20 Of Our 22 Starters Were Originally Drafted By Us

[FirstRoundPick]

I didn't say we had sustained success. When you look at the teams in the past decade that have had sustained success, most of them are led by an elite quarterback. For not having one, we did pretty well. We alternated from being an average team to a good team year to year. Much better than being the bills, raiders, dolphins, browns, lions, etc, etc.

Most teams that do not have an elite quarterback can only be average or good for 1-2 years, we did it fairly regularly.

If your resume was inconsistenly fielding an average team, even though you didn't have a franchise QB, I probally wouldn't hire you. I'm looking for someone that has results.

[FirstRoundPick]

I didn't say we had sustained success. When you look at the teams in the past decade that have had sustained success, most of them are led by an elite quarterback. For not having one, we did pretty well. We alternated from being an average team to a good team year to year. Much better than being the bills, raiders, dolphins, browns, lions, etc, etc.

Most teams that do not have an elite quarterback can only be average or good for 1-2 years, we did it fairly regularly.

You guys do realize that over the past decade we have been one of the more successful teams in league. Especially considering we have lacked a premier quarterback the entire time.

The only teams with more sustained success are like the Pats, Colts, Steelers, Ravens, Eagles, Giants, Chargers and Packers.

Really not bad company to be win especially when you consider how some of them completely rely on their elite QB play.

[Argus Plexus]

No SB yet so don't count the chickens

[frash.exe]

This doesn't necessarily mean we're a good drafting team overall. All it means is that we put more of our picks on the field

some of our drafted "starters" would not be starting on a winning team. I'm sorry but Godfrey, Martin, Munnerlyn, Fua, McClain, and Hardy would be rotational guys or backups at best on a better team

[FirstRoundPick]

I'm glad everyone is talking about how important the QB is now. Because my and several others whole argument about drafting a LBer was how other positions have more value.

Value chart

QB

Pass rushers

CB, DL, OT, WR

RB, G, C, LB, S, TE

FB, K, P, Special teams

If you build your team around the top 3 tiers your good. Now look at how our team is built especailly financally.

Look at the Gaints for a bigger laugh.

[FirstRoundPick]

Someone said our sack totals have gone down for the last several years. These are the facts based on raw number and rank:

2011- 31 sacks---tied for 25th

2010- 31 sacks- tied for 20th

2009- 31 sacks- tied for 23rd

2008-37 sacks- tied for 8th

2007-23 sacks- tied for 31st

2006-41 sacks- tied for 6th

2005- 45 sacks-tied for 7th

2004-34 sacks- tied for 24th place

2003-40 sacks- tied for 7th

2002- 52 sacks- 2nd

Seems to me those saying it has gone down every year are remembering the 2002-2006 era when except for an injury plagued year in 2004 we had a very good pass rush. In the last 5 years we have had 1 good year in 2008 when we had a top 10 pass rush. Other wise it has been pretty anemic for some time. You could make a case that the pass rush went down when we changed defensive coordinators and fired Trgovac more so than a function of drafting.

Yeah we got a QB. But not much of a pass rush. QB is easily the most important part of the team, but second is pass rush in todays NFL. Depsite the increase of importance of pass rush ours have been declining every year since 2007. Poor way to build a team, but a least we draft good LBers and RBs in the first round right?

Yup I said it, and haven't been afraid to say it just because I hurt some cheerleaders feelings get hurt for saying something negative. Yeah, it is negative, but I'm not happy to say it, it just happens to be true. I wish I could praise Hurney for drafting a D-Line like the Gaints. They have two pass rushers at Linebacker that wouldn't have a problem being the second and third guy on our team. I mean really their 4-3 linebacking core has more pass rushers than our DT core has.

Looks like I guessed what year the pass rush dropped to without looking it up. So yeah, I am remembering 2002-2006 as good pass rush years. And Hurney basically inherited that. He picked Peppers, but it wasn't a hard choice after what Kearse was doing in Tennesse, and Peppers trumped him in almost every athletic category. But I'll give him credit for not picking Harrignton, but that does not give him a free decade pass. Anyway our pass rush significantly dropped off while pass rush was getting significantly more important in the league. That is a problem. One that teams who dont have average GM's do not worry about.

[mountainpantherfan]

Im confused. So the 2012 team is going to have 20 of 22 starters drafted? How so?

I can count 12 starting spots that could go to a player not drafted. There is a possibility of having 20 of 22 but it's far from set in stone. Let's let training camp get here and actually have players perform with some pads on before giving away starting spots.

[Upper Deck West End Zone]

And the team's record over the last two seasons was?

[panther4life]

I'm glad everyone is talking about how important the QB is now. Because my and several others whole argument about drafting a LBer was how other positions have more value.

Value chart

QB

Pass rushers

CB, DL, OT, WR

RB, G, C, LB, S, TE

FB, K, P, Special teams

If you build your team around the top 3 tiers your good. Now look at how our team is built especailly financally.

Look at the Gaints for a bigger laugh.

How many teams are built like the Giants? Yes they are a nice shiny example of an excellent D-line but its not easy to build that. Please go back and reference past drafts where we could have built a d-line like theirs. When they drafted osi umenyiora we had Peppers,Rucker and Al wallace. When they drafted Tuck we still had Peppers and Rucker. We never had a chance at Pierre-paul.

once upon a time we had a great d-line like them then Fox alienated Jenkins,Peppers wanted out for whatever reasons. Rucker retired and Kemo got old. Then the 08 meltdown happened. 09 was the beginning of our downfall, our owner decided to rebuild and prep for the lockout in 10. Then in 11 we needed a QB and now we are on the right track. Contrary to foolish beliefs on here our DT's are not as bad as perceived or we would have addressed it in the draft(unless of course you think your smarter than Rivera and Hurney). Throw 2010 out the window, we all know the goal that year was not to be competitive and last year we made major strides. If we can actually stay healthy we will be able to blitz with confusing formations thanks to our strong linebacking core vs. relying on a 4 man rush which very few teams can pull off. You don't know what Alexander is going to be capable of and then of course it would not be shocking to see Hardy improve in his 2nd year under Rivera. Our pass rush will be much improved this year and our team as a whole has quietly gotten better this offseason.

Call me a homer but I am wise enough to understand where were headed and trust the experts on this one vs whiney fans who could do no better than those they are criticizing.

[panther4life]

i also left out Charles Johnson who is a beast at DE

[panther4life]

Im confused. So the 2012 team is going to have 20 of 22 starters drafted? How so?

I can count 12 starting spots that could go to a player not drafted. There is a possibility of having 20 of 22 but it's far from set in stone. Let's let training camp get here and actually have players perform with some pads on before giving away starting spots.

Offense

1.Cam

2.Williams or Stewart

3.Gross

4.Silatolu

5.Kaili

6.Hangartner

7.Otah

8.Steve Smith

9.Brandon Lafell

10.David Gettis

11. Greg Olsen(which we acquired via a draft pick)

Defense

1.Hardy or Alexander

2.Charles Johnson

3.Chris Gamble

4.Munnerlyn,Norman, Or Hogan

5.Fua,Mcclain or Neblett

6.Charles Godfrey

7.Kuechly

8.Beason

9.Anderson or Davis

Theres 20 assuming Martin gets beat out in camp, right now are # 2 tight end Barnidge was also drafted.

Looks like we have managed to draft a damn good offensive line, great running backs, phenomenal QB, Awesome #1 receiver, Lafells on his way to being a solid # 2 and possible good depth behind them in Gettis,Adams and Pilares. never had a chance to draft a decent t.e. since Fox didn't see a need for them but as soon as he left we acquired to good ones in Olsen and Shockey.

Then on D which is being rebuilt has 4 good and if healthy potentially 3 great linebackers, a very good Defensive end in Johnson,decent projects at DT, a shutdown corner, good nickel corner(Munnerlyn) and 2 nice projects in Hogan and Norman at corner. A solid safety in Godfrey, Then who knows what Alexander will turn out to be and as i mentioned earlier Hardy has some potential as well.

[mountainpantherfan]

Offense

1.Cam

2.Williams or Stewart

3.Gross

4.Silatolu or Pollak

5.Kaili

6.Hangartner or Bell

7.Otah or Campbell especially in case of injury

8.Steve Smith

9.Brandon Lafell or a FA not yet known. They were looking at Jones recently.

10.David Gettis or how about a starting FB in Tolbert. You don't have 3starting WRs

11. Greg Olsen(which we acquired via a draft pick)

Defense

1.Hardy or Alexander or Applewhite or Keiser who both had great ends to the season. This spot is wide open IMO.

2.Charles Johnson

3.Chris Gamble

4.Munnerlyn,Norman, Or Hogan or Butler

5.Fua,Mcclain or Neblett who wasn't drafted or Kearse

6.Charles Godfrey or Smith or Nakamura. I could see those two starting over Godfrey and Martin.

7.Kuechly

8.Beason

9.Anderson or Davis

Theres 20 assuming Martin gets beat out in camp, right now are # 2 tight end Barnidge was also drafted.

I only see 11 starting spots that will be guarentted to have a drafted starter. The likelihood is that probably 16 to 20 spots will be but their is going to be a lot of competition in this years training camp IMO. All the above notes are a least realistic.

[csx]

I only see 11 starting spots that will be guarentted to have a drafted starter. The likelihood is that probably 16 to 20 spots will be but their is going to be a lot of competition in this years training camp IMO. All the above notes are a least realistic.

How do you only get 11 out of that?

[mountainpantherfan]

How do you only get 11 out of that?

QB Newton

RB Williams

WR1 Smith

LT Gross

C Kalil

LE Johnson

LB Beason

LB Kuechly

LB Anderson

CB1 Gamble

Sorry only 10. My bad. No one else has earned a spot or completely locked down a spot.