Sunday, May 07, 2006

Parcells' philosophy on drafting OL

DCweekly: Parcells' philosophy on drafting OL

Q: You guys didn't draft an offensive lineman high in the draft again this year. Are you opposed to doing that? What is your philosophy on drafting offensive linemen high in the draft?
- Antonio Shazor, San Antonio, Tex.

A: I have given that a lot of thought over the years. From my days back at the Giants, I know on two occasions we did draft offensive linemen with our first pick. Then we drafted Jumbo Elliott high in the second round and we were into the "best athlete" and "best guy available" situation when we took those guys.

I would have to say I definitely considered it as we prepared for the draft. If I thought a guy was someone we could pretty much just plug into our lineup, and he would be there for five, six or 10 years if we were lucky, we would have considered that. I think we did that a couple years ago when we selected Al Johnson. He was someone we thought could step in here and help our team from the start.

That is a decision that can change from position to position. There are some positions I would be reluctant to draft a player high in the first round with, but offensive line in not one of them. There are some other positions that I would have to really think twice about before I pulled the trigger on draft day. For example, I think taking a wide receiver real high is risky, because I've seen a lot of guys that don't live up to the expectations at that position. Another reason I don't like to take receivers high is because you usually have more options at that position over the entire course of the draft.

Just look around at some of the recent drafts. There have been a lot of receivers taken in the first round the last couple of years and then they have not played very well. Of course there are going to be some that make it, guys like Larry Fitzgerald, that are taken high and then play very well. You have got to be lucky there.