Geez, I think I agree! But do I worry that I am just ‘drinking the kool-aid’ once again. The depth once the injured return, could be very good – think of the competition that training camp should provide. I don’t care who wins the starting spots, with players pushing for roster spots and playing time, they could have a very deep and experienced defense. Especially the backfield: J.Joe, Hall, Ndukwe, White, Hebert, Lynch, Crocker, Doss – not to mention the younger guys who are still question marks, but could develop.

I don’t know if Doss can still do it, but the possibility is there – certainly is not too old – he was great for Indy recently.

If they can fortify LB and DT, they could be just as you state – scary, dominant and deep.

Well, yesterday we termed it being “dumbasses”. :)

I’d like to see Crocker back, thats a no brainer. A full season of Keith Rivers will be a good, good thing. I hope Joseph stays healthy for a full season and learns to catch the football. I, personally, like Leon Hall…his middle name is Lastarnza or something like that. And Im bullish on Pat Sims/Peko.

If Geathers and Odom can get back to their career norms this D is at least middle of the pack.

But the first 3-4 draft picks almost need to be offensive linemen, and thats the maddening thing about dropping to #6. Andrews and Levi underwhelmed and neither might not be back. I like Collins, Williams and Whitworth.

But the first 3-4 draft picks almost need to be offensive linemen, and thats the maddening thing about dropping to #6.

Andre Smith
Michael Oher
Eugene Monroe
Ciron Black
Baylor’s Jason Smith- who’s rising up the draftboards quickly here recently.

One of those guys will be available at 6, probably one of the first three, who are roughly one notch above the other two. Also not exactly chopped liver;

Oklahoma’s Phil Loadholt and Duke Robinson
Arizona’s Eben Britten
Oklahoma State’s Russell Okung
Texas’ Adam Ulatowski
tOSU’s Alex Boone

To me, anyway, it doesn’t even have to be a tackle at all. Collins and Whit can probably bookend that position. No guard, even the abovementioned Robinson, is worth that high a pick, so a trade down might be in order.

At center, despite all the accolades for Alex Mack, I’m leaning towards Alabama’s Antoine Caldwell, mainly because of his SEC experience- versus Mack’s contending with a stout USC D once a year. That and Caldwell was named All American over Mack for ’08.

A trade for Chad ought to net us at least an extra 2nd rounder- where we could probably pick up both Herman Johnson, the LSU guard, as well as either Mack, Caldwell, or Arkansas’ Jonathan Luigs at center. This would free us up at the 6th pick overall to do something about our pass rush. My first choice would be Brian Orakpo from Texas, followed closely by Ga. Tech’s Michael Johnson. After that, I think there’s a fairly sizeable drop-off to USF’s George Selvie, Ole Miss’ Greg Hardy, and FSU’s Everette Brown. Also interesting at that spot, Wake’s LB, Aaron Curry, who may actually be a better prospect than USC’s Maulauga. I covet USC’s LB-sized, sprinter-fast Taylor Mays but we don’t really need a safety.