Do we really need a DT?

[Clicheking]

Yes. As I like to say you FSn never have enough talented,athletic,fat guys. We ignored the position for years after Jenkins left, it's time to make amends.

[jtnc]

i don't doubt he would want to. i just don't see it happening. you've got to have someone interested in moving up to where we are. i'd be surprised if that happened.

I could see the texans wanting our pick with Andre Johnson battling injuries they could use Alshon Jeffery.

[Tarheels23]

No, at least not in the first round, quite frankly I think we do better in FA then in the draft but that's just my opinion. I think we've done a decent job of stopping the run the last couple of games and are starting to get some pretty good pressure up front with the combination of Nebblett, Kearse and Big Shirley.

I never thought I would say this but I think we have more of a need at CB and OL at this point....Bell is going to get Cam killed.....

LOL @ Big Shirley! Nice "What's Happening" reference.

[La Pantera]

I could see the texans wanting our pick with Andre Johnson battling injuries they could use Alshon Jeffery.

Could also see someone trading up around 9-10 spot to get Landry Jones.

[davos]

Don't get me wrong, I like having Edwards coming back but people are assuming the guy is a solid starter and will just come in and poosh! problem solved.

There was a reason he was a Buffalo Bills backup minus 02 (injury fill in) his first 5 years. He's not as solid as people are assuming and additionally is gonna be 33 coming off a season long injury. We are not set at this position in my view.

I really what I've seen from Kearse & Shirley though. People will say McClain & Fua will take some time, which makes sense...but hell: Kearse, our UDFA rookie DT showed a crap ton of a lot more this season than either of 'em

[bleys]

There are things we need more...without a doubt. I wouldn't even put DT in my top four or so. I'm just not sold on who we have - though I suppose to be fair we should see how they do with a proper LB corps behind them.

more like it would be fair to give our rookie DTs time to develop...

Probably not likely to see Fua gone until after next season at the earliest. If for no other reason than they won't want to admit the pick was bad without enough data to back it up.

Maybe they'll prove me wrong though.

if for no other reason to cover up their pick? You do realize DT's rarely develop their 1st year right?

sorry, rhetorical question..

What we truly need is an ELITE DE. Hardy is a good player but he'd be significantly better as a rotational guy and having a guy who can generate consistent pressure on the other side of johnson. DE >> LB >>>>>>>>>>> CB imo at least on the defensive side of the ball.

luckily the GM watches The Kraken on Sundays.. (check your local listing for times)

[davos]

more like it would be fair to give our rookie DTs time to develop...

if for no other reason to cover up their pick? You do realize DT's rarely develop their 1st year right?

There's a big difference between a guy showing decent development over the course of a season v. playing like sh*t & clearly not progressing

Frank Kearse is an example of a guy who has shown a lot and matured quite well...and don't get me wrong, I'm not saying get rid of McClain & Fua...but geez you can't just say oh we're set just because of the fact they're gonna be sophomore DTs

[Herbert The Love Bug]

DT is honestly one of the last positions we need to worry about.

I'm pretty certain unless there is a star WR for us to get we will definitely go CB. After there our needs are Safety, Oline, and LB.

We are pretty set on offense.

And we are pretty decent on Dline.

I would focus on the defensive secondary. Hopefully be able to find a CB, that is not only a great CB but an excellent punt returner and maybe even kickoff returner.

[MHS831]

I agree that would be ideal but we have very little money and many needs so I dont see it happening after drafting 2 in the 3rd round last year.

Jarhead, there is a way. Hear me out. This will anger some, but if I am the GM and I blew a wad last year and had no cap room this year, I would do this in a heartbeat.

1. Draft a LT in the first round. Hell, we need a T and Gross is not getting younger. LTs are hard to come by. Martin and Reiff are very solid after Kalil.

What does that have to do with DT? Hold on.

2. Either play the rookie at RT or move Gross to RT and let the rookie take over at LT.

What about Otah? Bell? What about DT?

3. Move Otah and his weak knees inside to RG. Have Bell back him up, which means he would probably start. Otah's knees take less stress, and we got 2 pile drivers at RG.

DT? Not yet.

4. Cut Wharton. Move Schwartz to LG, and let Hangartner compete with him, along with Z. Williams. Cutting Wharton gives us about $5 million in cap room, and he was one of the worst pass-blocking Gs in all of football last year. I am a gamecock and I love Wharton, but business is business.

5. Sign a free agent DT for $5 million.

[Jackofalltrades]

What we truly need is an ELITE DE. Hardy is a good player but he'd be significantly better as a rotational guy and having a guy who can generate consistent pressure on the other side of johnson. DE >> LB >>>>>>>>>>> CB imo at least on the defensive side of the ball.

Hardy actually has more disruptions than CJ, he just doesn't have the sacks. Also, judging a DE by his stat numbers is pretty stupid, that's just one component of what they do.

[JawnyBlaze]

We could use an elite DT, but it's not one of our top needs right now. I'd be fine if we spent our 2nd round pick on Poe or Thompson, maybe Ta'amu or one of those other fringe DTs that are projected anywhere from late 1st to early 3rd like Crick or Worthy. Our pick in the 1st is way too early for the talent level of DT in this draft though. I wouldn't even want a DT in the first if we trade back in the 1st, OLB or CB would be better value probably.

[Jackofalltrades]

Jarhead, there is a way. Hear me out. This will anger some, but if I am the GM and I blew a wad last year and had no cap room this year, I would do this in a heartbeat.

1. Draft a LT in the first round. Hell, we need a T and Gross is not getting younger. LTs are hard to come by. Martin and Reiff are very solid after Kalil.

What does that have to do with DT? Hold on.

2. Either play the rookie at RT or move Gross to RT and let the rookie take over at LT.

What about Otah? Bell? What about DT?

3. Move Otah and his weak knees inside to RG. Have Bell back him up, which means he would probably start. Otah's knees take less stress, and we got 2 pile drivers at RG.

DT? Not yet.

4. Cut Wharton. Move Schwartz to LG, and let Hangartner compete with him, along with Z. Williams. Cutting Wharton gives us about $5 million in cap room, and he was one of the worst pass-blocking Gs in all of football last year. I am a gamecock and I love Wharton, but business is business.

5. Sign a free agent DT for $5 million.

1. We have one of the best offenses in the league, our second 4k passer and the third ranked Run game in the league- why fix what clearly isn't broken? Wharton is a very good LG who can also play both OT spots if needed. It would be incredibly short sighted and stupid to cut him. Restructure or extend him to provide cap relief, you don't just cut a guy like that.

2. We'll be picking 9-13, Reiff is the only guy that has value there and I'd rather wait until after the combine to see where he grades out.

3. I love the moronic assumption that moving Otah inside is a solution to anything. A) you don't know if he can play inside B) there's a lot more traffic and a lot less space inside so he'd probably get injured even sooner. Bell is fine at RT, he was an undrafted rookie with no off season who was thrown to the wolves and has shown quite a bit of improvement. I like him as the starting RT if we don't draft someone like Reiff.

4. See number 1. Scwartz was playing very well at RG before the injury, let him and Hangartner fight it out since Wharton is firmly entrenched at LG.

5. Sign a DT? What about the guys we have that we won't be able to keep that are playing well right now? What about Ron Edwards? What about the fact that our back seven is a far bigger problem right now than our front four?

We need CB, OLB and S more than DE, DT, OT and OG.

I would consider OL outside of Reiff in the first due to needs and depth of talent at positions of need in the first two rounds. Several good CB's and OLB's to be had in the first two rounds. OL in the fourth or later wouldn't bother me.

[rayzor]

agreed with joat. the more i look at it, first couple rounds should be CB and OLB...not necessarily in that order. i don't want to reach, but those two should be the highest on the BPA list.

[Cyberjag]

5. Sign a free agent DT for $5 million.

Which DT did you have in mind?