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Re: Switching to 3-4?

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Originally Posted by saintsmissile (Post 158869)

You know, as much as I want defense, the only player on offense I would even consider taking with the 10th pick would be a rb. If McFadden would drop I don't see how you can't pick him. This kid is a home run hitter. Putting him together with a rb rotation of Reggie and Pierre Thomas you'd have one hell of a trio.

I would consider an OT (Long, Clady), too. But otherwise I agree.

Re: Switching to 3-4?

For such a weak offensive lineman class, there's 4 offensive tackles graded out to be first rounders. Jake Long, Jeff Otah, Chris Williams, and Ryan Clady. Branden Albert and Chilo Rachal also have late first to mid second round grades. Yes... that's very weak.

It also shows how much you know about Boise State if you consider them a one dimensional pass happy offense.

Ryan Clady - Boise State

At least try to know what you're talking about.

Re: Switching to 3-4?

.. re: switching to the 3-4 I would ask:
1.- Why?
2.- How does a 3-4 makes these Saints better than a 4-3?

... guess right now everyone is enamoured with the 3-4 because of the Giants.. just like every year, everyone falls in love with the SB winner's scheme.

Re: Switching to 3-4?

LoL.. u amaze me at how u try to spin things... all ur stats show is that boise st was pretty good at running and passing the ball...

184.92 ypg rushing to 282.46 ypg passing... those are both pretty good numbers for any college...

heres what else u left off... the opposition saw him produce 122 knockdowns, 21 touchdown-resulting blocks and eight blocks downfield to finish with an 85.77% grade for blocking consistency…Graded at least 90% in five contests. Named second-team All-America by SI.com…Named first-team All-WAC…Started all 13 games at left tackle in '06. Named first-team Freshman All-America by ESPN.com, second-team Freshman All-America by Rivals.com and CollegeFootballNews.com and third-team Freshman All-America by The Sporting News

Re: Switching to 3-4?

Addressed via pm.

Quote:

ESPN Insider
Updated: February 14, 2008
Comment

Draft prospects like OT Jake Long make scouting look easy. Long was the top offensive lineman on our initial top 32 list back in August, is the top offensive lineman on our board today and will be the top offensive lineman selected in April's draft. Thankfully for my job security, very few college players are as consistently dominant.

Long is not as athletic as last year's top tackle prospect, Joe Thomas, who excelled at left tackle for the Cleveland Browns as a rookie in 2007. However, Long has more than enough range to play left tackle in the NFL, and he is bigger, stronger and more physical than Thomas was coming out of Wisconsin. Long grades out slightly lower than Thomas, who went at No. 3 overall last year, but Long could come off the board earlier in what projects to be a weaker overall class.

Ryan Clady is the only other lineman that projects as a top-15 pick. An early entry, Clady displays tremendous feet for his massive frame. As it stands right now, Chris Williams, Jeff Otah, Gosder Cherilus and Sam Baker are the four other tackles jockeying for consideration in the bottom half of the first round. Baker began the season not too far behind Long, but an injury-riddled senior campaign and a lackluster showing at the Senior Bowl have considerably damaged his stock.

The annual draft trend is for one guard to sneak into the first round. Logan Mankins (Patriots, 2005), Davin Joseph (Buccaneers, 2006) and Ben Grubbs (Ravens, 2007) were the past three guards to hear their names called in the opening round, and Branden Albert is the top candidate in the 2008 class. Albert and Chilo Rachal are the lone underclass additions at guard. It's no coincidence Albert and Rachal are expected to be the first two guards selected in the upcoming draft.

Of the 48 offensive linemen invited to this year's combine, 34 spent the majority of their collegiate careers at the tackle position. While that percentage seems unusually large, I project at least 11 of those college tackles will move inside to guard in the NFL. That group includes Heath Benedict, Mike McGlynn, Eric Young and Drew Radovich, who started on the same line as Rachal at USC last season.

Benedict, who starred at offensive tackle for the Newberry Indians, is one of the top small-school prospects in the 2008 draft class. The Division II product should come off the board early on Day 2 but likely will make the move inside to guard, where he can be better protected in the NFL. Other small-school prospects to look out for in the later rounds include OG Chad Rinehart (Northern Iowa), OT Demetrius Bell (Northwestern State), OG Kerry Brown (Appalachian State), OT David Hale (Weber State) and OG Mackenzy Bernadeau (Bentley).

Finally, Mike Pollak, Steven Justice and John Sullivan are the best available players in a relatively weak class of centers. Pollak and Justice are best suited to play in zone-blocking schemes in which they can use outstanding mobility and technique to overcome subpar size and strength. On the flipside, Sullivan is battle-tested with enough size, initial quickness and power to emerge as a starter at the next level. However, he lacks ideal athleticism for the center position, which is why the Notre Dame standout likely will slip to the middle rounds.

20 something in passing and 30 something in rushing... if that doesn't screamed balanced offense then I'm crazy.

Re: Switching to 3-4?

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Ask yourself this, knowing this is not a very top heavy draft for Offensive lineman, would Clady be in even the first round if it not for such a weak O lineman group?

False statement.

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It is my assumption that Clady will be nothing more than a second teamer in the pros due to his inability to drive block in the run game.

So I'm guessing our ProBowl left tackle is a second teamer also... if that makes sense.

Re: Switching to 3-4?

Quote:

Originally Posted by RockyMountainSaint (Post 158832)

What is the point of this thread?

If folks really believe we can effectively run a 3-4 with our current personnel they are nuts. The 3-4 in today's NFL environment is the most difficult to establish and then maintain of all defensive schemes.
Do you really want us to sacrifice 2-4 yrs to hatch this (insane) idea?
Or are you really so deluded (or bored with the offseason) as to suggest that we have the ideal 3-4 personnel in house as we speak?
'08 Saints= Dome Patrol?
Please see your therapist.

I'll see my therapist if you get a life. Tone it down a little guy, it's just a message board. Message boards are for talking about crazy ideas.