Taco: What should we expect?

[ThreeandOut]

A realistic expectation is that he plays well enough that either DLaw or Crawford (probably Crawford) aren't on the roster next year.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

I don't think he's necessarily saying Taco doesn't need to seize the starting position or make an impact this year, I think he's just saying that all 1st rounders don't carry the same expectations, and that while the expectation for a top 10 pick may be 10-12 sacks, 8 sacks might be the expectation for a bottom of the 1st round pick.

Lawrence had 14 sacks and was considered among the best.....expecting 10-12 sacks, would be elite...Ware who was a top 10 talent had 11.5 sacks in his second year in a defense designed to get him sacks and pressure....of the people who got 10 or more sacks last year, only one was a second year player...the rest well established players in the league. that's why I said, 10-12 may not be realistic...

 

[Verdict]

We did

You are correct about that. It's just not a good idea. Lol

 

[Verdict]

You're showing your football ignorance. Please chart 1st rounders especially late first rounders. Come back to us and let us know what you find.

Your first round pick should probably start every year, except in rare circumstances such as maybe QB and or if the team has an elite level player in from of him keeping him off the roster.

I understand that some positions lend themselves to starting easier than others and DE isn't necessarily one of the easier positions to start as a rookie. But this nonsense about Taco "only being a late first round pick" is pretty rediculous. He is a first round pick and he should be judged as such.

Taco did almost nothing last year and if you are being honest with yourself he really didn't flash anything until the last quarter of the season which gives us a little hope.

You go ahead and cut him all the slack you want to, but from my point of view he was a significant underperformer last year. I hope he turns it on and seizes the starting spot and never gives it back---which is what he should be doing as as first round pick--as long as it is based on merit.

First round picks are supposed to show they belong in the mix from the start. Taco did not do that and in fact did not look the part at all.

I have said all along that Taco is not fast enough to be dominant player at end using speed as his primary asset. He will have to use strength, technique and knowledge to get there. Hopefully he will do better (because he is stronger) after a year in the NFL.

I know there are many posters here including my good friend @xwalker that think he is fast enough and while I respect some of them very much as posters, I do not believe that speed will ever be his primary weapon, it will have to be some other area of his game.

 

[Verdict]

Lawrence had 14 sacks and was considered among the best.....expecting 10-12 sacks, would be elite...Ware who was a top 10 talent had 11.5 sacks in his second year in a defense designed to get him sacks and pressure....of the people who got 10 or more sacks last year, only one was a second year player...the rest well established players in the league. that's why I said, 10-12 may not be realistic...

Sack numbers have an element of luck to them. I just think Taco should be able to get 8 sacks next year or more. And he should be clearly the best player on the team not named Lawrence at DE based on his draft position, or he was over drafted.

 

[Falco78]

He improved towards the end of season. He is already shown improvement

 

[Hennessy_King]

I thought about putting him there too, but in his defense, he has played a lot of games.

He was still drafted in the first round as a project though.

 

[xwalker]

Your first round pick should probably start every year, except in rare circumstances such as maybe QB and or if the team has an elite level player in from of him keeping him off the roster.

I understand that some positions lend themselves to starting easier than others and DE isn't necessarily one of the easier positions to start as a rookie. But this nonsense about Taco "only being a late first round pick" is pretty rediculous. He is a first round pick and he should be judged as such.

Taco did almost nothing last year and if you are being honest with yourself he really didn't flash anything until the last quarter of the season which gives us a little hope.

You go ahead and cut him all the slack you want to, but from my point of view he was a significant underperformer last year. I hope he turns it on and seizes the starting spot and never gives it back---which is what he should be doing as as first round pick--as long as it is based on merit.

First round picks are supposed to show they belong in the mix from the start. Taco did not do that and in fact did not look the part at all.

I have said all along that Taco is not fast enough to be dominant player at end using speed as his primary asset. He will have to use strength, technique and knowledge to get there. Hopefully he will do better (because he is stronger) after a year in the NFL.

I know there are many posters here including my good friend @xwalker that think he is fast enough and while I respect some of them very much as posters, I do not believe that speed will ever be his primary weapon, it will have to be some other area of his game.

Since you mentioned me.

Ten yard times are more relevant than forty yard times for pass rushers.

Ten Yard Times Combine/Pro-Day

• DLaw 1.68/1.63
• Taco 1.69/1.63

Taco weighed 26 pounds more than DLaw at the time of the testing.

DLaw has gained weight since then and Taco has lost a few pounds.

That means they were the same but DLaw is likely a tiny bit slower and Taco is a tiny but faster now.

Conclusion: Taco is faster than DLaw.

 

[GhostOfPelluer]

Taco is going to have a strong year. All the morons pontificating about what a first round pick should be - without even considering where in the first round that selection is made, which matters - or saying he was a bust based on rookie production just don't understand the game. Period.

 

[Stash]

He was still drafted in the first round as a project though.

The way I see it, Jones hasn't busted out, but he hasn't busted either.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

Sack numbers have an element of luck to them. I just think Taco should be able to get 8 sacks next year or more. And he should be clearly the best player on the team not named Lawrence at DE based on his draft position, or he was over drafted.

that's fair..... there are two starting DEs...so he should be a starter along with Lawrence....

like you said sacks come and go, but I am more interested in pressures....depending on who you play, how they scape, coverage sacks, etc....pressures are just as important.

 

[Hennessy_King]

The way I see it, Jones hasn't busted out, but he hasn't busted either.

Unless he improves, next year should be his last.

 

[Stash]

Unless he improves, next year should be his last.

Agreed. But that's what part of me can't wait to see what Richard can do with him. If he's can't get it out of him, it's time to move on from Byron Jones. But if he does? Whoo! The physical talents are definitely there to work with.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

Your first round pick should probably start every year, except in rare circumstances such as maybe QB and or if the team has an elite level player in from of him keeping him off the roster.

I understand that some positions lend themselves to starting easier than others and DE isn't necessarily one of the easier positions to start as a rookie. But this nonsense about Taco "only being a late first round pick" is pretty rediculous. He is a first round pick and he should be judged as such.

Taco did almost nothing last year and if you are being honest with yourself he really didn't flash anything until the last quarter of the season which gives us a little hope.

You go ahead and cut him all the slack you want to, but from my point of view he was a significant underperformer last year. I hope he turns it on and seizes the starting spot and never gives it back---which is what he should be doing as as first round pick--as long as it is based on merit.

First round picks are supposed to show they belong in the mix from the start. Taco did not do that and in fact did not look the part at all.

I have said all along that Taco is not fast enough to be dominant player at end using speed as his primary asset. He will have to use strength, technique and knowledge to get there. Hopefully he will do better (because he is stronger) after a year in the NFL.

I know there are many posters here including my good friend @xwalker that think he is fast enough and while I respect some of them very much as posters, I do not believe that speed will ever be his primary weapon, it will have to be some other area of his game.

Only you think there is no difference in going 1st and going 32nd.

Yikes.

 

[Hennessy_King]

Agreed. But that's what part of me can't wait to see what Richard can do with him. If he's can't get it out of him, it's time to move on from Byron Jones. But if he does? Whoo! The physical talents are definitely there to work with.

He always had the physical talents even in college. I just think he is more athlete than football player.

 

[Stash]

He always had the physical talents even in college. I just think he is more athlete than football player.

Thus far, you've been right.

 

[DiResta]

Taco: What should we expect?

 

[JBond]

One of the big question marks for the upcoming season is Taco Charlton. What is he? What should we expect? What should his contribution be?

He was a first round pick. From my point of view a first round pick should not be a complete project. A bottom of the first round player may not be "starter ready" but he should "flash potential" on a frequent enough basis to justify the pick and inspire confidence that he will eventually be "the guy".

In my eyes Taco failed that reasonable test last year and underperformed his draft status. That does not mean he is a bust, can't redeem himself, or eventually be "the man" but it does seem to indicate that he was a bit of a reach.

What are reasonable expectations for him this year, after a year of weight training, NFL experience and NFL coaching? I think the floor expectations are that he "should be" a starter. If not he is way behind his draft position. Moreover, he should also be at least an average starter at his position in his second year. Otherwise he is behind the curve.

What do I expect out of Taco? I expect him to be way above average against the run. He should be sealing off the end with the best of them. Reality? I think he will be close to that this year.

What do I expect out of Taco in pass rushing? I expect him to get at least 8 sacks. I think barring a bit of luck he will fall short of that.

Summary. I expect Taco to underperform his draft status. I think he will eventually be a solid but very unspectacular player for the first few years of his contract. He will eventually be an average starter at DE even if it's not this year.

I think Taco was drafted two rounds to early for his skill level. That's not the end of the world, but it was not a great use of a first round pick. I believe we could have drafted a player of Taco's ability level in the 3rd round. That's not the end of the world, obviously, but getting any less than an average starter out of Taco is significantly underperforming his draft status.

Side note: For those of you who think it's ok that Taco finally perform in the last year of his contract and then we are forced to let him walk or sign him to a big contract (THATS A BIG FAIL) because you can sign a guy like that in free agency.

5 sacks. 32 combined tackles. Better in the run game, but little progress rushing the passer. That isn't horrible and may be an OK thing.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

5 sacks aren't enough. The golden cock could put up those kinds of numbers and he wasn't very good at all.

Speaking of cox...

 

[Proof]

First of all, I never said he wasn’t worth it. I did say I didn’t like the pick, he didn’t impress me his first year and I hope he gets better. It’s hilarious that you don’t want to take into consideration the competition he was playing against. If you just want to chalk it up to they’re all professionals and he’s just a rookie then go for it.

I happen to evaluate both sides of the ball and when a guy goes in the first round I expect more, not just against the some of the weakest competition in the league. “Frankly” as a “fellow fan” I’m embarrassed you have such low standards. You must not have been a fan very long or you’re content with the mediocre results this team has had over the past 20 years. Jerry loves fans like you!

I know where you're coming from, but a couple of things. the team only had 3 sacks against that woeful offensive line, (with D-Law having one as well) and most players and teams in general tend to get the bulk of their numbers against the lesser teams. Can't penalize him for it