I think Buffaholic that is exactly their approach. That does a very good job of explaining why we aren't going after OL and a few other positions. But it doesn't adequately explain some of our other choices...such as Mosley, who is almost certainly too slow to play cornerback. (4.6-4.8 40)
We are almost as thin at LB and DB, as DL. As we found out with the injury to Rippy last year, we are one injury away from a decimated linebacking core. Web, Major, and Rippy will be sufficient if they can stay healthy. But behind them we are very thin and/or slow.
Daigh and some others on the roster are unproven, in my estimation. I'm not sure Norgard is going to be able to contribute immediately at LB if there was an injury. Hopefully Harlos bulks up and moves to LB. (he is probably the fastest player on the team as he ran a 100m in 48s)
With so many holes on the roster, there is really no margin for error. There are a couple commits we have which I seriously question should make our final cut right now... We really need Rippy, Hooker, Lewis(wa),and Wright. Crawley is probably quick enough to play cover corner. If he doesn't sign, then Leo Thomas (who looks like a better corner prospect than Mosley) I would love to have Breslin too, but that seems unlikely. We need these players more than pretty much any other position or player one could envision. (more important than a 4 star TE, WR, RB, OL)
I hope the reason we are taking these extra DT is because we have locked up some of the recruits listed above. If we do, then we are going to be very competitive next year.
We are in a terrible bind. I blame our idiot AD who gave Hawkins an extra year or 3 to take our money and ruin our tradition, but i digress.
I don't have McNamara on this essential list because Ray looks like he is going to be very good. If McNamara does sign, i wonder if someone on the roster gets cut?