Who will it be?

All defense

We went Offense last year

 

we could talk about cuckler in a few more threads. That's a ton more interesting than talking about the upcoming draft that'll be our only real means to improve.

 

I agree about the Cutler thread, it has ran its course. However, if we can't move Peppers then I don't know how much improvement we're going to get out of 'essentially' a third and fourth round pick based on our placement at the end of each round. You can fairly well nix the idea of getting any significant foundation players from second day selections.

Likewise with Peppers back, any FA worth his salt can't be had from lack of cap space.

Unfortunately, we are not going to make any significant additions to the '09 roster with #90 suiting up once again. That is unless it's a new #90.

 

59. Ron Brace, DT, Boston College - This was tough for me because I really like Gilbert and Sidbury down here. But I'm betting Peppers plays here at least through next year, and we've got Hilee Taylor who has shown some potential as a speed rush end. We need depth at DT in a bad way and Brace could be Kemo's eventual replacement.

93. Matt Shaughnessy, DE, Wisconsin - I've seen him in person a few times and like his athleticism. If he can put on 20 lbs of muscle and get stronger he could be good. He played around 240 in college at 6-6 and is now listed at 266, if that's real and maintainable maybe he's getting close.

124. Kraig Urbik, OG/RT, Wisconsin - I like him at G. Big and physical and could also play RT in a pinch. Depth on OL which we need badly.

155. I like Shipley here. Nice pick

 

Looks good. I especially like the positional order. My only concern with Brace is why he didn't fair any better next to Raji. It could be nothing and he might pan out to be a decent pro. I just can't get that thought out of the back of my mind that he should have more hype next to Raji.

 

Brace's numbers are very mediocre compared to other DTs slated to be drafted around him. He was good for only 5.5 sacks in 4 years at BC and averaged about 25 tackles a season, none higher than 27. Dan Morgan had 25 unofficially in the Panthers' lone Super Bowl; ONE game. The only stat that got noticably better as he progressed through college was TFL which was 11.5 his senior season. Averaging all that together (and yes he play most games his first full season) over 4 years--per game:

-Sacks: .098 sacks

-Tackles: 1.79 tackles

-And even taking just his career high of 11.5 TFL as a senior: .82 TFL

So lets say in a perfect world where stats are distributed evenly by game, Brace would be good for about 2 tackles and 1 tackle for loss per game based on his carrer stats at Boston College. BTW, it would take him 5 games just to get a 1/2 sack!!!

Those are anything BUT gaudy numbers.

Edit: That 1 TFL per game estimate was based off his senior output of 11.5 and NOT his career average which would drop it to some fractional number MUCH less than one.

 

In our defense, the role of the DT has traditionally been to tie up a couple of blockers so the LB's could run free and make tackles. So #"s mean less to me at that position, but your point that he's not a playmaker is taken. It's why he'll be there in the late 2nd/3rd round.

 

yeah, whether a DL has great stats or not alone wouldn't be telling. He doesn't seem to be a dominant run defender right now and it's mostly that he has a lot of size. He'll never be a big pass rusher.

So, that might drop him some. A one dimensional first day guy should be good at that one thing now.

 

I would take the best run stuff DT available when we make our first choice unless they are all gone and we have to make a big reach. In that case I would go with a DE or an offensive lineman.