Horse Tracks 4/23/09

For you the context of “need” on our front three (as defined: all backups, which seems a bit harsh, but could be called a ‘conservative’ approach) leads you to an absolute: take raji and/or jackson, arguably the best NT/DE options in the draft.

I agree that “need” is a valid context, and I certainly could harbor the idea that raji and Jackson are the best respective options at NT and DE. So why don’t I agree that taking one or both of them is an absolute?

Because I think there are many more, equally important, contextual considerations to include. For example, draft picks are a key currency in team-building economics…getting a high value per pick is a good long term goal, and is fiscally responsible. Add that layer to the discussion and both raji and Jackson are low value picks at either #12 or #18. Trading up for either is the equivalent of buying lottery tickets…bad financial decision, but fun.

Current roster evaluation is another context. Despite our “need” for an experienced NT and 34DE, we have several talented players like Powell and Thomas who have yet to be evaluated (by us as fans) playing those positions. Add this layer to the discussion and there is a legitimate risk of reducing the value ratio of an already reduced set of picks.

What about the scheme context? We still don’t know whether we are a 1 or 2 gap system, and if anything, signs point to one gap. Neither Raji nor Jackson are ideal for both (and Jackson isn’t really ideal for either. He is simply an experienced 5-technique, but not terribly great at it. Frankly, I don’t see why people want to overestimate his value from the late second round. That is where he rated when college games were done being played in 2008, it is probably where he should have stayed on people’s boards. As always, fascination with the measurables appears to have trumped film, which is unfortunate.)

Obviously I don’t think either player is an absolute “must have” pick. Would they be good picks? Yes. Are they the best possible picks? That will depend entirely on who is available when Denver picks at #12.

while i can until we field them browns and mustards. ; )

The weak college yoke stripe tilde thing, the loss of the goldness, the monotony. I thought their old set was one of the best in football, but the new one is depressing. I can hardly watch hockey anymore because of all the retarded uniform designs, and it’s gotten worse now that I’ve switched to HD (Although I have to say, you have not lived until you have seen a Barry Melrose suit in HD.) That’s what the NFL is becoming, a corporate hell for Reebok to push new products in order to sell more stuff.

And the sparkly helmet is the gayest thing I have ever seen on a football field.

I can only hope that the benevolent teams of the AFC West (the ones that have identities, a la anyone that isn’t the Chargers) will stick to their guns. Which means, I want the Chefs and raiders to stick with what they’ve got and the Broncos to revert back to the orange. Sadly, that doesn’t seem to be likely.

Is it bad that I’m more upset over this than I was about Shanny’s firing?

Not so much because I hate the “Patriot Way”, but because the “Patriot Way” is really just “The Way You Run A Football Team” and NOT completely unique to the Patriots. Sure, there are some variations, but drafting well, coaching well, and using players in ways that maximize their talents isn’t exactly a ground-breaking development. The Colts do it, the Steelers do it, the Giants have been doing it recently, Baltimore has been pretty good…it just works!

We’ll probably keep hearing the Pats through training camp, and (hopefully) to a lesser extent through the year (remember to throw a SOFT object at the TV when that happens). But that will pass as it becomes apparent that Denver is Denver, with its own identity and style.

and reward those who are successful sooner rather than later so that their free agent cost does not go through the roof.

Yes, please!!

despite things he needs to improve on, I think Stafford will be more successful than Smith. He’s going to be solid but not a franchise.