My case for a 1st-round safety...Jimmy Williams

[htismaqe]

Not 1st day. 1st ROUND. And specifically, Jimmy Williams.

Exhibit 1: The San Diego Chargers

Despite the drafting of all-world DRoY Shawne Merriman, the Chargers were still bottom-5 in the league in nearly every pass defense category.

Exhibit 2: Kendrell Bell

Former all-world DRoY just like Shawne Merriman. Suffered last year for whatever reason, but was obviously not used correctly. This year, he's slated to play down on the line, much like Thomas used to. Whether or not he's the answer remains to be seen, but his production prior to KC (when he was used correctly and healthy) is far superior to anyone we have on the team currently.

Exhibit 3: The top 10 defenses in the league.

Out the top 10 defenses in the league, 6 had 1st-round S's starting for them. Only 4 of them had somebody with double-digit sacks. And only 4 of them were in the top 10 in sacks. 4 of them were actually in the bottom half in sacks.

Exhibit 4: http://www.footballoutsiders.com/print/3828/

If you actually read the section "Early Round Peak" and see what they say about safeties, you'll see that it's not saying what many of you thought at all. First, they're looking at STARTERS, not studs. And they're looking at safeties EVEN if they've moved to other positions, like CB (their example: Troy Vincent). Taking that into account, their list includes both GREG WESLEY and WILLIAM BARTEE "so the freakishly talented athletes are rare at this position"

[Spicy McHaggis]

Originally Posted by eazyb81

Man, you love to insult people, it's pretty funny.

Tell me oh wise one, what would be a good indicator of how well a defensive end could explode off the line? 10 yard dash?

Actually I really wish they would post 10 yard dash times. You run 10 yards or less in football a hell of a lot more than you do 40.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Gaz

While I understand the frustration that drives the urge, past failure is no reason to give up on improving the DL.

I am not yet ready to give up on Sims or Siavii [although I am willing to concede that I could just be mired in denial], but I cannot accept the idea that the addition of a Safety will fix our pass defense. That particular repair job must begin with the pass rush, which means the DL. Yes, we need an upgrade at Safety, but the DL is a far more critical need.

However, if you cannot abide throwing another pick at the DT position [and I cannot fault you for that], you are welcome to join me in the “Sims or Siavii will pick it up this season” bandwagon and look at drafting a DE to replace Hicks.

xoxo~
Gaz
Living on hope.

This is the same thing BCF and I were going on about yesterday.

We're talking about making a difference with ONE pick. A pass rush comes from more than one person, in most cases.

Manny Lawson is the guy we should take. He has the potential to be a Derrick Thomas-like player, a guy that can be a pass rush all by himself.

However, if Lawson is not there, there's NO REASON to throw picks at the d-line just because we think we need a better pass rush. A stud like Jimmy Williams in the backfield is a much better use of that pick.

[BigChiefFan]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

This is the same thing BCF and I were going on about yesterday.

We're talking about making a difference with ONE pick. A pass rush comes from more than one person, in most cases.

Manny Lawson is the guy we should take. He has the potential to be a Derrick Thomas-like player, a guy that can be a pass rush all by himself.

However, if Lawson is not there, there's NO REASON to throw picks at the d-line just because we think we need a better pass rush. A stud like Jimmy Williams in the backfield is a much better use of that pick.

I endorse that line of thinking because we still fill a need, with a player of value. That being said, I think we have more of a shot of Lawson being there, than Williams. CBs, that are 6'2", 213 lbs, that can run a 4.4 40 yard dash, who kicked ass at the collegiate level don't grow on trees. I think Williams easily goes in the top 15.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by BigChiefFan

I endorse that line of thinking because we still fill a need, with a player of value. That being said, I think we have more of a shot of Lawson being there, than Williams. CBs, that are 6'2", 213 lbs, that can run a 4.4 40 yard dash, who kicked ass at the collegiate level don't grow on trees. I think Williams easily goes in the top 15.

I think you're probably right. But you never know.

[jspchief]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

And yes, I love to insult people.

I knew there was a reason I liked you.

[jspchief]

Originally Posted by Gaz

While I understand the frustration that drives the urge, past failure is no reason to give up on improving the DL.

I am not yet ready to give up on Sims or Siavii [although I am willing to concede that I could just be mired in denial], but I cannot accept the idea that the addition of a Safety will fix our pass defense. That particular repair job must begin with the pass rush, which means the DL. Yes, we need an upgrade at Safety, but the DL is a far more critical need.

However, if you cannot abide throwing another pick at the DT position [and I cannot fault you for that], you are welcome to join me in the “Sims or Siavii will pick it up this season” bandwagon and look at drafting a DE to replace Hicks.

xoxo~
Gaz
Living on hope.

This reminds me of what I said last off season about Mitchell. At some point you have to expect some return on these youngs guys that haven't shown anything thus far. You can't draft a MLB every other year, while ignoring other positions of need. I think this year you could say that about a lot of positions. We're going to have to hope for something from guys like Battle, Hodge, Thorpe, Siavii (yea right) or Sims.

You just can't replace every bad player in one off-season, so you have to put some faith into our young prospects.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by jspchief

This reminds me of what I said last off season about Mitchell. At some point you have to expect some return on these youngs guys that haven't shown anything thus far. You can't draft a MLB every other year, while ignoring other positions of need. I think this year you could say that about a lot of positions. We're going to have to hope for something from guys like Battle, Hodge, Thorpe, Siavii (yea right) or Sims.

You just can't replace every bad player in one off-season, so you have to put some faith into our young prospects.

Wilkerson and Carlos Hall fit in that category too.

The only position on defense where we don't have any youth that MIGHT be able to step up is at safety.

[tk13]

I think you make some strong points. I would say that those sack numbers are kinda wishy washy, because you look at a team like Denver, and they don't rack up a lot of sacks but they definitely get in the backfield and wreck a lot of havoc. I bet if you looked a pure QB pressures they'd be up there.

My only argument would be, that Herm has a pretty good track record of drafting safeties in the later rounds. In New York last year they had two middle round picks with a combined 1 year previous experience starting. And they didn't do a bad job. I'd probably take Erik Coleman over Greg Wesley... he started as a rookie on a pretty good defense that almost carried them to the AFC title game. Then last year Kerry Rhodes started pretty much the whole year alongside him.

We do have a coach who can evaluate DB's pretty well, maybe we should use that to our advantage and let him steal somebody in the later rounds. I don't know, I get the feeling that there are going to be some good DB's too tough to pass up at our pick though.

[ct]

http://fantasyfootball.rotoworld.com...=NFL&column=26

This mock has Jimmy Williams sliding out of the 1st entirely.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by coryt

http://fantasyfootball.rotoworld.com...=NFL&column=26

This mock has Jimmy Williams sliding out of the 1st entirely.

Wow, that would be surprising...

[jiveturkey]

Cromartie and Wimbley have been doing some climbing this week.

[BigChiefFan]

Originally Posted by jiveturkey

Cromartie and Wimbley have been doing some climbing this week.

Wimbley sure would look good in Dallas.

[jiveturkey]

Originally Posted by BigChiefFan

Wimbley sure would look good in Dallas.

Indeed.

[Bowser]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

And I'm OK with Williams as a CB, although if we're gonna go CB I'd rather go with a true CB...

Maybe we could use Williams as our nickle/dime corner, like what they did with Woods in '03 when our defense actually DID something (until Maz went down). Yes, I know it was a Robinson defense, but they found ways to most effectively use their personnel.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by jiveturkey

Cromartie and Wimbley have been doing some climbing this week.

good ... i hope they get taken in the top 15 and push some other guys down to us.