Doc Walker One-on-One Interview with Vinny Cerrato

I just think that if you lose a bunch of games, kind of 16 - 10 ish, I'm not sure it follows that the 16 is really the problem.

True, but as Pain pointed out, a defense that creates more turnovers and scores more points is going to do more for our offense than upgrading Heyer/Jansen with a rookie RT.

Think of it this way, the level of performance between experienced OTs like Heyer and Jansen and a ROOKIE OT is not that huge.

However, the differnece in performance between a rookie DE or SAM taken at 13 would be a HUGE upgrade over Wynn or Blades. The left side of our defense is completely wide-open right now. Wynn is old and Blades is undersized. Teams could just run to that side all day. Upgrading one of those positions with a stud is crucial to the success of our defense in 2009. If we don't make significant strides there, then the benefits from paying Haynesworth and Hall are going to be comparatively minor.

I know i've criticized Jason Campbell alot, but one thing ive always said is that he's the kind of guy thats not going (to win or) LOSE any games for us. He is solid at managing games. History has shown us, time and again, that a team with that kind of QB and a DOMINANT, PLAYMAKING defense can be dangerous.

All of this will need to be based on what kind of identity you want for your team. Do you want it to be a team that is more offensive or more defensive or balanced?

Either way, both sides of the line need to be the first priority of any kind of team. When you have a defense-first type of team, you still need a physical offensive line to be able to grind it out in the running game. When you have an offense-first type of team, you need to be able to have a defensive line to put pressure on the opposing qb (since a productive offensive team would be able to play ahead often).

First of all, great recap BHA, thanks for doing that. I think people need to begin to accept that Heyer is likely to be our starting RT on opening day. I don't get the sense that we are looking to draft a tackle, put him on the right side and then convert him to a LT down the road (Smith, Oher, etc.). If anything we're going to draft a RT or interior lineman in the 3rd round.

Also since OLB was our top priority last year and we didn't get one AND cut our starting OLB this year, what do you think the focus will be next month? He's pretty much putting it out there to expect us to go OLB at #13.

No talk about Campbell and the lack of an extension?


I totally areee, sounds like OLB with the 13th pick....
Maybe OT Sebastian Volmer in the third....
Sort of reading between the lines though, I dont see Ladell Betts having
any value on 3rd Downs anymore??? Sounds like he could be trade bait ??

Any thoughts?

He said Danny doesn't watch tape or review film. Sounds alright to me.

Good for him, DS was busy not losing his money in a ponzi scheme or the stock market. More money for the no cap era!!!

I totally areee, sounds like OLB with the 13th pick....
Maybe OT Sebastian Volmer in the third....
Sort of reading between the lines though, I dont see Ladell Betts having
any value on 3rd Downs anymore??? Sounds like he could be trade bait ??

Any thoughts?

You never know. Maybe they don't think Betts is the type of back they need. I don't know if it makes any difference if they're never going to give him the ball. Anyway, Volmer is the kind of player we could get in the 3rd or maybe lower. Depends on how the draft falls. He's a BIG guy with long arms and quick on his feet. I think there are a few guys in the 3rd-5th rounds who could help us.

Thanks for the recap BHA. What concerns me is the prospect of Heyer/Jansen our only two options @ RT. Heyer may be improving and may be dominant as he masters technique; however, his nagging shoulder injury at such a young age is worrisome. Meanwhile, Jansen sounds intent on winning back the starting spot and I think he will if Heyer is the only competition. Personally, I think we should either draft a top OT @ 13, telling him he's got to be ready to start opening day, or (if we draft defense @ 13) pick up a vet who's been cut from another franchise after the draft, like Levi Jones. Either scenario allows us to keep Heyer backing up either tackle spot and Jansen as the primary back-up at either guard spot or RT.

... I was a little surprised nothing was said about Rabach (from what I saw). Some of the analysts are saying C may be our weakest link.

Thanks for the recap BHA. What concerns me is the prospect of Heyer/Jansen our only two options @ RT. Heyer may be improving and may be dominant as he masters technique; however, his nagging shoulder injury at such a young age is worrisome. Meanwhile, Jansen sounds intent on winning back the starting spot and I think he will if Heyer is the only competition. Personally, I think we should either draft a top OT @ 13, telling him he's got to be ready to start opening day, or (if we draft defense @ 13) pick up a vet who's been cut from another franchise after the draft, like Levi Jones. Either scenario allows us to keep Heyer backing up either tackle spot and Jansen as the primary back-up at either guard spot or RT.

... I was a little surprised nothing was said about Rabach (from what I saw). Some of the analysts are saying C may be our weakest link.

And they would be right. :)

And they would be right. :)

yeah, I'm totally on-board for a trade-down scenario where we get top center Mack, or to a lesser degree Unger, and a starting caliber OLB. I think we'd have to take OLB w/ the first pick though.

yeah, I'm totally on-board for a trade-down scenario where we get top center Mack, or to a lesser degree Unger, and a starting caliber OLB. I think we'd have to take OLB w/ the first pick though.

You mean........like Maualuga to play outside until Fletch leaves? :)

You mean........like Maualuga to play outside until Fletch leaves? :)

Nah that's probably a pipe dream... like getting Detroit's 20th and 33rd and hoping to hell Rey falls to 20 and Mack falls out of the 1st round. But I dunno if we can somehow get a couple picks very early in the 2nd round maybe we pickup Matthews or English and Mack or Unger. That would be sweet.