust. We all know that now. Bringing in Morse as a 10th year veteran at the Center position signifies this. It also shows growth with Baalke as a general manager. He got it wrong, he gave it two years, he's making amends for it now in year three. 

Muma was a head scratcher. I am thinking that was an insurance plan incase Oluokon didn't pan out. Baalke gambled twice, he ended up being right with Oluokon, which, for the money and price difference? I'll take that over missing on a 3rd RD pick. He can try and ship him off and recoup. Conner was bad. We all know that. 

To round out 2022's class he landed Junior and Buster Brown in the secondary. They're still on the roster and both players have showed a little development in the right area. Especially Brown. 

To go ahead and comment on 2023's class. The two biggest issues are Strange and Bigsby. They had woefully disappointing rookie seasons and we're hoping to see massive leaps forward in year two. Which is possible. If we can get a total of 1,000 yards of offense between the two of them I will take it. Anything over that? Gravy. 

I loved The Anton Harrison selection. Said he was my dark horse pick the night before the draft. We landed him. I think he has all-pro caliber qualities for a RT. Didn't care for the Miller and Lacy selections. Would have preferred Nick Herbig over Lacy. I was excited about the Abdullah selection. Antonio Johnson was considered a draft day steal. In the limited action he had as a rookie? I can see why. I expect big things out of him in year two already. 

Washington was serviceable last year as a WR and a returner. I think he'll be better in year two. He at least got some points on the board after Kirk's injury happened. Braswell was a good CB coming out of Rutgers. I think he's somebody to watch in this defense in year two. Cooper Hodges, if he can stay healthy, he's a steal of a 7th RD pick. Even if he ends up as a back up.

Hallett, Vohasek and Parish didn't work out. Hallett had good slot coverage marks on him coming out of Pittsburgh. Didn't know much about Vohasek. Parish was a freak of nature at the combine, had a good RAS, had some FB and DE qualities to him. Just couldn't find himself on the roster here. Was pulling for the guy though.

I second your take on Lloyd.

Last year he was graded a 90.3 against the run 3rd best amongst all linebackers. His overall grade went from 48.3 his rookie year to 78.1. He had a better completion percentage allowed than Fred Warner, Roquan Smith, and Dre Greenlaw 3 players ranked as top 10 at the position. Lloyd only gave up 2 touchdowns last year Warner and Smith gave up 1 Greenlaw gave up 4. Lloyd had a miss tackle percentage of 8.2 which was better than Warner and Greenlaw. He gets overlooked due to his lack of turnovers but him having a cast had a lot to do with that.

Lloyd is honestly the guy to watch in my opinion going into year three. Especially in this defense. They'll play mostly a lot of 4-2-5 looks defensively. Which means Oluokon will mostly be featured. 

However, when it's a base 4 - 3? I think he would be an interesting outside linebacker and he was a really good rusher at Utah from that perspective. 

I think he'll be better in Nielsen's defense personally.

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