Can we stop declaring DL draft picks busts so quickly

You don’t know what you have in most players for 2-3 yrs
That’s as a player
With taco I think as a player he still has potential to be a solid player
The question with taco is not about developing as a player but developing as an adult
You have to have the heart and desire to play in the nfl. You have to put in the work
The question with taco is really about does he have the desire to play
I think we will know that answer in the next camp
Got to hope the message this year got through to him
 
cmoney23 said:
I've been on this board for a while now and one of the most ridiculous things I commonly see is "such and such DL pick is a waste" or "a bust".
Usually followed by a 1 or 2-year gap of nothing said and then he's playing up to his potential.

So, I ask, can we please stop declaring DL picks busts so quickly?

Here's why.
Most of you (us) don't know how to properly evaluate defensive line play so you (we) look at the stat sheet and say "no sacks? Bust!"

The defensive line is one of the hardest positions to transition from college to the NFL and is one that, like QB, the player has to keep evolving because OL study technique and learn your common moves.

The physicality is completely different. When players on in college they are all playing against similar aged kids who are all of a similar physical make-up. But get to the NFL and a 20-somthing kid will get lined up on a 30-something man that has been playing Tackle in the league for 10 years. He will struggle.

So, can we as a group give a DL player more time to, you know, play before we get so definitive?
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Its actually one of the easiest to analyze. Like most positions, a rookie may take longer then a year to catch on depending on the situation that he finds himself in.

With a guy like Soft Taco is was painfully obvious from the beginning. Lawrence had 8 sacks in his 2nd season after injury plagued him his first season. Gregory always had talent and it was plainly obvious. He was just held back by suspension.
 
We should have drafted Carl Lawson instead. That was my pet cat that draft and bengals got him with a 4th round pick. Had 8.5 sacks as a rookie. Unfortunately had an acl this year after 6 games. Doesn't even start for the Bengals. Hasn't played a game since october and has as many sacks as taco.
 
CowboyRoy said:
Its actually one of the easiest to analyze. Like most positions, a rookie may take longer then a year to catch on depending on the situation that he finds himself in.

With a guy like Soft Taco is was painfully obvious from the beginning. Lawrence had 8 sacks in his 2nd season after injury plagued him his first season. Gregory always had talent and it was plainly obvious. He was just held back by suspension.
Click to expand...

If you, like I outlined as wrong in the OP, are going to boil it down to sacks. You should at least look at games/starts to get those sacks.

DLaw started 13 games in his first two seasons and accounted for 8 sacks.
Taco has started 7 (basically half) and has accounted for 4 sacks (exactly half).
On a per-start performance, it's pretty equal.

But I'd like to point out, my post is not about Taco specifically. It's about DLaw, Gregory, and Taco... all of which, this board has ripped for sucking early in their YOUNG careers.
 
cmoney23 said:
If you, like I outlined as wrong in the OP, are going to boil it down to sacks. You should at least look at games/starts to get those sacks.

DLaw started 13 games in his first two seasons and accounted for 8 sacks.
Taco has started 7 (basically half) and has accounted for 4 sacks (exactly half).
On a per-start performance, it's pretty equal.

But I'd like to point out, my post is not about Taco specifically. It's about DLaw, Gregory, and Taco... all of which, this board has ripped for sucking early in their YOUNG careers.
Click to expand...

I wont debate Taco anymore. He is and always will be a terrible draft pick. If you cant see that, whatever.
 
CATCH17 said:
There was a article someone posted awhile back that I wish I could find that showed what many people considered Elite Dlineman and how the majority of them didn’t start producing until year 4 of their career.

Our own DeMarcus Lawrence is in that category.

Anyways.. Taco is a year 2 guy and to me he’s never looked like a bad football player. He can play but the big production isn’t there yet and Randy Gregory will also cut into that potential production as well.


DL is a numbers game too so I’m fine with him just being a solid rotational guy for us.
Click to expand...

Don't turn Gregory into a producer yet.... he's done as much negative as positive this year.
 
We got a soft taco with a #1 draft pick. There is really no disputing this by now. He's not going to get as spicy as we need him in year 3.
 
If any player drafted isn't all pro by his 3rd game, he should be immediately cut. Especially if I didn't like the draft pick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
If you are talking about Charlton, I think the paid professional coaches decided he is a bit of bust by making him a healthy scratch for multiple games.

But hey, we just need to stop declaring things and just sit back and let it play itself out.

And stuff.
 
The Realist said:
Good thing they didn’t have the internet when Roger Staubach was drafted.
Click to expand...
I realize the internet can be extreme, but I doubt the majority of the outraged would not get the fact he had a Navy commitment.
 
cmoney23 said:
I've been on this board for a while now and one of the most ridiculous things I commonly see is "such and such DL pick is a waste" or "a bust".
Usually followed by a 1 or 2-year gap of nothing said and then he's playing up to his potential.

So, I ask, can we please stop declaring DL picks busts so quickly?

Here's why.
Most of you (us) don't know how to properly evaluate defensive line play so you (we) look at the stat sheet and say "no sacks? Bust!"

The defensive line is one of the hardest positions to transition from college to the NFL and is one that, like QB, the player has to keep evolving because OL study technique and learn your common moves.

The physicality is completely different. When players on in college they are all playing against similar aged kids who are all of a similar physical make-up. But get to the NFL and a 20-somthing kid will get lined up on a 30-something man that has been playing Tackle in the league for 10 years. He will struggle.

So, can we as a group give a DL player more time to, you know, play before we get so definitive?
Click to expand...

In short, no we can't stop.
 
People wanted to replace Anthony Spencer the minute his rookie contract was up.

Two years ago D-Law was called a fat, wasted pick.

Gregory was viewed as a wasted pick. Jaylon doesn't play DL, but same thing.

Moral of the story: Give him time. With McClay's track record of drafting, he deserves the benefit of the doubt.
 
texbumthelife said:
So much of what defensive lines do is scheme related. That's why, more than any other position really, defensive linemen need to be in the right place. We see guys change teams along the DL all the time and go from being a bust, to blowing up.

Taco is a strong side defensive end being asked to play the weak side. He needs to bulk up and be a rotational inside outside guy on the strong side. I really think that his best position eventually may wind up being inside. His first step on his inside move is deadly, but it's all he has.
Click to expand...
Taco has no real speed to speak of. He may have a little bit of quickness and inside may be where he ultimately ends up.

He will have to get stronger because speed has never been his best attribute.
 
Future said:
Taco is an alright player talent-wise, but I don't think he plays with nearly the effort that Marinelli likes.

He's shown nothing to warrant a first-round grade, though.
Click to expand...

He was over drafted. It's hard to argue otherwise based on what we have seen so far.
 
You cannot coach passion, grit, toughness and want.

Taco seems to have none of that
 
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