Steve Smith picks Sheldon Richardson?.......

[top dawg]

What I am saying, and I guess not very well, is that this draft is top heavy. And from where we pick, at 14, we may have to get lucky to get that first day starting DT with playmaking ability. DE has more playmakers than DT. WR has more playmakers than DT. LT is a wash. We are in the gray area. The only way we are getting a top talent player is if he falls.

There is plenty of talent this year. But once you get out of the top 8-9 it levels off quickly. I guess because there are precious few stars this year. It makes the class, as a whole, somehow look less appealling.

I just happen to want a first day playmaker with my first two picks. And I don't see that type player coming from the DT class this year.

Well, from most of the things that I am reading, the perceived difference between Floyd, Lotulelei and Richardson may not be that great, ad I have read that they all may be exceptionally talented, especially in a 4-3 set. There are several opinion pieces that praise all of these guys, and, more importantly, many that basically say that it will be hard to tell which one is going to be the best. But, everything that I have read believes that the three are excellent prospects who have a good chance of making an immediate impact.

[iamhubby1]

In most rankings there are 3 DT rated higher then any WR. And There are 6-7 that could go in the 1st round with only 3 WR rated to do that.

What are you talking about?

I thought I was talking about our pick at 14. We are in no mans land. We are on the outside looking in where it comes to DT. I don't feel we are in a position to draft potential, we have to go BPA, and I don't believe there will be one there when we pick.

Hell, to be honest. I am worried about the pick. We have to get playmakers and I am not convinced we are going to get lucky on this. I just don't see it. I wish I was more confident, but I can't shake this draft tree and see a gem falling to us.

Talent, yes. Elite talent? Not so much.

[Swaggasaurus]

I honestly think that Star (newly possible at our pick) or Hankins (likely available when we pick) are almost guaranteed to come in and start for us right away and make a BIG impact. I think to a lesser extent the same possibility exists with Richardson or J. Williams and to an even lesser extent it's possible Floyd, B. Williams or S. Williams would start for us right away and make an impact. The last three I'd consider in the 2nd if we didn't take a DT in the 1st (yea I know Floyd will probably be gone, but I wouldn't consider him in the 1st if I were GM...)

Real talk...we need a guy that is a run defender first...Star, Hankins I guess I could roll with.

[iamhubby1]

I honestly think that Star (newly possible at our pick) or Hankins (likely available when we pick) are almost guaranteed to come in and start for us right away and make a BIG impact. I think to a lesser extent the same possibility exists with Richardson or J. Williams and to an even lesser extent it's possible Floyd, B. Williams or S. Williams would start for us right away and make an impact. The last three I'd consider in the 2nd if we didn't take a DT in the 1st (yea I know Floyd will probably be gone, but I wouldn't consider him in the 1st if I were GM...)

Now I thought Star was a top ten pick? So I always left him off the list. Hankins, to me, is one of those potential picks. I am not a fan of those type picks in the first round. So he was not on my list either.

Also, I think we will get a talented player with both our first two picks. I just think the caliber of that player may not match the magnitude of that pick in the first round. We need to hit a homerun. And there are precious few of those.

[Rags]

If you heard the rest of the interview you would understand what he was talking about.

Somebody called the radio show and was dogging Lafell (like some of you do here) . Steve said the WR's corp wasn't the reason for the slow start on offense. He said Chud was calling plays like he had last years Oline. He said he lafell Olsen and Murphy would be running wide open but the Oline couldn't block for the play and Cam would be in survival mode. He felt like their was a disconnect from Chud and the roster. He also said that Gross had a lot on his shoulder trying to cover up for Amini who was swimming at the beginning of the year. Smith didn't understand why people were talking down on Gross.

Nobody is saying our l-line doesn't need help.

But we need WR help and that's a given.

Cardinls have a worse olien than ours yet 3 WRs with over 500 yards.

But yeah, I'd be down as hell with a Sheldon Richardson pick at 14. Dude's gonna be a monster.

[koolkatluke]

Nobody is saying our l-line doesn't need help.

But we need WR help and that's a given.

Cardinls have a worse olien than ours yet 3 WRs with over 500 yards.

But yeah, I'd be down as hell with a Sheldon Richardson pick at 14. Dude's gonna be a monster.

1. Dude we don't run the same offense as Zona.

2. We had 3 guys over 500 yards receiving Lafell, Olsen, Smith.

[JawnyBlaze]

Now I thought Star was a top ten pick? So I always left him off the list. Hankins, to me, is one of those potential picks. I am not a fan of those type picks in the first round. So he was not on my list either.

Also, I think we will get a talented player with both our first two picks. I just think the caliber of that player may not match the magnitude of that pick in the first round. We need to hit a homerun. And there are precious few of those.

The heart problem scare could make him fall. From what I've heard it made Alexander fall from a potential second round pick to the 4th where we got him. Hopefully what happened with Star is just a false alarm too, but it could still make him fall. Probably not 2 full rounds like Alexander, but maybe just enough for us to get him.

[panthers55]

Floyd will be the first DT off the board. His combine num bers were ridiculous and it cemented his place in the top 10 particularly as an undertackle. He is explosive, quick and agile. He will definitely not be there at 14, Plus with the depth of the DT class, we will not be moving up to get anybody.

[Doc Holiday]

I liked his comments about Hurney relying too much on unproven rookies to start. Also note he doesnt think we need a number 1 receiver to replace him. Doesn't sound like a guy planning to leave anytime soon.

just because Smith doesn't think so doesnt mean we don't need a new WR, it has everything to do with smith getting older and losing a step.

[panthers55]

just because Smith doesn't think so doesnt mean we don't need a new WR, it has everything to do with smith getting older and losing a step.

We will likely pick up a couple of receivers in free agency and the draft. I just see this as a change from 2 years ago when he was lobbying for a number 1 receiver to take the pressure off him and a lot of conversation about him moving to the slot. Smith is getting older and losing a step but his savvy route running makes up for that and he is still quick out of the break which is more important than straight line speed.

[unicar15]

The debate between Floyd, Richardson, and Lotuleilei will be interesting. One of them will be left for us to take and at this point I think it'd be Lotuleilei because of the recent Echo he had. On one hand it would be an amazing value pick at a position we need. On the other hand if he has a cardiomyopathy then you could have a guy that could literally drop dead in practice. Hopefully his docs get all that figured out. If he gets cleared though then wow...HELL of a pick at #14.

[iamhubby1]

The heart problem scare could make him fall. From what I've heard it made Alexander fall from a potential second round pick to the 4th where we got him. Hopefully what happened with Star is just a false alarm too, but it could still make him fall. Probably not 2 full rounds like Alexander, but maybe just enough for us to get him.

Herein lies the problem. Floyd will be gone, Star has issues, and Richardson is not a finished product. So, to me, it looks like if we take a DT in the first we are reaching. Drafting for potential.

Second round is fine because there are some good DTs out there. But I just don't see it for the first.

Same with the WRs. Lot's of talent, but do you want one for your first pick?

I hate 14. Too close to the top, so you want a star player. Too far from the bottom so you can get a good player with the value you want out of a first rounder. Draft pergatory is what it feels like to me.

[iamhubby1]

Floyd will be the first DT off the board. His combine num bers were ridiculous and it cemented his place in the top 10 particularly as an undertackle. He is explosive, quick and agile. He will definitely not be there at 14, Plus with the depth of the DT class, we will not be moving up to get anybody.

So I guess the question becomes. Do you trust this class of DTs? I am not convinced we need to use our first pick on one. I am just leery of drafting a DT in the first to begin with. This year is a prime example of good talent, but maybe not 14th pick talent.

Especially given our situation. We are on the cusp of being good. We need to add a couple of playmakers to help us get there. Drafting a potentially good DT is just not how I would go about adding said playmakers. If I were more confident with this class maybe I would be less worried.

This could be our last shot at a high round pick. I don't want to waste it.

[JawnyBlaze]

Herein lies the problem. Floyd will be gone, Star has issues, and Richardson is not a finished product. So, to me, it looks like if we take a DT in the first we are reaching. Drafting for potential.

Second round is fine because there are some good DTs out there. But I just don't see it for the first.

Same with the WRs. Lot's of talent, but do you want one for your first pick?

I hate 14. Too close to the top, so you want a star player. Too far from the bottom so you can get a good player with the value you want out of a first rounder. Draft pergatory is what it feels like to me.

I agree in regards to WR, but I have faith Star's heart thing will turn out to be a false alarm (reports already indicated that likelihood) and I think Hankins is also worth #14.