Draft needs coming into focus

[jppaul]

Ok lets wiegh the evidence on the other side.

1) Denver is not a team that often drafts running backs early. We are Denver South. We have thier former offensive coordinator, the architect of their zone blocking scheme, a GM who learned his craft in thier front office. We haven't drafted running backs early in the three years since Kubiak has been here. Undoubtedly, you will cite Duane Brown as supporting evidence that we buck the Denver trends here, but I will point to George Foster to disprove that.

2) Smith's past luck with RBs has been sketchy at best (green, brown come to mind), and a first round pick is like dropping 500 on the roulette table when your on a losing streak. Many more picks like Ahman Green and he is in trouble. It just doesn't make much sense. Wells has injury concerns, thats the big knock on him. I am sure Smith doesn't want to get burned again on another injury ridden pick. Smith on the other hand is batting a 100% on 2nd day RBs.

3) We have a top ten RB, and a crappy defense. Our offense is ranked number three, but a defense ranked in the 20s. So by all means lets keep piling on high value draft picks into our best (least need) area and neglect our worst (highest need) area. Makes sense.

4) We have an obvious need at OLB. Diles is a better will than a sam. Adibi has a lot of potential but is injury prone. Thus, we have a need. Even better if that OLB can put his hand on the ground on third downs and rush the passer (as Smith and Kubiak have already evidenced an interest in) it is a two for one deal.

5) The value is there. There will be two OLBs likely to go in the 10-20 range. Knowshon Moreno is the only RB pick with value there and he's not exactly the 230 pound sledge hammer that Kubiak seems to be talking about.

6) Sometimes teams say who they are going to pick. It just happens.