denverdan Posted January 27, 2005 Share Posted January 27, 2005 http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~86~2676187,00.html Article Published: Thursday, January 27, 2005 senior bowl High risk, reward with pass rushers Senior Bowl talent strong at prominent position By Bill Williamson Denver Post Staff Writer Mobile, Ala. - Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin said he believes the most difficult player to find on his side of the ball is a pass rusher. Kiffin and the rest of the Bucs' coaching staff are getting an up-close look at the talent at the Senior Bowl as they prepare to coach the South team in Saturday's game. And he's keeping his eyes open. "You never know with these guys," Kiffin said. "It's one of the toughest positions to scout because of the gamble involved with pass rushers. The extra time is great and by the looks of it, there are going to be some players in this draft that will help teams." That's encouraging news for the Broncos. The team's scouting contingent obviously kept a close eye on the defensive linemen this week. A pass rusher is Denver's greatest need. The team will monitor that position leading up to the April 23-24 draft. The Broncos will pick 25th in the first round. Denver has a glaring need at the position. It is uncertain how effective defensive end Trevor Pryce can be in his first season back after missing nearly all of the 2004 season because of back surgery. Defensive end Reggie Hayward, who led the team with 10 1/2 sacks, will be a free agent. The Broncos hope to re-sign him, but he is one of the better pass rushers available. Many league observers think about five or six pass rushers will be taken in the first round this year, between ends and tackles. Among the available crop are Dan Cody of Oklahoma, Erasmus James of Wisconsin, Marcus Spears of LSU and Mike Patterson and Shaun Cody of Southern California. Georgia's David Pollack and Demarcus Ware of Troy also are intriguing prospects. If the Broncos set their sights on a defensive lineman in the first round, they may be able to get Patterson, Shaun Cody or Ware. "It's one of the better groups out there," Tennessee Titans general manager Floyd Reese said. "There seems to be quality there, and that will help because everyone needs pass rushers." Many scouts said evaluating pass rushers is difficult, and highly drafted pass rushers who fail in the NFL often do so because of size. Teams often select undersized players, hoping they will bulk up and keep their quickness and pass-rushing effectiveness. "Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't," Minnesota Vikings scout John Fitzpatrick said. "Those guys are scary. They may look good in college and on film. Then they come to the big boys and they can't get it done, and then you're stuck." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigricky3469 Posted January 27, 2005 Share Posted January 27, 2005 IMO there arn't any pure pass rushers out there this year. So we need to look for help elsewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Diggler Posted January 27, 2005 Share Posted January 27, 2005 We just can't wait till the 3rd round to grab one of those guys. We really need to use our top pick on one. Can you say Erasmus James or Matt Roth? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-Dog Night Posted January 27, 2005 Share Posted January 27, 2005 I'd have to agree with bigricky3469 to a certain extent. I think that there may be some good pass rushers but none worth taking at the #9 slot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
21dave Posted January 27, 2005 Share Posted January 27, 2005 Originally posted by Dirk Diggler We just can't wait till the 3rd round to grab one of those guys. We really need to use our top pick on one. Can you say Erasmus James or Matt Roth? I like Matt Roth a lot too. I hope we can trade down to the late teens or mid 20s to pick him up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamebreaker Posted January 27, 2005 Share Posted January 27, 2005 This is like a broken record. The same comments in regards to getting DL help every off-season. "No one is worth our pick!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-Dog Night Posted January 27, 2005 Share Posted January 27, 2005 Originally posted by Gamebreaker This is like a broken record. The same comments in regards to getting DL help every off-season. "No one is worth our pick!" Hey I didn't say 'no one', just no DE. Hopefully we will make the playoffs next year and we won't have such a valuable pick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbo Posted January 27, 2005 Share Posted January 27, 2005 Saying a guy is not worthy of a certain number pick is ridiculous until you see how he pans out. During his first NFL Draft as HC of the Cards, Joe Bugel selected DT Eric Swann with a high pick. Everyone laughed because the guy was not even playing college football at the time. Swann went on to become a Pro Bowler and a dominant player only to have his career cut short by back problems. To say Erasmus James or David Pollack or Justin Tuck or Shawn Merriman is not worthy of the #9 pick is ludicrous until he has a season or two under his belt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-Dog Night Posted January 27, 2005 Share Posted January 27, 2005 Originally posted by Jimbo Saying a guy is not worthy of a certain number pick is ridiculous until you see how he pans out. During his first NFL Draft as HC of the Cards, Joe Bugel selected DT Eric Swann with a high pick. Everyone laughed because the guy was not even playing college football at the time. Swann went on to become a Pro Bowler and a dominant player only to have his career cut short by back problems. To say Erasmus James or David Pollack or Justin Tuck or Shawn Merriman is not worthy of the #9 pick is ludicrous until he has a season or two under his belt. Well of course. But we can't know that right now can we? :doh: This is based on my opinion of the guy's value right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BG Posted January 27, 2005 Share Posted January 27, 2005 I wonder if Spears could play tackle too. :idea: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BurgundyBlood Posted January 27, 2005 Share Posted January 27, 2005 Trade the #1 pick for John Abraham of NYJ or Hayward of Denver...both were good for 10 sacks last year. I agree that a 4-5th year proven player is almost always superior to a younger unknown rookie... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funkyalligator Posted January 27, 2005 Share Posted January 27, 2005 Trade down to pick up extra picks and then use the pick in the early twenties that we get to take Marcus Spears.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorEastNCFan Posted January 27, 2005 Share Posted January 27, 2005 So, there are no "pure" pass rushers out there. Oh well!! Give me a DE that can rush the passer and can tackle a RB when he comes his way. Is that all bad? Remember back a few years ago, our ends sucked at stopping the run. This year we didn't have a dominant pass rusher, but how did our defense fair? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BurgundyBlood Posted January 27, 2005 Share Posted January 27, 2005 NorEastNCFan has a point...where are Kenard Lang and ND Kalu now that we need them? Better still, I wonder when KGB's contract is up with Green Bay. He would look very nice in the burgundy and gold... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
denverdan Posted January 27, 2005 Author Share Posted January 27, 2005 I believe Kalu will be a FA, he spent the year on IR, I wouldn't mind having him back ala thrash, but I don't think he or Lang is the answer. Somebody mentioned that Jason Taylor might be a cap casualty, wonder if there is any merit in that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldskool Posted January 27, 2005 Share Posted January 27, 2005 Originally posted by Gamebreaker This is like a broken record. The same comments in regards to getting DL help every off-season. "No one is worth our pick!" Well lets look at what could have been in the last 4 drafts.. 2000- we took Arrington and Samuels. DE’s that we could have taken in the 1st round would have been #12 DE Shaun Ellis #26 DE Erik Flowers We came out on top of that draft. 2001 we took Rod Gardner at #15 :doh: We could have had.. #19 DT Casey Hampton #29 DT Ryan Pickett There weren’t any DE’s left in the 1st round when we picked…. 2002 we drafted Patrick Ramsey at #32 (we originally had the #18 pick) We could have had.. #22 DE Bryan Thomas #25 DE Charles Grant We did the right thing there as to DE’s 2003 we drafted no one in the 1st round (Coles RFA trade) We could have had #13 DT Ty Warren #14 DE Michael Haynes #15 DE Jerome McDougal #18 DE Calvin Pace #25 DT William Joseph #31 DE Tyler Brayton 2004 We took Sean Taylor. Im not going to beat that dead horse any further… :40oz: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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