10 replies to this topic

[ShrewdDude]

2002's draft had a huge immediate impact on our team.  We totally replaced the secondary and got a huge weapon on offense.  In the first 3 rounds we got Lito Sheppard, Sheldon Brown, Michael Lewis and Brian Westbrook.  All of these guys made huge contributions to the team.  No matter how they ended up, they were great for a while!

[Runtherock]

I know I'm in a minority but I think that draft is overrated. Lewis flamed out quick, good hit, no cover...gone. Lito was very good, but again for a relatively short period of time and was often injured. Sheldon was solid, always played, would knock the hell out of you but had coverage issues, not a Pro Bowler but good. And Westy was of course special...but not great. Injuries were again an issue. But having said all that, you may have the draft you're looking for. This year's class still looks very positive.

[ChimpKelly]

Runtherock, on 09 December 2012 - 11:41 AM, said:

I know I'm in a minority but I think that draft is overrated. Lewis flamed out quick, good hit, no cover...gone. Lito was very good, but again for a relatively short period of time and was often injured. Sheldon was solid, always played, would knock the hell out of you but had coverage issues, not a Pro Bowler but good. And Westy was of course special...but not great. Injuries were again an issue. But having said all that, you may have the draft you're looking for. This year's class still looks very positive.

Thus years draft looks horrid compared to most other drafts...

[H-field Hero]

Runtherock, on 09 December 2012 - 11:41 AM, said:

I know I'm in a minority but I think that draft is overrated. Lewis flamed out quick, good hit, no cover...gone. Lito was very good, but again for a relatively short period of time and was often injured. Sheldon was solid, always played, would knock the hell out of you but had coverage issues, not a Pro Bowler but good. And Westy was of course special...but not great. Injuries were again an issue. But having said all that, you may have the draft you're looking for. This year's class still looks very positive.

I think your assessments of each player are pretty reasonable, but to pull all of those guys out of one draft is pretty impressive.  Anytime you pull a solid starter out of the draft you've done a good job.  The problem is that the draft has become so big over the last 10+ years.  At this point I don't think the draft hype over load can get anymore ridiculous.  This causes fans to have unrealistic expectations with each draft.  And hey, I'm a sucker for it just like everyone else.

[cb4130]

"And Westy was of course special...but not great."

Maybe the dumbest thing I have ever read.

[ShrewdDude]

Runtherock, on 09 December 2012 - 11:41 AM, said:

I know I'm in a minority but I think that draft is overrated. Lewis flamed out quick, good hit, no cover...gone. Lito was very good, but again for a relatively short period of time and was often injured. Sheldon was solid, always played, would knock the hell out of you but had coverage issues, not a Pro Bowler but good. And Westy was of course special...but not great. Injuries were again an issue. But having said all that, you may have the draft you're looking for. This year's class still looks very positive.

Good assessment of the first 3 guys, but I don't think you're giving Westy enough kudos.  He is one of the best players from the Reid era.  In m opinion, this draft class was by far Andy Reid's best!

[10-JJ-10]

ShrewdDude, on 09 December 2012 - 01:35 PM, said:

Good assessment of the first 3 guys, but I don't think you're giving Westy enough kudos.  He is one of the best players from the Reid era.  In m opinion, this draft class was by far Andy Reid's best!

In my opinion he was the most important offensive player in the Reid era besides McNabb, which could probably be debated. T.O. wasn't here long enough to be a part of this conversation and there is absolutely no one else that is even close to McNabb or Westbrook in terms of importance

[The_Talon]

I liked that draft too. There were some lame picks in there like Freddie Milons but Westy, Sheldon, Lito, and M. Lewis I thought were pretty good picks. Generally speaking I thought that whole class was pretty good. Donte Stallworth, Julius Peppers, Ed Reed. Lots of good talent there.

[Utebird]

cb4130, on 09 December 2012 - 01:30 PM, said:

"And Westy was of course special...but not great."

Maybe the dumbest thing I have ever read.

yeah i have to agree, how is one special but not great?

Westy was special.

Lewis overrated, lito overrated, sheldon most solid of the 3 but the FO treated him poorly.

[H-field Hero]

Lito was the Cowboy killer.  That alone should prevent him from earning the overrated tag.

[Runtherock]

Utebird, on 09 December 2012 - 02:25 PM, said:

yeah i have to agree, how is one special but not great?

Westy was special.

But not a Hall of Famer, not the best back of his generation, not particularly effective between the tackles. If Steve Van Buren was "great", if Jim Brown was "great", if Marshall Faulk was "great", then Brian Westbrook wasn't. Certainly a special player, two great years for sure, but not a great career.