Zoombop

Breaux is a monster :cheers:

Why do people think Dennis Allen isn't coming back?

Payton all but confirmed it in his press conference last week. Also, it's likely that they will continue to run a 4-3 since that is what Allen has always run and what they ran this year.

That being said, I think Andrew Billings belongs in the conversation at DT. I've not been overly impressed with Robinson or Nkemdiche either. Nkemdiche is the most disruptive and explosive, but his character issues pretty much rule him out. Austin Johnson out of Penn St. is another guy at DT that could shoot up draft boards. Right now he's probably an early/mid-second round pick.

Myles Jack and Austin Johnson would be tremendous upgrades to this defense as first and second round choices.

He looks so much like Durant in his appearance and playing style. Yet, he doesn't seem to have the same strength. That could just be from the fact that he's only 18 though.

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Cooks's shuttle times are ridiculous. NFL records for times dating back to '06 (for as long as the combine database has been kept). So it is false to assume he is slow through his cuts, and only a straight line guy.

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This is true, which makes it even more baffling that he has hardly any yards after the catch from short and intermediate passes. He's lightning fast and quick, but somehow not elusive. Weird.

We are better off bringing back Kevin Williams than bringing Ngata in. His price tag will be too high for a guy that is very much on the decline.

I would say the offense did fine with those two as the top pass catchers. Antonio Brown, arguably the best WR in the league right now, is not the biggest, fastest, nor strongest guy. He's crafty as hell and because of that he wins on the outside. You don't need big, strong, fast receivers on the outside. What you need are good receivers. If they happen to be large, that's a bonus.

Also you're wrong about the passing game. All of our bubble screens were terrible. Snead and Cooks played well at all levels: short, intermediate, and deep. Cooks is obviously the better of the two on the deep balls because of his speed. If you think everything was a short pass then you must have been watching another team. If I'm going to criticize any part of Cooks game it's that he has very few YAC.

I think Dennis Allen is staying, so the Lovie Smith pipe dream can end.

If driveman thinks Vitt could be gone, then that would be awesome. He is trash as a LB coach.

Obviously I would get rid of Vitt, Bill Johnson, and McMahon, but I feel like we say this every year.

Offensively, I would say the position coaches did a fine job. We had three young WRs make very noticeable improvements over the course of the season. That cannot be understated. I would even say the offensive line played much better in the second half of the year with the improvements of Lelito and Kelemete. Armstead has taken the step into being a top-5 tackle in the league. Props there. Tight ends underachieved though. The Josh Hill pain train never got off the ground despite his good play last year he seemed to take a big step back. If not for the amazing performance from Ben Watson, it would have been a rough post-Jimmy experience.

ETA:

I also noticed a lot of guys on the o-line being cross-trained at different positions and playing all over. That's a new thing in the SP era. Usually if a guy is a guard, he only plays guard, and so on. Having guys that could play multiple positions was very key. Plus Peat looked great when he got to play tackle and got his conditioning together. Looks like he could be a stud. Now I'm done.

Donald is a true 3-tech defensive tackle and the best interior pass rusher in the league. Billings has made his name as a run stuffer who is still learning how to rush the passer. I would be fine with him because at this point the team has neither a pass rusher or run stuffer in the interior.

I think this team is better suited for a 4-3 defense. If they don't think any DL are worthy of the 12th pick, my top choices are Jaylon Smith, Myles Jack and Darron Lee. All of them are amazing athletes that can rush the passer, run with tight ends and RBs, as well as play the run. Go watch Lee's highlights and tell me he's not an exciting possibility.

Myles Jack is considered a top-10 lock even with the injury. Jaylon Smith was considered one as well before the injury, but who knows where his stock sits right now.

As for the question posed by the OP, I would say yes to Treadwell being the only acceptable 1st round offensive selection. The only other position that could be justified is OG, and my favorite - Josh Garnett, Stanford - isn't worth a mid 1st.