Are You Ready for Some Football

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by Jaguar
Orlando Pace was taken first overall. Jon Ogden, Walter Jones, and Willie Roaf were also top ten picks.

But Sloww would pass up Orlando Pace or Willie Roaf, of course. While not all HOF offensive linemen come from the Top 10 picks, a large amount of the best offense tackles in the league come from that area.

[SlowwHand]

Nothing is guaranteed. It's just my opinion, no better or worse than yours.

[Imran Siddiqui]

No, it most definately is worse than mine .

[SlowwHand]

http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/ones

[MRT144]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
No, they're not positioned to take the number 1 pick.

As far as Arizona taking a lineman, if it were me, I would trade down and take a lineman at that point.
I don't believe in taking a lineman in 1st 10 picks, no matter who they are.

you should read a book by Michael Lewis called "the blind side" which tackles the left tackle position and how it has evolved due to bill walsh's strategy (also know as the west coast offense which is a misnomer considering EVERYONE USES IT since its so effective!)

youd be wise to consider how important a left tackle is in protecting a QB and how important the line is compared to another player that relys on the line to make plays.

[SlowwHand]

I didn't say a blind side tackle wasn't important, twerp; and it's not always a LEFT tackle. What about a left-handed QB? Go read.

I'm saying if a team has 1st pick, it's for more reason than a lineman will cure. Take him, and next year address the problem.

[MRT144]

but its a better start than drafting QBs or WRs or whatever skill position and then whining when you still suck. linemen are the foundations.

[SlowwHand]

The foundations that can be found later.
Did you even bother checking the Number 1 Pick link I posted? It's not like I'm all alone.

I mean, I couldn't care less what Arizona does. If they think drafting a lineman will vault them into a Super Bowl, go for it.

[Imran Siddiqui]

It's interesting that Slow turned this into a Top 10 picks into a Top 1 pick.... maybe he realized he wasn't looking so hot on the Top 10 picks argument when he realized that no one was saying all HOFers come from the Top 10? .

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
Did you even bother checking the Number 1 Pick link I posted?

Yeah, the only #1 pick on a lineman in the last 30 years was used on... Orlando Pace, one of the greatest offensive linemen of our era, and one of the keys to St. Louis' success in the late 90s / early 2000s.

Maybe more teams should pick a lineman first if Pace is what you get .

[MRT144]

seems that only aikman, bradshaw and pace were part of superbowl teams within 5 years of them being drafted by their team.

i dont think a QB draft pick is as valuable as building a line young and keeping them there.

[SlowwHand]

Interesting or not, the top 10 teams drafting have more problems than a lineman.
If you want to focus on 1 lineman, feel free. That's cool.

[MRT144]

the more problems can be fixed in 3 or 4 years.

1. draft the best linement possible
2. draft a qb or get veteran via free agency
3. draft running back
4. get defensive veterans and WRs via free agency

by the 3rd year the linemen are vastly improved and still have 3-4 years on their contract
the rookie qb or rb has at least 2 years of experience and 4-5 years on contract

this is how i would go about it

[MRT144]

the way i look at it, you want to draft players whose value increases over time and are at value or undervalued at draft time. QBs are already overvalued at draft time (look at vick, etc etc) and depending on their success they either increase or decrease in value.

as for defense, first year to 4th year players never make the huge impact except for guys who fundamentally change the game i.e lawrence taylor.

[SlowwHand]

Well now that you bring it up, Detroit and most of the teams vying for first pick could use defensive help as well.

Different draft philosophies. No team's draft board looks the same as another team.