Divide Et Impera
Registered User
Looking ahead to the offseason and the draft, let's assess our needs.
Offense:
We have the skill players across the board. We are set at starting WR, HB, QB and TE. We need 5 OL, a HB and a speed burner WR to be the 3rd or 4th, depending on what we do with Johnson. We need 7 players on offense. It may be possible that Lutui is our starting RG next year, so we may only need 6 players. The OL needs to be handled in FA, period. No rookies, period. Lutui will essentially be a rookie next year, so the other 4 positions need to be filled by vets.
The contracts we already have on the OL are a sunk cost and they should be treated that way. Cut the OL (maybe keep Leckey for depth). Let LD walk. Bite the bullet on the respective cap hits on Brown, Wells and Ross. Sign all FA vets. I have not looked at prospective OL FAs yet, so I can't name names at this point.
The other 2 positions (speed WR and FB) should be handled in the draft in the 2nd and 3rd rounds. I'm fine with rookies at those positions.
Defense:
The gut of our DL looks like it may be set with Watson, Lewis, Dockett and Clancy rotating. Our DEs are questionable, but I don't think we could realistically address the entire OL and starting DEs in the same FA pool. Heck, addressing an entire OL is bad enough. Okeafor and Berry with Pace backing should suffice for now.
Our LB corps is pretty well filled out, but we do need a OLB starter opposite Dansby so Huff and Darling are relegated to strictly positions of depth and ST. I like the idea of Lance Briggs as a FA OLB.
Our secondary has some issues. First of all, the Ss (Wilson, Griffith, Francisco) are almost set. We finally need to move Rolle back as a FS to start opposite Wilson. This leaves decent depth with Francisco and Griffith. I also like Green as a starting CB and Macklin is fine as a 5CB. It would be nice to get a legit starting CB opposite Green via trade or FA, but since we'll have a high pick again, maybe that could be our #1 pick (ie, LaRon Landry, LSU) and we can address the depth of this position again in the 4th round.
This puts our definite positions of need as:
LT
LG
C
RT
FB
3WR
OLB
CB
If we can get a FA class to cover OLB and OL, the draft would supply the rest as well as ST and team depth.
As far as coaching goes, I'm all about burning this entire staff to the ground and giving Gruden the first shot followed up by Fisher. There is a ton of talent on this team and either coach would likely jump at the opportunity to add the final 8-10 pieces, which along with their strong motivational/fiery style of coaching, might have us playing next year....
Offense:
We have the skill players across the board. We are set at starting WR, HB, QB and TE. We need 5 OL, a HB and a speed burner WR to be the 3rd or 4th, depending on what we do with Johnson. We need 7 players on offense. It may be possible that Lutui is our starting RG next year, so we may only need 6 players. The OL needs to be handled in FA, period. No rookies, period. Lutui will essentially be a rookie next year, so the other 4 positions need to be filled by vets.
The contracts we already have on the OL are a sunk cost and they should be treated that way. Cut the OL (maybe keep Leckey for depth). Let LD walk. Bite the bullet on the respective cap hits on Brown, Wells and Ross. Sign all FA vets. I have not looked at prospective OL FAs yet, so I can't name names at this point.
The other 2 positions (speed WR and FB) should be handled in the draft in the 2nd and 3rd rounds. I'm fine with rookies at those positions.
Defense:
The gut of our DL looks like it may be set with Watson, Lewis, Dockett and Clancy rotating. Our DEs are questionable, but I don't think we could realistically address the entire OL and starting DEs in the same FA pool. Heck, addressing an entire OL is bad enough. Okeafor and Berry with Pace backing should suffice for now.
Our LB corps is pretty well filled out, but we do need a OLB starter opposite Dansby so Huff and Darling are relegated to strictly positions of depth and ST. I like the idea of Lance Briggs as a FA OLB.
Our secondary has some issues. First of all, the Ss (Wilson, Griffith, Francisco) are almost set. We finally need to move Rolle back as a FS to start opposite Wilson. This leaves decent depth with Francisco and Griffith. I also like Green as a starting CB and Macklin is fine as a 5CB. It would be nice to get a legit starting CB opposite Green via trade or FA, but since we'll have a high pick again, maybe that could be our #1 pick (ie, LaRon Landry, LSU) and we can address the depth of this position again in the 4th round.
This puts our definite positions of need as:
LT
LG
C
RT
FB
3WR
OLB
CB
If we can get a FA class to cover OLB and OL, the draft would supply the rest as well as ST and team depth.
As far as coaching goes, I'm all about burning this entire staff to the ground and giving Gruden the first shot followed up by Fisher. There is a ton of talent on this team and either coach would likely jump at the opportunity to add the final 8-10 pieces, which along with their strong motivational/fiery style of coaching, might have us playing next year....
