Vinny's Draft Strategy: Best Player or Predetermined Agenda?

[freddyg12]

I've been thinking about this since the draft. Vinny has said since the 08 draft that they pick the "best player available" on their board. However, the last two drafts show a pattern that Zorn alluded to when he said 'we picked offense last year & defense this year.'

Taken further, it appears that specific positions have been targeted in each year, in 08 it was 2 wr's & a TE. In 09, 3 LBs. The theory that a couple of these picks were "reaches" (Kelly,Glenn) reinforces the idea that the team had identified positions, i.e. needs. I think Vinny has a long-range plan that addresses need each year & they pick BPA to a degree based on that need.

While we've discussed draft strategy to the nth degree, I couldn't find a thread that posed this question: Do the Skins draft BPA or has Vinny created a long-term plan that targets different positions each year?

[MTK]

It's both BPA and need.

You can't have a plan set in stone. Each year is different and each draft class determines the plan of action you can take. Many teams focus on BPA but you also have to consider need as well.

[BigRedskinDaddy]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

It's both BPA and need.

You can't have a plan set in stone. Each year is different and each draft class determines the plan of action you can take. Many teams focus on BPA but you also have to consider need as well.

Agreed. IMHO the wisest draft strategy involves a little of both BPA and DFN, depending on the state of both the team's roster and the big board at the time of the pick. That seems like the best way to generate the most mileage out of your picks.

[Son Of Man]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

It's both BPA and need.

You can't have a plan set in stone. Each year is different and each draft class determines the plan of action you can take. Many teams focus on BPA but you also have to consider need as well.

I tend to agree with this. Although we can site the 2008 draft as evidence that the FO went after "need" first. We can also look at the 2007 draft (Landry= BPA vs. Okoye=Need) or the fact that, by Vinny's own admission, that plan A was to draft J Mayo last year and plan B was to trade down versus taking DE's Calais Campbell or Phillip Merling who also filled need positions.

I have to say that I approve of alot of what the FO has been doing for the past 3 years.

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

It's both BPA and need.

You can't have a plan set in stone. Each year is different and each draft class determines the plan of action you can take. Many teams focus on BPA but you also have to consider need as well.

Matty again is spot-on. The subject of this thread creates a false either/or.

[freddyg12]

Originally Posted by Lotus

Matty again is spot-on. The subject of this thread creates a false either/or.

For the record, I hate most either/or questions simply because there are usually more choices. Maybe based on the thread title you're right, but read my explanation of the thread - I think they have a plan, and from that plan they may choose BPA, e.g. best LBs available (09), best safeties available (08), best wr's available (08).

If anyone has created a "false either/or" it's Vinny, who has said publicly that they simply pick BPA. My point is that there seems too much of a pattern here w/regards to positions to say that it is as much BPA as Vinny publicly states.

Not a criticism of the approach, just an attempt to identify the FO plan.

[Pocket$ $traight]

I don't think that you can limit it to "Vinny's" strategy. I think Snyder has just as much input if not more. Or maybe it is something like this, "Hey Vinny. I plan on shipping out this year's first, next year's first, Campbell and we are going to switch a 3rd for a 5th for a headcase QB who throws for a lot of yards behind a better o-line. You will still be able to find a pass rusher, linebacker, corner depth and a starting right tackle, right?<uncomfortable two second silence> Good. Talk to you later".

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by Pocket$ $traight

I don't think that you can limit it to "Vinny's" strategy. I think Snyder has just as much input if not more. Or maybe it is something like this, "Hey Vinny. I plan on shipping out this year's first, next year's first, Campbell and we are going to switch a 3rd for a 5th for a headcase QB who throws for a lot of yards behind a better o-line. You will still be able to find a pass rusher, linebacker, corner depth and a starting right tackle, right?<uncomfortable two second silence> Good. Talk to you later".

I love how you have to force a FO bash and not even address the question of the thread.

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

It's both BPA and need.

You can't have a plan set in stone. Each year is different and each draft class determines the plan of action you can take. Many teams focus on BPA but you also have to consider need as well.

I think as much as you want to plan for the draft, you have to be ready for anything come draft day. For instance, it seems like the Redskins were willing to move up to pick up Orakpo, which personally I don't think it would have been such a good idea. However, I think the Raiders taking Heyward-Bey with their #7 pick, changed things around which led to Orakpo falling to us.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Ruhskins

I love how you have to force a FO bash and not even address the question of the thread.




I think as much as you want to plan for the draft, you have to be ready for anything come draft day. For instance, it seems like the Redskins were willing to move up to pick up Orakpo, which personally I don't think it would have been such a good idea. However, I think the Raiders taking Heyward-Bey with their #7 pick, changed things around which led to Orakpo falling to us.

Yeah you can't plan for how draft day will go. That's why mocks are pretty useless.

[KI Skins Fan]

Originally Posted by Ruhskins

I love how you have to force a FO bash and not even address the question of the thread.

Please try to post one message where you don't criticize or outright insult another poster. The superior tone of your posts has become annoying.

[Pocket$ $traight]

Originally Posted by KI Skins Fan

Please try to post one message where you don't criticize or outright insult another poster. The superior tone of your posts has become annoying.

Water off my back. I was half-way joking but if he wants to go toe to toe. I am down.

As far as the thread, I think that best player available is always the first consideration. But unless you are at #1 you are always reacting on some level. This year worked out well. Pass rush was a definite need, Haynesworth can't do it alone, and Orakpo was somewhere near the top of our board. That is why it took 5 seconds to get our pick in.

Same with Barnes. You can't have too many corners (we just lost a very good one) and this guy flashed first day talent.

But let's say the 3 pick comes around and the best players on our board are corners and Ends. At some point you have to shift slightly and go after an LB.

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by KI Skins Fan

Please try to post one message where you don't criticize or outright insult another poster. The superior tone of your posts has become annoying.

Don't read my posts then.

[KI Skins Fan]

I suspect that the first cut of the draft is Vinny trying to go for the glamour player or players that Dan Snyder wants in the early rounds. This year that player was Sanchez, so Vinny tried to trade up for him.

Failing that, Vinny goes for the best available players at positions of need in the first three rounds. You know, real football stuff. This year those players turned out to be Orakpo and Barnes.

After the third round, I think Vinny tries to build depth in areas of need. Since these picks will be players that the coaches will need to develop, I think that that Vinny puts extra emphasis on the Special Teams abilities of the players he picks in these rounds.

[CantonLegend]

BPA is a myth

teams pick based on needs...whether they need a player a lot or a little is irrelevant when a great player comes along...but there is still the need that could be addressed by picking that great player...thats why players like brady quinn and matt leinart and calvin johnson and aaron curry slip in the draft....because they may be the best player available....but teams dont go after players they dont need at all

[Daseal]

God, all this Snyder bashing. Folks, we have no clue how much input Snyder has in the war room. I'm willing to bet that it isn't much. I feel like Snyder spends most of his days signing checks, then coming out to watch his favorite team. Even if Snyder is involved, especially in the 'first day picks' then he does a pretty damn good job. ST, Landry, Cooley (3rd was first day back then!), etc etc.

You have to make a smart plan. You won't see Indy sitting at the draft with an awesome QB available taking him. It's a mix of BPA and need. There are certain super-star players that you will almost always take, besides QB you typically want at least 2 very good players at every position. You need to weigh the players on your board with what you have on the team, making exceptions for exceptional players.

Canton. Calvin Johnson was picked 2nd overall.... Behind JaMarcus Russell.