Kinda evens out? You knew that wasn't true when you typed it. Just because we play a bunch of late rounders and UDFA's doesn't mean they're the equivalent of what you would've gotten out of guys in Rounds 1-3.
Originally Posted by: uffda udfa
Yeah, well, that's just, like, your opinion, man. The important part when we trot out 11 guys to play defense is whether or not they can play. If you're argument is simply that we could use better players, I won't disagree. Defense has been an overall disappointment of late. But if it's a real problem that our producers aren't all Round 1-3 guys, then I can't help you. No one can.
There is ZERO inherent value to a player based on where they were taken. You say late rounders aren't the equivalent of what you'd get out of guys in Round 1-3? If they are better players, then, um, they're better players.
Once more -- go ahead, do it, I dare ya -- go back and look at first round picks over the years. Across the board, across franchises, there are way more turds than Pro Bowlers.
We are fortunate we are able to find decent players late and off the street or we'd really be hurting on D. Still, our saving grace is our QB. I don't know why, it was only a pre season game, but this game vs. St. Louis had the feel of Atlanta in the playoffs to me. It just felt like Rodgers was going to do whatever he wanted. We're pretty good based on that alone.
Originally Posted by: uffda udfa
Don't forget that though Rodgers was a Greek god in that game, it took an interception on the last play of the first half -- from an UDFA, no less -- to break the game open.
Hit on your 1st rounders... and your defensive picks. Ted Thompson hasn't just not been good...he's been unacceptably bad. So bad he has 2 UDFA's starting at CB. The first rounders we do have have been nothing but average outside of Clay.
You should be testier because the failure of your 1st rounders is an impediment a big one.
Originally Posted by: uffda udfa
You make it sound like, again, having an UDFA out there on the field is a bad thing. Say we draft a corner in the first round. Then we bring in a UDFA. The UDFA is better in competition. I say we've just found a starting CB. You say we ruined a first-round pick. In the words of Dave Mason, "We just disagree."
And to the point about Ted Thompson not hitting on defensive backs -- I disagree. Hayward, Shields, Hyde, Tramon, House, Burnett. That's a solid defensive backfield. Burnett has the spotlight on him after a crappy 2013 campaign -- that's true. And the jury is still out on Ha-Ha.
Just imagine if we were the Lions... Stafford, Bush, Suh, Megatron, Fairley, Ansah, Reiff, How bad would Detroit be without those former 1st rounders?
Originally Posted by: uffda udfa
Because I value my sanity, I'm going to skip on imagining if we were the Lions. I don't think I could handle the despair. But while we're on the topic -- I wouldn't look to Detroit for any lesson on how to build around first-round talents. They're an awful franchise -- not to mention it's easier to hit on a stud like Megatron when you pick in the top 10 every year. And Fairley is fairly overrated, so I wouldn't include him in that list.
We have Rodgers and Matthews from Round 1... just imagine how awful we'd be without them... you saw it last year. Didn't appear to me the UDFA's and late rounders we hit on "kinda evened" things out for us.
Originally Posted by: uffda udfa
We also have B.J. Raji and A.J. Hawk as solid but unspectacular starters. Though Hawk has made more of an impact as of late, it would be hard to ignore Raji's success on the XLV team.
So these horrible first-round misses on defensive players would be: Nick Perry in 2012 and Datone from last year. Those are the only first round picks spent on defensive players in the last four seasons (not counting Ha-Ha this year).
What the hell are you ranting about?
It's delusion to say 1st rounders aren't critical to success.
Originally Posted by: uffda udfa
I looked up delusional on WebMD and now I'm starting to really freak myself out. Thanks for raising awareness.
I wish Nick Perry could stay on the field. I wish he made the transition to OLB more smoothly. I hope Datone can turn a corner in year two. I'm also willing to allow Ha Ha to, you know, play a little bit before I decide if he's any good.
Meanwhile, I'm going to celebrate guys like Casey Hayward (2nd round pick), Mike Daniels (4th) and Micah Hyde (5th).
I'm going to feel good about the prospects of Morgan Burnett (3rd), Davon House (4th) and Mike Neal (2nd).
I'm going to watch with intrigue to see how Sam Barrington (7th), Josh Boyd (5th) and Mike Pennel develop.
But here's what I'm NOT going to do -- relish every opportunity to exaggerate the effects of a couple of first-round misses (the latter of which, in Datone, is honestly a judgment made far too soon).
William Henderson didn't have to run people over. His preferred method was levitation.
"I'm a reasonable man, get off my case."