AZ54

Lots of day 2 and day 3 types there. Which is great because those are also the players you need more exposure to, especially talented players who played against lower competition.

Their problem is not just this year it is next year too. They don't have a lot of room to maneuver, just $7mil at the moment. Technically that isn't even enough to tag him but cut Carson Wentz and that number goes up to $33mil. The first question they have to answer is what are they going to do at QB? They aren't in the running in the draft, they don't even have Heinicke signed. If they want to sign him he won't be expensive but he'll want some midling "starter" money which is likely at least $10mil and, in the age of good QBs making $50mil/yr, maybe $15mil/yr. That would also likely be a very short term deal, 1 or possibly 2 years, which makes it hard to shift cap hit to future years. As a FA Heinicke could easily be seen as the bridge QB on any number of teams looking for a short term solution. There goes half their cap space and they have to fit in a draft class ~$7mil? In 2022 they spent a 2nd Rd pick on Phidarian Mathis so they prepared to jettison Payne. Long term they also have to consider the two DEs who need new deals in 2024. How much money/cap space can they commit to the Dline? They have $100mil available in 2024 so plenty of room overall. A bad QB situation helps that but if they want to aim middle of the pack QB in Derek Carr? JimmyG? Add in the two DEs (if they want both long term) and then the other 29 FA players they have to sign and it gets tight quickly. QB - $20mil, Payne $20mil, figure DEs have combined cap hit of $20-30mil. That's $60mil of the 100 available. Leaving $40mil to sign 29 players. If they are thinking tag and trade....I don't think Payne is the type of player a team would give up a high pick for and then the big contract. I can't see Poles doing that. Nor is he enough to sweeten a deal for #1 overall. Him and McLauren could be part of a package along with lots of picks. I might even shuffle off Claypool in exchange just to keep some roster cap balance. Use their 16th pick to draft JSN. I'm not saying I want to do this just exploring the What If scenario.

If I were in position to be a day 1/2 draft pick I'd probably still come out early. Football careers can be short so striking while the iron is hot makes sense. Plus if you are young like Kmet, you could get two good contracts (2nd and 3rd contracts). Velus won't be seeing that.

Perfect!

Maybe because on my phone I only see the link, and it doesn’t open anything but on my computer it was an embedded video.

In that sense I think he's a great fit. I just don't think he should be around the football side much. He actually didn't say anything other than what Poles has said about building the team for long term success. Either those comments were pure coincidence and that is what Warren would have said on his own, or he's just echoing what Poles is doing and saying. Since Warren's background is all on the executive side I hope he doesn't have to hire a new GM/HC soon. There's nothing in his Big Ten bio about success on the football field, just success building the business side. Which is fine, we really need that and I think Poles will know what to do with more revenue. https://bigten.org/staff.aspx?staff=76 "During his 21 seasons in the NFL, and 15 with the Vikings, Mr. Warren directed the team’s focus on creating departmental synergy and collaboration, increasing financial profitability for the franchise, improving communication, developing leadership initiatives, implementing a platform focusing on a positive community impact through the new Minnesota Vikings Foundation, launching a women’s initiative program, creating an elevated fan experience, and building a world-class franchise focused on the tenets of hard work, ethics, financial profitability, community service, and a “best-in-class” mentality. "

Poles turned down the E/W Shrine Bowl coaching offer and wins big time with this.

Nah it worked for me. Fond memories.

3-tech - quick and get in the gap between the LG and LT fast enough to disrupt the play. (technically 3-tech applies to either side of the front). That means if the LG wants to pull, follow him fast enough that the C or LT can't slide over and block you and you are in the backfield staring at the RB. If the LT pulls toward the RT then disrupt his path. Doing that enables a LB or DE on the other (strong) side of the play to make the tackle. Of course if it's a routine pass then get back there and sack the QB. In Eberflus/Lovie/Tampa 2 is primarily a one-gap D so just get in your gap and own it. If you can't control that gap, or can't get inside the LOS enough to disrupt the play, then you end up getting washed down the line, or pushed backwards, which is pretty much what you saw all year long. Further by not disrupting things early in the play you enable blockers to get to the 2nd level and block our LBs. What was Akiem Hicks? Pure power. Instead of knifing in between Oline he just simply stood up and powered the man in front of him backwards. At his best he could get guys off balance enough that enabled him to cut around them, or in some cases he just simply took his blocker right back into the QB. Because he could control his blocker like that he was great at getting off a block to either side to make a tackle. He was also smart and studied his opponents. He knew them well enough to tip him off what was going to happen on many plays. Change of direction wasn't his thing so heading off in the right direction at the snap helped him a lot.

I'll just post the byline of the video but if you can find this highlight on Youtube. I don't know much about Pittman but when this hits a "highlights" search I wonder what Eberflus knows about his football character. Matt Ryan Yells “He’s F****** Trash” After Michael Pittman Didn’t Go To The Ball https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/colts-wr-michael-pittman-jr-211438318.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9zZWFyY2guYnJhdmUuY29tLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAADUvEwDawdPJUpyjHwEGB6wyBAfCwoMlcQRRLs2q_hteD7j2QAla87_efPBr4Vcn6nqjxbOGvF5cR0EbvL1kPlt4x8_loBGhMFGtTQ_LMr8nwxDhdxffPPW6ipx3hn80cIgUuj2ufF9iTPtJMtcEM7H6iCGZk2fDOGMsq9T1gy32 https://heavy.com/sports/indianapolis-colts/michael-pittman-mnf-pittsburgh-steelers/ "I let my emotions get the better of me for most of that game," Pittman Jr. said Wednesday. "That's what happens when you get emotional. You're not really playing like yourself. You don't have the same type of focus.

This is worth considering among the trade down packages we're likely to see. I think in our own way those who have been scouting players already see the issues at the top of the draft. This might make getting a 2024 1st Rd pick, or known good players in exchange even more of a priority for Poles. On the other hand the balance of the article states that most teams like the depth from 10 down into the 3rd Rd. It could also mean that Poles won't be so fixated on staying in the top 4/5 and might be more willing to drop back to 7/8/9 and get more of those value picks. https://www.walterfootball.com/nflhotpress/article/Teams-Feel-2023-NFL-Draft-Lacks-Elite-Talent "This year, teams feel the 2023 NFL Draft lacks elite talent overall. Sources from seven different NFL teams told WalterFootball.com the only player who had received an elite grade was Texas running back Bijan Robinson. "Of these players that you think you could say is among the best at their position in the league in their first couple of seasons, you would only say Bijan," said an AFC scouting director. Robinson is viewed across the scouting community as being a complete package with size, speed, athleticism, rare instincts, rare receiving ability and excellent character. The consensus top-two prospects for the 2023 NFL Draft have been Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson and Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter. All seven team sources, however, said their organizations do not have an elite grade on either of them. As previously noted in the Hot Press, Anderson carries skill-set concerns, while teams don't like parts of Carter's make up namely they question his work ethic and if he really loves football. Multiple sources also question why Carter did not produce more when he was so much more talented than the blockers he was facing."

Saint Omni is sitting on a beach in the Bahamas and is definitely not worried about tackle stats.

I wasn't impressed with him based on the press conference. I didn't see much except for a bunch of platitudes when it came to football. IMO he's a schmoozer but we need a good schmoozer to put together the right people for a great stadium. He needs to go out and get that done, give Poles the money he needs to sign FAs, give the fans a great stadium experience, but stay out of the football operations.

We should give them a break, it's not like that was the deepest draft in a decade. They also have some vets ahead of guys like Asamoah. I really liked Lewis Cine and hope he gets back on the field in full health.

That hurts so much I can’t stop laughing.

Thank you as always and yes... family first.

Kirk Cousins throwing for 3 yards on 4th and 8 to a guy who was covered was epic (failure). Add the Vikings to teams looking for a QB. They are stuck for another year with Cousins and they have -$19mil in cap space, so at best this offseason they find a retread vet to compete. Even that seems unlikely as those guys usually can command at least $10mil in one year deal. Watching Ed Donatell's defense with numerous ex-Bears on the field struggle against a mediocre Giants offense was equally entertaining. Their entire roster has peeked with several key players over 30 yr old. The trade for TJ Hockenson and giving up their 2nd Rd pick this year looks horrendous now. Their GM went all-in thinking this was his year instead of knowing his roster shortcomings and age and planning for the future.

I watched the Illinois-Mich game and Chase Brown really impressed me. I kept thinking he doesn't look like someone who should be hard to stop yet he kept proving me, and the Michigan defense wrong. He's a good football player who, at least what I saw on the field, exudes the character Eberflus wants. Chris Rodriguez looks ok but is more N-S style runner. Kenny McIntosh looks very good, versatile and runs with patience and then decisiveness and burst. I could see him being a good fit in our scheme. I'd love watching Deuce Vaughn every weekend. He makes at least one defender look silly every game. He doesn't have long speed but his burst, vision, and ability to cut at speed enable him to eat up angles early in a play. He can catch too so he's going to be a good 3rd down back for some fortunate team, just don't ask him to block. The Darren Sproles comparison is obvious.

Rumors are already picking up the Colts are putting together a can’t-refuse trade package for the 1st pick and that will likely include players. Everyone assumes Pittman will be included. if we’re going to get someone with one year left on their rookie contract I’m thinking I’d prefer Jonathan Taylor. He had a couple ankle injuries this year and it appears he might need surgery. I’m purely guessing but that might be the procedure Harry had at the beginning of the season. A backfield of Taylor, Herbert, and then just keep Darrynton Evans and Ebner. Montgomery walks and we have more FA budget. Of course Taylor would need a new deal in 2024 but right now his valuation at OTC is around $8 mil. Maybe that’s a bit low but would you rather have Monty at $7 mil per year or Taylor at $10mil? Or neither and just keep drafting RBs.

That’s where I’m at and that fits into a trade down scenario.

Ditto

It is the dual-threat success of Justin Fields and Lamar Jackson that will elevate Richardson as a prospect. To some extent Josh Allen too because he had much to learn coming into the NFL and relied on his running ability for most of his first two seasons. Teams will have more confidence there is a way to win games while the QB matures in the passing game. How high that could move up Richardson is hard to know but it's likely more than enough to keep him solidly in the first rd.

For the Will Levis fans out there, or maybe us trade-down fans. After watching some hype here I watched some highlights of him and his release reminds me of Marino's. Combined with his arm strength he's going to be a favorite of the media at the Combine. Others are taking notice.

I spent time doing some mocks and lots of trade down scenarios and subsequently started scouting deeper into the draft. The first thing that I seemed to notice is that DT talent seems to be lacking in this draft. I could be wrong but my sense is that after Rd 1/2 there isn't a whole lot of depth. There are round 2 DTs like Gervon Dexter I have no desire to draft because he's so slow off the snap. That just leads me to think FA is the way to go for fixing DT this offseason and we can focus draft picks elsewhere. I like Drew Sanders at MLB. He's got some baggage, or growth areas, since Alabama kept him on-ball but he looks pretty good off-ball in these highlights. Watching him run down Bryce Young in the open field shows how well he can move. He also has the agility to get deep in zone coverage if needed or to cover TEs. Since he has spent time on-ball he's comfortable and pretty effective blitzing. He's going to need more coaching on his keys and a little patience from fans to let him settle in but I really like his upside. Paired with Sanborn and we might be good at LB for years to come. He's a late 1st early 2nd Rd pick on some boards. https://thedraftnetwork.com/sr-prospect/drew-sanders-8e48bb06-63a5-4a11-b5d0-6dee077d82e3/

I know PFF has a lot of downsides to what they do. However just looking at the first round OTs it isn't hard to find articles on how they are struggling, or were struggling during season. We watch every Bears game (and sometimes rewatch) them focusing on details and don't really see the league-wide perspective of how others in similar positions are performing. 6th overall: Ikky is better in pass pro than Jones but Jones easily outperforms him in run blocking. But if you read the article they commend him for helping lead one of the NFL's best rushing attacks. Yet who was #1 in that category? Ikky also had to deal with a subpar Oline helping him out. Sound familiar? https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2022/11/01/nfl-carolina-panthers-ikem-ekwonu-pro-football-focus-nfl-draft/ According to Pro Football Focus, Ekwonu has had a pass blocking grade over 70.0 every game since Week 2, an impressive feat for a rookie who has been thrown into the fire of what was a train wreck of an offensive line. 7th overall: https://nypost.com/2022/12/17/giants-evan-neal-eyeing-rebound-performance-after-rough-showing/ 9th overall: “Cross was remarkably solid for most of the season, but his overall PFF grade is dragged down by three games in which he posted a PFF pass-blocking grade below 40.0. Those three performances all came against elite pass-rush units, though 19th overall: Penning suffered through injuries. For those who include availability in their grades he didn't perform well. https://www.nola.com/sports/saints/saints-rookie-trevor-penning-suffered-a-lisfranc-injury-in-sundays-loss-will-need-surgery/article_92d663d2-905e-11ed-9ee9-079056dfe195.html 24th overall: Tyler Smith played well overall this year and will be a cornerstone for the Cowboys in the future but that might be at LG. https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/2022-cowboys-rookie-report-tyler-smith-had-a-rough-thanksgiving/ar-AA14AO7f?ocid=weather-verthp-feeds "Back at left tackle against the Giants, Smith once again struggled in pass protection. He allowed seven pressures and three hits on the quarterback, both of which were single-game highs for him. He was also called for two penalties in the game, which has been a recurring theme for the rookie who leads the team in penalties by a wide margin. "