Quote:
Originally Posted by Puck
Thanks for reminding us that Ballard did indeed have a plan and he executed it. It didn't waste a pick on a RT hoping to move him to LT. He got a legitimate pro bowl LT AND 2 of the best DE's in the draft. And yes. The TE is someone I'm excited because he brings a different wrinkle to the offense. He can also play slot receiver. He's a little small for a TE but has multi position playmaking ability.
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I said the move for Fisher was a good one, and the way he executed it was even better. But aren't you Mr. BPA? Because to me, Jenkins was BPA at 21. I know you're going to say "but Ballard and the Colts didn't", but we've already established that Ballard isn't infallible. One thing I will say for sure is that I value a combination of floor and ceiling much higher than what it appears most NFL front offices do. They all appear to want to swing for the fences every time, which is why it's not surprising that the first round bust rate is 50%. What's funny to me is how much you all get on me about looking at measureables, but don't recognize when Ballard is unnecessarily obsessing over measureables (in this case arm length for OTs). Based on his statements, I'm betting he had Rashawn Slater, the guy who shut down Chase Young, as a Guard because of arm length. There is a validity to looking at arm length to project a player to LT in the NFL, but I think that's more about failure rate than it is about requiring abnormally long arms as Ballard seems to. Basically, if a potential OT has shorter than 33" arms, he's probably going to have to kick inside to OG in the NFL. The failure rate on OTs with arms shorter than 33" is 100% over the last several decades according to others who have done research on that sort of thing. Jenkins and Slater both had longer than 33" arms and incredible tape. I know Jenkins played RT at OKSU, but so did Tyron Smith at USC, and he's been a pretty solid NFL LT. When you watch Jenkins on tape, you see LT traits. Great kickslide, excellent technician who occasionally toys with DEs with his technique, able to handle speed (demolished Ossai the whole game), able to handle power, doesn't cheat outside and leave inside rush lanes, finishes every play strong. When the testing numbers came back, that eliminated any doubt he could play LT at the next level, at least in my mind. His RAS score was 9.74 or something ridiculous like that. At 21, Jenkins was the best combination of floor and ceiling, and Paye was the best ceiling. I'd rather have the former, but since we now have the latter, I hope it works out.
05-11-2021, 11:56 AM
for not thinking like you do. It is fun to argue over shit that matters not.
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