NFL DRAFT SCOUT 1/30 mock (Alan Branch, DT)

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by 70Chip

Also, I want to be clear that I respect Carter's speed and athleticism and I think he can contribute, it's just that whenever our opponent needed to get something going, they ran right at him with power. They will do so again next year. I think its unrealistic to expect a rookie DT to cover his gap and the LBer's gap and Carter's gap.

It's not about having a rookie DT play a two-gap. First, this is a move being made for the future. Branch would only be a rookie for one season, and hopefully we'd rotate our tackles (and ends) instead of relying on one guy. He would have time to grow into the role playing intitally behind Salevea, and next to one of the game's best DTs when healthy in Griffin, who may not be here in 2008.

We know that Carter was a player designed to improve our pass rush. The downside, of course, is that he is far worse vs. the run than Wynn was. If you run right at him, he can be overpowered at the point of attack. This is not a unique problem in the NFL, it's just unique for the Redskins who had Wynn and Daniels at end prior to this year.

What a dominant DT will do (if successful) is he will force the running back to bounce outside the gap he was shooting at. If we can get opposing runners going laterally, a player like Carter can be very, very good against the run. He's athletic enough to chase the runner down the line of scrimmage and make the tackle. He's just not strong enough to shed the block of a tackle and make the play head on.

Sure the DT doesn't have to do that to be a successful DT, and if the DT fails to get push and the back goes right inside Carter's gap, Carter is the one at fault. However, when you add an unbalanced talent at the end position who is far better at rushing the passer then stopping the run, the scheme has to account for that weak link against the run. We clearly don't have the horses to do that right now, and that's probably because of some pretty mediocre talent at the DT position.

If I didn't think Alan Branch would fix the problem, I wouldn't be pushing to draft him.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by 70Chip

Here's who we have at Defensive Tackle:

Griffin
Salavea
Golston
Montgomery
Bosghetti


Here's who have at DE:

Daniels
Wynn
Carter
Evans
Sykes

When I look at that I think it's obvious which area is of greater need even if we assume Carter plays at the maximum of his ability. Of course what we really need is MLB so Marshall can take Holdman's spot and that would make everybody look better so were back to trading the pick as the only sensible thing to do. That I think we agree on.

Right now, I would analyze this list by saying that the ENTIRE D Line lacks talent. Of the ten, Carter is the most promising guy, while Griffin is the best. But lets look at a very real sitaution that could happen as early as 2008 without naming a 2007 first round pick:

DT:
Golston
Montgomery

DE:
Carter
Evans
Daniels? Maybe?

The point is by 2008 there could be so much turnover, we are talking about our next two years of draft picks and FA signings producing 2 or more starters on the DL. There are no quick fixes. However we have one potential building block, and thats Carter. Not that confidence inspiring, but its something we have to work with. If we go into the 2008 draft with no starting DTs, that could be disaterous.

Thats why we have to put this issue to rest right now, so we can focus on the ends later.

[gabe1984]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

older d-linemen? Griffin was like 27, Daniels 30, Joe Sal 29, Carter 27. One guy was 30.

And we have discussed Springs' 'injury prone' status and I think most agreed that he wasn't not injury prone rather he had one injury that bugged him over a two season period. He had the monkier totally undeserved. And he hadn't exactly missed a whole hell of a lot time for us until the hernia.

Griffin, Daniels, and Salavea are all over 30. Washington Redskins

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by gabe1984

Griffin, Daniels, and Salavea are all over 30. Washington Redskins

I think FRPLG was referring to their age when the Redskins signed them