2021 GMO Draft - UDFA

Well with this new dynamic and real life QB drafting pressure it's different.

 

Yep. As I said in an earlier post, I'm not sold on the QB prospects that go in the top five every year anyway. I'd just as soon try to develop prospects with the right skill set than risk the franchise on the "can't miss" phenoms at the top of the first.

Of course, that hasn't worked out all that well for Atlanta. Our developmental quarterbacks keep getting injured. It's getting silly.

 

I’ve sent you a 7 prospect pick list by PM. I’d hoped to be a lot closer to Buffalo’s pick, but I’m shutting down for the night.

If the pick comes up, and no names are still available, then please auto-pick without delay. Use your draft philosophy if it comes to this.

 

Since we're still passing time... I'm loving having Dean Pees as new DC. Particularly love the emphasis on versatility in scheme.

In his first press conference in Atlanta, the first question he was asked was if he would play a base 4-3 or base 3-4.

His answer: "Yes."

Gotta love it.

 

The only real downside is it probably further limits the prospects who fit your scheme.

If I were trying to run a defense these days I’d probably be striving for 75% amoeba defense (almost everyone near the line, disguise who’s coming). You need smart guys who are also athletic to make it work.

So I’m guessing Pees will be looking for his share of tweeners, guys who can play LB in the 3-4 but flirt with the LOS in the 4-3. Or guys who can serve multiple roles up front. Marlon Davidson seems like a good start anyways.

 

"Tweeners" describes half of Atlanta's defensive roster.

 

Put it this way... if safety Erik Harris gained 5 pounds, he'd be our largest linebacker.

 

Kinda what I thought. Didn’t Quinn try to implement some of the 3-4 4-3 crossover already?

Unfortunately aside from the rare exception I don’t think it works quite as well with the S-LB converts. Lots of teams have tried it. But I’m not sure I can name three who were genuine successes.

 

And totally off topic... at times I do some pretty serious database work, and I have always built my own computer workstations. If you haven't heard, there's a global processor shortage that has made CPUs and graphics cards a bit scarce - and expensive. The auto makers are having to cut back their production forecasts just because they can't get the chips they need.

Anyway... since the latest/greatest processors are scarce and ridiculously expensive, I've been overhauling some machines where the motherboards are like 15 years old. Some of them are still perfectly viable computers, able to go head to head with most laptops if not the gaming-oriented desktops. Along those lines, I browse eBay for components from time to time.

Something amusing that I'm now seeing is that some of the AMD Ryzen CPUs from 3-4 years ago are now selling for higher prices used than they sold for back when they were new. The chip shortage has gotten that crazy.

 

Anybody want this Jags pick OTC? I don’t have a pick ready lol

 

He played the 4-3 under, which admittedly has its strengths. But it needs two of the linemen to have two-gap capability at times, which goes directly against the focus on speed.

To me, 4-3 vs 3-4 isn't that big a deal. What I think is far more important is single gap vs two gap responsibility. Personally, I love the single gap 3-4 schemes. You don't need Jabba The Nose Tackle to play it. Wade Philips played it in Dallas with a nose tackle under 300 pounds. But there's really not all that much difference between single gap 3-4 and a base 4-3 that lines the NT/1-tech truly on the A-gap rather than at the zero tech or over the shoulder.

 

Jaguars select:

C.J. Marable, RB, Coastal Carolina

 

I'll offer pick 219 to flip with you. I'm up 3 picks after you.

 

Oops. Too late.

 

@Tim now OTC

 

It has worked for us, but it's a question of when they convert. Helps if they do it in college or for the UDFAs on a practice squad. Foye Oluokun is one example. Falcons also had Coy Wire playing linebacker circa 2018-2010 or so. He had previously been a safety with the Bills. Kemal Ishmael did well with it for us too - he played the "big nickel" or dime back, and it turned out he was better up front than he was at safety. So he added a little weight and became a true LB.

We've obviously also had plenty of the tweener DE/LB types and the DT/DEs. Those have been more hit or miss. Kroy Biermann was a LB in college, but Mike Smith said when he was drafted that we were taking him to play DE. Mike Nolan later planned to move him back to LB, but he got hurt and missed that season. The following year he ended up back at DE. Brooks Reed signed with us as a free agent linebacker but moved to the DL when Quinn needed help up front. Vic Beasley had his best season at DE, then moved to OLB and wasn't so good, then back to DE and still wasn't so good.

 

I wasn’t trying to dig at Atlanta specifically. But that kind of makes my point. When those names left Atlanta what did they get paid? And what have they accomplished since?

My point is, none of them left and got Richard Sherman money or Tyrann Mathieu money. They were just role players, but nothing special. And that’s how I perceive most NFL safeties that go on to play linebacker. Trying to remember who the Rams guy was, Mark Barron. Had a little success doing it, but moved on to a new team, and two or three years later he’s out of the league. Again, not sure I can call him a smashing success. Or Deone Bucanon. First round pick, made that conversion. And four years later you guys got him for pennies.

 

The other interesting thing that Wade Philips typically does in his scheme is that he doesn't use a nickel package. He goes from base 3-4 against the run straight to dime (with a four man front) in pass situations. If you have a linebacker with speed and coverage skills, it gives you the flexibility to blitz with the LB or blitz with one of the DBs and have the LB rotate into coverage.

 

@Tim up with the Jets.

I’ll get my shit together with Houston on deck