What is a more pressing 'need' O line help or D line help?

[Ivan The Awesome]

Throughout the season, it seems most of us were on one side of the topic. Lately I've been unsure of which would be a bigger or more pressing need.

The offensive line has been sporadic at best. One game playing lights out, the next looking like high school products. Truly truly frustrating. Seeing Cam be sacked so many times. Seeing Cam be greeted by defenders from his blindside... a total of 35 sacks allowed this season. Not sure how high that is, but damn that's pretty high... Gross is regressing, he's older. His replacement may need to be found soon. Guard play? Amini and Gary are....um.. Amini has promise. Gary does too. Bell? He's been more consistent than Gross. Won't touch the Center position. We all know what happened there. With that said there have been a lot of injuries to this team. Mainly in the O-line. Chemistry was a non factor. They worked with what they had available.

Defensive line. There is no doubt we have our Bookends at DE. But the interior is the problem. Ron Edwards went down again and he's a bit older. 33 I believe, for a NT that's getting up there. Dwan was the surprise of the season to me in the line. Getting 5 sacks in the season, and creating an interior pass rush? Who would have thought that would be the case for Dwan? I sure didn't. Ron Edwards had a lot to do with that. He's an unsung hero to be honest. Fua, Nebblett, Chandler? Fua has progressed a bit but not enough to warrant him being a replacement for Ron. At least no in my view. I believe Kearse has been playing too, if I'm not mistaken. Again, I don't think he's had enough time to see if he's the guy to replace Ron.

I'm torn, I really don't know which side of the ball needs more help. Next season we'll have Kalil back, Bell would be in his 3rd year so will Amini. But the question remains in Gross.

Same thing with the D-line. Ron shall return, Johnson, Hardy, and Dwan are pretty much set. So the only question is Ron. How long with he last next season?

Come April, depending on our spot. I believe we'll go OT. If the prospect is ready, I wouldn't be surprised if we release Gross.

What say you?

[Mr. Scot]

O-Line, no contest.

Burt don't be surprised if D-Line gets picked earlier in the draft.

[frash.exe]

Adding Hankins to Dwan, Greg, and Charles with Luke lining up behind them would be lethal

Star if we're fortunate enough

[CRA]

OL, secondary then, the. WR corp, then DL. They need to at talent at all though

[Wolfcop]

OL

[Marguide]

Strictly from a need standpoint, RG would be top of the list. However, usually (I repeat, usually) you do not draft a guard with a top pick if other, more coveted positions are available. For example, LT, DE or QB.

Again, talking need, I would probably say a good DT to play the nose and take over for Ron would be #2, although Kearse has filled in pretty well. My guess is Fua is soon to follow McClain to the DT scrap heap.

And finally, LT. We can probably get another year out of Gross if need be and assuming he will be flexible with his contract. But if a good prospect is available at our pick, this very well could be the way to go.

[nosuchthingasapanther]

oline is more pressing, but i would lock up the defensive line's interior with a first round talent.

the oline needs to be blown up and completely rebuilt. use both fa and the draft to address it.

[carolina-chuck]

DL, no contest

[JawnyBlaze]

DL. Kalil coming back will make most of the OL issues fall into place. I don't think R. Edwards will be back, and even if he is we could use an upgrade anyway. One DT makes a lot more difference to the success of a unit than one G, hence the big difference in their pay ranges.

[Herbert The Love Bug]

Offensive is by far the biggest need for this team. We could potentially need 2-3 new starters there next season and just better talent over all. Getting a stud DT would make our line insanely good but it isn't as big of a need.

Order of needs

1. Offensive Line- need a new tackle and probably a new gaurd
   
2. Secondary- Josh Thomas has looked awesome and should be a lock for a starter next season. Dockery has looked decent as well. Josh Norman has a ways to go. Gamble, and Munnerlyn may not be with the team next season. Getting a 1-2 round type CB would help our secondary tremendously. I like what I have seen from DJ Campbell. He seems to be very solid in coverage and is a hard hitter who always makes the one-on-one tackle. Another safety wouldn't hurt but Godfrey and Campbell may not be too bad.
   
3. WR- We have to give Cam another top target to get the ball to. I love having a receiving TE but I hate our #2 WR being a TE. I just don't see LaFell as more than a #3 WR. A very good #3 though.
   
4. DT- If we can get a big dude that is quick off the ball, can sack the QB and be a run stuffer, we'd have an elite defense and one of the best front 7s in the NFL.
   

[CPF4LIFE]

You dont usually draft a guard high but i think im gonna make an exception for this guy Chance Warmack. He is that good, and would clearly be best player where we are picking. From what i am noticing he is real high on other teams lists too.

[davos]

Offensive is by far the biggest need for this team. We could potentially need 2-3 new starters there next season and just better talent over all. Getting a stud DT would make our line insanely good but it isn't as big of a need.

Order of needs

1. Offensive Line- need a new tackle and probably a new gaurd
   
   
2. Secondary- Josh Thomas has looked awesome and should be a lock for a starter next season. Dockery has looked decent as well. Josh Norman has a ways to go. Gamble, and Munnerlyn may not be with the team next season. Getting a 1-2 round type CB would help our secondary tremendously. I like what I have seen from DJ Campbell. He seems to be very solid in coverage and is a hard hitter who always makes the one-on-one tackle. Another safety wouldn't hurt but Godfrey and Campbell may not be too bad.
   
   
3. WR- We have to give Cam another top target to get the ball to. I love having a receiving TE but I hate our #2 WR being a TE. I just don't see LaFell as more than a #3 WR. A very good #3 though.
   
   
4. DT- If we can get a big dude that is quick off the ball, can sack the QB and be a run stuffer, we'd have an elite defense and one of the best front 7s in the NFL.
   

nice post and I agree

the only thing is that I'd've switched 2 & 3.

I just think another WR is a huge need for us.

Otherwise, OL is definitely the top need. Even if we lose Ron, I think our DL is actually fine. We have times where we play the Kraken and even Alexander inside. Kearse has also been a nice addition. Add this with CJ, Kraken, & D'wan and I don't think it's as pressing as the offensive line which is a lot worse off than people even have let on in this thread. Considering our rotations, I think we are fine for the time being unless we have a shot at Star.

RG is a big need (but one we don't waste a 1st rounder on), plus LT and I'm really not a fan of Bell. He's the type of player I think Rivera envisions could be good but really just isn't and a new staff would let go. Add this with Kalil coming off an injury, Silatulu's idunno year and then a regressing Gross and we have issues.

[CPF4LIFE]

DL. Kalil coming back will make most of the OL issues fall into place. I don't think R. Edwards will be back, and even if he is we could use an upgrade anyway. One DT makes a lot more difference to the success of a unit than one G, hence the big difference in their pay ranges.

This is true, but it goes the same way on offense too, having a stud guard will help strengthen the passing game and running game. We are paying 2 RBs massive contracts and i barely getting anything out of them, the run game has been pretty much non existent on this team for the past 2 years. Most of the time on pass plays when Cam gets hit its by someone coming right up the middle and blowing by the guards.I just think a stud G will have as just as much impact as a DT.

[Salvo]

OL is a bigger need than DL. With that said, we might be drafting in a position where getting a DT over Warmack would make sense in the first round. Our selection of him very early might be a reach, all things considered.