Why you should be excited about Brian Waters.

[Vintage]

Jerry did say that Frederick was the first step at rebuilding the interior of the line. I'm guessing we target a first round guard next year. If Leary pans out that's 4 of 5 positions locked down for years.

I hope not. Guards are not a premium position.

We could potentially be losing three starters amongst the DL next year. That is a bigger need.


*cue the " you don't understand football, OG is a premium position. Quit wanting flashy players" bretheren.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Waters did not play last year to face "personal" issues.
Whaaaa?

So, I assume his personal issues are cleared up and he wants his monies like the old days. Speaking of the old days, I hope he can get in shape really quick. He is no sprung chicken.

 

[theogt]

I hope not. Guards are not a premium position.

We could potentially be losing three starters amongst the DL next year. That is a bigger need.


*cue the " you don't understand football, OG is a premium position. Quit wanting flashy players" bretheren.

It's pretty easy to logically defend drafting a guard over a defensive tackle. Guards bust less often (though this is likely due to the undervaluing of guards by NFL teams). Guards have significantly more playing time over their careers. Guards have to be on their game EVERY SINGLE PLAY. If a guard has 3 bad plays (gives up a sack, TFL) and 50 good plays (stalemate with DT) in a game, he's had a bad game. But if a defensive tackle has 3 good plays (sacks, TFL) with 50 bad plays (stalemate with DT), he's had a good game. It's much more difficult to be considered a good guard than it is a DT, and it's more important to have a consistently good player at guard than DT. All things being equal, a good guard is simply more valuable to the success of a team than a good defensive tackle.

 

[gimmesix]

I hope not. Guards are not a premium position.

We could potentially be losing three starters amongst the DL next year. That is a bigger need.


*cue the " you don't understand football, OG is a premium position. Quit wanting flashy players" bretheren.

I do think the defensive line will be a bigger need, especially if Waters, Leary and Frederick play well and Waters wants to re-up for another season. However, if we are drafting low in the draft, it's usually easier to find one of the top interior offensive linemen (this year was the exception, although we did get the No. 1-rated center).

I have no problem drafting a DL in the first to meet that need, but I certainly wouldn't pass on the top guard just to take a DL with flaws because we need one.