Originally posted by oldman9er:Originally posted by MadDog49er:
Well, they made a serious misjudgment with Manny Lawson, who was brought in to be a pass rusher. He certainly does not have that skill set, and looks much more comfortable in a 4-3 set.
Davis has not lived up to expectations. He is physically gifted, but has never learned the art of running routes.
David Baas was the top pick in the second round, and is mediocre at best. The difference in talent between Baas, and Mankins, the player selected just before him is astonishing.
Brandon Williams was a bad bust. Reggie Smith is on the same road to becoming a third round bust.
Cohen, Wallace, Moore were head scratchers.
I think in the case of Manny, I think it's just a matter of development. Manny seemed, until now, rather unwilling to bulk up to 250... as if he didn't feel that was necessary. Well, too bad, Manny, you should have been forced to. He also should have been better developed in the art of the bull-rush and inside cut back techniques, instead of being allowed to always try his speed around the outside arc. I don't think it's too late for him, but he'll need help from the DL too.
Vernon... hard to justify taking a TE at #6 overall, and they did seem to overrate his receiving skills. He can be decent or good, but probably not worthy of the spot taken.
Jay Moore has been injured... that's it... Misfortunate, and we don't know what we have in him.
I was not a big fan of Wallace, Cohen, or Brandon Williams at all. We'll see about Wallace in the near future.
As for Baas, I've been through it too much to continue that dialogue. I think Baas played very well last season, and was a late bloomer due to the signing of Allen... injuries, whatever. I know you disagree, and think he is average at best, so all I can do there is agree to disagree.
It will be interesting to see how Manny does this year, in a defensive scheme that actually asks him to rush the passer, leaves him on the field long enough to make plays, and doesn't ask him to do alot of other stuff.
Seems, to me, that Manny, like a number of other guys on the team, has yet to have the full opportunity to develop as a player due, at least in part, to the inconsistencies in the coaching under the previous regime.
Cohen and Williams are gone, and forgotten.
Wallace, on the other hand is still around. Does he have any potential role on this team in the future? Signed as a possible replacement for Heitmann, who then signed a long term extension, he struggled in TC last year. Has he improved sufficiently to be groomed, for example, as a replacement for Baas at LG?
