Quote Originally Posted by Mister Pittsburgh View Post
4 of the 5 that did not were defenders and we know how that goes. DeCastro would of started over Foster no matter what you guys want to tell yourself about Foster. So every offensive player we have drafted in the past 9 drafts either did have a big impact, or was on their way to doing so (Mendy and DeCastro hurt). I don't care that it took Tommy Maddox getting his arm snapped to allow Ben to play and go undefeated until the AFCCG. Heath and Holmes both had impacts. If you want to sit there and personally think that Eifert or Austin or Warmack or Lacey wouldn't have in impact year one then good for you but I can damn near guarantee if we have Eifert Haley and Colbert won't be sitting there thinking 'boy, this guy make take a year to develop to contribute'....he's gonna be out there in formation on the first series of the year.
Okay...we've established that rookies can have an impact in their first year. But Colbert doesn't base his top choice solely on trying to fill his biggest immediate hole (i.e. the Oviedo method ). He doesn't want to have to rely on a rookie to perform well right from the start. If they do, then great...like he said, bonus. If they don't, so be it...like he said, some great players took time to become great.