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The Lets Get Offensive Mock Draft & Why We Should by the #s

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18: R1P18 OT JAWAAN TAYLOR; FLORIDA
50: R2P18 G CHRIS LINDSTROM; BOSTON COLLEGE
81: R3P17 RB DAMIEN HARRIS; ALABAMA
120: R4P18 WR MILES BOYKIN; NOTRE DAME

First, what I did; Second what I didn’t, but Zimmer & Spielman might be more likely to do…

My personal top OT is on the board, so despite being extremely temped by the top 2 LBs both available, I went with my guy, who I think helps this team the most right now. JT brings the impressive combo platter of size, strength, athleticism, and football IQ that you are not likely to find at this point, even just past the middle of the first round. His weakness: hand placement/use, seems very coachable to me. His strength and tenacity for RUN blocking should provide immediate dividends, improving the weakness in Zim-Zsu’s basic game-plan that most needs improvement.

In the second, one of the top S was on the board, and the Zim-Zsu was whisperin about letting Sendejo go, but I couldn’t move past Lindstrom being available at this point, mid 2nd round. I know, they signed Kline for RG, where Lindstrom has played nearly all of his snaps, but that guy was bottom of the league last year, and I’m just not OK with that level of play on our OL anymore. Lindstrom brings top notch movement skills that fit perfectly in our Zone scheme, and again provides immediate improvement to RUN blocking. These 2 picks should solidify RG-RT for 5-10 years; and leave us with backups who we aren’t afraid of having to start when the ole injury issues pop up, again.

Damien Harris in the third was again a bargain of a fit for our scheme, and provides the solid 1b in the backfield that we lost when Murrey signed with the dreaded Aint-Saints. He’s a bit more of a grinder than Cook, lacking slightly the top end, straight line speed of DC, but is a "no nonsense runner" who is a "Patient zone runner with good feel for when to keep it flowing play-side and when to cut it, trusting his blocking up front and generally keeping runs true to designated point of entry" while still showing he "Has feet to slalom around interior traffic and the sudden jump-cut for an alternative lane choice." He comes Pro-Ready, with "elite" ball security, plus the strength, experience and mentality to square up and sustain blocks, and the versatility to be "Very capable as a dump-off pass catcher with soft hands and desired ball skills."

Last year proved that Zim wants to RUN the Damn Ball, and for good reason, as success on that side of the gameplan helps the entire rest of the team: resting the D, taking pressure off of the QB, and letting the OLinemen go into attack mode rather than stepping back to protect so much. With Cook’s injury history and our need to RUN the ball, I think Harris is not only a good fit, but a bigger need than most want to admit. Yeah, we could gamble on a handful of late round guys or a sign a slightly over the hill vet, but I feel that improving on Offense needs to be the focus of this draft, and I think Harris could prove to not only be better than Murrey, but might even steal early down work from Cook. And maybe that helps keep Cook healthy, providing us one of the best and most versatile 1-2 RB attacks in the league.

Believe it or not, I looked at Defense as well as Offense for every one of these picks, and was very tempted every round of the way. Middle of the 4th, my choices had slimmed down, but Terrill Hanks was still on the board at LB, a guy I know they’ve met with, and whose versatile experience they’re likely to covet. But his 5.0 speed and thus coverage skills are very limited, and he profiles mostly as a top Special Teamer. We already have 2 if not more of those guys in Brothers & Gedeon. Meanwhile, back on the ole/new Offensive side of the ball…

Miles Boykin offers top notch physical ability for the WR position, running a 4.42 forty and jumping 43.5" vertically at 6’4" and 220lbs. He has unbelievable burst shown in his 11’8" broad jump, and crazy good short area quickness for his size, running 6.77 in the 3-cone. Yes, he needs coaching vs. press coverage, and coming down with jump balls, and the dreaded on/off focus drops from time to time…or he would be drafted much, much earlier. He has first round physical qualities, and provides us with a legit outside threat who has the speed to take it the distance; a fit in my eyes due to how many we already have that can play the slot so well. Best yet, with our Dangerous Duo up top and the depth behind them, we can afford to show some patience with him, and possibly release him as our surprise secret weapon come mid-late or playoff season, when teams won’t know what hit them; as long as he knows when the ball hits his hands.

Here’s the Deal: We All Know, or should by now, it is has become an OFFENSIVE FRIENDLY LEAGUE. While I certainly miss the good ole days of big hits knocking balls loose; they were also knocking their brains loose, so I do get the longevity and quality of life after football concerns. A quick look at the end of regular season Rankings (averaging 16 games vs. all levels of competition) of the 12 Playoff Teams shows:

OFFENSE:

Yards/Game: 7 of the top 12 offenses in the league made the playoffs; only 2 were below 15: CHI & DAL at 21-22

Points/Game: 9 of the top 11 made the playoffs!!

ALL 6 of the top 6 made it to the 2nd round of the playoffs, tho SEA tied for 6th, as a 7th team in top 6, and didn’t

ALL 4 of the top 4 earned Bye-Weeks!!

Lowest ranked playoff Offenses in points scored were BAL 13, PHI 18, DAL 22; Vikes were 19th

DEFENSE:

Yds/Game Allowed: Half of the top 12 made the playoffs; But only 1 of the top 6! KC was 31st! NE 21 and PHI 23 =>

2 of the Bye week Teams were bottom third of the NFL in yards allowed

Points/Game Allowed: 9 of the top 12 made the playoffs; But of the 4 playoff teams in the top 6, only DAL advanced

The 2 worst playoff Ds, KC at 24 & Rams at 20 both made their conf. championship games, and the Rams got to the final dance

If I may be so bold as to tell you what this means…You can have a pretty bad D and still make the playoffs as long as you have a top O, and advance far, even all the way to the Superbowl. But, NONE of the bottom third Offenses even made the playoffs, and of the 2 below average that did, neither made the Conf. Championship round. And this is not a one year trend. Other than the once a generational Defenses like the 85 Bears and 00 Ravens, nearly every other Superbowl Champ has had at least an above average, top half of the league Offense; and most were top ten or better.

So yeah, Wow and Holy Fook!? Would Devin White look good as a Purple MLB and make our LB trio one of, if not the very best in the league, opening up Barr to Pass Rush more, while keeping Kendricks on RB coverage outside? Absolutely! (well, Barring injury-pun unintended, could happen to any of them, D’oh!) I promise, I won’t complain if he’s the pick at 18! In the second round, would Taylor Rapp provide not just depth, but quite possibly instant upgrade as another Safety who can do it all ala Harry the Hitman, and make Zimmer’s Defense even more unpredictable? Most Likely…tho I do like Harris, and Kearse. Would Darnell Savage get Zim’s mouth watering with his over the top athletic ability in the Third? Undoubtedly! Hell, even I might be happier with that pick over a RB…who doesn’t want a Savage at Safety!?!?? Despite not matching up size wise with bigger WRs or TEs, the kids speed, leap, twitch and football IQ would help him not only compete for S starts, but quite possibly top Nickelback depth as well. I also like Gerald Willis as a possible 3rd available for us in this mock, and yeah, quite possibly a better value fits need due to Richardson leaving…BUT we’ve spent mid-round picks on potential DT pass rushers in back to back drafts already with J.Johnson and J.Holmes. Lastly, Sure: probably more likely they draft Hanks in the 4th than a project WR like Boykin…but as implied above, do we really need another big slow LB? That forty time just might push him further down the board anyway…UDFA?

If I were to mock the more likely scenario with this run & given Spielman trends:

1st – Devin White, LB…Simple, BPA too good to pass on despite the $ already committed to LB

2nd – Lindstrom, OG…even Spielman should see value+fit if he’s here

3rd – Willis, DT or Savage, S…Tough Choice depending on inside view of which position needs more help***

4th – Trade back, collect extra picks and spend them on late TE, RB, WR depth; tho Rick does enjoy some Golden Domer

***Why Hasn’t Anyone Thought of This!?? Waynes at Safety. Top CB vs. the Run already, speed and size in spades…and we could be starting Hill or Hughes at CB and likely look good either way. Add White to that and we are looking at some scary good, scary fast Defenders all over the field!

Here’s my Two ?s: Will our Defense still be pretty good without any of these early round picks? I think it will. I mean, as long as injuries aren’t overwhelming, which applies without saying. How much will the Offense improve with my original, All Offense first 4 picks? Quite Likely, Immensely.


This FanPost was created by a registered user of The Daily Norseman, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the staff of the site. However, since this is a community, that view is no less important.