[SirClintonPortis]

Originally Posted by ethat001

I'm not sure that's fair -- I don't think it was just Zorn that wanted a big receiver. It was almost everyone on this board, the media, and pretty much everyone that was complaining we didn't have a tall target for the endzone. Sure, in hindsight Desean Jackson is a beast -- but no need to trash Zorn for missing on him.

But does ANY FO give that much weight to what fans and the media are telling them to do? Now, I'll skewer Vinny all day for totally neglecting linemen, but if the scheme change to the WCO had not happened, I doubt there would be such urgency to grab a big and tall WR. Zorn's WCO is Holmgren's inspired, which in turn is about as close to a "pure" WCO there is. Lots of short passes in tight windows.

Not that Vinny is totally absolved from blame. He and Danny boy's approach to FA and WRs in FA were absolutely detrimental to the team. Putting all their eggs in ARE's basket obviously also affected the outcome of 2008's draft, as it sure appeared to give them incentive to pass over "small" guys because they were already "set" with small guys.

So, in short, I guess what I'm trying to say is that Cerrato did screw the pooch in the draft, but it was more because of the other dumb crap he did. Hiring Zorn modified his incentives and priorities in the draft so that "big and tall" possession guys were "needed". Being over-aggressive in FA caused them to be "tied up" roster-wise with guys like ARE, who he also overrated. Even so, the outcome of grabbing three second rounders and having a couple flame is not Vinny-exclusive.