Kenny Pickett at 5/6

[Faithfulfankinda]

I mean, wouldnt it be nice to upgrade the OL and maybe scoop Sam Howell in the 3rd round and let him sit a year behind Sam "Throw The Game Away Darnold" and hope we poo the bed next year in order to get stronger on the OL

Resign Reddick, Use DJ as Trade Bait.. Let Terrance Marshall take a bigger step.. use our "modest" salary cap, after years of not having anything, and see what we can accomplish in 2024

 

[Mage]

18 hours ago, ericr0319 said:

So was Joe Burrow. This argument is bad, move on. Do not counter with Joe Burrow was highly recruited, so were many garbage QBs. 

Pickett has been a starter for 4 years and has been with Pitt for 5.  Burrow didn't start until his 4th year (16 TDs to 5 INTs... better than any Pickett season sans '21) and by that point was on his 2nd team.  And Burrow's 2019 season is legendary.

I like Pickett, but I don't think it is a good comparison.  And Burrow flat out just looks much, much better when you watch them play.  

[Navy_football]

20 hours ago, Captain Obvious said:

Fug this team if they don't go O line.

Seriously!

Not just a first round draft pick, but actually fix this ish. 3 of the current 5 starters need to be backups. If they march any of those interior dudes out there next year as penciled-in starters...

[mrcompletely11]

9 minutes ago, Navy_football said:

Seriously!

Not just a first round draft pick, but actually fix this ish. 3 of the current 5 starters need to be backups. If they march any of those interior dudes out there next year as penciled-in starters...

3 of the 5 shouldn't be in the league

[Mage]

Here is something that needs to be considered, that often isn't - 

The performance of the offensive line would likely be improved with better QB play and/or a coaching staff.

This is not me saying we shouldn't draft an OL in Round 1, but it isn't the end of the world if we don't either.  Look at the Bengals.  Everyone said they NEEDED to go OL.  And yes, their line needs to be improved and they acknowledge that, but even then, they are ranked 5th in scoring this year and Burrow is playing lights out.

Herbert last year is another example of a guy who stepped into a situation with a bad OL and still allowed them to have an electrifying passing game.

There are many ways to improve your protection without actually drafting a lineman.  Which, don't get me wrong, we should absolutely have a plan to inject more talent there.  But it doesn't necessarily need to be a 1st-round commitment.  Better QB play alone would make our pass protection better, in all likelihood.  Nobody respects Newton or Darnold.  Nobody respects the scheme.  Stuff like that makes a bad offensive line look so much worse.

I'd argue to this day the 2015 OL wasn't that good.  But it benefited from MVP play from Newton and a perfect combination of a power-run scheme designed around his talents and Ginn's exploits downfield, not to mention Olsen playing at a high level.  Again just improving in those areas will make a worlds of difference.
 

I don't think there is any QB worth picking at #5.  At least not right now.  Maybe things will change as I watch more and more film (Mac Jones for example, I became a fan of the more and more I watched him play before the draft).  However, if there is a guy you think is top-5 caliber, then you absolutely take him, even if your OL is weak.  

With that said right now my #1 guy would be Evan Neal.  So don't take this as a post of me advocating against taking an OL in the 1st.  Just saying it isn't something we HAVE to do.

[Call Me James]

5 minutes ago, Mage said:

Here is something that needs to be considered, that often isn't - 

The performance of the offensive line would likely be improved with better QB play and/or a coaching staff.

This is not me saying we shouldn't draft an OL in Round 1, but it isn't the end of the world if we don't either.  Look at the Bengals.  Everyone said they NEEDED to go OL.  And yes, their line needs to be improved and they acknowledge that, but even then, they are ranked 5th in scoring this year and Burrow is playing lights out.

Herbert last year is another example of a guy who stepped into a situation with a bad OL and still allowed them to have an electrifying passing game.

There are many ways to improve your protection without actually drafting a lineman.  Which, don't get me wrong, we should absolutely have a plan to inject more talent there.  But it doesn't necessarily need to be a 1st-round commitment.  Better QB play alone would make our pass protection better, in all likelihood.  Nobody respects Newton or Darnold.  Nobody respects the scheme.  Stuff like that makes a bad offensive line look so much worse.

I'd argue to this day the 2015 OL wasn't that good.  But it benefited from MVP play from Newton and a perfect combination of a power-run scheme designed around his talents and Ginn's exploits downfield, not to mention Olsen playing at a high level.  Again just improving in those areas will make a worlds of difference.
 

I don't think there is any QB worth picking at #5.  At least not right now.  Maybe things will change as I watch more and more film (Mac Jones for example, I became a fan of the more and more I watched him play before the draft).  However, if there is a guy you think is top-5 caliber, then you absolutely take him, even if your OL is weak.  

With that said right now my #1 guy would be Evan Neal.  So don't take this as a post of me advocating against taking an OL in the 1st.  Just saying it isn't something we HAVE to do.

We've had four QBs runout behind this OL. They just aren't good. 

The whole better QB play, fast release quick decision making, over a line that can actually keep a clean pocket is what got us here in the first place. 

Then there's also the run game. 

[Michael G]

Our OL is not good (NO SH-T Right?), but so much of our protection problems are due to the scheme, the QB's pocket awareness and happy feet and the TE's/ Back's (not including CMac) inability to pick up blitzes, hence all the opposing free runners towards the QB. Our Pass Protection is miserable as a whole.

That said- the ? was about Kenny Pickett. IMO Pickett is the most NFL ready (not the best or most potential) college QB right now. He is not NFL ready enough, however, if he's throwing balls behind this OL/System. No one could be I don't think.

 

[MHS831]

Yes, we need an OL.  Does that mean the only place to find OL help is the draft?

Yes, we need a QB.  Unless we give away our first rounders for 3 years, we are not going to get a good one in free agency--which means the draft--one way or another--is going to produce our next QB.

If I thought the OL was Darnold's only major problem, I would be all in on going OL and sitting still at QB.  But he can't read defenses--he holds the ball too long---and he is quick to turn his attention from the checkdowns to the DL rushing him.  We get blitzed a lot up the gut because the league knows Darnold will be distracted by them. That is why our Guards rate so low--they are being tested the entire game.

[Soul Rebel]

I'm fine with Pickett at 5/6. I'd prefer Neal or Ickey there instead, but if Pickett is selected, I think it would be a great selection.

People keep saying that if we pick an OL this year that we can get our QB in '23. Can the same argument not be made for OL in '23? Sewell was the cream of the crop last year, but Slater was a helluva "next best". We missed on Wirfs in '20....and he was the third OT taken. 

I get Pickett isn't everyone's type of QB, but there is a lot to like about him. I was a Lance/Fields guy last year and prefer that type of mobile young QB, but Pickett would do well here in the correct offensive scheme. 

I don't know if this coaching staff on the hot seat would use a top pick on a QB that is going to take his lumps. Lawrence, Wilson and Fields have all struggled this year and that kind of QB play for a coaching staff that is on the brink of unemployment might not make sense to Rhule & Co.

The smart move is Neal  or Ekwonu...or even Linderbaum. I think BC can be a good (maybe not great) LT and I'd like to see Brown at RG with a full offseason and starting day 1. If those two can be good, Moton can be your vet stud and Linderbaum can anchor the middle for the next decade. 

Anyway you slice it, this staff has a huge decision to make come April. It's often the kind of decision that saves or breaks a HC based off the rest of the assets on hand.

[firefox1234]

Im starting to come around to picking QB. I would prefer OL but there is logic going QB. Even if Pickett or which ever QB we pick sucks we can just dump them and pick  a QB again. Also if a new regime does come in place the new HC is going to want his guy especially if the QB we have at the time blows. The Cards dumped Rosen who they picked #10 as soon as they got the chance with Murray at number one.

[CarolinaRideorDie]

22 hours ago, WOW!! said:

He has to.. If I'm Tepper.. You can't afford to pay another 20 million to play somewhere else while letting this coach make another QB position..

If he keeps his job he has to make it work with Sam or Cam.. But it is completely stupid to let him use another Assets on another QB decision..

That's the conundrum, but it sounds like Tepper gave Rhule the authority to make football decisions. I don't think Tepper will force Sam on Rhule just because of money. Tepper is not afraid to spend, he sat quietly as Rhule fired Joe Brady with all that wasted money. He paid Teddy to go away, he will do the same with Sam. Rhule has tried to find his franchise QB through free agency and through trade and both have failed, I would be shocked if he passed on a QB in the draft. 

[My Goodness My Guinness]

On 1/5/2022 at 12:26 PM, WOW!! said:

Kenny Pickett is a 1 year wonder  1 year younger the Sam Darnold.. It took him 5 years to have that 1 good year.. In most years with good QB prospects he would be a 2nd or 3rd round pick.. 

This would be a horrible pick for us for many reasons.. Beyond the major red flags of hes older his arm isn't elite, he is a okay athlete and it took him 5 years to be a draft worthy prospect..

1. The coaching staff that might be doing the pick..

2. Picking  him eliminates adding day 1 starting talent for the Oline..

3. Since he is not a great prospect.. Like a Lawrence, Wison , Lance or Fields.. Yours forcing a QB on your next coaching hire he might not want..

Just as a counter argument, this pretty much applies to Joe Burrow as well

[mav1234]

5 hours ago, Mage said:

Pickett has been a starter for 4 years and has been with Pitt for 5.  Burrow didn't start until his 4th year (16 TDs to 5 INTs... better than any Pickett season sans '21) and by that point was on his 2nd team.  And Burrow's 2019 season is legendary.

I like Pickett, but I don't think it is a good comparison.  And Burrow flat out just looks much, much better when you watch them play.  

Tbf to pickett, his 2nd best season (2020) was Covid shortened and he bad a total of 21 TDs in 9 games.  Burrows in his 2nd best had 23 TDs in 13 games.  Burrows made better decisions with the ball no doubt but Picket did have a productive 2020 that was shortened by both Covid and injury.

Pickett isn't someone I want at 6, but at this point it seems likely to me if Rhule is back.

Burrows looked a bit better in his big year but honestly Pickett has looked very good at times this year, too.

[WOW!!]

2 hours ago, MHS831 said:

Yes, we need an OL.  Does that mean the only place to find OL help is the draft?

Yes, we need a QB.  Unless we give away our first rounders for 3 years, we are not going to get a good one in free agency--which means the draft--one way or another--is going to produce our next QB.

If I thought the OL was Darnold's only major problem, I would be all in on going OL and sitting still at QB.  But he can't read defenses--he holds the ball too long---and he is quick to turn his attention from the checkdowns to the DL rushing him.  We get blitzed a lot up the gut because the league knows Darnold will be distracted by them. That is why our Guards rate so low--they are being tested the entire game.

Yes we need Oline....end.. 

We need a actual good QB not one in a bad QB draft picked by this coaching staff..... end..

Not just Darnold.. Cam and Teddy the RBs the WR and coaching also suffered due to this bad Oline.. end.  ..