As for not going for a corner in round 1, again, I see no problem with using our 1st pick on a solid shutdown corner. I'm sure the Saints, Browns, Bill's, etc don't regret drafting corners high in the draft.
In a vacuum , there isn't anything wrong with it and those teams aren't us - it's a false equivalency bringing them into the discussion. They have different philosophies and rosters. In Eberflus' scheme , we're going to be in zone - a lot. I know Gene made it sound like the
only reason we play zone is because we have bad corners , but that's simply just not the case. We're a Tampa-2 defense.
Here's a fair breakdown :
Film Room: Why do the Colts not play more man coverage?
So yes, if we had corners with better man skills , we'd definitely use it more, but no , that doesn't mean we're not still a zone reliant team. Ballard scouted players specifically for the Tampa 2 for
8 years with the Bears when Lovie Smith was the HC and Lovie is a disciple of Dungy's.
We're running Tampa 2. And in Tampa 2 , interior pressure is paramount if you want the scheme to truly work. Elite man corners
are not paramount.
So when you consider the scheme , the positional value of a 3-tech over a corner , our current roster devoid of true DT talent, and the upcoming draft class , it just seems clear as day to me that we're taking a DT in the deepest DL class in recent memory. It just adds up.
Having an elite cover corner is obviously ideal , but it's not
crucial. Ballard is building from the inside out , and right now we don't have the inside taken care of-- at all. Once we do , you might see a Marlin Jackson/Kelvin Hayden draft. Similar to adding receivers high in the draft once the OL is completed.
That 3rd linebacker that's good in coverage helping our corners is Skai Moore.. we saw him cover WRs and TEs on his own.
Skai Moore? .... Skai Moore? Dude, he's been back and forth between special teams and the practice squad. He's featured in 6% of all available defensive snaps when he's actually dressed.
He's a UDFA signing that has some upside , but he hasn't contributed
at all to protecting our secondary. He played a bit against the Bengals , but I mean c'mon man... what is this?
He's also a Mike , not at SAM. So he's Walker's backup in theory. Zaire Frankin and Matthew Adams (Ballard's 7th round picks this year) are playing more than Skai Moore.
You brought Wilson to the discussion after saying that we need a n.1 corner. I just added 1 and 1 together. It's not that I think he doesn't have the talent to be a n.1, it's that he's far too inconsistent to consider him as a bonafied anything at this moment.
You said we needed a number 1 corner. I just said Ballard took Wilson high last year , and we need to see how he progresses. Ballard
hasn't invested any high draft capital in a DT. He took Grover Stewart in the 4th round in 2017 , but that hardly compares to taking Wilson high in the 2nd.
All I'm saying in regards to Wilson is to remain patient. We might have something there , or we might not. He's had a rough beginning to his career , but we'll see how he does in the remaining 9 games this year.
What we
do know without a shadow of a doubt, is that we don't have a promising 3-tech on the roster. It's stop-gaps and waiver claims. We need to add one of those studs.
- I said waste as in not aiming for that bell cow we need. I want a top 10 RB to relieve pressure off Luck. Someone in the Bell, Johnson, Gurley range. We have the picks, need and cap space to get that guy, whatever means necessary. If Mack becomes that player, I'm not complaining.
Ok , but the OL being good is more important than having a top 10 running back. We don't need a Bell or a Gurley.
Ballard isn't going to draft a RB high when we have so many more important needs , and you can manufacture elite production with a RB by committee. You cannot manufacture elite line play , you can only mask it.
That aside , I think you should give Mack a shot here. He's really talented. Hines and Wilkins aren't too bad either. They also all bring different skill-sets to the table and accentuate each other well. I'm sure this isn't a coincidence.
I think that Ballard has far too much confidence in his mid range picks in general. Next year we have over 100 million in cap space. Now it's time to invest to round up our team.
What does
that mean? He has too much confidence in his picks? He's building through the draft , and relying on FA is a fool's errand.
We'll spend more cash , but don't expect a Miami Dolphins-esque spending spree. He's going to remain measured.