QUOTE (witesoxfan @ May 3, 2011 -> 03:52 AM)
I've finally realized how stupid it is to give teams draft grades. Mel Kiper says the Seahawks draft sucked, but they got 2 offensive lineman with their top 2 picks, went defense (or special teams) with 6 of their next 7, and then brought in a receiver to a group that is collectively pretty untalented. They'll do more in free agency when it rolls around too, but I don't see a lot wrong with that.
Then they talk about the Raiders too and how they overdrafted a few players. I understand that you want to maximize the value of your choices while getting the players you want, but isn't the most important part of that formula getting the players you want? Oh yeah, they also went 8-8 and lost games by scores of 24-23, 31-24, 17-9, 38-31, and 31-26. People make fun of them for drafting track stars, but it looks like it's sort of panning out.
There are teams that you see where you are just like "they seriously didn't do anything they needed," especially when it regards a general area rather than something specific (like a team has older linebackers and they're thin anyways and they completely ignore it...that's stupid). I don't mind it as much when a team passes on a QB too when they have a pretty big need there, like the Dolphins or Bills, especially when they have a suitable option and they didn't find the guy they had in mind at that spot. That's a pretty important position and if you mess it up, it is almost assuredly going to cost you your job as a coach. Why would you draft someone you weren't comfortable drafting?
It just bugs me that these analysts say "OH THEY DRAFTED THAT GUY 10 PICKS EARLIER THAN HE SHOULD HAVE" (exaggerating, but barely) when really it's a bit of crapshoot too. So many teams were chastised last year for passing on Jimmy Clausen, but those teams look pretty smart now, don't they? Teams were dumb for passing on Matt Leinart too. Teams were smart for passing on Chris Johnson and Jamaal Charles, but really, neither may be nearly as good in a different system. That's the main point that bugs me - these guys (generally) look at all of these players and teams in a vacuum and don't consider their actual preferences. This isn't a video game though, and you can't just plug and play these players and everything works out fine. Some will fit better in specific schemes than they will others, and that covers more than just a QB running an offense or a linebacker in a particular defense. Three different teams had Big Mike Williams and nobody got anything out of him, and then his old coach Pete Carroll comes in and he has a pretty damn good season. How about that?
Everything I've read about Stefen Wisniewski suggests that he is a mauling run blocker. The Raiders were thin on their offensive line, the focus of their offense is going to be to running the ball, and they used their top pick on someone to help them out specifically in that area. That seems smart, even if they did "draft him a round or two too early," doesn't it?
eh, I wouldn't exactly say the Raiders drafting has been "panning out"
2003: 4-12
2004: 5-11
2005: 4-12
2006: 2-14
2007: 4-12
2008: 5-11
2009: 5-11
2010: 8-8
Using the Raiders for your argument might be the worst choice as they have been terrible over the last 8 years, even with their 8-8 record that was 6 division wins as well.. I don't think its smart to take players who more than likely would still be on the board a round or 2 later, but I am in agreement with you that you should take the player you want.. I mean s***, they took that Michael Moore guy or whatever in round 2 a few years ago and he was graded out as a 7th rounder..
I understand its easy to bash on Kiper and McShay but they literally spend all year scouting these kids, they know what they are talking about.. Grading drafts is dumb though, because it takes a few years to get a true grade on it.. but if McShay and Kiper have people graded out as 5-7 round talents and the Raiders keep taking these guys in rounds 2-3 that's prolly a telling reason why they had 10+ losses 7 years in a row..
The Seahawks for instance, passed on Carimi and Sherrod for a guy that might have been available in round 2-3.. But thats where you get into the personal preference for a player.. I guess that's what New England was doing? It made no sense to me for them to take a project lineman, then trade out of the first round to get a pick next year which they will prolly just trade again.. They really needed pass rushers, and instead of adding say Corey Luiget and Cameron Heyward they get Nate Solder and 2 runningbacks..
Honestly though, I think teams need to draft the best player available.. in the NFL and MLB, that's the best strategy you can take.. look at the Steelers and Ravens, they are consistently taking really good defensive players in the top rounds, and they always have insane defenses.. Of course, they also took Big Ben and Flacco but they waited for them and took them where they should have been going anyways.. Unless you are in dire need of a QB, BPA is usually the best way to go or else you are that team reaching for a player because of need and more times than not you aren't having a great draft when doing that.. The only exception really is teams picking late in the draft, like the Colts, who can just take the best lineman left on the board and be fine with it because they have Manning..
Miami did that this year, although they didn't actually reach on any picks, all their picks where need picks who are going to help right away.. and I can give them a pass their because the coaching staff and GM are "playing" for their jobs next season so to speak..