Quote:
Originally Posted by Keith
1. Misdirection. I'm not asking for a lot, but with the DEs that could be available in the first round, even if the Texans aren't interested, why can't they at least 'admire' them?
2. Yes, I know they spent millions signing Smith this offseason, but I see him moving inside on passing downs with Mario shifting to LDE. Leaves open a big need for a situational pass rusher.
While a situational RDE is not a full-time starter, I think the right player added there could have a huge impact, and "impact" is the key word being tossed around here by McNair and Kubiak.
Generally speaking, sack artists are more desirable in the first round than outside LBs, where even really good ones somehow seem to slip to the second and third rounds.
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What if you could get a sack artist/LB who is capable of lining up on passing downs? A player that would give your defense tremendous versatility on your D-line and the backfield, a player that can step in and play from day one and play every down. A player that will likely be there if we trade down to the early twenties.
If stopping the run is priority #1, then IMO, Connor Barwin makes alot of sense for our team. He can play either end, which would be useful when Smith moves inside, and is also fast enough to play either OLB in the pros. He can also play TE in case O. Daniels goes down. And since everyone assumes we're trading down, there is a real chance Matthews will be off the board, so I've had him stuck in my head for a few days, he seems to solve some major needs in one pick.
Granted, we should and probably will take at least another OLB to shore up the spot in a draft that is deep at the position, but most importantly, he would give us a real boost in run defense and also provide depth at the DE position. IMO, Connor Barwin could play either OLB positions but is probably best suited at the SAM. He had 8 PBU last year, to go along with 53 TT, 16 TFL and 11 SK and runs a 4.5 forty
. He has a knack for getting up field and does a good job shedding blockers. I honestly feel he's a better value than Matthews in the mid-late first round simply because of his stats last year, his versitility on either side of the ball, and being slightly bigger and faster.
Here's a clip from youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u79CJdrxZbo