I think I am going to go by HT’s theory though, that it is too early to tell. My sense is that I will be disappointed, others will be happy and DT will be taken off the board first. Larsen and Woodyard are impressive indeed.

I’m with Steve. Let’s cross that bridge when we get there. I am just thankful we have a guy that can contribute at this level consistently.

and recommended.
Larsen WILL be that guy.
We can go after 2 safetys…..or better yet take one of the better DE/DT and still get one in free agency.
I really want Cushing as he could be a beast DE rusher for us, aswell as soime great packages in the LB corps.
Trust me, SHanny will find a way to play Winborn, WW and Cushing.
I am excited too!

Look at Timmy Smith in Super Bowl 22. :) Or Desmond Howard in Super Bowl 31….

I want to see Larsen play 6 more weeks of solid MLB play, then I’ll pass judgment. I must say though, I’m excited at the prospect of him becoming our starting MLB.

The thing I like the most from our current starting roster is the lack of chest thumping celebration after every tackle…even when it’s a tackle for a 20 yard gain. lol

If Larsen fills the need, then maybe we look at trading up to take a shot at that DT out of Bama or a true impact player, or we trade out of the first round and pick up some solid picks for 2010. Again, I really have a hard time thinking we will land a top DT where we will likely pick in the 1st round, and DT in the 1st round are high risk, so I would say that would lead to us drafting a safety or trading up or back.

maybe since we sort of landed a bonus mlb when drafting a fb, the front office will be that much more inclined to pull the trigger on a trade that brings in a difference maker. My hopes are for the stud saftey, but a Moreno who can pound the ball 25 times a game would be nice too. Or, like Colinski has said, there is real value in the second round for safteys, so maybe we could trade out of the first entirely and pickup an extra pick in 2010. Not having to worry about the MLB position opens up alot of possibilities.

since I have no interest in debating draft strategy at this early date (though I enjoy reading you guys doing it):

Why has no one brought up a high round strong side LB? They are harder to find than MLBs, and Winborn could easily be upgraded… I am of course talking about a combination of size and speed that rules out certain matchups just by a player being present in the lineup….

Agreed….thats why I am for Cushing.
Thats where he plays at USC, and he can cover at MLB in a pinch. He is a great rusher as well.

http://usctrojans.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/cushing_brian00.html

Enjoy the read and tell me waht you guys think!

is really starting to come together. Game planning for one position is a lot of work, yet he doubled that when playing both sides. Oh, and ST as well. This guy is a stud…..Job well done.

If Larsen turns out to be an answer to middle linebacker—I would still take a ML if something very special dropped in our laps. Other wise I’m kinda in the defensive tackle camp, although I haven’t given up on Carlton—after that I would go safety.

Despite our problems this year at running back—I think we will be in phenominal shape next year—Aldrige and Torain will be special.

After DT and Safety—I would look for another Corner Back—both Champ and Bly are getting old.

Interesting that he played some DE – at 255 he has the size for it, seems tough enough to fight the run. Still, a strong, fast SAM with his metrics and the ability to play other roles would be great. I notice that I’m thinking that Boss is done.

I noticed Shanahan said that they are looking at Niko for Will. Interesting. I have liked Woodyard a lot, DJ will be back, hmm….lotta good guys, not all can play at the same time, unfortunately. Assuming styg is right (as usual, fella, but don’t get a swelled cranium…) and we’re done with the 3-4 for this year, it’s going to be even harder to get some guys on the field.

I am one of the guys pushing that we look at WW at safety.
He is small by LB standards.
I am doing a thread on WW now…just found out some info on him!

Hes about the same size as John Lynch.
The classic tweener….but very quick!
Hes playing at his heaviest weight of his career at 230. Thats the same weight as Winborn. But they are the smallest. Hagans is the biggest at 263lbs.
He came out of the combine at 219lbs.

Haggan is at 263? Wow. That makes him pretty close to Maualuga’s size. 6’3" 230. I agree we should find a way to keep DubW on the field.

Larsen = Zach Thomas 2.0?

As of right now, I’d still like to see the team draft two safetys, two LBs, and two RBs in the first five rounds. Safety and RB are the two most glaring needs right now. Our current Safeties are non-existant and each RB on the roster has a MAJOR flaw. If Larsen is a STUD over the next six weeks, then we probably don’t need the two LB picks. Let’s wait and see how it turns out.

As for FA, I say spend the cap room and locking-down a few of the 2006 draft class to long term contracts, and signing one stud defensive lineman. Our DLine has been the most consistent unit on the defense, maybe second on the team behind the O-Line. The reason Larsen and Winborn had such a great day Sunday was due to Thomas, DRob, Kenny, and Shaw eating blocks.

I’m not sure a high draft pick on the DL will make a huge impact next year, but a FA tackle like Haynsworth or an end like Peppers would. I say spend some big money on a guy that isn’t an injury risk and is a known producer. The current defensive front, plus Powell, plus a BEAST, would be dominate. Add some young talent at LB and SAF, and the Defense would be great.

I honestly think that Selvin Ypoung will struggle to see any time in the back field.
I liked the look of our 3 headed monster on the weekend. Tatum, Hillis and Pope all looked very dangerous….Bell and Pope look like they could break a big one at any time, and Hillis is like Bettis….he just drags guys with him, always falls forward and picks up an extra 2 or 3 yards. Remember, this was essentially all these guys FIRST week and they did good.
Ryan Torain will be good, and so will Anthony Alridge…..Hillis as power back and FB next season. Dont write off Pope or Bell…..they looked good to me!

is what this d seems to lack. i have read somewhere that DJ never warmed to the idea of being the vocal guy when lynch left. somewhere here i also read that super larsen was a vocal, respected leader on his college team. being the guy who gets his mates pumped and focused means so much, ie romo, lynch, etc., and the ability to knock some pixels is a healthy bonus. on top of all that he is a class act, not a liability for the org. he seems to have all the makeup for a franchise guy. maybe shan’ saw something in him and wanted to see if what he saw was real, that drive to be the best, against all adversity. like, if we take this kid, tell him we’ll put him in a non-natural position, see if he works his way into being a starter, let him earn the respect of his mates.

either way, it makes the next 6 games prime time, no?

i think he has an opportunity to earn his teammates ears. hopefully. i miss mr. wilson.

With due respect to our other players, I think that Winborn is taking over the D. He’s very vocal, he’s turned into a heck of a steal, especially given the sad facts of Boss’ situation, and he’s passionate. Larsen is also vocal, and between the two they kept things solid against Atlanta. I’m optomistic.

shanahan will have some special stuff this week for the faders. he always does. which is neat.

Noticed this week how many of the top RBs in the last draft are injured/out. When we talk about using a top pick for one, we imagine/assume that they will stay healthy. A lot don’t, although this year we were snake-bit. I like Shanahan’s ability to find quality in later rounds, and I’d be fine with them sticking to that policy.

We need those safeties, a LB and of course, the DTs of our dreams.

no team wants to miss on their first round pick. But when that first rounder you missed on is a RB, the sting is a little greater, IMO. You would hope that your #1 guy will come in and contribute for 8 – 10 years, and it is difficult to expect that kind of production out of a RB.

Any team can get lucky and pick a J Bettis who will carry the ball between the tackles, and average a 1000 yds for 13 years. But just as easily, that team could also pick a can’t miss, sure thing like Ki-Jana Carter, and get a steady 11 or so yards a year, for 10 years. Hard to recover from that. I would much rather stick to our formula for aquiring our RB’s in the latter rounds like you said.

I think the LB and saftey positions will have alot of talent available to us, no matter where we pick in the first and second rounds. If it were up to me, I’d find that saftey that owned the middle, and every receiver that ran a crossing route would go back to the huddle with some piss in his shoes, in fear of his general well being.

I don’t see Selvin Young having any value. The only chips we have in the trade game is additional draft picks. The only players on our roster that other teams will covet I don’t want to get rid of. DJ, Champ, Thomas, Doom and on offense, Cutler, Marshall, Royal, Scheff, Clady, Ryan…well maybe Hamilton if K. Licht. is ready to step in. My sense is though is that if Weigmann starts turning the age corner than Hamilton will move to center. That is where he played at Minn. and I think the reason we drafted him was to eventually replace Nalen, that tough SOB Nalen just stayed on longer than expected.

Metalman, I think Denver has enough depth at this point to try and trade up to add an impact player, like a playmaker at DT, or RB, rather than trade down and build depth.

would look good at Guard lined up between Clady at LT and Hamilton at C. Then when Hamilton is ready to hang up the cleats Licks Ten Tigers can move into the center and anchor for 10 years fo oline dominance!!!