Quote:
Originally Posted by Messier
But here's where this argument falls apart. I agree, an elite QB is more important than an elite LT, but it looks like the Chiefs, and they're not alone, feel there is no elite QB in the draft. It seems they,and others, feel there's no difference making QB, or a QB that now, and in the near future, will be as good as Alex Smith.
You can say you must take the QB that will be really good, and win games for your team, and you'd be right, but you can't just take a QB #1 that you don't believe in. In that case a LT that's close to guaranteed to be good for a while is a better pick.
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Let's ignore the fact that Andy Reid is sexually attracted to Alex Smith the way Scott Pioli was to Matt Cassel. Let's also ignore the apparent lack of interest in Geno Smith by a good portion of NFL scouts.
I have a pretty good LT who wants to get paid and WILL play for my team for at least one more season since he signed the franchise tag. I've got some meh options at RT who might be good or they might not, but theoretically I should be able to find a reasonable starter out of those three choices (Stephenson, Allen, Schwartz).
So I can solidify either tackle position in a league that doesn't seem to care about great LTs, and where the past several Super Bowl champions have won without top 10 players at the position.
Or I can take the top QB in the class, who only has correctable flaws in his technique, but is a demonstrably hard worker and dedicated football player. I can sit him for one or even two full years under the tutelage of Alex Smith (starter before Kaepernick) and more importantly, Andy Reid and Doug Pederson.
I'm not going to settle for the temporary value of having a slightly improved offensive line (theoretically) that will solidify the group even if Albert leaves. That's what crack whores do. THAT'S what desperate teams do.
Patient teams think about the future that won't always have Derrick Johnson, Tamba Hali, and Jamaal Charles. It knows that Dwayne Bowe and Brandon Flowers have only a few seasons of prime left before their skills may deteriorate. And to make up for those deficiencies, the best way to win through that talent loss is to have a carefully developed starting QB. That's EXACTLY how the Ravens won the Super Bowl.
And if we wait much longer on that QB, it may be too late before the structure we've built collapses like a flan in a cupboard.