Isn't Cornerback as Big a Need as OL?

I guess I am one of the only people on here that is completely NOT a Tryon fan. In my opinion, he is too undersized and plays with too poor of technique to make up for his above-average speed.

If a defense wanted to... they could go after and torch him all day...

I guess that where my thinking that CB is a big need comes from. Looks like many around here think of Tryon as having some quality...

I hope you all are right!! To me.... he'd be similar to Leigh Torrence (yeah I said it) as a starting CB.

I'd put RB before DB. Portis, Betts, Cartwright, Mason, and Ganther could conceivably all be gone

Agreed. I also agree about the OL mentioned above.

If Rogers and Smoot are gone, they will need replacing, though. So I think the defensive backfield needs attention. It is priority #3 in my mind, after OL and RB.

I do not think that you are giving the secondary the credit that they deserve. They have played lights out at times. Everyone just wants to focus on the double moves that went for big plays, but no one ever talks about the batted balls, coverage sacks, and balls jarred loose from punishing hits in the secondary.

I would venture to say that if our record was 10-4 that no one would be complaining about this secondary having the same stats. We would still be bitching however, that our QB was taking too many hits.Was it against Matt Stafford or Matt Cassel we were playing lights out against?

The double moves have been the most glaring example of a greater problem: this is a zone coverage team that was never taught to play zone defense. Last year, during the 6-2 start, we were a man coverage team who would challenge receivers. We also faced some bad quarterbacks then, but rarely did we give up uncontested pass plays.

We haven't even competed in the secondary this year. The reason that no one ever talks about the batted balls, coverage sacks, and big hits is because they don't happen anymore.

See... I'm also of the opinion that Ganther and Mason have shown enough to trust going into 2010.

I am actually VERY impressed with Ganther's running style... he does NOT go down easily and gets those finishing yards.

And with Shanahan's running style and an improved line? Why focus on a position where 7th rounders come in and avg 4.5 yds per carry every year??

And who said Portis is going anywhere?

RB is not a need in my mind.... just my 2 cents.

Even if Portis goes... which I really don't think he will... we could get one late in the draft... this is one area where Shanny has shown ability to scout.

Yeah, if he goes after LeGarrette Blount, I'll be worried.

You're speaking to the president of the "Shanahan can't draft" club. But even though he misses on a lot of picks, the running backs who PLAY always perform.

Has Blount had any issues other than the punch? He might be worth a look late in the draft or if he goes undrafted. I'd prefer if he's an UDFA though since he didn't exactly come back strong despite practicing with the team the whole time.

Ganther and Mason have played--er, run--well, but they also represent freely available talent. Whoever is the next coach will have his own Mason and Ganther, who aren't the same person, but do the exact same thing for the exact same cost. Rock, on the other hand, would need to have his special teams ability replaced, but his running ability is freely available.

Has Blount had any issues other than the punch? He might be worth a look late in the draft or if he goes undrafted. I'd prefer if he's an UDFA though since he didn't exactly come back strong despite practicing with the team the whole time.I don't think he has. I'm just pointing out that he's a douchebag.

If he's a scheme fit, and he doesn't cost anything, then he can be a douchebag who scores 8 TDs for my team. But those are the kind of guys that you have to be right on, and SmootSmack was pointing out that Shanahan has brought these guys in, and then found out they couldn't play at a later time.

I personally think Ganther could be a diamond in the rough kind of guy in a Shanahan running scheme... just like T. Davis, Portis, M. Anderson, O. Gary, R. Droughns, T. Bell, etc.

But yeah... the point is ... we DEFINITELY need a QUALITY cornerback FAR MORE than Running Back

And I guess another good question (possibly for another thread) is how much credit does Shanahan get for drafting those guys mentioned?

Clarett was an idiot, not a bad runner... and Henry was a traded for idiot. The question is... Isn't Shanahan damn good at evaluating RBs who fit his scheme?? (like I said... off-subject... but would make for an interesting debate)

I always read on this site about next year's QB and line needing to be worked out... which I agree with... Our offensive line is a MAJOR need...

but...

Isn't cornerback going to be just as big a need to address as OL in the offseason??

If Rogers goes, which he very likely will, we will have D Hall and who else?? Tryon?? Smoot?? Westbrook?? Those 3 aren't good enough to be trusted to play nickel, much less 2nd starter.

We need TWO corners who are step ups from those 3 for sure.

I'm thinking the team COULD surprise everyone and go with a guy like CB Joe Hayden out of Florida with the first pick in the draft and draft linemen with the rest. (I mean no one knows).

I'd rather get a corner through FA and draft line, line, line... but the point is we HAVE TO HAVE a starting CB in 2010 opposite D. Hall....

and I'm sure Bruce Allen knows this after he took copious notes on our pass defense (or lack-thereof) against the G-Men.

EDIT: I left out Kevin Barnes ... but considering he hasn't seen the field this year over Smoot or Tryon... ummm ... I have no clue what he can contribute

Sure. Why not just replace the whole O-line with matadors? Better yet, instead of uniforms we could give them door mats to wear. Wearing the negative six (-06) door mat, stephanie heyer. BOOOOOOO!

I don't think he has. I'm just pointing out that he's a douchebag.

If he's a scheme fit, and he doesn't cost anything, then he can be a douchebag who scores 8 TDs for my team. But those are the kind of guys that you have to be right on, and SmootSmack was pointing out that Shanahan has brought these guys in, and then found out they couldn't play at a later time.

Yeah, the punch didn't bother me all that much because Hout was being a HUGE douchebag the whole game. If that happened with helmets on it wouldn't be any different than what we saw Monday night. The part that bothered me was his continued anger when he was being escorted away.