DawgTalkers.net Forums The Archives 2014 NFL Season NFL Draft 2014 Let's talk Defense.

It's kind of gone by the wayside a bit. With all the QB, WR, and OL talk in the draft.. I'm kind of drained on talking offense.

So let's look at the other side of the ball.

What do we need, Who do you guys want, where do you want them, etc.

I'm a big fan of getting CB Kyle Fuller at 26. I don't know if he'll last that long though. I think he and Haden could be a nice pair for a long time.

As much as I'd love to have Khalil Mack, I can't logically say taking an ILB at 4 is a good value. If he comes and is a constant Pro Bowler etc, yeah it's worth it.. But you can't predict that. I think I'd rather find a LBer in the 3-4th rounds.

While I also really like Gibson, if there's an athletic safety out there, I think we should take him.

If we could get our QB and a top quality CB like Fuller with out 1st 2 picks, this would be well on its way to being a really successful draft.

Fuller is the best corner for where he will likely be picked.

I don't think Dennard or Gilbert are out of play at 4.

Outside of corners, Calvin Pryor is going to be a hell of a safety if he can stay healthy. Guy is a HUGE hitter.

I think Clowney COULD be the best player in the NFL if he had the heart to match his ability. But he doesn't.

Mack is such a meh prospect. I don't know why I keep hearing how he is the best player in the draft. Don't see it at all. I'd expect a guy like Mack to show at least one above average pass rush move.

I really like Anthony Barr. If it weren't for other needs with high quality players at them, I would take a flier on Barr.

I've made it known, but my "later" round guys are Phillip Gaines *who I am now seeing sneak into the 2nd round* and Skov. Either one of those guys later in the draft would make me very happy.

I love the Stanford defense. I love the Michigan State defense. I think those are two teams that have provided attitude and toughness with their prospects. I would draft any good prospect from either defense.

He doesn't fit the system, but Aaron Donald is going to be Warren Sapp-like.

FS Jonathon Dowling of Western Ky, I think the kid has star potential. Get him in the gym, get him a bit stronger and Move this kid over to corner in Pettines press scheme and you have a 6-3 long armed lanky corner that can run with anyone. I would be all over this kid in the 4th maybe 3rd. I think he is similar to Nebraskas Stanley jean-baptiste who in most years is a top 20 picks. hell wouldnt mind having both kids.

ILB I just go ahead and pull the trigger on Boreland from wisconsin in the 2nd. stick him inside for the next 10 years.

I like Christian Jones at LB...think he's versatile enough to play inside for us...and god forbid an injury can move outside as well...he had the second highest tackle success rate at 96% right behind Mosley's 97%...I wouldn't be mad if we double dipped either...

At safety I really like the Buchanan kid from Washington State...plays well can move and can hit...the Stanford kid is someone to look at as well...great frame for our smallish secondary and Standford secondary players have been producing lately...

CB I love Gilbert...but will be gone...I think Fuller will be gone as well when our second first round pick is due...But he's another good one...
Roberson from Florida could be a good pick in round 3...and should keep Joe Haden happy with a gator to tutor...love a bigger corner...Baptise from Nebraska is intruging as well...love his size just hope he has the hips to twist and run with NFL WRs...Sometimes Nebraska Corners struggle in the NFL...well they used to at least...I remember Keyou Craver and Michael Booker having huge struggles after supposed to be NFL beasts...Love Carrington Byndom CB Texas really late in round 6-7...nearly 6'0 177 lbs...4.37 speed 38 vert lots of starting experience... Doesn't really make a lot of flashy plays...needs to learn how to tackle better but was playing nicked up...was an expected 2nd round pick last year...stayed at Texas and that D was pretty rotten at times

CB I'd take any of the top 3 at 26. I'd be cool with Joyner at 35, too. No to Verrett and Roby and I haven't seen enough of Gaines. Any of the three Florida guys or Cockrell on Day 3 would be my backup plan at corner. If we're sticking with Skrine at CB2 and want to get an inside guy Osahon Irabor from Arizona State has good coverage and blitzing skills and is probably a 200+ pick/UDFA.

ILB I want Skov and would not be mad if we took him at 35. If we pass on him with pick 71 I will be pissed. Consolation prizes would be Preston Brown or Bullough in round 4. Would also like Christian Jones even as a complement to one of the other three guys.

FS I'll take Joyner or Brooks in the third. Would like Dion Bailey as well and that 2nd third rounder is where I would take him. Dezmen Southward would be my fallback plan late. He doesn't seem like he's playing hard but he's always around the ball.

DL I think would be a waste of a pick. We're stacked and this is a weak class for 3-4 DL IMO.

OLB I'd take Attaochu, Smith, or Smith if they were there in the 4th or maybe late third but ai don't see it as a priority.

SS, well we have Whitner so we don't really need one but if Telvin Smith gets stuck in no man's land and falls into the 5th or 6th he'll be BPA.

For everyone that thinks we should take Clowney...

Am I to assume that means they want him at OLB? Has he ever stood up before?

Just wondering.

The 3 names on defense that I am most interested in are Shayne Skov (I'd love to spend a 5th to move up and grab him towards the end of the 2nd...Gonna need to jump NO and Indy I think to get him. He has Troy-like anticipation but in a LB...who is supposed to be around the LOS. Cant wait to see him in the NFL.

Max Bullough. Instincts Instincts Instincts...hes got em and he uses em well...

and Denicos Allen...I think the most underrated piece of the Sparty defense this season. A real in the box safety that stuffs the run better than TJ but covers worse. Would love to see what Pettine could do with him.




Also...

How did Anthony Barr slip below Kahlil Mack? When did that happen. Barr was the #4 prospect all year, then after the season Mack becomes the top LB and Barr is like 20th? What?

Calvin Pryor. I know it's an extreme long shot but would LOVE to see him back there with Whitner.

I would love Fuller at 26. Roby's physical tools are elite, but focus and technique inconsistent, but I'd consider him at 26 and pull the trigger at 35. I'd also be fine taking Verrett at 35. Undersized, but helluva player.

I'm not high on this linebacker group, and wouldn't consider one before 35, where I would go either Shazier or Van Noy. I'd consider Skov with the second 3rd round pick, but not before then. I'd probably be just as happy going LB in the later rounds, where I think the value is better. In the fourth round I'd go James Gayle, DE/OLB out of Virginia Tech with the first pick, and Lamin Barrow, ILB out of LSU with the second pick. Like both those guys a lot, think they're underrated.

As for defensive line I think the Browns are pretty set, although if Dominique Easley falls to the 3rd round I don't think I could pass on that kind of interior pass rush ability. Reminds me of Sheldon Richardson, who the Jets got out of Mizzou last year. Just pure havoc inside, which can be invaluable in any defense. Also might take a chance on Jay Bromley out of Syracuse in the 5th or 6th, who also demonstrated some interior pass rush ability.

I wouldn't go safety in the first round, so Ha Ha Clinton Dix and Calvin Pryor are out of the picture. I'm not sold on Pryor anyway. I do really like Jimmie Ward out of Northern Illinois, and would strongly consider him at 35. Slightly undersized, but really would shore up the back end of the defense, especially if paired with CB Fuller at 26. Ward can cover like CB, but also plays the run very well. Would offer wonderful versatility.

In my opinion, a defensive heavy draft of:

4. Bridgewater, QB, Louisville,
26. Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech
35. Ward, FS, Northern Illinois
71. Easley, DT/DE, Florida,
83. Travis Swanson, C/OG, Arkansas
106. James Gayle, DE/OLB, Virginia Tech
127. Lamin Barrow, ILB, LSU
145. James White, RB, Wisconsin
180. Wesley Johnson, OT/OG/C, Vanderbilt
218. Connor Shaw, QB, South Carolina

woudn't be the worst thing in the world, although it fails to get a WR. But I think the defense would be completely set, and the offense would be much better with Bridgewater at QB, some versatile offensive lineman who fit the zone-blocking scheme, and an underrated RB. Could even take Easley out of the picture at pick 71, as he likely won't be there, and take a WR there to make it a little more balance between offense and defense.

I think we have to draft at least two cover CB in the draft. I'm not a fan of Skine. After that we got zilch.

I don't think we use a real high pick though. Given the size of the elite receivers in the league, height, vertical jump, and wing span are critical. A guy like Stanley Jean-Baptiste might be a steal.

Just a question ...... Why 2 DE/OLB types? This is the strength of the team already, and we have no room there. We can add a player, but only at the expense of a quality player. Why not look at WR there instead?I also question 2 OL. (though I know that others don't) Our OL was actually solid last year with Hoyer and Campbell under Center. Half of our sacks last year came with Weeden under Center, and really skewed the overall picture for the OL. If Hoyer and Campbell had played the whole year we would project to have given up 30-35 sacks for the year. This year we have basically replaced Lauvao with McQuistan. I can see taking a Guard for competition in the draft, but not high ..... not when there are quality players at other more dire positions. Further, we held extra spots on the roster last year for developing OL. We need to see what we have in guys like Wallace, Faulk, Gilkey, and Fragel. (and Pinkston, for that matter) I believe that OL is a position that a team can develop, and I am intrigued by some of the young players we had on the roster throughout last season.

I would love to come out of this draft with a QB, 2 CB, an ILB, a WR, and a RB in the 1st 4 rounds. Later in the draft I can see a FS, and an OL. I hate to get locked into positions, but from what I have read, I think that there are some high end CB in this draft, but we need to move on them early. I would do so. That is a premium position. Same with QB. I like your #4 pick, as long as the front office sees him as their franchise guy. If they prefer another guy, then I hope that take him there. We need a QB desperately. We need help in the defensive backfield desperately. Next year both Haden and Skrine become free agents. I would love to have guys ready to be our #2 and #3 guys, while bringing back Haden as our #1. I think that it's a reasonable expectation of this draft. Plus, this draft is far deeper on offense than defense. I think that we can get real value at CB early on, ILB moderately early, and on offense later. (outside of QB, obviously) Plus, a trio (or even a quartet) of plus level CB would allow the S position to truly be an impact position, instead of mainly being a help position.

Yeah ......... I would be perfectly happy if 2 of our top 3 picks are CB.

Whenever I play the draft simulators I end up using 5 of the 10 slots on defense. It's become a habit. I think that with Pettine's inclinations as a defensive coach that could happen.

If we go BPA I think Mack is in the conversation at 4. If they take him they will figure out where he lines up play-by-play. I'm not swayed by the idea that because of his position he should't be considered at 4. I'm uninterested in winning the draft. I want talent that will translate to wins come Sundays this fall. He will be taken high, possibly within the top 10, so the Brown's should evaluate his fit for what we will do defensively. I think he will also raise the toughness quotient in the LB corp.

I've had an infatuation with Fuller and see him as a plausible pick at 26. However, lately I've been reading that he is more of a zone corner. Based on what little I know about what Coach Pettine wants to do; that wouldn't be the best fit. If that's true, I expect the team to have made the proper evaluation of his skill set, that brings me back to Roby. Roby is more than the sum of his bumpy 2013 season. He has press coverage skills, elite speed, exceptional athleticism and is physical against the run.

I also covet Christina Jones, ILB/OLB/DE. You can do a lot with him. Similar to Mack you can move him around and get exotic with his skills .Dansby won't be here forever. Mack and Jones in the middle of our defense for a long time. That sounds good to me. Having no idea how the draft will go, Preston Brown, Zumwalt, Skov and Avery Williamson might be options as well. Within the past week I've started to view Bullough as a possibility as well. Considering the current depth at ILB getting two guys wouldn't seem excessive to me. It would be nice if Mack was one of them.

I'd love to get Antone Exum, CB/S, of Va Tech and move him back to safety which I think is his natural position. I think he could be a good FS given his performance in coverage when he was able to play last season. I also like Huff of Wyoming and my sleeper here remains Brock Vereen of Minnesota. Good size, very good speed and NFL pedigree.

DaQuan Jones, Penn State, Ego Ferguson, LSU and Kelcy Quarles, South Carolina and Will Sutton are all second tier DT's (3-4 round grades) who might be considered by the Browns. I continue to learn more about players but I have read that Sutton, Jones and Ferguson have some pretty good gap penetration skills. I realize DL is considered an area of strength for the team but Pettine did try recruiting his former DT, Carrington to Cleveland. So there might be some interest in adding to the pile in this area.

I just don't have the intelligence/knowledge of the college world to spit out names and etc, so with that said...

Give me a cornerback that can compete with Skrine, maybe even win, for the #2 corner.

Give me some inside linebackers cause Roberston, Eubanks and etc aren't nothing but depth guys at-best. Dansby will aide whoever else lines up beside him at ILB.

Although I'm actually pretty satisfied with Gipson, perhaps another safety to push him and try to take over his starter role alongside Hitner.

Don't matter to me who, where or anything, a good selection of a corner and an ILB and one can ONLY tip off their hat and ponder about how stellar this defense could be. We got some dogs people. Dansby, Hitner, Haden, Phil Taylor, Desmond Bryant, Rubin, Winn/Hughes, Kruger and Jabaal. Yeah... we got some dogs for sure!

Not sure how many defensive guys we draft this year. We need an ILBer and another corner, although I have not given up on McFadden.

ILBer: I like Skov. He is a very complete player. He plays fast and seems to always find the ball. There were times last year that he blew me away w/how well he read the plays.

If not him, I like Borland from Wisconsin. He might not have ideal size, but he makes tackles. He would be solid for a long, long time.

Here is a guy who interests me: Jordan Zumwalt from UCLA. He wasn't a starter, but he makes play after play after play. He lays big hits on guys and he can drop into coverage and make plays. I like him later in the draft as a Special teams guy and as a backup linebacker.


I think Skrine isn't getting the respect he deserves, thus I would not draft a corner in the first round. I do like Jason Verrett in the second or third. I know he is smaller, but the guy is extremely fast and provides tight coverage. He drove LSU nuts when he played against them. He would be excellent in the slot.

I also like E.J. Gaines from Mizzou. He should be available in either the 4th or 5th. The guy makes and plays and shut down Evans from A&M. I can't figure out why he isn't more highly regarded.

Not so sure if we'll go after a safety, but if we do.....

Ahmad Dixon from Baylor is an interesting guy. So is Brooks from Florida State. Both guys are faster than the safeties ranked higher than they are them might be available in the 4th round. I think they would fit well in Pettine's system where he asks his safeties to be interchangeable. In that regard, Dixon would be even more valuable, because he is more physical.

I would be in the other camp.

What's wrong with a high quality safety and IMO he 2nd best WR in this class?

I think Evans may have better potential than Watkins.

A WR and a Safety?

What's wrong w/that? Really?

Oh I'm sorry. Someone disagreed with your opinion, therefore they are obviously an idiot.

indeed...

My opinion?

Yes, your opinion.

You, by stating "What's wrong with that? Really?" are saying you disagree, and therefore, have a difference of opinion, than the person that said it...

I could have sworn you mocked steve's post.

Whatever man...................a WR and a safety would be brilliant! Now, go away.

So we both misinterpreted each others posts.. Fine.

The whole "Now, go away." thing?

Okay, I will go away.

I was hoping to get some conversation about the guys I listed. Instead, I get this BS. Later.

LOL.................you are bragging about that?

Pathetic.

Hey steve...............what do you think of the guys I mentioned?

You can rip them if you want. It's cool.

I want to come out of this draft with one of the following for ILB: Skov, Bullough, Borland, or Mack(if he can convert to ILB)

Some of the players you mention don't match up with what I understand Pettine is looking for. Not to say they are not talented but fit is a question. My other concern would be availability versus other needs to be addressed when particular players are projected to come off the board. That is related to the entire way you would approach that draft opposed to what I would do. To me, an obvious difference.

I question the fit of a player like Gaines. What I hear is that Pettine wants to go man-to-man, EJ Gaines as I understand it, he is a zone corner. Brooks is an highly rated SS, again as I understand his college poisition, with Whitner manning that position drafting him seems redundant. If he sees the field it will be as a sub SS or FS. What I've learned about him I don't see him as a FS.

I like Borland alot but if I take Mack at 4 I don't comeback and get Borland at 26 or 35 where he is likely to be available. I am clear that you have other draft priorities at 4 so,Borland at 26 or 35 might make sense to you.

I don't know if Skov or Zumwalt would be any better in pass coverage than Robinson. Robinson wasn't bad against the run. I believe C. Jones can defend the run and offer more in coverage than Skov or Zumwalt and Jones has played at various spots in the defense, something that I think would appeal to Pettine. So I would target him before those two. I would still look at one of the others if I couldn't get Jones.

Totally agree on Skov, as I mentioned in my post here. I'd take him in the second, especially if I felt like there wasn't a guy I considered at 26 that fell to 35.

Borland I don't like as much. Seems like he just runs up to the line of scrimmage every play and gets lucky sometimes. He doesn't have a lot of chase ability. I think I like Caleb Lavey better and I think he'll probably go undrafted.

Zumwalt I haven't formed an opinion on and haven't really payed attention to him, so I couldn't comment.

At corner, I think Verrett is going to struggle in the pros because the rules are so different. He's not going to be able to grab onto people all day like he did at TCU. The reason I'd like to draft Dennard, Fuller, or Gilbert, in the first is that while yes, I do like Skrine, I think drafting someone to play the slot can improve that position, but drafting someone who can start outside at a high level improves two positions (outside and slot).

I'd be good with Gaines in the 4th as you've suggested, along with Cockrell or any of the Florida guys as a backup if we can't get one of those top 3 at 26.

Ahmad Dixon is a guy who I really liked at first then started to not like as much. I feel like he is great at getting to the ball but not real good in coverage. Yeah, like you said he's a good hitter and if it came down to Pryor at 26 or Dixon at our second 3rd rounder I'd take Dixon for sure. He's not real high on my list of targets though.

I like Brooks. He was one of the names I listed, too.

JMO, of course.

Guard I would be happy with Jones as well as a backup/understudy for Dansby... Just not completely sure if he makes it into day 3. I see him as a separate category from the Skov, Bullough types and wouldn't mind pairing them one bit.

4) QB Manziel
26) CB Fuller
35) ILB Skov
71) FS Brooks
85) ILB C. Jones
4a) WR Street
4b) RB White
5) OG/C Linsley
6) OG/OT Wentworth
7) FB Millard

Another WKU guy to get would be Andrew Jackson. Pick him up in the 5th as a two down linebacker. I feel like he could develop to be very special.

Terrence Brooks is another interesting one as he can gain a few lbs and play OLB or lose some and play safety. A real football player.

Ron Powell is still my favorite OLB. Someone to replace Sheard/Groves in the future. Dude's a real weight room warrior, not to the level of Clowney, but close enough.

I don't think that the top end safeties are that good. I wouldn't take any of the projected 1st rounders in the 1st round. There are some mid round guys I like. Buchanan and Ladler come to mind. There was a 3rd guy but cannot remember the guys name. I just don't see that much difference between the guys projected 1st vs 3rd round. Perhaps because the top guys tend to be in the box safeties and I think we need a solid tackling ballhawking FS kind of guy. I don't buy Pryor or Dix as that kind of safety.

Same is true with ILB. Not much top end talent but lots of decent guys. Steve, What is your opinion on Van Noy BYU? I like him as an OLB. Good rusher, good in coverage. Not sure he is dynamic enough to take a starting spot from our current guys which makes me feel taking him where we would have to to get him would be too high, Can you specifically address your thoughts on moving him inside. He would be a huge upgrade in coverage. He would be a dynamic blitzer up the middle. But is he stout enough against the run to move to ILB?