Well, we are getting closer to draft day, and a lot of mocks and commentaries have been made on many draft prospects.
One thing that I am seeing that is a bit concerning is a seeming willingness to overlook shortcomings in player speed and quickness.
Borland looks to be an incredibly instinctive player at ILB, as does Skov. Both, however, are very slow players. As much as I love the raw instincts for the game, I feel this lack of speed will be a huge detriment at the pro level, where everyone is faster.
In all cases, give me the player with both instincts and speed to make plays at the pro level. If the player has instincts but lacks speed, no thanks.
Our run D really needs some speed in the middle, ILB alongside Hawk. Two of our biggest concerns should be stopping players like Adrian Peterson and Colin Kaepernick. How are we going to do that if we add players who can't keep up?
I would say the same should hold true at S and on the DL. Speed should be trumping these decisions. Without that, I just don't see how we can improve. One of the attributes that set Nick Collins apart, aside from his ball skills and instincts, was his incredible speed to make and finish plays. I want to see that again at S for GB. I want to see way more speed at ILB, and more speed on our DL.
Players like Borland and Skov are not going to be as successful at the pro level - that's my guess, and they will get killed in coverage. This draft for GB, speed should be a premium.