Mediator12
04-22-2009, 11:23 AM
This is a very solid article on what should be happening with the defensive talent on the board come draft day. Remember, Overall draft grade provides a guideline to where a player might be drafted the soonest by a team. The scheme specific grades are where some "draft analysts" call a pick a reach or a steal. Low supply, heavily needed scheme players are often the ones who get reaches (Jarvis Moss DE and Marcus Thomas DT), while High supply non scheme differentiated players often fall into the steal category. Here is the article:
http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/NFLDraft/Draft+Extras/2009/rock042109.htm
The NFL will have 10 new head coaches at the beginning of next season and more than twice as many new defensive coordinators, with nearly half of the league employing elements of the 3-4 defense. For some teams such as Baltimore, Arizona, Tennessee and San Diego, continuity was sought, and new coordinator hires came from within. In other cities, such as Dallas, Jacksonville and Chicago, the head coach has taken control of the defense to maximize its execution. But for most, fairly radical changes in approach can be expected.
The following is a team-by-team look at defensive philosophy shifts and how they can be expected to influence decisions on Draft Day. Teams making changes in schemes are marked with an asterisk.
Denver Broncos*
Mike Nolan is expected to flop in and out of even and odd fronts to maximize his personnel, with the Broncos not currently featuring the big bodies needed on the line to easily run a “30” front. They will need to make the front seven a major focus in this year’s draft if Nolan is going to flexibly be able to shift between fronts. The secondary was completely revamped in free agency with the additions of Brian Dawkins, Renaldo Hill and André Goodman opposite Champ Bailey, which should allow Nolan to be very aggressive blitzing. However, D.J. Williams does not have enough length to rush the passer, and a rush linebacker is still desired along with a more stout nose tackle than free-agent addition Ronnie Fields.
The rest of the teams, if you care, are in the link!
http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/NFLDraft/Draft+Extras/2009/rock042109.htm
The NFL will have 10 new head coaches at the beginning of next season and more than twice as many new defensive coordinators, with nearly half of the league employing elements of the 3-4 defense. For some teams such as Baltimore, Arizona, Tennessee and San Diego, continuity was sought, and new coordinator hires came from within. In other cities, such as Dallas, Jacksonville and Chicago, the head coach has taken control of the defense to maximize its execution. But for most, fairly radical changes in approach can be expected.
The following is a team-by-team look at defensive philosophy shifts and how they can be expected to influence decisions on Draft Day. Teams making changes in schemes are marked with an asterisk.
Denver Broncos*
Mike Nolan is expected to flop in and out of even and odd fronts to maximize his personnel, with the Broncos not currently featuring the big bodies needed on the line to easily run a “30” front. They will need to make the front seven a major focus in this year’s draft if Nolan is going to flexibly be able to shift between fronts. The secondary was completely revamped in free agency with the additions of Brian Dawkins, Renaldo Hill and André Goodman opposite Champ Bailey, which should allow Nolan to be very aggressive blitzing. However, D.J. Williams does not have enough length to rush the passer, and a rush linebacker is still desired along with a more stout nose tackle than free-agent addition Ronnie Fields.
The rest of the teams, if you care, are in the link!