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

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by 70Chip

Thanks for the response. I think where I differ fundamentally is that a) I rate Golston and Montgomery higher than most, and b) I rate Carter much lower. I think he is for now and all time a 3rd down player and a liabilty against the run. I didn't see the middle of the line getting overwhelmed as much as I saw Carter and Holdman getting picked on. That could be misperception on my part but I have never thought that Tackle was a weakness for us regardless of who was in the game.

You can say that we will have problems in the future at Tackle if we don't address it now, but we are in horrible shape NOW everywhere else and if we can't get an impact player to YES, "save" the Redskins next year, then I say trade the pick.

I'm hoping we can build a DL around Carter that allows him to use his pass rush skills, and can force teams to bounce runs at him outside instead of getting up inside of him. I think the first step is drafting a dominant DT such as Branch (even Okoye might do). Carter can be effective against the run if teams are trying to run outside of him...he's just overmatched against an inside run.

If I am reading you correctly, you think its high time to give up on Carter already. I'm not totally in disagreement. However, it's unreasonable to give up on Lloyd, Archuleta, and Carter one year into each big money deal and expect to have any talent left. We have to find the best way to use these guys we signed. With Lloyd, IMO, thats as little as possible. But with Arch, and more importantly Carter, we have to alter our scheme to make sure we get production out of these guys. Without Carter on the DL in 2008, we are looking at having no talent whatsoever, short of course of anyone we draft this year. So the decision for me comes down to which pick can help us build around Carter the best. To me, thats a no brainer, and its Branch.