H.B. Blades

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by GMScud

I live in Florida, so I certainly know about the Blades family. He definitely has the pedigree. We'll see how he works out.

I personally am really annoyed that we haven't even made an effort to acquire D-line help. It's our most pressing need, and we have totally ignored it, both in free agency and the draft. Arghhhh. We better get Kris Jenkins...

Blades' profile:
NFL.com - Prospect Profiles

Well, after the Landry pick, theres not much you can do by way of DL. Best case scenario, you get another Golston.

I really wanted Okoye, but I'll be satisfied with the Landry pick assuming two things:

1) In the 2008 draft, we invest AT LEAST two day one picks into the DL, at least one at DT.
2) If Sean Taylor continues to regress as a coverage safety, we stop making excuses, and cut his ass.

Taylor and Landry could be a very dominant safety duo for many years, but if Sean keeps biting on every semblance of play action he sees, no one will even bother to throw in Landry's direction. We need competant safety play next to Landry and if Taylor can alter his game a bit to bring it, wonderful. If he can't, get someone in there who can.

[Longtimefan]

Originally Posted by Big C

the front office obviously thought that there werent any dline prospects worth picking this late. would u rather have 2 linebackers who can contribute in certain packages and on special teams or dlinement that get cut before the season?

Plus, Gibbs maintains G. Blache is satisfied with the personel we have on the d-line citing last years additions of Golston & Montgomery, I"m not in agreement, but that's his assessment anyway. It would be difficult at best to find any d/line gems picking that late in the draft, so I guess the LB's were the highest rated players on their board at the time they selected.

[hooskins]

Originally Posted by Big C

the front office obviously thought that there werent any dline prospects worth picking this late. would u rather have 2 linebackers who can contribute in certain packages and on special teams or dlinement that get cut before the season?

Very good point that most fans on this forum lack to understand. What if we draft Dlinemen who are subpar and cant even help? Why not get a defensive player that might actually be helpful in the LR.

[Skins_4_Lyfe]

Originally Posted by EARTHQUAKE2689

d line wasnt healthy last year just waIT SHOULD BE BACK TO 05 FORM

Yeah, 05 FORM + 2 years. Our D-line is old and won't make it through the season healthy.

[Big C]

Originally Posted by offiss

Contribute? Rocky couldn't do that last year, do you think either one of these guys barring major injury problems will see the field?

on special teams at the very least i'd assume, which rocky managed to do as well

[TenandSix:Unacceptable]

If we lose a lot next year, it will be because of poor play from Jason Campbell, and an inability to stop the run or pressure the passer- (Or unexpected injuries and the like.) Honestly, the Grilliams system is excellent at stopping the run if he can clog the box and his LB's and secondary can make open field tackles. The problem with our defense in 04 and 05 was that we had to blitz to get pressure, and if our cornerbacks and safeties missed tackles, we gave up very long runs. I would be more than happy with a defense next year that approaches that level. If it does, the burden will really be shifted back to JC, Saunders and the offense. If you remember our lone JGII playoff year, it was 100% the offense that caused us to lose at Seattle. We forced turnovers, knocked out MVP Alexander, and kept it close. We just could not capitalize when we had possession. With all this talk about DL this and defense that, I would not be surprised to be sunk by the offense next year. I mean, have our players adapted to the Saunders approach, and do we have the type of players that thrive in his system? Saunders, like Williams, has an outstanding track record of recent success. The best we can hope for is a return to form on D, and serious progress on O. If those two things happen, and I will give 50-50 odds on both, we should be a very competitive team next year.

[budw38]

Originally Posted by Skinny Tee

What pressure did we have in the '05 season. If you remember correctly the Charger game we were up near the end of the game and we let them come back because of the picnic that Brees was having in the pocket during passing plays. Brees would spread some Dijon, then cut his sandwich in triangle fourths, and then decide between his 5th or 6th checked down reciever.

We needed DE's after the '05 season just like we need it now. A. Carter is a start he's not the end of our DE stablility.

Too bad no one in our FO / coaches think the D Line is important . What is really amazing is how our div. oppt's draft at least 1 DL-Men just about every year and all 3 of them have good pass rushers . We might have more 30 + year olds on our OL / DL than NY / PH / D combined . Sartz and blades will probably be good players in a year or two ,,, we need DL help now ! Good news we can draft DL in rds 1-2 & 3 next year , now that we have spent 8 draft picks on LB's the past 3 years . Why did they let Pierce go ?

[CHIEF CHUCKING MY SPEAR]

come on bud the skins FO has a plan but none of us are smart enough to figure it out. You cant go wrong with experince we have enough on our oline/dline. Maybe the skins think we will get some kinda senior citizen discount for the age on our dline.

[GoSkins!]

I can't understand why people are so upset that we didn't take DL players with our late round picks. Late round picks are not going to make an impact 99 out of 100 times. You have to take the best player available and hope you hit on something. On top of that, we took two late round picks for the DL last year. It is very possible that the staff didn't see anybody that late in the draft that they felt would do better than Golston and Montgomery.

2nd or 3rd round, yeah. 6th or 7th round, we already did that.

[Pocket$ $traight]

Originally Posted by CHIEF CHUCKING MY SPEAR

come on bud the skins FO has a plan but none of us are smart enough to figure it out. You cant go wrong with experince we have enough on our oline/dline. Maybe the skins think we will get some kinda senior citizen discount for the age on our dline.

The offseason isn't over yet. If they do not get a FA or two on the line, then I agree with you but the fact that they didn't use the 6th and 7th round picks on the line doesn't bother me.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Grim21Reaper

The offseason isn't over yet. If they do not get a FA or two on the line, then I agree with you but the fact that they didn't use the 6th and 7th round picks on the line doesn't bother me.

Exactly. There's always the possibility of a trade, or a June 1 cut.

[artmonkforhallofamein07]

I'm a WVU fan and I love this pick!! He's a beast and could be a new LondonFletcher. I like that he will be L Fs understudy. We lucked out with this guys l'm telling you. So who do we try to bring in Rookie Free Agents?

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Exactly. There's always the possibility of a trade, or a June 1 cut.

At this point, anybody traded obviously didn't fit the bill for their former team. Even moreso post-June 1. Nobody throws out solid D-lineman.

If someone told you that after last year, following the brutal assault from Tiki Barber and the Giants with their running attack in the final game of the season, that we would not have drafted ONE defensive linemen, or signed one via free agency, would you have believed them?

[budw38]

Originally Posted by CHIEF CHUCKING MY SPEAR

come on bud the skins FO has a plan but none of us are smart enough to figure it out. You cant go wrong with experince we have enough on our oline/dline. Maybe the skins think we will get some kinda senior citizen discount for the age on our dline.

I think you are on to something . Looks like the Bears are shopping DE A. Brown < on KFFL's website > . It would be nice to have some youth at DL & OL , so we could coach and work these guys into our line up . Lets hope Golston comes in hungry with a shot at some more playing time . I really thought we were going to trade our 08 2nd and grab on the the DE's in the third rd . Lets hope Danials /Griff & Salavae stay healthy this year and Rogers has a break out season !

[budw38]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

At this point, anybody traded obviously didn't fit the bill for their former team. Even moreso post-June 1. Nobody throws out solid D-lineman.

If someone told you that after last year, following the brutal assault from Tiki Barber and the Giants with their running attack in the final game of the season, that we would not have drafted ONE defensive linemen, or signed one via free agency, would you have believed them?

YES , because it seems like I have been hoping for them to draft D-Line for the past 16 years !! I like Landry , and both LB's could start in the NFL ,,, I just fear Griff or Carter going down and we are doomed .