Cards Major Free Agents

[imaCafan]

not to over-debate this--

but while Pitt has more rushing yards overall -- they also have given up twice the number of sacks the Cards offensive line has, but on 140 fewer attempts (for perspective -- 140 attempts is almost 5 games worth of passes) !!

I am just not buying that Faneca is all that -- at least all that for $50 million over 6 years

Hmmmm. Interesting point about the sacks. I was thinking if Faneca were here this year maybe Kurt gets sacked less. I believe 2 sacks caused 2 fumbles which helped cause 2 losses. O.K. You've convinced me. Let our OL play together another year (which hopefully means they'll improve from this year). Bring in Suggs as our big FA NOT ALREADY ON THIS TEAM signing and bring on the 2008 play-offs!!!!!!

 

[Stout]

on the Faneca love:

offense isnt the issue for the Cards. On a scoring basis, they are a top 10 offense in the league.

Its defense -- where they are a bottom 5 team in scoring defense.

Why spend a ton of money on a guard when it could be used to upgrade the defense?

I would rather the Cards spend a pile of money on Terrel Suggs than Alan Faneca. Suggs has at least 5 prime years left and addresses the team's most glaring need. Faneca is on the wrong side of 30.

Wait, hold on there, En Fuego...did you watch the same games I did? We still do not have a potent run game. We don't even have an above-average or passable run game. Our offensive line is not set, and if you think Wells is the guy at guard, then I have to vehemently disagree. Adding Faneca, I believe, would help solidify the line, and then we'd need to stay healthy. Then maybe we'd be able to run the ball with any kind of consistency (which we still cannot do), and wouldn't have to live in constant fear with leads in the 4th quarter that we can't run out the clock.

Why spend a ton of money on a guard? Because we have SEVERAL tons of money, and we don't have to stop at that guard, which, Faneca or not, we still desperately need.

 

[Stout]

I've been thinking about this. Since we'll likely sign one free agent of note, he should be on the unit that's closest to being an elite NFL unit. Since our offense is closer to that, barring a consistent run game, I think Faneca would be the smart signing.

However, if we did sign Suggs, I'd be thrilled.

Why? That would be the dumbest thing we could do..again...to limit ourselves in FA as if we were poor. We aren't poor, we can afford to over pay, and we can afford to get several top players. Heck, if the fans are already limiting our team's budget in FA like Scrooge, I shudder to think what the FO is thinking. Well, I always shudder to think about our FO, but that's another subject LOL

 

[Redmark]

But, it remains... that we are a top 10 offence in essentially its first year; equal or better than the Seahawks. And, our scoring "D" is over 100 points worse than Seattle.

Crazy: How much of an impact has the loss of AW contributed to that differential? No way the 49ers, Browns, Seahawks and Falcons put up 30 plus points with Wilson and Dansby healthy, IMO.

I'm beginning to really like the play of Calvin Pace. He's 270 lbs and looks extremely fast rushing the passer. He's a bigger Suggs! I like this team the way it is when healthy. Need more depth and a quality back to breaks some long runs to help Edge.

 

[ajcardfan]

Why? That would be the dumbest thing we could do..again...to limit ourselves in FA as if we were poor. We aren't poor, we can afford to over pay, and we can afford to get several top players. Heck, if the fans are already limiting our team's budget in FA like Scrooge, I shudder to think what the FO is thinking. Well, I always shudder to think about our FO, but that's another subject LOL

Hey, it's NOT what I want to see. I'm just taking Graves at his word that we would use most of our upcoming cap space on retaining and extending our guys. I fully expect us to use roster bonuses, rather than signing bonuses, like we did last year.

Give me the check book, I'd kick some butt in free agency.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Hey, it's NOT what I want to see. I'm just taking Graves at his word that we would use most of our upcoming cap space on retaining and extending our guys. I fully expect us to use roster bonuses, rather than signing bonuses, like we did last year.

Give me the check book, I'd kick some butt in free agency.

uh oh! someone uttered the words graves and his "word"! this thread will self-lock in thirty seconds...

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Wait, hold on there, En Fuego...did you watch the same games I did? We still do not have a potent run game. We don't even have an above-average or passable run game. Our offensive line is not set, and if you think Wells is the guy at guard, then I have to vehemently disagree. Adding Faneca, I believe, would help solidify the line, and then we'd need to stay healthy. Then maybe we'd be able to run the ball with any kind of consistency (which we still cannot do), and wouldn't have to live in constant fear with leads in the 4th quarter that we can't run out the clock.

Why spend a ton of money on a guard? Because we have SEVERAL tons of money, and we don't have to stop at that guard, which, Faneca or not, we still desperately need.

Then I guess we shared the pleasure of Faneca's and Pitt.'s O-line work against our vaunted run defense, right?.

Willie Parker gained 37 yards on 19 carries. Their running backs totaled 53 yards.

You no doubt saw Antonio Smith beat Faneca one-on-one for a sack, and another time to tackle Parker in the backfield.

Yup!!! Faneca at any cost!

 

[imaCafan]

How about if you look at it like this:

Faneca or Wells?
Suggs or Pace?

Which would be the bigger and most effective improvement for us, if we had the choice of one or the other? Would Faneca improve the OL and running game more than Suggs would improve the pass rush and pass defense (remember, a better pass rush helps the secondary, too)......

 

[john h]

Green like Brown and Blackstock... is a RFA. They have no bargaining power.

(I'd bet they'll all be tendered)

Did anyone notice our former DE? was named the defensive player of he week. He made 11 tackles. Actually he has had a great year. I think we just let him walk. I believe it is Vandenbush. Why did we let this guy go? I always thought he was a good player and a good guy. He sure would have looked good on this team this year. Why did we let him go?

 

[imaCafan]

Too many injuries to Vanden Bosch....that's why we let him go (I think) plus only 4 sacks in 35 games over a 4 year stretch......

 

[john h]

Yeah, and I can't blame him. How can he play in the shadows of Fitz and Boldin his whole career? I think he'd take less money for the chance to be a #1 or even a #2.

BJ will play somewhere else and be a #1 or a #2. Take it to the bank. Of course there is always that rumor about Fitz being traded to the Vikings which would keep BJ here.

 

[joeshmo]

Then I guess we shared the pleasure of Faneca's and Pitt.'s O-line work against our vaunted run defense, right?.

Willie Parker gained 37 yards on 19 carries. Their running backs totaled 53 yards.

You no doubt saw Antonio Smith beat Faneca one-on-one for a sack, and another time to tackle Parker in the backfield.

Yup!!! Faneca at any cost!

One game? What about the other 15 games, or how he played under Grimm.

 

[john h]

He's no lock to be a #1 or #2 on either of those teams. Philly has Curtis and Brown as starters and i can't see BJ beating either of them out. Neither of them are great but are probably a step above BJ. In B'more they have Clayton and Mason. The WR's aren't the problem there.It's the QB's. If BJ wants the chance to be a starter his list should be limited to Miami,SF,KC,Tennessee, and Washington(maybe). Otherwise, as it stands now, he'll be a #3 on the other 27 teams.

I think you greatly underestimate B.J.'s value. He has been a very good receiver for us even under the shadow of Boldin and Fitz. Without him we would have even more problems when Fitz and Boldin were both down.

 

[joeshmo]

How about if you look at it like this:

Faneca or Wells?
Suggs or Pace?

Which would be the bigger and most effective improvement for us, if we had the choice of one or the other? Would Faneca improve the OL and running game more than Suggs would improve the pass rush and pass defense (remember, a better pass rush helps the secondary, too)......

Considering Pace has outplayed Suggs this season I will go with Faneca over Wells more then I would Suggs over Pace.

Suggs is so overrated as a 3-4 OLB. He had his best seasons as a DE when the Ravens tried the 4-3 for a few seasons his rookie and sophmore years.

 

[PoolBoy]

ill take faneca over wells everyday of the week.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

One game? What about the other 15 games, or how he played under Grimm.

You tell me... I can only judge on what I saw, and either Antonio Smith is a All-pro in the making, or Faneca is over-rated.

 

[imaCafan]

Yeah, when I wrote that and then thought about it afterwards, I switched back to the Faneca bandwagon. Know he is older, so you could give him one of those 7 year deals that's really like a 3 year deal where he gets a good bonus spread out over the length of the contract. How does that work again (Joe? Anybody?)......

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Considering Pace has outplayed Suggs this season I will go with Faneca over Wells more then I would Suggs over Pace.

Suggs is so overrated as a 3-4 OLB. He had his best seasons as a DE when the Ravens tried the 4-3 for a few seasons his rookie and sophmore years.

Suggs, was only coming in on rushing downs his first year or so. But, agree that Pace is a considerably cheaper answer to our needs at this point. While, the question posed is Faneca or Suggs... I'm for neither. Much prefer to put out some serious money on one of the free agent corners.

 

[football karma]

on Faneca -- he has been in the league 10 years and just turned 30. That is a fair amount of mileage on the treads.

As for Suggs-- I think you could have both Pace and Suggs -- and create a pretty talented and young four linebacker set of Pace/Hayes/Dansby/Suggs.

 

[joeshmo]

You tell me... I can only judge on what I saw, and either Antonio Smith is a All-pro in the making, or Faneca is over-rated.

Again how can you say that about Smith or Faneca after 1 game? You cannot base an opinion on a snap shot.

For Faneca's complete body of work he has put in another great year of run blocking. Pitt is ranked 3rd in total rushing yards and 6th in yards per carry becuase of the strength and leadership that Faneca brings. Not the greatest pass blocker but that whole Pitt OL has never been a good pass blocking unit going all the way back to Grimms first year there.

 

[joeshmo]

Yeah, when I wrote that and then thought about it afterwards, I switched back to the Faneca bandwagon. Know he is older, so you could give him one of those 7 year deals that's really like a 3 year deal where he gets a good bonus spread out over the length of the contract. How does that work again (Joe? Anybody?)......

From all accounts he is only looking for a 3 year deal. When he was going through his situation with Pitt last offseason all he wanted was a 3 year extension I believe.

 

[joeshmo]

Suggs, was only coming in on rushing downs his first year or so. But, agree that Pace is a considerably cheaper answer to our needs at this point. While, the question posed is Faneca or Suggs... I'm for neither. Much prefer to put out some serious money on one of the free agent corners.

Point remains the same he was a much better 4-3 DE then he currently is a 3-4 OLB and his productivity is proof of that. He just is not a stand up type player. He needs to have his hand down.

 

[DaisyCutter]

Point remains the same he was a much better 4-3 DE then he currently is a 3-4 OLB and his productivity is proof of that. He just is not a stand up type player. He needs to have his hand down.

All the more reason to put him into Bertrand Berry's abandoned hybrid position. Clancy could find a way to get Suggs playing out of the three-point stance some 30% of the time, methinks.

It doesn't matter, though. I bet that Suggs gets retained by the Ravens, and there's no chance Graves would admit his error by paying more for Suggs five years after he could have drafted him.

Faneca may be another story. I'll bet we bring him in. Hopefully we'll not handcuff our cap flexibility to do so. Anything to send Wells to the bench.

 

[Skkorpion]

john h, go listen to the newest podcast on the Cards site. Listen to Darren Urban's comments about Bryant Johnson.

From that, which does reinforce my own opinion, it sound like we will not make any offer or effort to keep Bryant Johnson.

Whether Johnson is esteemed highly enough to paid big bucks and be a #1 or #2 WR on another team, will soon be determined on the open market.

 

[Stout]

One game? What about the other 15 games, or how he played under Grimm.

Amen. Also, Faneca is a 7 time pro bowler (including this season). He is in the prime of his career. He knows Whiz and how he works, and I believe has stated he wanted either Whiz or Grimm as the HC in Pittsburgh. IIRC, that was the reason he was unhappy--who they did hire. We desperately need a new guard, unless you really think Wells is the answer. So, there we go.

Also, with the cap space we have, why can't we get Faneca AND Suggs?