Thread: Projected top LB's in 2013 draft. Who should we pick?

Originally Posted by matsellah

Any inordinately large Safeties projecting to be an LB in the NFL eligible next year?

Devonte Holloman is a giant, field general roverback for the Game Cocks. Hell of an athlete, too. Having said that, I don't want to go that route again (there's only one Brian Urlacher) and I'm not nearly as down on the top of this LB class as some here are. In fact, I'm positive the very top 4-3 LBs will be better than this year's crop.

Originally Posted by bearsinhouston

Ric - I agree it's a need, but if Urlacher plays well next year and whoever the LT (or DE) is doesn't, do you still go with a LB on your first pick? I think you really have to see what happens to determine if LB is going to be your biggest need.

I think you have to, maybe not round 1, but you better grab the guy you want. Remember Url has a few reoccuring injuries that when they flare up his play goes considerably south, and w/age those are going to be more often. Get the guy you think can replace him and work him into it. As long as the kid is on the field, I'd rather deal w/that vs OL or DE. From here on out you should be able to get those guys outside the 1st.

Well there is no doubt that JA not only had us behind in terms of our current roster, but he left us with several ticking time bombs. Getting it all corrected and getting to where we have a good pipeline of quality backups for all positions will take us years longer to fix. It's just a matter of hitting the positions giving us the most pain and working our way down. Honestly, I'd hate to be Emery for the next several years. The guy has done a great job in his first year. The WR transformation (on paper) is nothing short of incredible. He also fixed the problem that put us out of the playoffs last year - QB depth. He tried to address the DE problem with the resources we had left. I don't know if Shea is the answer or not, but I'm sure willing to wait and see. I just can't remember when I was looking forward to off-seasons. Off seasons were always a bummer, but I'm actually looking forward to seeing what Emery does next year.

Originally Posted by Riczaj01

I think you have to, maybe not round 1, but you better grab the guy you want. Remember Url has a few reoccuring injuries that when they flare up his play goes considerably south, and w/age those are going to be more often. Get the guy you think can replace him and work him into it. As long as the kid is on the field, I'd rather deal w/that vs OL or DE. From here on out you should be able to get those guys outside the 1st.

ok, so say that there is a disaster at either the LT or DE position this year. The LT can't stop the pass rush and Cutler is getting hammered. Or we are getting no pressure on Rodgers and he is carving us up. Or both. We have no idea what is going to happen this year. Until that happens, you can't set priorities.

So say we have the above problems and Urlacher and Briggs continue to play well. We all know it can't continue forever, but do you ignore a current problem (mentioned above) in order to fill a future need in replacing aging players? I just don't think you do that. Well, I should say that's not what I would do.

I stick to my position that you don't have the luxury of filling a future need when you have current needs. Now maybe both LT and DE play great and Urlacher or Briggs (or both) get injured. Now you have the reverse situation. But irregardless, until the year unfolds and the results of how players are playing and who got injured are in, I say you can't say you need to draft a LB or a LT or anything else. There are just too many open needs (with future needs woven in) and still too many moving parts (unknowns) to be able to make a rational decision.

From my viewpoint, all I am willing to say is that LB is a definite need to be addressed. Where it sits in next years drafts pecking order of needs remains to be seen.