Thread: DL or OL?

Okay. The draft is almost here. Let's say Denver has to pick OL or DL in the first. What would you prefer they pick and why?

For me, if you look at the schedule, you have to protect Manning. There are some serious DE's or D line units this team plays from week 1 to week 17!!!! This team needs to protect Manning from the James Harrison's of the NFL. I would rather see a Konz or manchild OL prospect at 25 if Denver is forced to take only OL or DL.

Assuming equal talent, probably D-line. I think our o-line will look much better with Manning. Clady will protect his blind side so I don't think our o-line is a huge risk to his health at this point. And you know the refs will flag anyone who even breathes on him, so I'm really not too concerned.

If Manning really is running the draft, it'll be OL. If not, it'll be DL.

Defensive line. I don't think teams should take offensive lineman in the first if it's not a left tackle or a crazy talent like the Pouncey brothers, and there are no guys in this draft with that talent on the interior line that will be available at 25.

Pound for pound, I'd go with an offensive lineman if this was my draft. Konz, Glenn, Martin and Adams could all be available or any combination of the four, protect your million dollar investment first, able to get to other team's million dollar investments can wait. And even if we didn't add an top shelf defensive tackle we'd still have our elite pass rushers, which while maybe not enough to give us a top ten squad, would allow us to field a capable BDB unit.

OL

There is more depth at DT.

Originally Posted by Lancane

Pound for pound, I'd go with an offensive lineman if this was my draft. Konz, Glenn, Martin and Adams could all be available or any combination of the four, protect your million dollar investment first, able to get to other team's million dollar investments can wait. And even if we didn't add an top shelf defensive tackle we'd still have our elite pass rushers, which while maybe not enough to give us a top ten squad, would allow us to field a capable BDB unit.

I guess I don't know those players well enough to know if any would make good RTs. Typically, tackles rated that high are left tackles and have never played right tackle. I know Solder did it this past year, but I would say he's the exception to the rule. I'd rather see a defensive tackle taken in the first, and then a guard later in the draft.

Originally Posted by MOtorboat

I guess I don't know those players well enough to know if any would make good RTs. Typically, tackles rated that high are left tackles and have never played right tackle. I know Solder did it this past year, but I would say he's the exception to the rule. I'd rather see a defensive tackle taken in the first, and then a guard later in the draft.

Glenn is one of the better guard prospects would be the top at the position without DeCastro, same with Konz he is a top guard prospect who can also play center and is considered the best center in the draft. Adams and Martin are both solid tackle prospects and likely could excel at either tackle position, Martin from Stanford was originally graded as a top fifteen pick but has fallen due to his combine showing and so forth.

The NFL is about passing, and getting TO the passer. Considering we would be talking about either taking a DL that gets to the passer, or an OL that protects our passing. I would love a DT that can rush the passer, but we saw NE go to the Super Bowl this year with a terrible defense and a stud OL. I think the choice is a 50-50 for me....great question.

Originally Posted by MOtorboat

I guess I don't know those players well enough to know if any would make good RTs. Typically, tackles rated that high are left tackles and have never played right tackle. I know Solder did it this past year, but I would say he's the exception to the rule. I'd rather see a defensive tackle taken in the first, and then a guard later in the draft.

a very high percentage of NFL tackles are guys who played left tackle in college-- if you play the right side on your college team, odds are you aren't good enough to get drafted. . . jonathon martin from stanford does have more of a left tackle's skill set, but mike adams from ohio state and cordy glenn from georgia are prototypical fox right tackles (or OG, in glenn's case)-- if we do want another tackle, those guys are likely targets who could potentially still be on the board at 25. . .

Dline.

Im not worried about the Oline like everyone else. Manning has a quick read and release and wont be getting hit like Orton or have to worry about Tebow holding onto the ball too long. However, we need to be able to stop the running game and improve the defense more than it is right now.

That's great and dandy North, but what about the fact that first round offensive lineman compared to first round defensive lineman make a quicker impact for the teams that draft them and tend to be starters sooner then their defensive counterparts? I understand the need and the want, but chances are that no matter who we draft defensively will not be a starter this year but rather play in rotation, and even if they do by some chance get the nod, most defensive lineman taken around that position take a few years to really make an overall impact compared to offensive lineman.

Is Kuper going to be as good as he was before he suffered the leg fracture? Or is it going to be years of recovery like it has been for Clady?

Originally Posted by Lancane

That's great and dandy North, but what about the fact that first round offensive lineman compared to first round defensive lineman make a quicker impact for the teams that draft them and tend to be starters sooner then their defensive counterparts? I understand the need and the want, but chances are that no matter who we draft defensively will not be a starter this year but rather play in rotation, and even if they do by some chance get the nod, most defensive lineman taken around that position take a few years to really make an overall impact compared to offensive lineman.

Yes, but good Olineman tend to extend beyond the first round. Meaning, you can still get a quality Olineman later in the draft compared to a Dlineman who are generally worthless beyond the first two rounds.