I'm not sure I get people's issues with Solomon. I'm a Hooker Train passenger myself, but picking Solomon isn't a bad move.
AA is a question mark. Maybe he develops, maybe this is as good as it gets.
Drafting Soloman Thomas is a good thing.
Drafting Soloman Thomas doesn't look like it solves our edge rush concerns. He makes plays inside the tackle box.
No matter the pick at 2 (unless it's Garrett, or a reach), we're not solving our edge rush woes in the first round. Let use our 34 pick for this (and even get another one later as well).
There seems to be a concern on the board that drafting Thomas means we don't really have a place to play our last three first round draft picks (AA, Buck, Thomas) all at the same time.
To this concern, my reply is basically this:
If AA busts, then we just fixed it. Win. We brought in a stud (Thomas), we already have a stud (Buckner.) We move forward with those two and build around them.
If AA develops, then we just got deeper at one of our worst position group. Win. On base downs, yes, we might not be able to get them all on the field all the time. But there are base alignments that would allow all three studs to play (bear front), and certainly in nickel (where we're most likely playing a lot more of than base).
There also seems to be a concern about where he fits in general: Where would he play, what role? The scheme has"textbook" traits you'd want from each DLineman, and he doesn't fit any one of them. He's too small for the 5T. He's too small for the 3T.
This can get confusing because when you look at other teams (e.g. Seattle), they will one year, put a 320 pounder at 5T, then a couple of years later, they put a 310 pounder at 3T. How are they able to do that?
It's because we're in a flexible scheme, which isn't easy for some to accept. This isn't like the D we ran under Fangio, where you could clearly define what you wanted from your nose, your 2 DEs, etc.
One of the great aspects of this scheme is that you can literally take any type of player and find a spot for him. We're no longer reaching for that "perfect 3-4 DE", nor trying to find those two perfect OLBs.
Just get talent and we'll find a place for you. In Seattle, Bennett is all over the place. 3T, 5T, Elephant. They just drafted a 310 lb Reed, and he plays 3T. In text book world, they already had one in Bennett, but they did it anyway. It seems unlikely that Carrolltold Schneider, "only get me guys that can play one spot." He wants beasts up front, and then he adjusts his front to the talent he has, to the talent they've acquired in FA and the draft. It really opens up simply getting the best players available, and then molding your front around them.
Do we still need edge rush? Yes.
Do we still need a Fat run stuffing 2 gapper? Yes.
Are we going to address either one of those positions at 2? Most likely not.
So if you feel Thomas is the BPA, then take him and build the fronts around the talent and depth you have.
I believe Hooker is BPA at 2, and fills a huge need. But if Thomas is the pick, that's great.
[ Edited by Lobo49er on Apr 4, 2017 at 7:06 AM ]
