Ridgelake
Footballguy
Following up a discussion in another thread, I went back to try to find Parcells' comments on first round Offensive linemen and WRs being high risk picks. I found one discussion but have not been able to locate another discussion that talked specifically about first round OTs.
Even so, this segment was rather informative. Its from his press conference on Thursday, December 29th, about 11 minutes in. Without further ado, here is a useful segment:
Reporter: A lot of coaches don’t believe in taking offensive linemen in the first round, especially high, because it’s a position that can be developed later. Where do you stand on that?
BP: I’ve given that a lot of thought. From my days back at the Giants, we did draft offensive linemen on two occasions that I was there with our first pick (edit to note they actually took 3) and we drafted Jumbo Elliott highly in the second round.
We were more into that best athlete, best guy available in that era. I would have to say that I would definitely consider it if I thought the guy was, pretty much, you could plug him in and he’d be there for five, six, to ten years if you are lucky. I think you’d have to consider that.
There are some other positions that I’d be reluctant to do that with before the offensive linemen. There are some other positions that I would….
Reporter: Like?
BP: Um, well.
Reporter: We are just talking here. We won’t hold you to it.
BP: I think taking wide receivers real high is risky.
Reporter: Because?
BP: Well, because… I’ve seen. Well, first of all you’ve have more options at that position, usually. And um….. I mean I’ve seen a lot of guys that don’t play very good. That position Just take a look around at the last couple of drafts. Guys get taken first and not playing very good. And then of course there are others taken very high like Fitzgerald that are playing real good. So, got to be lucky there.
Even so, this segment was rather informative. Its from his press conference on Thursday, December 29th, about 11 minutes in. Without further ado, here is a useful segment:
Reporter: A lot of coaches don’t believe in taking offensive linemen in the first round, especially high, because it’s a position that can be developed later. Where do you stand on that?
BP: I’ve given that a lot of thought. From my days back at the Giants, we did draft offensive linemen on two occasions that I was there with our first pick (edit to note they actually took 3) and we drafted Jumbo Elliott highly in the second round.
We were more into that best athlete, best guy available in that era. I would have to say that I would definitely consider it if I thought the guy was, pretty much, you could plug him in and he’d be there for five, six, to ten years if you are lucky. I think you’d have to consider that.
There are some other positions that I’d be reluctant to do that with before the offensive linemen. There are some other positions that I would….
Reporter: Like?
BP: Um, well.
Reporter: We are just talking here. We won’t hold you to it.
BP: I think taking wide receivers real high is risky.
Reporter: Because?
BP: Well, because… I’ve seen. Well, first of all you’ve have more options at that position, usually. And um….. I mean I’ve seen a lot of guys that don’t play very good. That position Just take a look around at the last couple of drafts. Guys get taken first and not playing very good. And then of course there are others taken very high like Fitzgerald that are playing real good. So, got to be lucky there.