steel wrote:
The FO has done a great job of injecting so much talent into this roster in the past 24 months -- players who are either starting or making big contributions--
it's almost unbelievable -- remember when it took 5 fucking years to see new guys make it into the lineup?
Here's the list off the top of my head:
1. Artie Burns
2. Sean Davis
3. Javon Hargrave
4. Tyler Matakevich
5. Mike Hilton
6. TJ Watt
7. JuJu
8. Joe Haden
9. Tyson Alalulu
10. James Connor (not significant yet, but backup RB will come into play at some point this season)
Awesome job by the front office, staff, scouts, and coaches.
I think they have put more emphasis on football smart, work ethic, good people type and most importantly.......... football players.
Players with great work ethic and players who want to improve their bodies, to get bigger, better and stronger.
As opposed to a stretch of time where we were drafting a good number of guys based on college performance and college tape, that I do not believe had football smarts/smarts and or had character flaws.
Did not have NFL football as the number one priority of taking the opportunity of a lifetime, to set themselves and their families up for generations.
Maybe they have some new scale system or became better interviewing about the non football qualities of individuals. Better evaluation of the inner mind.
Hopefully they realized drafting bigger DB's to keep pace with the growing NFL WR's and TE's who are getting bigger and faster is the better approach than drafting small over achievers.
Look at last 2 drafts as opposed to the few years before.
Sutton 5'-11" / 188
Allen 6'-3" / 215
Burns 6'-0" / 193
Davis 6'-1" / 201
vs.
Golson 5'-9" / 178
Grant 5'-10" / 178
Shmarko 5'-9" / 213
and jump to the offensive side of the line with:
Archer 5'-8" /173
Rainey 5'-8" / 178
You want to reach on a short player, do it in the later rounds.
You want to find a short player with spunk and a big heart, take your chance with UDFA's and see what they have in camp ( Hilton )