Outside LB

I think there are a handful of guys who can come in and start early in the year. If you don't get your guy at linebacker, you look somewhere else. But I think if you are the front office, you go in expecting to get your guy at number 53 overall and hope for the best.

I think there are a handful of guys who can come in and start early in the year. If you don't get your guy at linebacker, you look somewhere else. But I think if you are the front office, you go in expecting to get your guy at number 53 overall and hope for the best.


Even if we draft a LB at 53 he will not be a starter on this defense. We will have some experience at the WSLB whether that player is on the team now, or we have to get one from someplace else.

I agree. It's not likely any rookie LB will start on D to start the season or anytime during the season. It is however, probable we will kook at what we have early to see if there's a fit at OLB if not I'm sure we'll bring in some look see's. I'm hoping we can promote from within if it's there. We drafted three LB's last year, none of them saw the field. It's still very early yet so no need to panic on the OLB.

mccune in the 5th and newberry in th 6th, but i don't think we drafted a 3rd LB... newberry didn't even make it to the practice squad, he just got totally bounced.

as for drafting a LB, its possibly they could come in and immediately be better than holdman (really quite possible actually)... by week 8 rookies that have had extensive playing time tend to catch up and be alright for the 2nd half of the year.

if the LB coaches think clemons or khary or sykes or mccune have a shot, i'll be all for that, but drafting guys can't hurt. they either make the team (and provide some usefulness) or they don't. Lofa Tatupu (http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/421986) was drafted in the 4th round, made all the defensive calls (like AP or lemar did) and started every game. If you can find a guy like that in the 4th, I imagine it'd be even easier to find one in the 2nd. I realize that #1 overall picks can bust and nothing is for sure, but its possible.

Lofa Tatupu (http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/421986) was drafted in the 4th round, made all the defensive calls (like AP or lemar did) and started every game. If you can find a guy like that in the 4th, I imagine it'd be even easier to find one in the 2nd. I realize that #1 overall picks can bust and nothing is for sure, but its possible.

Lofa was actually a 2nd round pick. I believe he went off the board right about where the Skins are picking this year. He's proof that you CAN find people there who can play right away, but it doesn't mean that you will.

44 Arizona J.J. Arrington RB California
45 Seattle Lofa Tatupu MLB Southern California
46 Miami Matt Roth DE Iowa

http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/years/2005

Gotta love that Arizona scouting department!

Lofa was actually a 2nd round pick. I believe he went off the board right about where the Skins are picking this year. He's proof that you CAN find people there who can play right away, but it doesn't mean that you will.

wonder why i had that screwed up... oh well. still, it proves there's talent in the 2nd round. And i agree, its a crapshoot, but in the 2nd round its much easier than in the 6th.

and yeah, a running back that's afraid of any form of physical contact is something i like to term "a bust".

ah,your referring to the arizona game,arent you.the skins are not going to get a starting linebacker in the draft.i can see holdman coming back.he isnt as bad as he played last season

does anyone know if there are any possible lb's that may be a victim of the june 1st cuts?

does anyone know if there are any possible lb's that may be a victim of the june 1st cuts?

Possible, but with the new CBA, I wouldn't expect many June 1st cuts.

does anyone know if there are any possible lb's that may be a victim of the june 1st cuts?

don't know, but that's a good time to look. Obviously, LB wasn't a position they thought they had to address immediately in free agency, so signing a cheap vet might be ideal & draft 1 or 2. see who can make the team.
I don't think we're necessarily lookin for a lb w/the 53rd pick. I think we'll pick up the best player available from a few select positions; TE, LB, OL, DL, DB.
I'm really looking forward to this draft, I have good feelings about it. I actually like the fact that we don't have a 1st rnd. all the guys we get will be competing for the roster, except for the 53 pick, no one will expect to make the team automatically.