If you were Vinny, what would you do to keep your job?

If I werre VINNY, I'd sign a number of veterans aged 29 and up to contracts that would make them uncutable for atleast 2-3 years. Then I would trade a 2010 1st round pick for a 2nd round pick this year and a 2nd round pick next year for a 3rd round pick this year.

This would:
1) Allow me to upgrade the team NOW; and
2a)Make the the team less attractive for someone who would potentiall replace/fire me if hired by Snyder in 2010 (ie, why would Bill Cowher/Mike Shanahan/Mike Holmgren come to a team with a bunch of old veterans AND no high draft picks?)
2b)Increase the likelyhood that I keep my job a 3rd year, if for no other reason than Snyder would not be able to find anyone who wanted to take my position.

This could happen w/ VC.

get rid of everybody! start new.

This could happen w/ VC.

Jeez, you think?

Of course, the downside is you're turning over at the following starting positions:

- OLB, Washington
- CB, Springs
- DE, Taylor
- DT, Griffin
- RT, Jansen/Heyer

You don't really believe that Springs, Washington, and Griffin will be healthy enough to make a difference next year, do you? They'll each play four games healthy, four games hurt, and miss eight games. That is not acceptable.

Jansen/Heyer = Disaster at RT. You may fear too much change, but surely you would agree that this position must be improved, wouldn't you?

Taylor would need to play much, much better next season to be worth the money. I seriously doubt that he will.

If I were ME, and I had Vinnys Job, I would:

Coaching Staff
-Keep Everyone in place but make Zorn relinquish some of his duties (I would allow Zorn to keep playcalling duties, beleiving that he would improve in that area if he had fewer responsibilities elsewhere)

Resign
-DeAngelo Hall.
-Monty

Cut
Of starters: Griffin, Rabach, Washington, Taylor, both kickers

Trade
-Santana Moss (3rd and 4th rounders - for kicks, lets say we trade with SF. They get more out of Moss in 2 games than we ever got out of Lloyd in 2 seaons)
-kedric Golston (4th rounder)
-Chris Horton (low 2nd rounder)

Sign in Free Agency
-Rocky Bernard, DT, Seahawks. He will be 30 when the 2009 season starts and I would sign him to a contract appropriate for someone his age. He managed 33 tackles and 4 sacks on a horrible defense in 2008. He would replace Golston and give us time to develop a young DT in the draft.
-Karlos Dansby, LB, Arizona. His stock will keep rising as long as Arizona keeps winning. He may become too expensive for us, but we'll see.
-Devery Henderson, UFA, New Orleans Saints. Replaces Moss.
-Two new kickers... anyone but the guys we have.

Draft
Trade the #13 pick to ATL for their 1st and 2nd Rounders (ATL selects 24th) and draft:

1(ATL): Ciron Black, OT, LSU. Black starts at RT in 2009 and swaps spots with Samuels in 2010.
2(ATL): Max Unger, C, Oregon Unger replaces Rabach immediately and has the versatility to play OG as well.
2(For C.H.): Fili Moala, DE/DT, USC Maola is also versatile and a good pick here if still available.
3(SF): Clay Mathews, OLB, USC Replaces McIntosh as a starter by the end of the season
3(WAS): Eric Moncur, DE, Miami Makes an instant impact on special teams as he works his way into a starting role in 2010.
4(SF) Anthony Parker, G, Tenn Project Guard to start in 2010/2011
4(For K.G) Captain Munnerlyn, CB, SC #3/#4CB
5(WAS):Curtis Taylor, FS, LSU Competes for roster spot.
6(WAS):Darryl Richard, DT, GT Competes for roster spot.

2009 Offensive Starters
QB:Jason Campbell
RB: Clinton Portis (splits carries with Betts)
WR1: Devin Thomas
WR2: Devery Henderson
TE1: Chris Cooley
TE2: Fred Davis (2TE sets becomes our standard formation as opposed to 1TE/1FB)
OL: Samuels, Rinehart, Unger, Thomas, Black

2009 Defensive Starters
DL: Carter, Montgommery, Bernard, Evans/Moala
LB: McIntosh, Fletcher, Dansby
CB: Rogers, Hall
SS: Landry
FS: Springs (when healthy)/Moore

You don't really believe that Springs, Washington, and Griffin will be healthy enough to make a difference next year, do you? They'll each play four games healthy, four games hurt, and miss eight games. That is not acceptable.

Jansen/Heyer = Disaster at RT. You may fear too much change, but surely you would agree that this position must be improved, wouldn't you?

Taylor would need to play much, much better next season to be worth the money. I seriously doubt that he will.

First on RT, I totally agree an improvement is needed. Jansen can't pass block and Heyer can't run block. Simple as that. That's one position where I'd absolutely make my move, and would probably use the first rounder on it.

On Washington I totally agree he's too injury prone and not effective enough. That's why I have the team cutting him in my cap thread.

On Springs, I don't agree. Springs was STILL the best CB on our team last year when healthy, and I don't see any chronic medical conditions that would lead me to believe he'll be unhealthy next year. Remember, just last year he played all 16 games for us. If you have arthritic knees or something that will nag you all season, that's one thing. But to have an acute calf injury to a guy who stays in shape with the best of them and to say he'll be hurt all year - there's no reason that's accurate.

On Griffin, they gu misses a few games each season, has for the past five years. I could go either way on him. On one hand it's not like he's missing tons of time, but on the other he does get hit with nagging things which he plays through, but reduces his effectiveness. But you can't argue with his ability to clog running lanes, he's still a big reason we ended up doing so well against the run. I really don't see how a Rocky Bernard is an upgrade, other than the health factor.

Taylor would need to play much, much better next season to be worth the money. I seriously doubt that he will.

So restructure him.

I think Washington is done.

As for Griffin, I agree with what you said about the quality of his play; however, he just hasn't stayed healthy enough to be on the field as much as we need him to be on it. Rocky Bernard had over twice as many tackles as CG and he had 4 sacks (CG had 1). That's a lot more production for the money.

When it comes to DL, stats do not tell the entire story. The best and most disruptive DL frequently get double teamed, which opens the door for inferior line mates to swoop in and get the glory stats.
An example that comes to mind is Dave Butz. I can not tell you haw many times he would get double teamed and the DE or LB on his side would get the sacks.
When Griffen is healthy, he is the rock of our D-line. We do not have another DT of his abilities. Griffen would have to be replaced if we got rid of him.

So restructure him.

Why would JT want to restructure? There's nothing in it for him except less $.

All Cerrato need to keep his job is stop listening to Snyder, I guess. We've thrown away so many picks, this year is no different. We need an immediate upgrade at DE and OT, but Vinnie and friends don't seem to get it.