ForJimmy

My point is all of these offensive geniuses want a strong running game. I don’t think our new offensive coach wanting one means we are going to John Fox run run football. A strong running game can open up the offense. It looks to me like he is expecting Young to test the defense with his arm as well with the additions of XL, and Sanders (who were top in college at catching passes 10 plus yards). You know Diontae is going to want his targets as well. If Young can’t do this we will just find a QB who can.

Autocorrect is such a cruel mistress…

Damn it who let the troll out? I thought there was some more info about Coker in this thread…

Niners, Ravens, Lions, and Dolphins were in the top 5 in rushing last year. The Niners, Lions, and Dolphins are suppose to have 3 of the best play callers in the NFL. Our new coach wants to install a strong running game and people think it’s a bad thing? I’m confused…

I believe we signed those 2 OGs, signed a swing OT, and have Corbett and BC coming back from injury. It’s a completely different OL with some actual depth. Our top goal was to fix the OL and we threw a lot of cash at it in free agency. I would have liked an OL with a late pick, but 6th round vs UDFA aren’t that different. We pretty much used our late rounds to fill some defense depth.

I’m half joking. Every year the QB class gets hyped up. I do think Nico will be good but who knows.

I've heard the 26 draft will be the best one yet. Nico and Arch leading the way!

Yeah I don't think he is ready day 1 for this role but I think we saw this as a bigger need than a Ladd slot WR type role. Honestly that Z role you are referring too seems to fit Diontae's skill set to me. Great route runner, can shake coverage, and can rotate in and out of slot. I know he will start as our X since he is our most polished best WR by a good margin, but if we do extend him and XL develops like we want you could slide DJ into that Z role, Mingo into the big slot, and XL to the X. This offense will be a working process (which I think is why Canales wants to be strong in the running game) for a while as it was awful last season plus we have a new system, plus some young players (XL, Sanders, Brooks) that will need some time.

It’s only 10 plus yards. We will have DJ underneath getting open as well, plus Brooks can catch from the backfield. Young will need someone like XL and Sanders tracking deep passes and keeping the defense honest. I could argue their ability to adjust on deep passes could help Young’s deep pass issues. Regardless Young will either work out or he won’t. Meanwhile we are trying to build a more compete roster for him or his replacement if needed.

XL's size and strength puts him in a better spot to beat press coverage. Maybe he isn't there today but his physical playing style and his size project him to line up outside in the NFL. I think he is still pretty raw, but DC sees him as a Evans type X WR who will win jump balls and can line up on the outside. He was one of the best in college at winning downfield which is what you want from your X IMO. He consistently won downfield, posting an FBS-leading 97.7 PFF receiving grade on 10-plus yard throws The good things about Diontae is he can pretty much play all 3 WR positions. He is a solid weapon to have if he can keep his head straight.

I also think each ACL tear is different in it's recovery. His was apparently a clean tear and has been already running on it. https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/texas-rb-jonathon-brooks-has-started-running-12-weeks-after-acl-surgery I would think this puts him on the early end of recovery time unless there is a setback.

This is kind of my thought. Tepper's ability to move on and write off a loss is actually a decent trait for him to have. He wants to win above everything else and yes sometimes he gets in his own way but he tries to adapt at least.

This is getting overlooked IMO. It was a great trade and we still got the player we wanted in Brooks. It’s nice to be on this side of a trade for once…

Moose didn’t show much in college until his 4th year and even then it was less than half the stats/production XL just showed.

Ladd is going to be primarily slot. He struggles with press because of his size. Modest play strength could create issues in beating press. Limited production in 2023 due to back and ankle injuries. Alarming number of deep ball-tracking drops in 2022. Average acceleration driving through route stems. He might not be sudden enough to beat press and will need to prove he has enough play strength to finish contested catches against tight man They all have strengths and weaknesses. We need X or outside WRs though. AT is slot at this stage in his career, Mingo is best at slot, adding a 3rd slot while needing outside WRs wasn’t a route we were wanting to do. AD, XL, and Coleman were the WRs that we could have picked where we drafted. I personally preferred AD but XL has a lot to like.

Mingo is a big slot. At least that is where he was projected. I’m not saying we don’t need other separators, but we need WR that have different skill sets. Ideally you would want your X or bigger, physical guy like XL to also get separation. Ladd is probably a slot in the NFL and we needed an outside guy. He isn’t going to do well against physical CBs who press him at the LOS.

Yeah some of these sites gave Detroit bad grades last year for “reaching” on players they drafted. The fact is they got the players they wanted and had a good vision for them.

I like Sanders. I think he gets negativity because of who his dad is, but Sanders is solid and tough IMO.

You need different style WRs for different plays and routes. Having the same type is doable but limits the offense. Who is our red zone target with Ladd and DJ? Who is stretching the defense on deep routes and keeping them honest? Who is winning the 50/50 jump balls? DC wants XL to be our smaller version of Evans or Metcalf from the offenses he was part of.

I think we had an average to above average solid draft with 3 potential starters. If Wallace can fill in for Shaq at a high level next year it was a great draft (assuming XL, Brooks, and Sanders are all starting).

Who was your RB1 this draft?

I’m curious to see Riley Leonard at ND. They should give him a decent OL and weapons.

Clowney and Wonnum should be better overall than Burns and whoever was starting on his other side? YGM? Run defense is important too.

Yeah that’s why I am curious to see these offensive players in a new system. Tremble, Mingo, Bryce, hell even Miles could look a good bit better naturally. Tremble in the H-Back blocking role with Sanders (TE) in a double TE set could be interesting for some plays.