LinvilleGorge

I don't think it's a size thing as much as it's a mentality thing. Stopping the run in football is a lot like rebounding in basketball. Sure, there's absolutely technique involved, but it's a lot of will and want to as well. Burns is a finesses edge rusher. That's just who he is. Jason Taylor had a more slender build than Burns but he could still set the edge vs. the run. Burns CAN too. He just has to want to. He's gotta play with the same vigor when he's setting the edge as when he's getting after the QB or pursuing the run. In short, he's great as a pursuit run defender but he's poor as an edge setter and I think it has more to do with mentality than physical tools.

I can't agree on the "remarkably stout run defender" part. When you run power concepts right at home he struggles to set the edge. Speed or zone concepts he's much better at defending primarily because he seems to always be looking to make the tackle himself. Sometimes as a lineman against the run you have to sacrifice and eat up that blocked and rely on the guys behind you to make the play because if you don't then that lineman is going to get downfield and that's when you get gashed.

He's a really good, disruptive speed edge rusher. Really good pursuing the run when it's away from him. He's a liability when you run the ball at him. In short, he's just like every NFL player outside of a small handful of the very elite in that he has clear strengths and weaknesses.

Because the draft is always a big question mark. There are steals and busts in every draft class. The story a decade from now could very well end up being how this was the most underrated QB draft class in history and laughing about all the overrated It's and edge rushers who pushed QBs down the board. I've learned over the years to never talk in absolutes about the draft. There are just waaaaaaay too many variables at play. Sure, I'll develop strong opinions about certain prospects but I know I'm gonna be right sometimes and I'm gonna be wildly wrong sometimes. And guess what? So will NFL teams. It's a damn crap shoot.

We know. But you don't want to go through the list of 1st round OL busts over the last two decades. OL used to be one of the safest 1st round picks a team could make but they has gotten dumped on its head in the past 20 years. That's all I'm saying here. That "OL safe pick" myth is dead.

You really gotta chill. Find a way to voice your opinions in a more intelligent manner. You get way too emotionally involved in other people's opinions on draft prospects that none of us have a magic crystal ball to see how they'll ultimately turn out in the NFL.

Willis is huge boom or bust. There's no question about the physical talent. If we draft him after passing on Fields I'll be scratching my head. There were way less questions about Fields who was also dripping with physical talent.

Said about every highly touted OL prospect ever. Robert Gallery was considered a once in a decade type OT prospect.

I think we will move on from Darnold. The only question I have is how Tepper can still be sitting there watching as Rhule swings and misses on QBs, trading valuable future assets for those QBs, and singling valuable future cap space into those QBs and still think he has the right man captaining this ship. Yes, we need to solve the QB problem. But you're best way of doing that is with draft capital and/or cap space. Rhule is hamstringing us on both by flailing wildly with his moves at QB.

I don't need to read draftnik opinions on guys who I've watched play a ton. One of these guys says something and then it starts getting parroted around by the rest of them like it's a cold hard fact. If Sam Howell struggled with pressure UNC might not have won a game this year with the state of their OL and defense and considering they only had one legit pass catching weapon. Yes, pressure effects QBs. We saw Brady struggle with pressure in TB's playoff loss. We saw Bama's QB that many fans want #1 overall next year struggle with pressure in the national championship game. But does Howell handle pressure better than most college QBs? Yeah. Someone is going to get a great buy low opportunity on Howell as his stock slides a bit because he had no supporting cast this year. It won't slide as much as draftniks think because NFL teams scouting 1st round QBs will watch every snap the kid has ever taken at the college level and likely plenty at the HS level too.

Dude is certified nuts. I don't know I it's coincidence or not or maybe it just wasn't as widely known previously that he was looney, but it certainly seemed to get a lot worse after that Burfict decapitation hit.

Interesting opinion. It almost seems like you've watched Howell play some actual games.

Our smartest move would probably be to try to trade back a few spots to recoup some of the draft capital we've pissed away and draft Howell and then spend the majority of the rest of our available assets on beefing up the OL. But we've made very few smart football decisions under Tepper's brilliant Appaloosa Model.

Sam Darnold is your best option if you're shooting for the #1 overall pick in 2023. The guy we just hired as OC says Darnold sucks.

NO.

I don't think he ultimately goes top 10 either, but the interview process will be key. Taking Lamar Jackson in the top 10 would've been crazy talk too, but in retrospect it would've been a smart move by whoever made it.

I can believe it. This team is going nowhere until we solve the QB question. Willis is a helluva intriguing physical talent. His draft status is going to rely heavily on the interview process. Pickett... yeah, gonna have to agree to disagree there. I just don't see it.

I think Strong is basically Jacob Eason. He better get really good at reading defenses and making quick decisions because he has no ability to go off script. You don't want a Johnny Manziel type where he just wants to basically go into the huddle and say, "Okay, broken play scramble drill on three! Let's go!" but you'd like some ability to buy time or make something happen when the play breaks down. Sure, it didn't matter for Tom Brady and Peyton Manning but do you really want to bet on this kid having that level of football mind?

That's what I was thinking.

I think elite talent at QB is actually more important than the coach. Just look how long Cam floated Ron and company. You just can't coach the stuff that Cam did in his prime and guys like Mahomes and Allen are doing currently.

I question whether Matt Rhule is smart enough to realize it, but by far his best bet for longevity is drafting the best rookie QB available. If you draft an OL at #6 and trot Darnold out there you're getting fired. If you draft an OL and go after another luke warm at best vet bandaid, you're getting fired. If you draft a promising rookie QB and sign some legit vet IOL help and improve to 7-8 wins you probably get another year.

Learned something new about my 39 year old body today. My left (non-dominant) hand is significantly bigger than my right hand. My right hand is a tad under 9". Call it 8 7/8s. My left hand is almost 9 1/4". I should've been left handed.

I'll be shocked if his hands are only 8". I measures mine out of curiosity and they're just a shade under 9" and I would definitely struggle throwing a wet football.

This. If we weren't such a dumpster fire I'd be banging the table for Howell. As is, I hope he ends up just about anywhere but here.