[B_Ambuehl]

There are a multitude of reasons to stay away from interior d-line and 5-techniques high in the draft as fans of this football team should know better than most:

1. The learning curve is steeper than any other position. It takes most guys 3 yrs to finally "get it" and with the way rookie contracts are now you basically spend a first round pick and if you're lucky you might end up having an effective player in your defensive front for all of 2 yrs. Better to spend high draft picks on players that will give you a solid 4 yrs of production.

2. With the way passing dominates todays game their effect on the game is minimal. Most teams go to a 2 down lineman look on passing downs and guys who line up inside don't typically get much done regardless of how good they are. There are a few exceptions like JJ Watt but Tyson Jackson is typical of what you get with a 5-technique.

4. The job is largely about motivation and you take a risk anytime you give guys with a propensity to be fat a lot of money. They can eat themselves onto the bench or out of the league in a hurry (see Dorsey, Glenn). You can find plenty of motivated guys later on in the draft and let them develop over time. See the 49ers dline as an example.

This football team has thrown away enough good draft picks on interior d-line. It's time to get out of the 80's and the Hackoli way and look at the way the modern game is played.