CO:Success isn't a given for receivers

[Guest silver82blade]

Something I've noticed about WR's that are able to contribute early: Most are good return men. Steve Smith obviously, but look at the recent success stories: Johnny Knox, Eddie Royal, Jeremy Maclin, Percy Harvin, DeSean Jackson and to some extent guys like Mike Thomas, Sammie Stroughter and Harry Douglas who have all shown promise in their rookie years.

Maybe their elusiveness helps them get off the line?

dante hall, devin hester, ted ginn jr. maybe that's how it works on madden, but that's not all it takes in real life. they also have to have great hands. drew carter was very fast, but he couldn't catch.

[Lout]

dante hall, devin hester, ted ginn jr. maybe that's how it works on madden, but that's not all it takes in real life. they also have to have great hands. drew carter was very fast, but he couldn't catch.

I don't think he meant all return men are good receivers, but merely, most good WRs are return men..

[Lout]

Defensive lineman are gonna go fast and furiously. With teams changing over to 3-4 schemes and other 3-4 teams looking to get younger. Nose Tackles and Athletic DT's that could be used at DE will go quickly Defensive Lineman is not a deep talent pool. Charles Johnson, EverReady Brown, and Tyler Brayton are good starters and rotation. Guys like Jermaine Cunningham, Alex Carrington and Corey Wooton may seem like good choices to you at 48 but they don't to me. Carrington and Wooton both could be targeted to be converted to 3-4 DE's. Cunningham should be available in the THIRD.

We have talent in the interior of our Dline also. Teams like the Bronco's and Patriots that have multiple 2nd round picks are looking at players like Lamar Houston and Tyson Alualu to play DE for them. SO.. i think the pickings are gonna be slimmer than most calling for DE or DT with our 2nd think.

Wide Receiver on the other hand is a position that many teams have addressed in FA. The Bengals signed Antonio Bryant, the Ravens finally got Anquan, Dolphins signed Baby TO, TO himself has not found a team yet, and the Jets got Holmes. With only Seattle, Denver, St.Louis, Tampa Bay, New England, and Cleveland picking ahead of us that need a WR desperately. The Rams are in position to get a 1st round talent that slips, it could be a DE not a WR. Denver has several picks in the first 47 picks they could take Dez early or wait and take someone else. Tampa has two high 2nd's one of them will be a WR. Cleveland and Seattle have so many needs WR may not be as high. New England will add firepower. Point is i like my chances picking between Mardy Gilyard, Carlton Mitchell, Andre Roberts, Brandon Lefell, and Taylor Price more than scrounging through the bargain bin DE and DT's that will be left after the top 10 DT's and Top 5 4-3 DE's are taken.

I think you are on to something there.. not only is WR our greatest need.. it will more than likely be the best "value" pick for us at #48 as well.

[CatMan72]

So... 7 DTs and 8 DEs could be off the board already, Arrelious Benn and Golden Tate could be sitting there at 48 but you'd pass on them to pick the #8 rated DT or #9 rated DE because WR is too "risky".

If those guys were there at 48 I'd have to think about it, but I doubt they will be.

But you could spin this around and ask yourself why there would be a run on DE's and DT's while talented WR prospects like these guys wait? One answer could be a shortage of DE and DT FA's, but there are not many quality WR FA's on the market at this point either. Part of the reason would have to be the inherent risk involved in drafting a WR with a high pick.

[CatMan72]

Defensive lineman are gonna go fast and furiously. With teams changing over to 3-4 schemes and other 3-4 teams looking to get younger. Nose Tackles and Athletic DT's that could be used at DE will go quickly Defensive Lineman is not a deep talent pool. Charles Johnson, EverReady Brown, and Tyler Brayton are good starters and rotation. Guys like Jermaine Cunningham, Alex Carrington and Corey Wooton may seem like good choices to you at 48 but they don't to me. Carrington and Wooton both could be targeted to be converted to 3-4 DE's. Cunningham should be available in the THIRD.

We have talent in the interior of our Dline also. Teams like the Bronco's and Patriots that have multiple 2nd round picks are looking at players like Lamar Houston and Tyson Alualu to play DE for them. SO.. i think the pickings are gonna be slimmer than most calling for DE or DT with our 2nd think.

Wide Receiver on the other hand is a position that many teams have addressed in FA. The Bengals signed Antonio Bryant, the Ravens finally got Anquan, Dolphins signed Baby TO, TO himself has not found a team yet, and the Jets got Holmes. With only Seattle, Denver, St.Louis, Tampa Bay, New England, and Cleveland picking ahead of us that need a WR desperately. The Rams are in position to get a 1st round talent that slips, it could be a DE not a WR. Denver has several picks in the first 47 picks they could take Dez early or wait and take someone else. Tampa has two high 2nd's one of them will be a WR. Cleveland and Seattle have so many needs WR may not be as high. New England will add firepower. Point is i like my chances picking between Mardy Gilyard, Carlton Mitchell, Andre Roberts, Brandon Lefell, and Taylor Price more than scrounging through the bargain bin DE and DT's that will be left after the top 10 DT's and Top 5 4-3 DE's are taken.

The problem we have at the moment is that the jury is still out on just about every DT we have on the roster right now. We really don't know what to expect out of Leonard, Tyler or Irvin. Leonard showed a flash of promise but was injured, Tyler was a wash and Irvin hasn't played in an NFL game yet. With two inexperienced DE's and our biggest playmaker on the defensive line gone, we're going to need as much help from DT as possible.

We need help at WR too, but we have already have an elite player at that position and we're a run-first offense (I suspect even more so this coming season with an inexperienced QB at the helm). There are things you can do to give Smitty space without having to bring in a legit # 2 receiver like moving him into the slot more and getting the TE more involved in the passing game.

Remeber Fox's mantra: "Run the ball, stop the run". I know we can do the first part of that right now, not so sure about the 2nd part which is why we may end up going DE or DT with our first pick in the draft.

[jramsey4]

We may be short on picks but we can sign as many UDFA's as we want. And some talented WR will go undrafted this year. AJ Jackson - California (PA) and Scot Long - Louisville are two to watch out for. Go nuts you cheap bastards.

[Delhommey]

dante hall, devin hester, ted ginn jr. maybe that's how it works on madden, but that's not all it takes in real life. they also have to have great hands. drew carter was very fast, but he couldn't catch.

A. I didn't say all KR's were good WR's

B. WTH does Drew Carter and speed have to do with anything.