A Defensive Draft/Style in 2012

Discussion in 'NFL Draft' started by dtm586, Jan 3, 2012.

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  1. dtm586

    dtm586 The Master Jedi

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    So I was wondering would anyone be opposed to a 70% defensive draft style this year?

    Opposed from an early and mid round O-Line draft pick, I say the majority of the draft should be on the defensive side of the ball.

    Drafting a running back, wide receiver or tight end early seems like a waste of a pick this year, infancess on the RB. Lets face it CJ is getting paid too much to be the man - and the Titans will give him another shot in 2012. Lets just chalk 2011 off to a fluke, slow start due to the hold out, bad o-line play and overall off year for CJ ... yeah he may have lost a slight step/cut-back but hes still in his mid 20's and is the focal point of our offense (and getting paid to be the whole show).

    Could we use another reliable back-up RB? Sure. We've been non-stop drafting a bunch of youngsters to play back up the last several years (non of which who could start at this point) so maybe they can fill the void by signing a veteran this year just in case the wheels do fall off for real in 2012.

    If you look at the playoff teams this year, all but San Francisco and Baltimore, are offensive juggernuts (yeah pittsburgh is a tweaner but their offense is still better than San Fran's and Baltimore with a healthy Big Ben and Mendenhall)

    But have the Titans EVER been an offensive juggernut? Umm no. Probably back in the Houston days with Warren Moon and spreading the 5-wide sets out and chucking the ball all over the field. But their stint in Tennessee has always been hard-nose defense and pound the ball (during the good years)

    I say the Titans need to stick with that game plan and build on that concept even more.

    The SF 49ers cruised to a 13-3 record with a medicore offense at best. But a lights out defense. Now I am in no way disregarding coach Harbaugh because it takes a great coach to turn around Alex Smith and that D and thats what Harbaugh did; and judging from all the angry Titans fans out there, our coaching staff is faaaar from "great" ...

    Jake Locker, Kenny Britt, CJ and Cook compared to Alex Smith, Crabtree, Gore and Davis ... I mean what jumps out to you there? Not a whole lot seperates that group from the other, its pretty even at first glance, yet the Niners are 13-3 and in the playoffs and the Titans are not. Now with a healthy Britt and a better CJ and a more consistent Cook than they have the potential to be like the Niners - that is if the Defense is "WORKED ON" excessively this off-season.

    So if you just look at the defensive side of the ball for a minute, there are some nice, young pieces to build around for starters for instance;

    MLB Colin McCarthy - We may have found a stud to play in the middle. How many good linebackers have come out of Miami. I think we have a chance to be set here for years to come.

    With youngster and high draft pick Akeem Ayers in there; as well as a vet like Witherspoon to hold a spot down for a year or so, I think they dont need to touch the linebacker position early in the draft at all. Too many other glaring needs on defense that need to be addressed and linebacker can be left alone early.


    DT Jurrell Casey
    - Didnt really have a impact game until the last one of the season when he posted 6 tackles and 1.5 sacks. But still he was a rookie and a USC project so I think he has potential to stick around in the middle for awhile.

    on the D-Line ends you have Derrick Morgan and Jason Jones, both of which show glimpses of being good, especially Jones but either have the injury bug or disapear too much throughout the course of the season. I want to give these guys both 1 more chance because they have potential to be real good pass rushers.

    CBS Jason McCourty and Alterraun Verner - McCourty had over 100 tackles and while no one stood out on the Titans with interception numbers, at least McCourty showed he could hold his own most of the time. Verner has played as serviceable slot man and maybe could excel as the main cornerback?

    Cortland Finnegan, the spark plug of the defense has to be re-signed in my opinion, cant let him walk that easy.

    Aside from those above, I share the same opinion as most do - the safties need to be entirely re-done and upgraded. Too much getting burnt and missed tackles in the back field, the same old song and dance year after year it seems ...

    So although theres a ton of holes on defense, you got to start somewhere. The guys listed above I feel they can build around and draft O-Line, D-Line and Safeties.

    This thread is not intended to highlight what college player should be drafted where, still have plenty more time for that ... but I just wanted to highlight some of the "bright spots" and "glaring needs" building up to the off-season and draft day.

    Hopeful for a high O-Line men draft pick followed by a predominate defensive draft ...

    And this just in ... Titans DC Jerry Gray is being corted by the Tampa Bay Buccs ... so maybe yet again ANOTHER new DC Coach is in the works??


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  2. ImATitan

    ImATitan Pro Bowler

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    Good points made! I agree a pick at QB (obviously won't happen), RB or TE would be a waste. I wouldn't lose my mind about picking a WR somewhere between rounds 1-3 (round 1 better be someone they're EXTREMELY high on though) just because you need to give your young WR's weapons.

    We do need to draft a OL in the 1st or 2nd round and sign a good one in FA too.

    Besides that, I don't mind spending a lot of the draft on defense - the DL & S positions specifically.. and start thinking about a long term replacement for Witherspoon at LB.
     
  3. pettso

    pettso Starter

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    I agree with a lot of what you said except saying CJ and Cook are equivalent to Gore and Davis. We need a good safety and a lot of work on the defensive line. Jones and Morgan will be around next year but I doubt they'll ever amount to anything. Very disappointing to be honest.

    I'd be perfectly fine with using 5-6 picks on defense this year. One or two picks on the O-line and maybe a WR since the draft appears to be pretty deep. Rest should be D-line and safeties.
     
  4. LoneWolf

    LoneWolf Starter

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    Jurrell Casey is a hidden gem he plays a lot better than you gave him credit for lets go over the paper stats 52 tackles 2.5 sacks 1 ff 1fr 5tfl for 14 yards

    seeing how we rotate a lot of lineman thats impressive, than seeing how he is only a rookie makes it a lot better he is a tub of goo but yet he has the strength to collapse the pocket hes not going to be the guy to beat double teams constantly but you get in another big tackle who can than Casey is a one on one match nightmare

    but you did make good points we have a young CB duo neither are elite but they are decent

    morgan is a good anchor end for playing the run, DE speed rush specialist is needed

    replacement for Witherspoon is needed I like a guy like Zac Brown

    and definitely safety help would be nice but that will improve with a better d-line griffin didnt look to terrible tackling last game I saw a lot of nice blitz from him where he was in on a gang tackle at the LOS

    o-line needs to be filled somewhere in this draft or via free agent making the run game better
     
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  5. JCBRAVE

    JCBRAVE goTitans 2019 Survivor Champion

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    Griffin never "brings it" anymore. He waits for guys, and a lot of the time it's a foot or two AFTER the 1st down. His lack of hustle shows so much more because of that.

    I want him out of TN. We can't have him waiting like he does, he needs to step up and know where he is and where the ball carrier is heading.

    The ONE and only thing about his game is that he knows he's usually the last defender, and does a solid job of never taking himself out of the play. He always gives himself a chance by always holding back.

    I can't stand that.
     
  6. Thaddeus43

    Thaddeus43 Sunshiner President

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    I'd be fine with going mostly D in the draft as long as OL is invested in early in the draft. I think with Locker at the helm, and a rebuilt OL the offense can be pretty good. But honestly if Munch and Reinfeldt can put together a draft like last year we will be set.
     
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  7. Na$hville

    Na$hville Veteran

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    Agreed. I think he is the worst tackler on the team. He's soft and gets run over a lot when he tries to tackle. He has a little speed but that is useless when he can't tackle for sh*t. We need a hard hitting safety to make some plays for us. Definitely hopes he leaves TN.
     
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  8. ImATitan

    ImATitan Pro Bowler

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    I also disagree about Casey. He's a gem for sure! Great rookie season. He's gonna' be our anchor in the middle for years to come. He'll fill the void Haynesworth left us with.
     
  9. bob45x32

    bob45x32 Starter

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    Verner didn't play the slot. Finny did. What are you talkin about?
     
  10. xpmar9x

    xpmar9x The Real Slim Shady

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    I wouldn't be opposed to a defense draft, if we solve some OL issues via FA (Ben Grubbs, Carl Nicks, or Nick Hardwick are my dream scenarios)

    Just throwing out some names, that I like, for our "defensive draft". Most of these players should be available around the 20th pick in each respected round.

    1st Round Talent: Mark Barron (SS), Devon Still (DT), Luke Kuechly (LB), Melvin Ingram (DE), and Whitney Mercilus (DE).

    2nd Round Talent: Markelle Martin (S), Bacarri Rambo (S), Jared Crick (DT/DE), and Vinny Curry (DE).

    3rd Round: Travis Lewis (OLB), Alameda Ta'amu (DT), Harrison Smith (S), Andre Branch (DE).
     
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