Rookie or Vet- who goes where?
 

We currently have needs all over the team, in this discussion give your opinion of whether the position of need should be filled by a Rookie from the draft or a veteran available in free agency and why.

For example: I think the Safety position should be filled by a veteran player. I would like to see us sign Jairus Byrd or Donte Whitner. JB is the best safety available and Whitner is aggressive and set a tone for the secondary that has been missing. I would not draft a rookie safety because we drafted two last year.

Positions of Need (If you didn't know):

WR
TE (2nd string)
T
G
DE
NT
ILB
OLB
CB
FS
SS
P
PR\KR

Re: Rookie or Vet- who goes where?
 

WR - Impact rookie
TE (2nd string) - Vet
T - Rookie
G - Rookie
DE - Either
NT - If we're staying in 3-4 are there really any true, good NTs? Vet
ILB - Rookie
OLB - If we let Orakpo go, probably gonna need a vet, otherwise, rookie
CB - Vet
FS - Vet
SS - Vet
P - Vet
PR\KR - Either

Re: Rookie or Vet- who goes where?
 

Would a rookie tandem at Guard and Tackle work? That is one half of you line adjusting to the NFL. Also the 4 or 5 best tackles can be taken before our first selection. I would maybe fill the tackle position in FA and draft a guard.

Re: Rookie or Vet- who goes where?
 

I don't care where they come from, they have to have ability. When you lock yourself into a decision like this you end up forcing a decision that ends up back firing on you.
Square peg in a round hole.

Re: Rookie or Vet- who goes where?
 

This kid Aaron Donald from Pitt sounds like a beast. He is under sized but is aggressive. I wouldn't mind taking him in the second and Chris Borland or Shayne Skov in the 3rd. Although there would be a size disadvantage with both Borland and Donald on the field at the same time.

Re: Rookie or Vet- who goes where?
 

One I'll chime in on is going to be the returner.

We've been struggling to fill this spot for years with rookies and young players. At this point I think we should just pay a proven return man and have it settled for sure. Jacoby Jones or Dexter McCluster would fit nicely.


FAILED EXPERIMENTS in past years:
*Brandon Banks
*Devin Thomas
*Marcus Mason
*Terrence Austin
*Byron Westbrook
*Anthony Armstrong
*Niles Paul
*Aldrick Robinson
*Evan Royster
*Richard Crawford (although he may still be an option if not needed on D)
*Chris Thompson
*Nick Williams


All were young players who weren't able to step up and be the man on returns, except for Crawford who won a game for us but then was injured. Joshua Morgan was our other attempt and he was just serviceable at best.

Re: Rookie or Vet- who goes where?
 

[quote=Monkeydad;1056986]One I'll chime in on is going to be the returner.

We've been struggling to fill this spot for years with rookies and young players. At this point I think we should just pay a proven return man and have it settled for sure. Jacoby Jones or Dexter McCluster would fit nicely.


FAILED EXPERIMENTS in past years:
*Brandon Banks
*Devin Thomas
*Marcus Mason
*Terrence Austin
*Byron Westbrook
*Anthony Armstrong
*Niles Paul
*Aldrick Robinson
*Evan Royster
*Richard Crawford (although he may still be an option if not needed on D)
*Chris Thompson
*Nick Williams


All were young players who weren't able to step up and be the man on returns, except for Crawford who won a game for us but then was injured. Joshua Morgan was our other attempt and he was just serviceable at best.[/quote]

I think I'll be happiest of all of the names mentioned here and around the site about free agents if we sign McCluster. We haven't had a quality return man since Brian Mitchell. Think about it, James Thrash? Randle-Fail? Banks? Some of the names listed above are just pathetic. I think we must lead the league the past 20 years in players who are finish the season on our roster and are then out of the NFL completely the following opening day.

Re: Rookie or Vet- who goes where?
 

[quote=diehardskin2982;1056969]Would a rookie tandem at Guard and Tackle work? That is one half of you line adjusting to the NFL. Also the 4 or 5 best tackles can be taken before our first selection. I would maybe fill the tackle position in FA and draft a guard.[/quote]

A rookie guard and tackle on the same side sounds like a disaster to me.

Re: Rookie or Vet- who goes where?
 

[quote=Monkeydad;1056986]One I'll chime in on is going to be the returner.

We've been struggling to fill this spot for years with rookies and young players. At this point I think we should just pay a proven return man and have it settled for sure. Jacoby Jones or Dexter McCluster would fit nicely.
[/quote]

I think that we have not targeted Special teams guys who do only special teams. Shanahan seemed to think any fast guy could be a kick returner. WRONG!!

I would like us to draft a player like Dri Archer who has blazing speed and would understand that his role is being the KR\PR.

Brandon Banks was a good return man, he just lost focus on his job. Do you agree?

Re: Rookie or Vet- who goes where?
 

[quote=Paintrain;1056994]I think I'll be happiest of all of the names mentioned here and around the site about free agents if we sign McCluster. We haven't had a quality return man since Brian Mitchell. Think about it, James Thrash? Randle-Fail? Banks? Some of the names listed above are just pathetic. I think we must lead the league the past 20 years in players who are finish the season on our roster and are then out of the NFL completely the following opening day.[/quote]

Returners and kickers until we found Kai have been a revolving door for a LONG time.

I still can't explain what happened to Randle El. He was great with the Steelers, then just lost it when he suited up for us.


Glad we solved that issue at the QB position finally. Theismann was our last legitimate franchise QB. Williams and Rypien had great years, but didn't last long.

Re: Rookie or Vet- who goes where?
 

[quote=diehardskin2982;1057006]I think that we have not targeted Special teams guys who do only special teams. Shanahan seemed to think any fast guy could be a kick returner. WRONG!!

I would like us to draft a player like Dri Archer who has blazing speed and would understand that his role is being the KR\PR.

[B]Brandon Banks was a good return man, he just lost focus on his job. Do you agree?[/B][/quote]

I don't think he was any good to be honest, good straight line speed but no vision. The fact he's now in the CFL says something.

Re: Rookie or Vet- who goes where?
 

He was fast and a small tackling target.

He also struggled against starting-caliber players apparently, hence all of the preseason success that never carried over into the real games.

I was rooting for him as a small guy to make it in the NFL, but he just didn't have it.

Re: Rookie or Vet- who goes where?
 

Positions of Need (If you didn't know):

WR-Decker, Edleman, Hakeem Nicks
TE-Andrew Quarless
T-Draft
G-Vet FA
DE-Lamarr Houston, Jason Hatcher
NT-Al Woods
ILB-Dekoda Watson, Donald Butler
OLB-Orakpo
CB-Hall, Biggers
FS-Draft + Meriweather/Charles Woodson
SS-Doughty+Gumbs
P
PR\KR-Draft

Re: Rookie or Vet- who goes where?
 

WR Vet and Draft
TE (2nd string) Draft or rookie free agent
T Draft
G Draft and cheap vet
DE Draft
NT Draft
ILB Draft
OLB Vet
CB Draft
FS Vet
SS Vet
P Vet
PR\KR Vet

Since they have early picks every round they could trade down in a round and pick up an extra pick or two.

Re: Rookie or Vet- who goes where?
 

I like TJ Ward better than Byrd, I've seen more highlights on Ward than Byrd.