I think at this point Jeff Ireland is too beholden to public pressure to be able to do such a thing.

 

I've been neutral on Ireland. Some good moves, some bad. But if he lets JL walk and just uses a 12th overall to replace his production (possibly) then I will drink an entire bottle of everclear......(in a 2 weeks time) :shifty:

 

By everclear you mean rubbing alcohol?

 

Yes.

 

If he's the best guy available by far on your board, then how do you not take him?

Have to say though, it would be interesting to see him be used like the 49ers use Staley and the Patriots use Solder.

 

Ill tell you why. The (arguabley) best 2 LT's in the AFC are Jake Long and Joe Thomas. Both play for historically, and consistantly terrible teams. An all-pro LT is a luxury in this league. You get the ball out in 3-3.5 seconds, in todays NFL then you can get a serviceable guy in the 2nd round (martin) and coach him up and have success.

In the situation Ireland, and this fanbase is in right now, you can't let a all pro LT go, and then draft his replacement with a first round pick. There will be riots.

 

This is all predicated on Ireland giving a **** about said riots.
And if we were still losing and tanny was getting pancaked all the time, fans all of a sudden would see LT as a position of need where we need playmakers.

 

I don't entirely disagree but if he's BPA and there's no one close, what does he do? I wonder if this is how people reacted when Jerry Reese kept selecting pass-rushers despite having a crappy OL.

 

I agree, he's the type to not care what we think. But I believe Ross agrees with most of us at this point.

Draft based on need and not BPA?

That's like having a banging wife....things have been rocky lately, but theres a chance for counseling and fixing it. But instead you let her go for the other hot chick at the bar and HOPE that she's good or better. Big risk.

 

Speaking of risks, basing of need is a bigger one than BPA.

 

I think ross says whatever to appease the fans.

 

I doubt he makes it to #12 anyways.

 

We havent had a winning record in god knows how long, it's time to take some risks.

 

I've mentioned this before and its just my opinion ... but BPA > dafting for need. If we resign Jake Long then I think its going to be a CB or one of several pass rush OLB/DE that will be of value at #12. Heck, even if we do bring Long back we could still draft Fisher at 12 and slide Martin inside to Guard if he is the BPA. If we are hell bent on taking a WR in round one and they do not justify the pick at 12 then Jeff needs to exhaust all efforts to trade down.

 

I disagree. Besides, they took one with Tannehill.

 

2008. It wasn't that long ago.

 

5 years ago is a pretty long time in an NFL sense, IMO.

 

Pass rushers...make plays..Tackles...do not.

I've brought this up before, it would not surprise me at all if Ireland does exactly this, I just want to see Ireland at the podium during the draft "party" when he announces the "why" his ***** *** would once again take the safe pick.

I rarely use profanity, I've studied Ireland's moves and public statements..this is a serious possibility.

Now if he can sign some playmakers, then this makes sense, if we charge into the season with Bess/Matthews/Whomever at Wr, and nothing at Te, then he would be ripe for criticism.

 

uhhhh in the NFL, winning 9 games in one season shouldnt take 4+ years.

Agreed 100%

 

We call that moonshine Lucky, Sick actually looks like:



Think of it as a sort of mescal'..but with a straw hat..

 

I have a couple of shots in a small mason jar in my fridge. Have had it for about 4 years. Got it from a client, scared to drink it. He home made it (mountains of NC). The guy was dirty though. I have to break it out one day though, maybe soak some fruit in it.

 

Feel free to ask Reggie Bush who made a play to spring him into the end zone against Seattle. Also, ask the 49ers how many plays their three first round offensive linemen make for them.

I'll wait.

 

Same could be said "ask Drew Brees where the LT who protected him on his way to another 5k season was drafted"

Bushrod was what, a 4th rd pick?

As we contemplate SB 47, who are the pass rushing De's for both teams again? Where were they drafted?

Go ahead, I'll wait as well.

 

At the rate Fisher's stock is rising, I'd tend to doubt he's on the board when Miami picks, unless they move up. I'd rather see if Jonathan Martin can train on at LT and go after someone like Menelik Watson, if they plan on drafting a tackle. There are some nice free agent options out there at both LT and RT.

 

And Bushrod is a top tier lineman? The bookends in the Super Bowl right now for both teams are first round picks.

Suggs - 1st.
Kruger - 2nd.

Smith - 1st.
Brooks - 3rd.

The point is you can select either position at any point in the draft, but if you have a highly rated one available to you that supersedes others on your board, then you should take him.

 

Later #1's and Bushrod's lack of being a "top tier" LT is the point, you don't need one, it is a waste of resources.

Both top 10 picks in Suggs and Smith.

No, b/c the position is as important as "your board", one of the problems the Dolphins have had is the "it's a big man's game" crap, it WAS a big man's game, now it is all about playmakers.

 

It is not a waste.

And no, it's not a game that's all about playmakers.

 

If letting go of Jake Long means that Jonathan Martin is playing left tackle then I don't see why you'd take an Eric Fisher in the 1st round when you can have a Menelik Watson in the 2nd round.

I think the "BPA only" viewpoint simplifies things too much. Even strict BPA teams commonly manipulate their drafts to reflect supply and demand. Everything has to be viewed within a context of opportunity cost and need as well as best player available. If this is a deep class at offensive tackle and you think you can handle your needs in the 2nd round, even if Eric Fisher is technically the best player available at your 1st round pick you don't necessarily take him.

 

this.

 

Depends on how you grade Fisher and the next best OT. If similar grades, then OK. If not, then no, I don't agree.

 

Yes, it is.

Think about the giants beating the Pats last yr, worst LT in football, Manningham made some plays happen late in the game and the Giants win the title.

That is how the NFL works now, it's not about pouring resources into guys who do not score Td's, it is about pouring resources into guys who score Td's and guys who interrupt the passing game.

 

No it's not, padre. You can't narrow it down like that. If there's one thing that's constant in the NFL, it's that you have to control the middle of the field and whether you talk about last years teams, even those mighty Giants, or this years teams, you will note that they all control the middle of the field well enough. And controlling it doesn't just mean stopping a tight end in the seam. Playmakers are part of the puzzle but not all of it.

 

Since the draft doesn't occur until about a month and a half after free agency starts, I think the fan base would be much more tolerant towards picking an OT in the first round if Ireland were to acquire a playmaker or two in free agency first.

 

As soon as we sign Wallace day one of FA Ireland will be able to take whoever he wants in round one. If Long walks and its Fisher I say Bravo. Protect Tanny!

 

Jake Long is a fair distance from being the best LT in the AFC. Duane Brown is probably the best LT in the game. Ryan Clady is also better. As is Andrew Whitworth, etc. The issue for me over Long is if you draft a LT at 12 it's addition by subtraction. We've not gotten better. That's why I hope we can hit an incentive laden deal with Jake.

 

Unless you can credibly threaten the middle of the field with quality playmakers, it doesn't matter WHO plays Tackle.

I would argue it is better to have players who can separate faster than it is to have a tackle who cost a ton make a mediocre player..better.

You get the playmaker first, then you can worry about a tackle, even then, I would not pay a whole lot for one via the draft.

Edit

And this is why we consistently lose to the Patriots, they try to play that "oh, gotta have big men" game, Pats simply out execute with their big men, with no playmakers we have no way to overcome their superior execution.

A team has to out physical and explosive play the Pats, not sort of castle up in a traditional sense.

 

I'm gunna have to agree (to an extent) with this

Now i'm not saying that I agree with the fact that the game is 100% solely about playmakers and nothing else, but in current times where everything is starting to revolve around the pass and putting up madden numbers right off the gun, its close.

I do agree, however, I'd rather have a 'whatever' left tackle and bomb playmaking talent, vs. a expensive/high LT and Poo talent. Not necessarily a case of having to have one or the other, but just saying. We have a need that is much more than LT right now, and like PhinGeneral was saying, Depending on what cards we play in FA will make something like LT@12 more tolerable.

 

If your plan going forward is to put Jon Martin at LT, then an interesting FA to look at on the right side is Winston Justice who had a very strong season in Indy. Just float that now.