Phillips - Jerry: Defense “A Must” In The Draft; Running Back? Not So Much

[Genghis Khan]

And that lack of a pass rush kept them from advancing in the playoffs.

I don't agree with that. Also, they don't even get there without dominant the running game.

 

[Genghis Khan]

I haven't seen one single person say that we can pick up some scrub RB. Maybe I've missed it.

That's the reality of advocating dipping into veteran free agency at this point to try and solve our hole at running back. There are only scrubs left.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Getting a above average RB is much easier than finding a "Pass Rush" I am not saying it should not be addressed but just saying we need a pass rush out of this draft is setting yourself up for reaches and failure.

Sure sounds like you're saying we should draft a RB over a pass rusher because it's easier.

 

[Genghis Khan]

For the record, we lost to Green bay because of a bad sequence of plays to end the half, a bad set of downs prior to the Dez catch, a bad call on the Dez catch, and Murray's fricking fumble.

A pass rush would have helped, but it's not why we lost. We had that game without it.

 

[NoDak]

I don't agree with that. Also, they don't even get there without dominant the running game.

I've never disagreed with that about the running game. But that lack of a passrush did fuck us hard against a hobbled and immobile Aaron Rogers. If he would have had to move even a little, I sincerely doubt he would have been half as effective as he was.

 

[L.T. Fan]

He's a veteran back, that came very cheap. If we were to draft A great back, he'd still be a rookie. Having a veteran pass protector with some upside seems like a perfect compliment.

Then who do you think will be pushed out? Dunbar? Randal? Maybe Williams on the PS?

 

[NoDak]

That's the reality of advocating dipping into veteran free agency at this point to try and solve our hole at running back. There are only scrubs left.

Maybe you're confusing me with somebody else. I've never advocated going the cheap route for a RB. If you go back a post or two, I even said we needed both positions bad. Pass rush and RB.

But even so, I still don't remember seeing anybody saying we can get by with a scrub RB.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Then who do you think will be pushed out? Dunbar? Randal? Maybe Williams on the PS?

We signed Williams to a 2 year deal. Is he even still eligible for the practice squad. This is probably the year that he either makes the team and carries part of the load or he is done. I hope Dunbar is the first to go. We basically didn't use him at all last year. If McFadden is going to be our receiving RB Dunbar has no place left on the roster. Besides, Dunbar really sucks as a RB. Don't see the point in keeping him.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

That's the reality of advocating dipping into veteran free agency at this point to try and solve our hole at running back. There are only scrubs left.

Ahmad Bradshaw is still available... He actually looked pretty good with the Colts last year. Not sure why he hasn't been signed.

 

[L.T. Fan]

We signed Williams to a 2 year deal. Is he even still eligible for the practice squad. This is probably the year that he either makes the team and carries part of the load or he is done. I hope Dunbar is the first to go. We basically didn't use him at all last year. If McFadden is going to be our receiving RB Dunbar has no place left on the roster. Besides, Dunbar really sucks as a RB. Don't see the point in keeping him.

If Dunbar goes then that would leave 3 backs. If another is drafted then you have 4. Who goes, to the PS or gets pushed out. Williams signed a contract. They must have plans for him. McFadden surely will stay on or why pick him up in the first place. That would leave Randal on the bubble who has a the best YPC. It shapes up as a silly plan unless you don't plan to bring on a draft pick.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

If Dunbar goes then that would leave 3 backs. If another is drafted then you have 4. Who goes, to the PS or gets pushed out. Williams signed a contract. They must have plans for him. McFadden surely will stay on or why pick him up in the first place. That would leave Randal on the bubble who has a the best YPC. It shapes up as a silly plan unless you don't plan to bring on a draft pick.

I think the easy answer is either Williams or Randal although I think McFadden would make more sense to cut.

You might be right though. We all know Jerry has been very high on Randal. I know everyone here has hated the guy since the day he was born. He obviously did some dumb shit in his life too but the organization seems to like him and he didn't do anything on the field last year to make people feel bad about him.

 

[townsend]

Williams, Randle, Dunbar, and McFadden should all be considered expendable. None of these guys should be guaranteed a roster spot.

 

[Genghis Khan]

Maybe you're confusing me with somebody else. I've never advocated going the cheap route for a RB. If you go back a post or two, I even said we needed both positions bad. Pass rush and RB.

But even so, I still don't remember seeing anybody saying we can get by with a scrub RB.

I never said I was talking about you at all.

I believe CRock said we can always pick up a good veteran free agent running back. My point is, if you are relying on another vet FA, you're getting a scrub because that's all that's left. Hell, my guess is McFadden is a scrub at this point.

 

[Genghis Khan]

Ahmad Bradshaw is still available... He actually looked pretty good with the Colts last year. Not sure why he hasn't been signed.

I'm not a fan relative to what I think we should be doing.

 

[Genghis Khan]

I've never disagreed with that about the running game. But that lack of a passrush did fuck us hard against a hobbled and immobile Aaron Rogers. If he would have had to move even a little, I sincerely doubt he would have been half as effective as he was.

We absolutely need a better pass rush, even with Hardy. And absolutely it would have helped in that game. But even with what we had, we were in good position to win.

 

[Genghis Khan]

Sure sounds like you're saying we should draft a RB over a pass rusher because it's easier.

I believe, given where we pick in each round, the available RBs will be better than the available pass rushers in the top couple rounds. In other words, you likely get a better, more impactful player by taking a running back rather than a pass rusher.

Unless Ray falls to us, in which case we should take him.

 

[Jiggyfly]

Sure sounds like you're saying we should draft a RB over a pass rusher because it's easier.

Nope.

Just saying do not get locked in on trying to fix something.

 

[Cotton]

How else do you allocate resources to the pass rush if you are not going in thinking you have to draft several pass rushers?

Nothing I said was strawman did you not say we need to concentrate on pass rush?

Yeah, but you are acting like I said we should spend half our draft on it.

 

[Jiggyfly]

If Dunbar goes then that would leave 3 backs. If another is drafted then you have 4. Who goes, to the PS or gets pushed out. Williams signed a contract. They must have plans for him. McFadden surely will stay on or why pick him up in the first place. That would leave Randal on the bubble who has a the best YPC. It shapes up as a silly plan unless you don't plan to bring on a draft pick.

Why do you keep acting like we gave any of these guys major money and the team is invested in keeping them?

All of these guys can be cut tomorrow with minimal cap hit, the fact that none of these guys have major signing bonuses makes it clear they are all exspendable.

 

[Cotton]

What?

I am advocating not approaching a draft focusing on one particular thing like upgrading the pass rush, nothing more or less.

I don't know what any of the rest of that has to do with what I said. I am not advocating RB in the 1st just saying I am not passing up a better player in the name of trying to upgrade the pass rush.

And who was arguing that we should reach out of desperate need? My original statement was if I could choose either RB or pass rush I would choose pass rush. How in hell you morphed that into me saying we should reach desperately is beyond me.