Sirius has been doing a series on rating position groups of course our team is not getting a lot of love; and rightly so. As you may or may not know I do this every year in the forum. But before I start that I thought I'd see what the forum thinks is our best position group.

I won't consider QB in this comparison or rate against the NFL in future threads as it's a complete unknown. Also no reason to include LB or Oline in this vote. So cast your vote for what you consider our best position group and explain yourself.

You could make a case for a couple of the D groups but I went WR as our most proven but even it needs an *

AJ (if he can stay healthy) is probably still pushing top 10 talent. Boyd is solid and Ross has flashed (if he can stay healthy) he should hit a few HR's. I believe Higgins will be able to contribute especially after he gets a few games under his belt. I'm still betting Tate plays a role.

* If our top guys can finally stay on the field we will have a solid group.

We have so many question marks it is hard to say.

The only obvious choice for me is RB.

Mixon looked awesome after we changed our running scheme, and I still think Gio is pretty good for a #2.

Treyveon is a complete unknown, but I loved the pick. Watching a guy shred your favorite college team for over 200 yards will do that. Plus he absolutely wore out LSU when A&M beat them in 2018.

I went with DT with Reader, Tupou, Wren, Glasgow and Geno. I think Clark may make the Roster. Very deep group.

(07-02-2020, 06:12 PM)bengalfan74 Wrote: You could make a case for a couple of the D groups but I went WR as our most proven but even it needs an *

AJ (if he can stay healthy) is probably still pushing top 10 talent. Boyd is solid and Ross has flashed (if he can stay healthy) he should hit a few HR's. I believe Higgins will be able to contribute especially after he gets a few games under his belt. I'm still betting Tate plays a role.

* If our top guys can finally stay on the field we will have a solid group.

I agree with this. Wide Receiver is probably the deepest group on the team. AJ Green is the best player on the team, Tyler Boyd is one of the top slot receivers in the league, John Ross has shown flashes as a playmaker, Auden Tate took strides in year two and looks like a solid possession receiver, and finally Tee Higgins is a big play receiver that probably fell due to a deep WR class.

But it doesnt end there... Alex Erickson is a solid backup/punt returner and a name we shouldnt forget is Damion Willis who had a great camp and preseason as a rookie even if he was average during the season year two he could take a jump. I actually got to ask Neal Brown about Willis late August last year and while he stayed tight lipped about the Mountaineers he wouldnt shut up about Damion Willis. 

Dunlap, Sam Hubbard, and Carl Lawson... I have to go with the edge. If health weren't an issue, I'd go WR.

Why no choice for OL and DL or LB as collective units? I wanted to go with DL, but since you only offered DE or DT, I chose not to vote. My second choice would be for WR.

(07-02-2020, 07:46 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Why no choice for OL and DL or LB as collective units?  I wanted to go with DL, but since you only offered DE or DT, I chose not to vote.  My second choice would be for WR.

Well I explained why no LB or Oline and I didn't consider any collective units. In addition to splitting DL I did the same for DBs and receivers. 

But as Rush said: If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice, 

Safety in theory should be pretty good. All 3 have been average to above average at certain periods in their careers. Williams could be a starter somewhere else if not used here.

Easy Edge all three of Dunlap, Lawson, and Hubbard were in the Top 25 of pass rush productivity during the last 8 weeks of the season according to PFF.

(07-02-2020, 07:28 PM)jason Wrote: Dunlap, Sam Hubbard, and Carl Lawson... I have to go with the edge. If health weren't an issue, I'd go WR.

But health is a factor here as well because of Lawson.

For me it’s between WR and DT. I voted WR because of the depth. Tee Higgins and Auden Tate as your #4/5 guys is pretty damn good.

(07-02-2020, 09:19 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: But health is a factor here as well because of Lawson.

For me it’s between WR and DT. I voted WR because of the depth. Tee Higgins and Auden Tate as your #4/5 guys is pretty damn good.

Agreed... To me the difference is that the concern is with the best, most rounded WR. For the pass rushers it's the situational specialist.

DT if reader plays like he did with Houston, we have 2 all pro calibur players at the position.

(07-02-2020, 10:25 PM)MasonDT70 Wrote: DT if reader plays like he did with Houston, we have 2 all pro calibur players at the position.

Surprised Reader has never even been a Pro Bowler. Wonder if it’s a case of getting completely overshadowed by JJ.

I voted WR.
A.J Green when healthy is a sure fire 1,000 yd producer. Plus he plays well vs our division rivals.
Tyler Boyd has quietly amassed 2 - 1,000 yd seasons ( but I don't think he achieves that this year)
John Ross averaged 18 YPC last season and before he got hurt was on pace for 1,000 yd.
Auden Tate progressed in his 2nd year despite QBS throwing to him weren't the most accurate

Now you throw in Tee Higgins who isnt forced to be the "man" this year. He can learn the position this
Year from established pros like Boyd and Green.

I think I might have to go CB.

WJIII and Waynes on the boundaries, Alexander in the slot, Phillips as the dime and return

(07-02-2020, 10:31 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: Surprised Reader has never even been a Pro Bowler. Wonder if it’s a case of getting completely overshadowed by JJ.

Probably. Watt has been the best defensive player of the decade.
When he does play he'll already have experience playing next to a future HoF player.  :andy:

DE, followed closing by WR. Injury history/still only potential is a real problem for me, so Green and Ross get dinged a bit for injuries, to fall below DE.

DT is close because Geno could make a ham sandwich look good next to him. Adding a top NT like Reader though, makes DT a great group, but having just a solid Toupu, potential Wren and oft injured Glasgow, has them in third place for me.

DE has the team’s all-time sack leader (officially), probably the next in line captain (Hubbard) and a game-changing rusher. The wart here is of course Lawson’s injury history, but I’ll take his over Ross, so DE wins out.

(07-02-2020, 11:17 PM)MasonDT70 Wrote: Probably. Watt has been the best defensive player of the decade.
When he does play he'll already have experience playing next to a future HoF player.  :andy:

Lucky he gets to play next to two in his career, makes his job easier.

I said CB. Seems like a deep unit.