Originally posted by blm7754:
Originally posted by GhostofFredDean74:
I think we're better off moving up just a few spots to secure Jesse Williams than jumping up to the middle of the first to get Richardson. Richardson is the better pass rusher, no doubt, but Williams is more versatile...we could get a pass rushing DE later.
One that is stout enough to play the run as a 3-4 DE too? I think not. We need an every-down player. Outside of Sharrif Floyd, Sheldon Richardson, and Datone Jones... I don't see anybody that could replace Justin Smith.
How is Jesse Williams more versatile? He's a solid player, no doubt. But he's a run stuffer... a very good one, but we need a consistent pass rushing DL. Justin Smith has 1 more year, and if he gets hurt, our defense sucks.
1.) I think people forget that we don't play in a pure/constant 3-4. We play just as much 4-3 as anything, so they don't have to be PURE 3-4 d-lineman (neither RayMac or Justin were true 3-4 DE when they came in to the league, they developed over time).
2.) There are a number of guys who have the frame/ability to be effective DEs in our system, e.g., William Gholston, Tank Carradine, Margus Hunt, Everett Dawkins, Nick Williams, Devin Taylor, Lavar Edwards, Joe Kruger, Malliciah Goodman, Kapron Lewis-Moore, Quinton Dial, Benny Logan, Stacey McGee and Damian Square. Not all will be effective right away, but they don't need to be since McDonald and Smith still have plenty of football in them.
3.) Jesse Williams is versatile in that he could play be a 3-4 NT (likely his future position), a 4-3 DT or a 3-4 DE (which he played a lot at Alabama). Richardson (who as I said, is a better pass rusher than Williams) can do a lot of things, but I don't see him being an effective 3-4 NT.
That said, if they want to trade up for Richardson, I wouldn't be opposed to it...I just don't think they will. And I like Richardson, but I don't think he's a monster pass rusher (6 sacks in two years) that will somehow solve our problems if something happened to Justin or Ray.
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