He's not one of a kind. IMO Casey Hampton and Jamal Williams are even better, but that's besides the point. Your correct in the fact you get lucky with guys like that. It's a tricky position, buit what it really comes down to is the scouts and how well of a job they do in deciding if these guys are right for the job.
Robertson is Richard Seymour. We have to move him to DE, he can be a monster there. Just look what he did out of position at NT, the man was a beast the second half of the year. DRob was without a doubt our best defensive player the second half of the season.
I'd take Wilfork over either one, but, yeah, that's a different discussion. Perhaps more than any other position in the NFL, I thing defensive tackles in general are the most difficult to scout and project. KC keeps drafting them, and they never work out. Robertson was a can't miss guy, but never did play up to those expectations, althought there wasn't an NFL pundit that didn't think he was a future pro bowler at the time of the draft. I wonder.... of all the first three rounds in the NFL draft over the last ten years, what position had the most "busts"? Hard to define what a "bust" is, Robertson would not be considered a bust if he was a third round pick, but still.... lots of WR's seem to bust too. About half the QB's turn out to be busts. Just wondering out loud....
Well i only use the word bust if the player was taken in the top 15 picks and turns out to be nothing. Because if the guy eventually makes over 5 mill per on his rookie contract and turns out to be nothing, than he's a bust.
It's just SOOO frustrating cuz our genius GM at the time jumped through hoops and Spent as much as you possibly can on Robertson and then we all saw it play out that the Pats get Wilfork, who was much more heralded than Drob, way down at pick 21 in the very next draft. UN FREAKING BELIEVABLE!!!! The things that have just fallen into the Pats laps the past 6 years.
The only thing that worries me about Pouha is that he came into camp "in shape" and 20 pounds lighter. Considering he was only 315 to begin with that is not a good thing. I don't care who you are, you are going to struggle as a 3-4 NT below 300. We need a 330+ guy to anchor this spot.
You are comparing apples and oranges. The Jets were playing a 4-3 at the time and the prospect of teaming Robertson with JAbe, Ellis and Ferguson was certainly intriguing and proved to be a very good line (backed up by older / slower LBers). Robertson was much more heralded in his draft than Wilfork for a couple of reasons. Robertson was a workout warrior after playing at Kentucky and in Wilfork's draft, the 3-4 was just beginning to come back into vogue again, so the demand for a classic nose tackle wasn't really there. Based on the current team and defensive scheme, the Jets selected Vilma at #15 (if I remember correctly) the same draft that Wilfork went #21. Seeing how the Jets played the 4-3 at the time, getting a fast ILB was of higher priority than drafting the 4th DL in first round in 5 years. People on this site were vehmently against drafting Wilfork after the performance of Thomas at DE. I actually posted the Jets should draft Wilfork, but after seeing JV's rookie season, I was convinced the Jets made the right pick. Fast forward a few years with a new coach and the switch to the 3-4 and...well...hingsigh is 20-20.
Heralded? Most Jet fans never even heard of Robertson till the combine. Wilfork was heralded for years (of course Miami helps)..... One guy was the workout warrior who shot up the draft board at the last minute and the other was the well known player who fell down the boards. NO WAY did I want to see the Jets draft Wilfork iin his draft - But, that's because Bradway already traded his 1st born for Dewayne, we could spend more at that spot. Vilma was THE pick then, no doubt. There's just so many levels that Robertson was a bad pick on.... You just can't spend that kind of resources on 1 guy, watching how Bradway got Drob and BB got Warren AND Wilfork was just sickening regardless of 3/4 or 4/3 Defense.
Pouha was about 330 his rookie year. So, even though he's listed as 325, he's still at least 310. This kid is strong enough, benching 475 and squating 675, it was his technique and stamina that were the problems. Some question if he has the "mean streak" that NT's need to have. Im not as concerned with his weight as much as his mental toughness and approach to the game. When I've met him, he's like a big teddy bear. I still have hopes he will work out.
I was referring to when the draft occurred, Robertson was more heralded, hence went #4. After his combine/workout, all the GMs were salivating over his potential. Robertson did sort of "come out of nowhere" while Wilfork was mentioned for a few years. No reason to argue semantics, Wilfork was more well known leading up to his draft, you're right. Other teams have spent two #1s to move up in the draft (Giants being the most recent). Also, other teams have sent a high 1st and 2nd from the same draft (Falcons for Vick). The Jets traded the 13th and 22nd picks for a player widely considered the top DL in the draft (regardless of why -- workout -- that's what he was considered on draft day). I would concede that maybe the move was not necessary as it was a deep draft in terms of DT and DE (Kennedy, Williams, Joseph - all 1st round DT, Warren, Suggs, Haynes, McDougle, Pace all 1st round DE). However, if you think the guy is going to be a great player, make the deal. While D-Rob may not be worth the draft value, the draft is half preparation, half crapshoot. If Bradway doesn't make the deal the Jets could be sitting on two 1st round busts or two 1st round great players or somewhere in between. What other levels was the trade/pick such a bad one on? Saying that BB got Warren and Wilfork is irrelevant, I agree it sucks, but it is irrelevant in this discussion.
Yeah its a good thing we reached to get Anthony Schlegal instead of picking up a guy like Marques Colston.............
I really can't call a guy like Roberston a bust, he's only started every single game he has played in since he came in, and where the hell did too small for a 4-3 tackle come from? He's only 317 pounds >__>
Hmmm, and people we're going nuts with picking another DL so they picked Vilma instead. Vilma's a good LB, but not enamored with him as other Jet fans. Bradway obviously screwed up the year before so he hesitated on taking another DT so that is what they are left with. An undersized DL followed by an undersized LB core not fitted to play a 3-4. People are forgetting how devoid of talent this Jets team is so Mike.T can only start to build 1 year at a time. JMO
While Robertson didn't have a great rookie campaign, Bradway or, for that matter, anyone would not say that the pick was an "obvious screw-up" based on one year of play.
What is really unbelievable is that some people still think that the draft and how a player that is drafted is not a crapshoot for the most part. Sure things bust and little known talents blossom into hall of famers and vice versa. Drafts are not perfect sciences. You can't always win.
That is fine that he is strong but so is everyone at this level. Mass is important at this spot. If he can get back up to 320+ then maybe he has a chance, otherwise he is not the solution and just part of the rotation.
ummm, obviously. D-Rob isn't even close to what a 3-4 NT should be. Not close. Fact is, he's not cut out for the 3-4 scheme at all. But if he could play in it, it would have to be DE.
