Bear Hands

Yeeeppp, between the length/catch radius these guys have and speed, Bryce has a really awesome platoon. I can see how people on the outside looking in may look at it as a JAG type group, but it is set up really well for Bryce. Not to mention, Mingo, TMJ and Thielen can all flex between the outside and slot. Chark strictly outside. Thielen knows how to get open even at his age. He's not outrunning guys anymore/isn't his 20s self, but he's a perfect vet to have. The rest, it's all super promising with some caveats: Chark-Injury Bug: He could play his way into a multi-year contract if he gets over the injuries. And it's not impossible, there's a lot of examples of guys who had early career bugs they shook out into 7+ year careers. Not to mention he's already a proven top-30 WR in the league when healthy. TMJ-Playing Time/Young: TMJ is 2 years younger than a lot of guys that were just drafted. He was young for his school year and was a true-Junior declare. He's essentially redshirted 2 years and ready to show if he's the fringe 1st rounder TD machine he was sold as. Mingo-As Unproven Rookie: We just have to wait and see with him, but I have a really good feeling with him over so moany past prospect. Why I'm more sold on him than others is his stories about how much of a student of the game he is. That shows commitment to the profession and a guy that wants to win. Shenault-Gadget or true WR?: One thing is for sure, he can be a playmaker and play every spot at WR. Another fringe 1st type eval taken in the 2nd. We have 4 of these types from their respective draft classes. I think he's an asset to keep. He's perfect to get the ball quickly to and let him run w/it. Then you have Shi & Byrd to battle out for the shifty guy you quickly get open.

Don’t forget Chark and TMJ are both sub 4.4 guys. Faster than Shi.

Depth signing in May. Already have like 9 OL so it’s not like this means much.

NFL.com had him as a 3rd-4th rd projection. TDN a 4th. Brugler a 4th/5th. Bottom line is we landed someone that we targeted and wanted via trade-up--that combined with being a perceived reach makes it a bit unique. Being that specific, targeted trade-up to 80 using 93 and 132 is simply what makes people irk. If we waited and he was there at 93, I think it would be bit more digestible. But, I mean, considering it was just #132 used, at that point in the draft, odds become so slim. Why not just use 132 to land a guy you want rather than wait for the best available guy that falls to 93? Sure, it was a bit reach-y & it will be mildly annoying if he's a mid-round miss, but we've had plenty of those and should be used to them. Although Brady C. is working out so we should wait and see. My 2 cents is that they clearly weighed the EDGE need more than BPA after picking Mingo, which made this a need-based pick given other positional talent available. Our guys clearly had him in mind over Diaby, McGuire, KJ, etc. at EDGE, so I don't think what we did is too detrimental or anything. The big, calculated move in this draft was taking Mingo which greatly impacted our need v. BPA scale. It tells me we didn't have many trade takers at 39 and went with our #1 offensive weapon available. I have to think MicDonald IV & Derick Hall were two we really wanted on defense. Awesome length, high upside, good Burns compliments. The run-D capable EDGE was the huge need, and as great of an EDGE class this was, the ones strong in run defense were much more limited/and went early. Those two had the traits Fitt kept describing at edge defender. Once both were gone, that changed our strategy completely. We did not have guys like BJ, Tuli, Foskey, White rated highly enough to consider over Mingo or worthy of that 39 selection. Changed the whole direction of the draft. EDGE is a highly valuable spot in our new defense and I can't imagine we're set banking on a competition between DJJ and YGM. Evero's old pal in Leonard Floyd makes too much sense in my opinion.

Wasn't planning to say much bc this is a silly thread--but we managed to land the #1 pick in the draft (a new franchise QB) & our WR group is in a fine spot with Thielen/Chark/Mingo/TMJ/Shenault/Shi/Byrd. And then pick wise, we're just missing a 1st next year and a 2nd the following. We did what we needed to do while still positioning ourselves to compete and not tear anything apart. Taking more Ls required tearing more apart than simply shipping away DJ in a deal. Our GM comes from the always compete Seattle mindset. Tanking was never happening under Fitterer/Morgan management. No use in getting all bent about it if you accepted it wasn't happening and just enjoy Sundays for what they are in late fall.

He's at the least, a person in more ways than one (Name and general existence)

Bumping this because Person predicted 4 of our 5 draft choices correctly. Young, Mingo, Zavala & DJ Johnson. Even if not in near their actual slots, that's pretty impressive.

Oh my lord...

I really hope the AFC pummels a team like the Titans or Raiders into a pulp so that teams like the Commies and Bucs lose out on their rather obvious quest for Caleb or Drake.

This is one of those minor yet really important things. Seems simple enough but we haven't had a Center-QB combo that could effectively communicate and call out protections and make solid presnap judgements since 2018. You saw the boost when Bozeman replaced Elflein, and he helped our lackluster QBs make some good calls. But now having both a QB and Center capable of effectively making presnap reads is huge. Bozeman & Young being here and developing a report is awesome. Haven't had that since Cam-Kalil. It was one of Cam's more underrated traits IMO.

Man, if we hit here, the entire conference is up for grabs to compete w/Philly. Let's f*cking go!

So when he transferred from the prep school in Pasadena to Mater Dei, his morning commute became a MONSTER. I get why he said traffic.

Also didn't realize he grew up in Pasadena. For those wanting some really good reads on his background: https://210prepsports.com/2021/12/13/alabama-quarterback-bryce-young-becomes-first-pasadena-athlete-to-win-heisman-trophy/ https://people.com/sports/bryce-young-everything-to-know/

I like the production on this. Good stuff with the new franchise man. Ricky & Morty fan. Likes Nobu, big sushi fan. J Cole. Seems like a cool dude.

and back to football plz....

I like how Jake is talking about Bryce in the stadium walkthrough. We landed a lot of guys who love football. Mingo has a great story about practicing in off hours with his high school QB.

Pardon my misstep in assuming Yannick is "balanced", he's more on the pass-rushing side of things. Sounds like this could be happening with the IG follows (although I take that with a grain of salt).

It's still just amazing how we completely overhauled every skill position group. Feels like a new team and then some.

What I personally would have been a big fan was taking Brents, Ojulari, heck even DJ Turner or Tuli at 39. It didn't seem like we had any trade partners so had to choose, and Mingo was clearly in a tier of his own for us WR wise. I think that's worthy of the pick, especially if they felt he's such a good fit (which is apparent), but it was a calculated risk. Given we haven't seen the results, can't say full it's a full miscalculation, but I think it was in regards of pure value received. If we went EDGE or DB, the board would have shifted a bit from what went down--then we come back with the aggressive trade-up for Mims/Hyatt/Tillman/Downs in the 3rd (or just wait for a Charlie Jones or Tyler Scott type) It was clear: We wanted 2 types-- a future X Receiver and an EDGE to compliment Burns. And that we were ALL about Mingo. It seems those wants superseded BPA this draft. So they're throwing a lot of trust at Mingo and DJJ to work out. We'll see if it pays off.

With 17 games, 24 TDs, 9 INTs, 59%, 3800 yards should be a realistic “success” line. It would be very nice to see a QB hitting 20+ passing TD seasons again. I could see a 21 TD 11 INT type year. Accuracy could be higher in this system around 62%+ and get near 4000 yards.

Come next year, even if it looks like Bryce is our franchise and let's say we win the division...Dalton could retire or inch closer to it, the staff will know if they wanna roll with whoever made it Corral v. Eason. So, it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility to think we take a 5th-6th round flier on someone like a Michael Pratt or whatnot.

Offensive linemen, not much needing to be said. Need some more bodies. Competition and perimeter lengthy-uglies are required. Biggest otherwise, I think a dude capable of playing on an island as an outside CB is the absolute biggest need given Horn & Jackson's "availability" the past 2 seasons. The second one of them is missing time, which seems likely, we've got CJ & Taylor, & STO. Rowe isn't really an outside corner and let's be real, Wright will be a long shot. So.. definitely could use a cornerback. A bit against the grain, but I think we should be patient with the edge defenders and assess how these guys we have are transitioning first. But if Burns is legit missing practice/field work, then probably bring in a vet. Also think a RB add may make more sense come cut season, but not now.

Forgive me if my NFL jargon isn't super versed, I ain't no pro... But from what I gather, we're about to see a lot more Cover 1 & Cover 4 Shell concepts. So, I think it's really silly to say Chinn doesn't have a role when he's going to be one of the integral cogs along with Luvu. I get not seeing the YGM fit, but to say Chinn doesn't have a role and may need to be traded just doesn't make sense to me. Chinn is playing up towards the line at either NB or that strong side LB spot to match TEs, opponent dependent. Frankie can play at either that LB spot or potentially be the OLB opposite Burns (he played a similar role in college). It's very fluid because these looks are all about disguises, which is the key component to these defenses! Which is why Luvu and Chinn honestly make a ton of sense for what's coming into town. We have our Fangio 2-Deep safeties in house (Woods, Bell), 2 primary LBs (Shaq, Luvu), we have our "Star"/NB here (Chinn) a package dependent role, standing strong side rusher in Burns. So, then even when the cover 4 shell concepts come to play, he fits in just fine next to Shaq & Luvu. And 2-High Safety Nickel Packages: 2 outside CBs, 1 NB, 2 standing edge defenders, 2 in the middle, 2 LBs. Chinn is made for the nickel spot in this defense. What they keep talking about is setting the edge because you having the two standing edge rushers. If one is Burns, the other needs to be able to hold the edge. That's the guy they're looking for (!!) and hope they found in DJJ. When it's Haynes and Burns and an offense double/triple teams Brown, we could get run over. The question mark I see is the base 3-4, which for Evero & before Chubb was shipped, the EDGE defenders were Browning (6'3 240) and Chubb (6'4 275). Below could be considered base, not a lot of snaps ~20-30%/gm, opponent dependent. I think it's valid to ask where is Chinn below--if he can play coverage LB and Luvu can go at OLB (like he's done before), then it can make sense and I see no issue with both getting 92% plus snaps this year. Overall, I'm pretty sure Evero has a plan. It's also not like Chinn isn't at all capable of safety. He could play the robber role and have the disguised box-encroaching safety looks. So it's not like he's necessarily playing deep when he's at SS. And with Bell (who can play both safety spots), could thrive if there's some times where we're sitting Woods. Which I don't think is the end of the world, it's not like he's necessarily untouchable either. source: https://theathletic.com/3311028/2022/05/24/vic-fangio-defense-analysis/

Yeah, seems like he did have some iffy games last year run-d wise after diving deeper. He was an Indy FA get for Reich so they'll know if they want him or not.

Yeah even if we as fans are having a hard time neatly fitting him into a 3-4 position, it doesn't mean Evero doesn't have something in mind. I think he'll be a critical part of this defense and he will be in 92% and above snaps.