WhoDat

Question - Tweeky, er Danno, what\'s with the Hodge-love? You always talk about Hodge like he\'s a fixture at OLB, but I haven\'t seen much that would convince me he\'s much better than even D Smith when he played out there. Rodgers is clearly better, from what I\'m seeing, and in what three years now, Hodge hasn\'t done ANYTHING to impress me.

deadflatbird

I agree with you there blackandblue... it takes a lot... luck, scouting, even time and training sometimes hell its the Manning-Leaf debate really...

Danno

I wouldn\'t use love to describe my feelings about Hodge. But you\'re right, he\'s yet to impress and should have by now.
Here\'s my take...

Since we have yet to have a LB actually improve since Haz has been here I\'m thinking maybe the problem isn\'t the LB but the LB coach. I think Hodge came into this league with a lot of potential. He\'s not realized it yet. Same with Allen, same with Grant and to a lesser degree Ruff. If it was just one LB that wasn\'t getting better then I think some blame can be placed on the player. But from what I\'ve seen, or rather haven\'t seen from several players I must conclude that perhaps they aren\'t being coached correctly.

The real question is this- is this staff (or LB coach) capable of helping these guys progress into legit LB studs? I have my doubts but I truly think if Parcells or Belichick had Hodge he\'d be a dominant player within a year. The fact that he hasn\'t may be a scathing indictment of our sub-par coaching staff..

Maybe Haz has a problem teaching LB\'s. Kinda like the worst pitching coaches in baseball are usually awesome ex-pitchers. Maybe because they had the natural skills and weren\'t forced to constantly study and develop their skills like many less talented guys. Or maybe he just sucks as a coach. What do I know, I\'m just a forum jockey.

ami2kind4words

I don\'t think D.J. Williams will drop that far but on the bright side I project 2004 draft



1st rd. Marlin Jackson (if he comes out)
2nd rd Ted Lehman
2nd rd. Tony Pape
3rd rd. Carnell Williams
5th rd Corey Webster

deadflatbird

1. If Marlin Jackson comes out and I think he will, he\'ll go before the Saints pick (we\'ll just miss him).
2. Ted Lehman - is a late first rounder may move up a bit though, so we won\'t have a shot at him.
2. Pape I like, and he\'ll fall to us there... this pick has a lot of merit there.