Longtime Giants executive George Young had a famous “Planet Theory” to drafting that Jim Schwartz invoked recently.
“Big, giant men that run fast? That are strong enough to play the run and athletic enough to play the
pass?” Schwartz told the Detroit Free Press. “There’s not many people like that walking the planet.”
While the theory is tongue-in-cheek, there’s plenty of truth to it.
The athleticism Ndamakong Suh displays is special. (To a lesser degree, the same can be said about Gerald McCoy.) There are no offensive tackles in this class that stand out as elite.
We’ve never bought that the Lions were seriously considering an offensive tackle at No. 2 if only because it defies logic. [Editor’s note: Speak for yourself, Rosenthal. It’s hard to get the most out of last year’s first overall pick if he’s constantly running for his young life.] Jim Schwartz has made his name on defensive linemen. Detroit’s new identity should be there. To pass up a chance to work with Suh or McCoy makes no sense.
At least that’s what the “Planet Theory” says.
