Linebacker with pick 1 or 2 --

Just some thoughts on why we should look at going for linebacker early.

- "New regimes mean new QBs". A buzzword around draft sites. New coaches want to leave their mark on the franchise with a long-term QB. As the 'qb of the defense', picking and developing a great linebacker as a leader, decision maker, and player is a huge way to add long-term stability on the defensive side. See: Ray Lewis, Bart Scott, James Harrison, Clay Matthews. These are all playoff teams with pro-bowl LBs who provide leadership on the defense.

- Keith Bulluck. For the Titans franchise, Keith Bulluck provided this type of stability and defensive qb-ing. Our defense with him, despite other sliding pieces, remained consistent and, most importantly, rarely seemed to 'give up'. Without this type of player on the field a team will see what happened last year to our defense happen year in and year out--inconsistency and quitting.

The Titans seem to consistently draft the monster athletes : Haynesworth (2002), Pacman Jones (2005), Vince Young (2006), Chris Johnson (2008) -- even Griff (2007) and Britt (2009) fall into this category. While this strategy is appealing in the short term (get the best, most athletic player and plug him into a system), it doesn't have staying power for the franchise. Again, see Haynesworth, Jones, Young. While athletic and often dominant at their positions, none of these players have the tools to be true team leaders. Griff is a great safety, but he just doesn't seem to be assuming a leadership role in the defense.

Compare this to Bulluck, who spent 10 (count 'em, ten) seasons with the Titans, starting in every single game 8 out of 10 seasons with the other two being 15 games and 14 games, in his prime recording 125 - 150 total tackles per season. Ray Lewis has been with the Ravens for 15 seasons, who, despite having a terrible offense for the better part of the 2000s, were consistently a playoff contending team. Who is the face of that franchise? Ray Lewis. You could say the same thing about another perennial playoff contender (and champion) the Steelers. While this role is filled more by Polamalu (now in his 9th season with the Steelers), his position can be compared to this model of an intelligent defensive QB.

While a pass-rushing, space-gobbling DT would certainly help a somewhat maligned D-Line, our defense against the pass was much, much worse against the pass then against the run last year (28th vs. 20th), with a great deal of that damage coming from TEs who we just couldn't seem to cover. Another argument for DT is the potential for putting pressure on the QB, but a good rush linebacker can often fulfill the same role, in addition to bringing variety to defensive schemes and confusion to offenses (Is he going to be blitzing, covering, etc.?). Also, the lack of defensive adjustments (for which all the blame falls on Cecil) is something which a Def. QB remedies. Personally, if Peyton Manning is under center, I want Ray Lewis across the field from him, telling his line, cbs, and safeties where the play is going to go.

The last important thing ties in with the very first--the regime change and the potential switch to the 3-4. If we are building a Defense to eventually play the 3-4 you must have a fast, athletic, and intelligent LB to do it correctly. It just doesn't work without one, see: DeMarcus Ware, Joey Porter, James Harrison, Clay Matthews, Elvis Dumervil, Bart Scott, all of the San Diego corps. In fact, take a look at the teams running a 3-4: Steelers, Ravens, Browns, Jets, Dolphins, Patriots, Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs, Packers, Cardinals, Cowboys, 49ers. That's six playoff teams, including the two super-bowl opponents, and several consistent contenders who floundered (Broncos, Chargers, Cowboys). Here's a nice stat breakdown on the 3-4 from 2010: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/328392-the-3-4-defense-on-its-way-out       .

It's a pick that needs to be made high-- if Von Miller dropped to us we should sprint to the podium. Quinn, Smith, Kerrigan, Ayers, Houston, Reed, and Acho are all great, though.

Thoughts?