MHS831

Cindy? She is a formidable foe. Cincy---my wife is Cindy--I'd rather face the Bengals.

Oh. I watched about 9 videos--I deleted the sentence because they were not full games and it was not descriptive, but I decided that it did not matter anyway. I am just posting my take.

Everybody takes horse steroids once in a while. just my take bro, thanks a lot.

Where does it say that?

Rambling is the window to the idle brain. (People tell me that all the time) Ha. No, good to hear your views--you are usually on point.

He really has not been on a good OL, but he seems to have aged well. We shall see. Is he our center of the future? Present? LG and that's final?

If Sewell is there, the thinking is done for you. If it is between Waddle and Slater, I am not sure that we take Slater.

People a lot smarter than I am saw something, and I had to know what it was. This is finding a diamond in the rough if it works out. And since I was watching Darnold film, this was not highlight fluff.

I just watched some Darnold video and I was wondering why we took 3 players off this Jets team. Then I remembered as a player and a coach, sometime you start watching one player and you notice another. When I was watching an opposing team's film, I looked for the weaknesses on the OL/DL. If I saw it, I knew I could exploit it. When being recruited, I was often noticed by schools watching film on my teammate. So I started watching #67 on some Darnold tapes. He was not given much time, but man, Elf had some terrible OL around him. They were not in sync often, but he demonstrated some intelligence and some nasty. Positives: Great technique. can not swim move him because he keeps his butt low and back straight--does not lunge or reach. When stunt goes away from him, his head swivels inside to find the LB or help the C. He repeatedly showed upper body strength and good mobility. I did not see him pull, but I saw him take a DT from Left A gap to Right C gap in pass protection, creating a lane for Darnold to run for 20 yards. I saw him shove a Raider DT from A gap to C Gap with his right arm on the goal line. Excellent footwork. Never off balance, obvious football intelligence based on his head movement (When we had Silatolu, I reported that he was confused and did not know where to look during a stunt--when this happens, expect this...he did not know. Elf gets it. He seems to have a bit of a nasty streak too. He uses all he has on every play. I NOW like this signing and see why we did it. Negatives: He is not overwhelming and can get bull rushed a bit. When you do not bend forward, making you susceptible to swimming or getting fooled with a stunt or blitz, there is a bit of a trade off. So getting bull rushed is part of that balance. Paradis has the same problem, but he has good balance most of the time. I did not see Elf pull, but I do not see physical limitations to suggest he cannot. Analysis: Remember Evan Mathis, the Guard Carolina released after drafting in the third round in 2005? He went on to have a 12-year career, with a couple pro bowl appearances as a LG with the Eagles? He was a G with the Broncos in Super Bowl 50? That guy? Well, he did not start getting it until he was about 27. Elflein will be 27 in July. I see Elflein as smarter, more disciplined, and just as aggressive. All signs are pointing toward the light coming on here. Put a good LT beside him and he will be really good. Trust me. As a C? I think that may be his spot--but he is an upgrade. We signed him on the first day of tampering because we were studying up on Darnold, and this guy jumps out at you--like a Nun at a biker rally. I do not want to oversell him, but if you were like me and scratching your head about the 3-year deal, stop it. You will see. Not sure about Erving--I think they like his ability to provide depth at all 5 spots.

Basically, Darnold does really well after the play breaks down, but that was the only time he was given the authority to go off script. A QB who sees something should be given that authority. It keeps everyone guessing--including your WRs and OL. For example, if the qb can call a hot route at the LOS, do it. If he sees the CB cheat toward the intended WR, throw it to the WR he vacated---etc. I am getting excited about Darnold and Brady with CMC and a few weapons. I am happy about Elfein at LG. (Maybe he becomes the C, but for now, LG). Get that LT...slot WR...CB. Those are the 3 picks we needed from the Jets.

A lot of times when coaches are scouting a player, they notice another player in the process. So when we sign players from the same team, I try to figure it out. Why take 2 players off a team with a terrible offense? So I figured, "We were doing our due diligence on Darnold and Elfein may have been that "other" player. So when I was watching this, I started watching #67. Why would we give him a 3-year deal? I get it. He is solid. at the 8 minute mark, he takes a DT to his left with his right arm alone. Later, a DT tries to cross his face and swim over him, and drags him 5 yards down the LOS, allowing Darnold to run for about 20 yards. (9 min mark). There are other plays, but I did not see him get beat---he was on a BAD OL and he held his own. He may need to anchor vs. the bull rush a bit, but I am sold. I am actually taking LG off my list of concerns.

Not joking that much: Teddy would have been a great arena league QB. Discuss.

Don't get mad....

Yeah, I have the same concern. Pitts makes the most sense if you think of defensive match ups. I want Sewell or Slater and I am not opposed to trading back for Darrsaw if we can add a CB. I get what a slot does in terms of matchups and keeping an extra DB on the field instead of a LB, but I would not be hurt if the first 3 picks were OL.

The thing that bothered me most about Teddy---he just did not seem to care--or understand the situation. Just making $1.25 million per game to go through the motions. He had the ability--nothing great, but he just did not play like a guy getting a chance to revive his career.

I am getting pumped up. Counting the days.

I REALLY think the Niners are taking Jones. That would be huge. Pitts to Atlanta is the latest rumor. The Bengals will prolly take Chase or Sewell, and the Dolphins may entertain a trade for Lance or Fields. Gonna be crazy if SF goes with Jones and ATL goes Non-qb.

I still think he is a niner with the third pick. Imagine how you'd feel if you were a SF fan.

I hope you are right--I have a feeling, however, that the powers that be are going to want fast and shiny. Brace yourself.

And I agree with you that I want an OT----however, Pitts, Chase, Waddle, and Smith are scary good--I am simply trying to guess what they are thinking--I know what I am thinking--OT.

I heard they were talking about a Mike Ditka for Ricky Williams trade, so I got greedy. Technically, their first second and third is about even.

I get the need for LT---I really do. I want a plug and play LT--but I am trying to figure out what we will do--by reading the coffee grounds (we don't have tea leaves here.) I see, at the bottom of my morning joe--SLOT WR or PItts. What do I want to see? SEWELL.

Sure. I get that 100%. There is no gain without a cost, but my point was simply to have some fun with the fact that there is no real benefit to drafting a top QB right now--with the rumors of the WFT trade up and the Panther connection. I am not sure that we would take Slater over Waddle. I think you (and I have the same issue) are so focused on LT that we are not considering what the tea leaves might be telling us. What did we do to replace Samuel? We did not try to keep him (aggressively, anyway) and we signed a 400 yard (best year) WR from Seattle--that is getting worse at WR, and with 2 WRs who could be free agents in 2022, I think it is a bigger concern than we realize. I am not 100% sure that we are going to prioritize LT like we hoped. Erving can't be the solution, but is he a bridge because we know we are going to grab a developmental T later? They were at the SR bowl, fwiw, and there were quite a few OTs there who are not projected as first rounders. I am never right about these things, but it is fun analyzing them.

Reason? We have a young QB now, and if somehow QBs are on the board when we pick, the offers will roll in. To illustrate this point, I offer the literates amongst us a rather lengthy, introspective dramatization (the rest of you, the ones that used to count the pages in a chapter that was assigned to you to read in school and got that look on your face, the same look you had when Mom served liver, can just wait for the movie, because cow organs and words betray your taste): So we are sitting there watching the draft, adrenaline running through our legs as the Lions select, with the 7th overall pick, "Chris Farley, CB UVa" (They are the Lions for a reason, folks). Now the Panthers are up, you look at your board, and you see Slater and Darrisaw (OTs), Smith and Waddle (WRs) and Fields and Lance (QBs) sitting there. Holy smokes!!! Your first impulse is to RUN to your TV-turned-podium-hand your wife-turned-Roger Goodell your pick, and start hugging the cat-turned-cat. I would say that most of us would have taken a QB there. "You can't have too many QBs, right?" Actually, most teams don't have a QB controversy. The ideal situation is a starter and a competent, supportive backup who understands his role. Competition, like they had in Philadelphia, to some degree, is problematic--if not for the players and coaches, but for the fans. Every interception, every fumble, etc. causes drama. Most coaches have enough pressure as it is, which is why most QB competitions are short lived. The Panthers made the decision to trade for Darnold after doing due diligence. The Darnold we know is the worst of Sam Darnold who had to perform in the worst of conditions on every front--NY Fans, Worst NFL Coach EVER, Terrible line, no weapons you have ever heard of. To me, the move was brilliant. Yes, there is a chance Sam is simply a bust. But look at QBs who struggled early on bad teams and were reborn instantly with a change of some sort---Alex Smith sucked his first few years, Tanneyhill sucked under the same bad coach, etc. We have Brady. So why would you draft a developmental QB and have a competition while you are trying to revitalize Darnold? That makes no damn sense. Two projects are not better than one. No, we made our decision, but it does make sense to add a quality backup QB who can also help Darnold. Trask maybe? A veteran Free Agent? Back to your living room. "The Lions select...Chris Farley, CB, UVa" Your phone Rings. It is Marty Hurney. He wants to make you an offer...2021 first, second, and the 2022 first and third. You remember that we have multiple needs. You consider how awesome we'd be if we just took Waddle. How protected Darnold would be if we drafted Slater. You have just been offered an extra 2nd in 2021 and you have now been reimbursed for the Darnold Trade (and then some) all for moving back 11 spots in the draft. I would love Waddle. I would love Slater. But I see the depth at some positions in this draft and I make this trade. I let Fields go to the WFT and focus on Sam, and I get three picks (2 day 2 picks and a first) to do so.

About the 3T--you are right--I expect a reluctant cut after the draft, etc. We cannot meet all of these needs in one draft---I think we are hoping to address 3 of them, which was exposed a bit (in theory) during the Darnold trade. I think there is something to analyzing the layout of the draft, looking at what we have done in free agency, and using some common sense to figure out the strategy. I think the first round weapons are making Fitterer salivate--Pitts, Waddle, Smith, and Chase. I think we get one of them. I want a T, but they probably see what a third weapon does for the passing game--matchups, etc. My guess is that they see OT being very deep, so they will go weapon/OL in rounds one and two. So we have signed Melvin and Bouye--experienced, one-year plugs at CB and we have Jackson. It sure looks as though we are preparing for life without a drafted QB. Meanwhile, we can expect YGM to step up, Reddick, Burns, and maybe Fox to pressure the QB. That is what we hope to do on defense. It is my opinion that we intend to find an impact weapon in round 1, an OT in round 2, and maybe an IOL or QB in round 3. CB? maybe, but a 3rd round CB is a project. QB? If Mond or Mills or Trask is sitting there, I think we have to take him.