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Is drafting DLinemen more risky than OLinemen?
Apr 17, 2013 at 3:24 PM
- gunslinger8
- Member
- Posts: 272
I ask this because both offense and defense start on the line. Our front office is showing how much they value the OL by extending Davis and working on Iupati. So much is made of the fact that we have 3 1st rounders on our line. That being said, Cowboy IS our DL. But with the ammunition we have this year, and the talent a available, would drafting more than 1 DLineman early in the draft translate to having a dominant D line for years to come and, therefore, possibility of another dynasty?
Apr 17, 2013 at 3:29 PM
- highway49
- Veteran
- Posts: 3,995
Kwame later
Apr 17, 2013 at 3:51 PM
- Crazy49er1313
- Veteran
- Posts: 3,123
Well, for us we have the #1 OL in the league and 4 out of the 5 guys are under 28yrs of age. One of the biggest keys for OL is "consistency" (as any person who played OL would know, from Pop Warner to Pros) with knowing calls and tendencies of the man next to you. On DL, as long as you fit the system I feel it's easier to place players next to each other on the DL.
Don't get me wrong, both positions are VITAL to our success (as my coach used to put it, "Control the lines, control the game"), but as long as the DL can take up blockers, our defense is predicated on the play of our LBers, which is why we invested so much money into Willis/Bowman/Brooks/soon-to-be A.Smith. Justin Smith is my favorite player and is an invaluable talent on any team (basically a space eater/run stopper/pass rusher all rolled into one), but replacing DL in our scheme appears easier than replacing OL.
Remember the seasons after we got rid of Deese/Brown/Newberry in same season? Our best OLineman was Willing (a backup OG on any other team) until we drafted Staley, and even he wasn't great until Larry Allen joined the team. We have our first real franchise QB since Young, I think it's good if we invest more into protecting him
Don't get me wrong, both positions are VITAL to our success (as my coach used to put it, "Control the lines, control the game"), but as long as the DL can take up blockers, our defense is predicated on the play of our LBers, which is why we invested so much money into Willis/Bowman/Brooks/soon-to-be A.Smith. Justin Smith is my favorite player and is an invaluable talent on any team (basically a space eater/run stopper/pass rusher all rolled into one), but replacing DL in our scheme appears easier than replacing OL.
Remember the seasons after we got rid of Deese/Brown/Newberry in same season? Our best OLineman was Willing (a backup OG on any other team) until we drafted Staley, and even he wasn't great until Larry Allen joined the team. We have our first real franchise QB since Young, I think it's good if we invest more into protecting him
Apr 17, 2013 at 3:52 PM
- tatdwolf49
- Veteran
- Posts: 3,206
I believe its a must do to draft atleast 2 D-lineman ..this is a strong defense draft N we need youth N depth on out line ... I like D.Jones, J.Williams, B.Williams, Kwame geathers,Q.Smith(think he's more of a OLB though) also have a draft crush on Joe Kruger ...
[ Edited by tatdwolf49 on Apr 17, 2013 at 3:54 PM ]
Apr 17, 2013 at 4:00 PM
- Crazy49er1313
- Veteran
- Posts: 3,123
Originally posted by tatdwolf49:
I believe its a must do to draft atleast 2 D-lineman ..this is a strong defense draft N we need youth N depth on out line ... I like D.Jones, J.Williams, B.Williams, Kwame geathers,Q.Smith(think he's more of a OLB though) also have a draft crush on Joe Kruger ...
I agree 100%, would love Jones in 1st, Hankins in 3rd, and I don't know why but I have a feeling we'll pick up Gholston from Michigan State in the 5th round if he's available, to be a "Tomsula project" to get him motivated b/c the physical talent is there.
Apr 17, 2013 at 5:33 PM
- krizay
- Veteran
- Posts: 24,598
We have 5 picks in the 1st 3 rounds. This is one reason why I would love to draft Woods/Allen early. Get one of the top 4-5 TE's in 2nd-3rd rounds. Draft lattimore in the 3rd. That leaves us with a DE in the 1st or 2nd. FS in the 2nd-3rd. This allows our offensive guys to gain a years experience before they are REALLY NEEDED. While still filling our immediate holes on defense.
This would give us a cheap #2 for atleast 4 years (5 if we draft him with the 31) to go with Crabs. 3 good RB's after Gore is done and a young TE. Our offense would be sitting pretty for the next 4+ years.
Then in the next couple drafts we can look at adding depth along both lines. AS well as Willis eventual replacement as he will be at the dredded 30 mark this time in 2 years.
This would give us a cheap #2 for atleast 4 years (5 if we draft him with the 31) to go with Crabs. 3 good RB's after Gore is done and a young TE. Our offense would be sitting pretty for the next 4+ years.
Then in the next couple drafts we can look at adding depth along both lines. AS well as Willis eventual replacement as he will be at the dredded 30 mark this time in 2 years.
Apr 18, 2013 at 12:50 AM
- WildBill
- Veteran
- Posts: 6,100
Depends on your scheme and coachng. In our heyday, walsh never needed high picks to make good a good OL. the highest was Harris Barton and Bubba Paris and they were not drafted close together. DL, however, he would use picks from 1st to 3rd rounders.
Apr 18, 2013 at 8:40 AM
- blm7754
- Veteran
- Posts: 2,781
I wouldn't say the drafting DL is more "risky". But it is harder to do, because you have to be careful to pick guys that are right for your defensive system. There is much more variability of technique on the DL than there is on OL. A guy that is great in a college defense may not be great in a different scheme in the NFL (see Glen Dorsey).
That said, yes... we absolutely must invest some high draft picks in our DL. Anybody that thinks that we can have a dominant defense with just average DL and great LBs is fooling themselves. It all starts up front.
Taking 2 DL high in this draft would be a good idea. Justin Smith doesn't have much longer... likely only 1 year left. And every other position on our DL could be upgraded.
That said, yes... we absolutely must invest some high draft picks in our DL. Anybody that thinks that we can have a dominant defense with just average DL and great LBs is fooling themselves. It all starts up front.
Taking 2 DL high in this draft would be a good idea. Justin Smith doesn't have much longer... likely only 1 year left. And every other position on our DL could be upgraded.
Apr 18, 2013 at 9:24 AM
- LasVegasWally
- Veteran
- Posts: 24,247
Tough call and I don't know if there are any stats available.
I gues proclivity for injuries has to be included in determining it one way or the other. Bust factors also - I'm sure there is a perecnetage figure somewhere that would say that OLine or DLine has a higher bust or injury trend.
IMO - probably meaningless.
I gues proclivity for injuries has to be included in determining it one way or the other. Bust factors also - I'm sure there is a perecnetage figure somewhere that would say that OLine or DLine has a higher bust or injury trend.
IMO - probably meaningless.