Okay, next up the draft

[oldno82]

Tough choice for me between Starks and Pearce. Think I'd go with Pearce because our pass rush needs a more consistent dirsruptor but Starks would make me happy too...he sounds like he's in the Kyle Hamilton mode.

[tsylvester]

Starks is a ball hawk, a leader of secondaries. He did struggle a bit last season, being out of position that lead to big plays. This, I believe, was due in large part to the inexperience UGA had in the secondary and him trying to cover it up.

In this system, he should be a natural, then again, maybe he looked so good the years prior because of the incredible pass rush the Dawgs had...

[oldno82]

Yep, the pass rush affects the secondary and vice versa. At least we won't be watching Brandon Stephens sticking like glue to receivers who wind up making the catch after all because Stephens can't track the ball.

We need both guys of the types you mentioned.

Here's what Kiper thinks:

https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/mel-kiper-loves-malaki-starks-ravens-nick-emmanwori-kevin-winston-jonas-sanker.

[papasmurfbell]

I’d rather have a great pass rush than great coverage.  The coverage sack is rarer than the great rush.

[oldno82]

Well whenever they do get around to picking the edge rusher, there's 2 things I'm going to look for:

1) I want to see us draft a guy who has both power and speed instead of what we've been drafting lately which have been primarily speed guys,

2) A guy who wasn't injured in '24 and put up really good numbers.

In short, no Oweh's or Ojabo's!

[tsylvester]

1 hour ago, papasmurfbell said:

I’d rather have a great pass rush than great coverage.  The coverage sack is rarer than the great rush.

I agree, they can always find am athletic inexperienced safety and let him learn, either draft or undrafted. But if Pearce is there at 27, I sure hope that they take him

[papasmurfbell]

I will not say who to draft.  I have not done the homework.  Coming out of the draft I want a starting caliber rt, dt, edge rusher, and guard.  I would also like a fs who is solid and  can let Kyle go back to playing the queen.  We also should get a kicker of some kind.  Oh yeah get a blocking te.  We also need a punt returner.  Add in some middle linebacker help   That is 9 spots.

[tsylvester]

In my opinion, no matter what the pundits say, Pearce is the best olb in the draft, size, speed, power. Tennessee used him in a variety of ways, he even covered tight ends on occasion pretty darn well. He knows how to not only get to the qb, but take him down as well.

I would even trade up a few spots to get him

[oldno82]

3 hours ago, papasmurfbell said:

I will not say who to draft.  I have not done the homework.  Coming out of the draft I want a starting caliber rt, dt, edge rusher, and guard.  I would also like a fs who is solid and  can let Kyle go back to playing the queen.  We also should get a kicker of some kind.  Oh yeah get a blocking te.  We also need a punt returner.  Add in some middle linebacker help   That is 9 spots.

I'm all in with you on wanting Hamilton to go back to being what he was doing in 2023.

[tsylvester]

Little over a week away, so, who ya got for rd 1? Trade up, trade down, stay put, pick a position if it's easier fer ya

[oldno82]

An starting edge rusher or a starting safety would make me happy. One or the other should be available at 27.

I don't see Eric moviing up or down. I think it will wind up with us staying put.

[tsylvester]

Yeah, they are really good at finding that mid to late rounds defensive tackle, even undrafted, so while there are a number of them worthy at 27, I can't see then drafting a defensive tackle at 27.

Inside backer is another possible position of need, but none worthy at 27.

They don't really need a wide out, not sure there is even one worthy of 27.

Offensive tackles and guards a plenty and a team need so that is likely at 27, but not sure they want to pay that premium.

Like you, by reason of deduction, I think it will be a safety or edge

[papasmurfbell]

If we have to burn a top 2 round pick on a middle lb we are overpaying smith.

[tsylvester]

It's not a question of over paying Smith, the way the back up backers performed, the defense got better when they benched Simpson proves that.

Now the question is, is Simpson going to perform as they expect, or is he just a special teams, back up player?

Pending how the draft plays out, they will need to get a weak side backer in this draft or shortly after, if nothing else, for depth and special teams.

Even so, who they get at 27, say edge or safety, could play a big role in maybe grabbing a good value backer in the 2nd.

If he is rated above a right tackle of course..

[papasmurfbell]

You don’t pay someone as best in the league and then need to fill his holes with highly rated assets.

[tsylvester]

Would you trade Andrews? For what, a 3rd or a 4th?

[papasmurfbell]

Yes on either or he is a throw in to move up.

 

i also want Lindy’s replacement.  You can’t pay a center 22 mil which he will get next yr.

[oldno82]

2 hours ago, tsylvester said:

Would you trade Andrews? For what, a 3rd or a 4th?

I wouldn't trade him for less than a 2nd despite his late season woes.

[tsylvester]

I'm not sure they could get a 2nd for him...

Travis Hunter recently claimed that he would quit football if the team that drafts him does not allow him to play both ways. He also said he feels he can dominate on both sides of the ball.

Frankly I think this is just blustering. But at in the NFL, he will get injured if he plays consistently both ways. This isn't college ball where they might play 10 games. Big difference playing 7 more games and possibly playoffs where it is even harder play.

As for dominant play, all power to him but he is likely a slot player on offense where he is an okay receiver, more quick than fast.

He is a very good college corner, who played against, and dominated, against average at best offenses.

He should be a very good corner if he can hold up to NFL rules; you can't have as much contact in the NFL as you can in college. So we shall see.

[oldno82]

If they can't get a 2nd round pick for him, keep him. I think he's got a few more years of good football left in him.

It will be interesting to see how Hunter is utilized by the team that drafts him. I can't believe he'll be effective as a 2 way player in the NFL.

[tsylvester]

He will likely get a few plays a game as a receiver, there is just no way he can hold up playing 60 + plays a game. His risk of injury would double.

[papasmurfbell]

8 hours ago, oldno82 said:

If they can't get a 2nd round pick for him, keep him. I think he's got a few more years of good football left in him.

It will be interesting to see how Hunter is utilized by the team that drafts him. I can't believe he'll be effective as a 2 way player in the NFL.

So you want to let likely leave to keep Andrews?  They can’t keep both and then add killer to that mix.

 

i think hunter starts at cb.  Within a month they will add a couple packages.  I think he tops out at about 30 snaps on offense.