Solomon Thomas--Stanford

His best fit on the defense probably is as LEO but he could also play as a DT as well. Really want to see who he will be used on the defense if he's drafted.

Originally posted by genus49:

Originally posted by jreff22:

Depends more on MG. I think it's harder for MG to live up to expectations. Thomas could have 8 sacks his rookie year and be seen in a more positive light than MG getting 9...people will expect double digit sacks.

I think Thomas will give 110% every day and will be a great pro. I still can't justify drafting him for the LEO. And if you're cool with kicking him inside on passing downs, the question must be answered. Who becomes the outside pass rush specialist? You go into the year with a major hole and leave the draft with it still there.

A mid round guy won't be the guy, let's be real here.

Thomas himself said he's a strong side guy.

I still think he CAN play Leo. Whether it's the best fit for him doesn't change that fact. Versatility is not a bad thing. We can look at someone like Jordan Willis, Derek Rivers or maybe even Tim Williams if ShaLynch think he checks out off the field.

I think if we can't trade down and Kyle isn't sold on any of the QBs then we need to grab the best pass rusher available. That's Thomas. He checks all the boxes as a player. Worry about where he plays later.

Trade down to what? He's going top 5.

NFL.com compares him to Justin Smith, I miss the cowboy

After watching some tape on him, I really believe this will be our selection if our office doesnt want any of the Qbs.

Originally posted by jcs:

Originally posted by jreff22:

Originally posted by PRIMETIME21:

yall think he has the potential to be better than garrett?

Depends more on MG. I think it's harder for MG to live up to expectations. Thomas could have 8 sacks his rookie year and be seen in a more positive light than MG getting 9...people will expect double digit sacks.

I think Thomas will give 110% every day and will be a great pro. I still can't justify drafting him for the LEO. And if you're cool with kicking him inside on passing downs, the question must be answered. Who becomes the outside pass rush specialist? You go into the year with a major hole and leave the draft with it still there.

A mid round guy won't be the guy, let's be real here.

Thomas himself said he's a strong side guy.

I think we need to stop looking at his potential role as a limited strong side or inside pass rusher. This guy is pure versatility and will let us move him all over the Dline based on matchup. His advantage is his ability to create pressure everywhere and it gives the 3-4 other limited outside pass rushers we have on the roster already a chance to do what they do best.

That's standard combine talk. Every DB "can play" outside, inside, and both safety positions when you ask them.

Every analyst has him pegged to kick inside on passing downs. This isn't a conspiracy against him. People watch him and say he's a better force inside on passing downs. Yes he can rush from the outside but he's better doing it from the inside. Why take him away from what he does best?

I'm gonna put the fear of God in them every play." Solomon Thomas at the podium.

Gangster as f**k.

Originally posted by jreff22:
Trade down to what? He's going top 5.

Wasn't saying to trade down for him. If we want him we need to take him at #2. I thought before the combine we may be able to do it but not happening now.

Originally posted by jreff22:
That's standard combine talk. Every DB "can play" outside, inside, and both safety positions when you ask them.

Every analyst has him pegged to kick inside on passing downs. This isn't a conspiracy against him. People watch him and say he's a better force inside on passing downs. Yes he can rush from the outside but he's better doing it from the inside. Why take him away from what he does best?

Just because he does something best doesn't mean he can't succeed at something else. His less than best can still be better than other people's best.

Scouts get so hung up on traditional/prototypical size comparisons that they sometimes talk themselves out of really good players.

Thomas can play anywhere on the line. Skipping on him because today you may not have a huge need at the position that suits him best is a mistake. He's a complete player and a very good pass rusher. You can't have enough of those.

Originally posted by genus49:

Originally posted by jreff22:

That's standard combine talk. Every DB "can play" outside, inside, and both safety positions when you ask them.

Every analyst has him pegged to kick inside on passing downs. This isn't a conspiracy against him. People watch him and say he's a better force inside on passing downs. Yes he can rush from the outside but he's better doing it from the inside. Why take him away from what he does best?

Just because he does something best doesn't mean he can't succeed at something else. His less than best can still be better than other people's best.

Scouts get so hung up on traditional/prototypical size comparisons that they sometimes talk themselves out of really good players.

Thomas can play anywhere on the line. Skipping on him because today you may not have a huge need at the position that suits him best is a mistake. He's a complete player and a very good pass rusher. You can't have enough of those.

Let me ask this.

Who are we benching for him? He's not playing the 1T. So are we pulling AA or Buck? If he can play anywhere sans the 1T, and our other guys can't, who gets pulled? Are you ok possibly pulling Buck?

I can appreciate versatility but moving him around means putting somebody else at a spot they don't fit or pulling them.

Originally posted by genus49:
Just because he does something best doesn't mean he can't succeed at something else. His less than best can still be better than other people's best.

Scouts get so hung up on traditional/prototypical size comparisons that they sometimes talk themselves out of really good players.

Thomas can play anywhere on the line. Skipping on him because today you may not have a huge need at the position that suits him best is a mistake. He's a complete player and a very good pass rusher. You can't have enough of those.

It's one of the best draft classes ever at pass rusher though and there's some really good Leo prospects available in the 2nd. Or at least at a short trade up range. To me it really comes down to how we see Buckner fitting in since he's the crown jewel of the line. Most seem to be putting him in the Bennett role and if that's true it's going to limit Thomas's effectiveness since everyone can't kick inside. We may need a true edge rusher here so as good as Thomas is he just may not be the best fit here.

Originally posted by jreff22:
Let me ask this.

Who are we benching for him? He's not playing the 1T. So are we pulling AA or Buck? If he can play anywhere sans the 1T, and our other guys can't, who gets pulled? Are you ok possibly pulling Buck?

I can appreciate versatility but moving him around means putting somebody else at a spot they don't fit or pulling them.

I'm not down on Armstead but he needs to show he's worth it. I believe Thomas can play anywhere on the line and yes I think he'd be better than fine outside at Leo.

However if Armstead doesn't take the next step or anyone gets hurt having the versatility of Thomas is a big plus.

Originally posted by tjd808185:
It's one of the best draft classes ever at pass rusher though and there's some really good Leo prospects available in the 2nd. Or at least at a short trade up range. To me it really comes down to how we see Buckner fitting in since he's the crown jewel of the line. Most seem to be putting him in the Bennett role and if that's true it's going to limit Thomas's effectiveness since everyone can't kick inside. We may need a true edge rusher here so as good as Thomas is he just may not be the best fit here.

I'm not so sure Buckner's best fit is outside, I think we're putting him there because we have to do something with Armstead. I'd hate to pass on a terrific pass rusher and great overall player just because we have someone else we're unsure of.

I do agree there are some good Leo prospects who would be available in the 2nd round but to me a guy like Thomas is worth taking and you make it work.

I love Soloman Thomas.

He can play anywhere and will play with 100% effort and passion. When Lynch was talking up Earl Mitchell he talked about working hard, setting and example and running to the ball. Watch plays of Thomas chasing down running backs on screens or tosses. He goes 100 miles an hour all the time.

A few other things:

*Earl Mitchell is not a NT. Never has been. He is a penetrating DT who has never been stout vs the run. I don't think we are done at the NT position and we will look to add a true run stuffer for the middle of our D-line.

*I don't see a spot for Arik Armstead (6'7, 300), Quinton Dial (6'5, 320) or Ronald Blair (6'2, 285) on the D-line. Where will they play? Just because Armstead was a high draft pick does not mean we will play him where he doesn't fit. He is not a DE in a 4-3. He lacks the explosiveness to bend the edge. He is not a DT because he doesn't play with leverage and will get owned in the run game. I think he will get moved. I love Blair but again, where does he fit? We may keep him around at DE if Harold doesn't show anything.

*We need to add at least one more speed rusher (Jordan Willis) to fit the role Frank Clark plays on nickle downs when our LDE (Michael Bennett) slides in to DT to replace the NT on passing downs. Soloman Thomas is a perfect fit to be our Michael Bennett.

Draft:

1- Solomon Thomas, DE- Stanford 6'3, 273
The announcers in the North Carolina game said it best. "Soloman Thomas, Whats your position? Football" This guy is a monster. He singlehandedly takes over games. His work ethic, passion and leadership are second to none. Line him up at LEO, line him up at DT. Put him at OLB. It doesn't matter. He will make plays and fly to the ball. I don't care that we took two D linemen in consecutive years. Those were Baalke's picks. Thomas will be Lynch's first ever pick and if he is anything like Justin Smith he will be a dominant force and a team leader for a decade. I really like Marshon Lattimore but it starts in the trenches. He will play the role that Michael Bennett plays in Seattle.

2- Jordan Willis, DE- Kansas State 6'3, 255
Pure, explosive pass rusher. Might be the best speed rusher in the draft. Very similar to Cliff Avril in Seattle. We desperatley need a pass rush to make this D work. A nickel D line of Jordan Willis - Soloman Thomas - DeForest Buckner could be deadly.

3- Dalvin Tomlinson, NT- Alabama 6'3, 310
Wins with leverage, power and technique. Beast of a man who is also very smart and could have gone to Harvard. He is leader and a model citizen. I love this guy.

Seahawks D-Line:

LDE- Michael Bennett (6'3, 273) ----- Frank Clark (6'1, 270)
NT- Ahtyba Rubin (6'3, 330) ----- John Jenkins (6'4, 345)
DT- Jarran Reed (6'3, 310) ---- Tony McDaniel (6'7, 305)
RDE- Cliff Avril (6'3, 260) ----- Damontre Moore (6'4, 250)

Nickel D-Line

LDE- Frank Clark
DT- Michael Bennett
DT- Jarran Reed
RDE- Cliff Avril

Compared to ours:

LDE- Soloman Thomas (6'3, 273) -----Jordan Willis (6'3, 255)
NT- Dalvin Tomlinson (6'3, 310) ----- Mike Purcell (6'3, 305)
DT- DeForest Buckner (6'7, 300) ---- Earl Mitchell (6'2, 296)
RDE- Aaron Lynch (6'5, 249) ---- Eli Harold (6'3, 247) or Ronald Blair (6'2, 285)

Nickel D-Line:

LDE- Jordan Willis
DT- Soloman Thomas
DT- DeForest Buckner
RDE- Aaron Lynch

It just makes sense to re-work the D-lines. We don't have the personell to run the scheme Shanahan and Lynch want to run so we will look to the draft to find guys that fit. Thomas, Willis and Tomlinson are absolutly prefect for what we run and are high character guys while Armstead, Blair and Dial are not.

^one of the few times we agree on something lol

SteveYoung: I must have missed something here. In what way is Blair not a high character guy?

Originally posted by English:

SteveYoung: I must have missed something here. In what way is Blair not a high character guy?

Think he means to say that those other guys are perfect for what we run (and are also high character guys), while Armstead and Blair may not be perfect for what we run now.