if we can get high level production out of merling and odrick next year, I think we can leave the DL alone for awhile, unless we have the chance to get a stud NT (I think Solai is fine).

Merling
Odrick
McDaniel
Starks
Langford
Solai

pretty good group

berkeley223 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> if we can get high level production out of merling
> and odrick next year, I think we can leave the DL
> alone for awhile, unless we have the chance to get
> a stud NT (I think Solai is fine).
>
> Merling
> Odrick
> McDaniel
> Starks
> Langford
> Solai
>
> pretty good group

Actually, I see us moving Starks back to NT maybe as early as in a couple weeks now that we have more depth at DE. If you can remember the 1st game of the season, our QB pressure was NASTY with Starks at NT and Odrick/Langford at the ends.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/30/2010 07:40PM by montequi.

berkeley223 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> if we can get high level production out of merling
> and odrick next year, I think we can leave the DL
> alone for awhile, unless we have the chance to get
> a stud NT (I think Solai is fine).
>
> Merling
> Odrick
> McDaniel
> Starks
> Langford
> Solai
>
> pretty good group


Chris Baker did a nice job backing up Soliai at NT this week. He was active in helping stuff the run. He's more in the classic NT style. The thing to remember is that both Soliai and McDaniel are free agents at the end of the year. We need to keep them both. And if we do, we are pretty well set. We need to get more of a pass rush from the DL. But, Langford keeps getting better in that regard, Merling has potential for that, and Odrick should be an asset rushing the passer. And if Soliai and Baker can man NT, then keeping Starks at DE helps the pass rush, too.

Quote:

"if we can get high level production out of merling and odrick next year, I think we can leave the DL alone for awhile, unless we have the chance to get a stud NT (I think Solai is fine)."



&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Yeah, I garauntee if Nick Fairley is on the board when we pick, we take him.

Garaunteed. We love to stockpile D-lineman. I wished we would do that with the O-line though. Our offensive line is our biggest weakness, IMO.

---------------------

"When you suck long enough, you get a Hickey"

As far as the o line goes, Jake is the best left tackle in the game, and I like Jerry's upside. I like Incognito's nastiness. Berger is ok as a backup, but we need a better starter. Honestly, I think Carey is the weak link to the line. Too many penalties and gets beaten regularly. Get a better center and right tackle and then let the line gel, and I think we'd be ok.

We need a *STUD* Center and a bookend RT and we would be set. But those guards *HAVE* to continuely improve.

---------------------

"When you suck long enough, you get a Hickey"

I always thought if we could get a stud RT, we could move Carey to RG where he is better suited anyway. That would solve 2 problems at once. We can get a new C and be done with the OL other than some depth.

How many of you where or still are opposed to taking the best center prospect in the draft, I say trade down to pick up a second round, and use our first on the Center, then second on a RT, then Third on a FS/SS.

Mia1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> How many of you where or still are opposed to
> taking the best center prospect in the draft, I
> say trade down to pick up a second round, and use
> our first on the Center, then second on a RT, then
> Third on a FS/SS.

Trading down is never easy. There has to be someone available that we don't want but someone else does. I agree our #1 need is Center, but we also need a TE. Unless we get someone in free agency, we need to pick a TE high.

I think we may be OK at FS/SS next year, with Jones maturing and Clemons coming on.

As for RT, I'm still of the opinion that Carey could be fine if someone lit a fire under him. The guy's gotten lackadaisical. He needs to lose some weight and work on his agility.

He is fat, injurie prone, lazy. Carey needs to go. We could go TE, yeah ok use a third round on a TE.

Quote:

"Trading down is never easy."


&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Unless a QB falls. If Mallet or Locker start sliding...teams go crazy trying to move up.

---------------------

"When you suck long enough, you get a Hickey"

Is Merlings leagal issue resolved? Will he be suspened?

Football is won and lost in the trenches. Both OL and DL should be priorities. I know we have other needs, but the lines must be maintained.

I see a lot of comments in this thread on the DL stating something like this: "if he can perform well and this guy can just move there and do well". That tells me that we are not there yet.

We need to be where the lines are dominating. Then continue to maintain.