Its not about what you need, its about what is available. there arent any elite edge rushers in this draft. Thats how guys like Pierre Paul and Derrick Morgan get mentioned as top 10 picks. There are no eilte NTs in this draft. Suh and McCoy are not NTs, and there are KC, Cleveland, Buffalo and Washington and Denver who run the 3-4, lack a great NT, and pick ahead of Miami. If there were an elite NT he wouldnt make it to 12 anyway. There are elite FSs in this draft. Berry and Thomas. And one elite WR, Bryant. So while OLB and NT may be the greater need (I disagree) the draft board says youre going to find better value at FS and WR so I would prefer going in that direction.
Agree. Thomas is a very good tackler, especially for someone his size. Just another example of peole talking outta thier arse.
You better take a step back and realize exactly who you are talking to here. I don't just pull things out of thin air. My opinions on players comes from extensive film study on those players. It isn't hard to watch film and see that Earl Thomas is very weak against the run. He gets blocked out of plays by wide receivers. He doesn't aggressively attack the box against the run. When he tackles backs, he either lowers his head and tries to take them low or he grabs a hold and tries to ride them down. He doesn't not square runners up, wrap them up, and bring them down. Mark Ingram demolished Earl Thomas in the championship game, a game that Texas was just flat out physically outmatched in. Against Nebraska, the only physical team in the Big 12 conference, Earl Thomas was consistently blocked out of plays by wide receivers. Then you put on film of Eric Berry and the difference between him and Earl Thomas are marked. Eric Berry is a much more complete safety. He will attack the box and is very physical in the run game. He is tougher to block than Earl Thomas is. He is a wrap up tackler that will deliver a blow. Unlike Earl Thomas, Eric Berry played in a physical conference that ran the football, and he was the best defender in the SEC. He is by far a better prospect and a player I would have no issue with Miami taking high. He just isn't going to be there. Earl Thomas, on the other hand, is a small safety that plays small. Yes, he is very good in coverage, but you do not draft coverage only safeties with the 12th pick in the draft, particularly when you can get a more complete safety like Morgan Burnett or Nate Allen at 43.