Glaring Need / Roster

My somewhat educated guess says if the draft were today we're hoping Oher is there at #13 because that's who they want (and I approve!)

But (and this will please many people here) they also like Alex Mack a lot. And if Oher isn't there they would be looking to trade down and pick up Mack and if possible probably Clay Matthews (Patriots want to trade up supposedly)

Personally, as much as I like Oher I think trading down is the better option.

My somewhat educated guess says if the draft were today we're hoping Oher is there at #13 because that's who they want (and I approve!)

But (and this will please many people here) they also like Alex Mack a lot. And if Oher isn't there they would be looking to trade down and pick up Mack and if possible probably Clay Matthews (Patriots want to trade up supposedly)

Personally, as much as I like Oher I think trading down is the better option.

That sounds like a pretty good scenario to me. It would both improve our o-line and add youth. Matthews has been moving up quite a bit and he's looking more impressive all the time. Love his attitude. This would definitely address 2 of our biggest needs and improve our team. IMO

My somewhat educated guess says if the draft were today we're hoping Oher is there at #13 because that's who they want (and I approve!)

But (and this will please many people here) they also like Alex Mack a lot. And if Oher isn't there they would be looking to trade down and pick up Mack and if possible probably Clay Matthews (Patriots want to trade up supposedly)

Personally, as much as I like Oher I think trading down is the better option.

Music to my ears. I'd love to have Mack and Mathews or Oher and Mathews. That would be fantastic IMO.

OLB is our #1 glaring need because we don't have anyone on the roster that can start in that role. If we had to, we can start Heyer at RT without the line collapsing. We can start Wynn or (if resigned) Daniels for one more year until we address that in the '10 offseason. However, we simply cannot go into the '09 season with HB Blade, all 5'9, 240 lbs of him at our SLB spot. That's just madness.

I know 75% of our fanbase has a love of OL, OL, OL but we need playmakers and at 13 we need to get one.But, I think you'll agree with this, a defensive player we take at 13 has to not only fit in our scheme, but also fit in anyone elses scheme as his prime years are going to be played likely under a different defensive coaching staff.

In the first round, that's pretty much two players: Orakpo, and Tyson Jackson. Orakpo could help us at OLB next year in kind of a Matthias Kiwanuka type role, but Jackson wouldn't help our LB situation at all, and would likely spend a year as Carter's backup in the defense.

As much as I like to conceptualize everything I discuss, at the end of the day, we're still going to have to draft a player, not just a position. This, obviously, is a reason to not just draft "best available RT" as well in the first round.

BTW, Blades' skill set plays well at SLB. It's because 1) TEs are smaller now then they've ever been in the past and 2) our defense usually puts Chris Horton on the outside of him on most plays anyway.

OLB is our #1 glaring need because we don't have anyone on the roster that can start in that role. If we had to, we can start Heyer at RT without the line collapsing. We can start Wynn or (if resigned) Daniels for one more year until we address that in the '10 offseason. However, we simply cannot go into the '09 season with HB Blade, all 5'9, 240 lbs of him at our SLB spot. That's just madness.

I know 75% of our fanbase has a love of OL, OL, OL but we need playmakers and at 13 we need to get one.

The NFL is filled with undrafted and late round linebackers that have become great players.

Find the linebackers later.

our OL is not that bad,but right now we do not have a OLB on the strong side that,s our weekest spot right now.....

But, I think you'll agree with this, a defensive player we take at 13 has to not only fit in our scheme, but also fit in anyone elses scheme as his prime years are going to be played likely under a different defensive coaching staff.

In the first round, that's pretty much two players: Orakpo, and Tyson Jackson. Orakpo could help us at OLB next year in kind of a Matthias Kiwanuka type role, but Jackson wouldn't help our LB situation at all, and would likely spend a year as Carter's backup in the defense.

As much as I like to conceptualize everything I discuss, at the end of the day, we're still going to have to draft a player, not just a position. This, obviously, is a reason to not just draft "best available RT" as well in the first round.

BTW, Blades' skill set plays well at SLB. It's because 1) TEs are smaller now then they've ever been in the past and 2) our defense usually puts Chris Horton on the outside of him on most plays anyway.

You have a good argument, as I believe Heyer would be decent enough for us to play good offense. Although I had different thought, as Heyer is the reason why I want us to draft Mack; NFL are getting enriched with massive NTs.. Some people said Buges don't instill rookie into the line, that may be the case but he also could play guard.. Maybe he would come in when Thomas don't perform well, that is unless if Thomas goes back to his old self but it would be difficult with back problem and age, I believe..

But now I'm open to drafting LB w/ #13 pick..

But, I think you'll agree with this, a defensive player we take at 13 has to not only fit in our scheme, but also fit in anyone elses scheme as his prime years are going to be played likely under a different defensive coaching staff.

In the first round, that's pretty much two players: Orakpo, and Tyson Jackson. Orakpo could help us at OLB next year in kind of a Matthias Kiwanuka type role, but Jackson wouldn't help our LB situation at all, and would likely spend a year as Carter's backup in the defense.

As much as I like to conceptualize everything I discuss, at the end of the day, we're still going to have to draft a player, not just a position. This, obviously, is a reason to not just draft "best available RT" as well in the first round.

BTW, Blades' skill set plays well at SLB. It's because 1) TEs are smaller now then they've ever been in the past and 2) our defense usually puts Chris Horton on the outside of him on most plays anyway.

Yes, I agree with you. We'd have to draft a fit, not just a position at 13. I guess I am just not feeling Blades at SLB at all.

I kind of think a lot of folks are under the assumption that we can draft one of the top 4 and just slot him at RT and he'll be a stud until moving to LT post Samuels. It's not as simple as it seems.

You have a good argument, as I believe Heyer would be decent enough for us to play good offense. Although I had different thought, as Heyer is the reason why I want us to draft Mack; NFL are getting enriched with massive NTs.. Some people said Buges don't instill rookie into the line, that may be the case but he also could play guard.. Maybe he would come in when Thomas don't perform well, that is unless if Thomas goes back to his old self but it would be difficult with back problem and age, I believe..

But now I'm open to drafting LB w/ #13 pick..

Mack or Wood can help us with the nose tackle. If they pass on both of these guys something is wrong.

The NFL is filled with undrafted and late round linebackers that have become great players.

Find the linebackers later.

I'd venture that there are more undrafted/late round OL doing well in the league than LB. Most of the stud LB (Ware, Merriman, Urlacher, Lewis, Suggs) are 1st round picks. Yeah there's the occasional Antonio Pierce (thanks Joe and Gregg) but really, that's a position to draft proven talent for.