Free Agency Begins in a Week, Whats the Plan?

[KI Skins Fan]

Originally Posted by Chico23231

^ Damn thats alot of people KI. I dont like your DE. Michael Johnson is a high risk signing and I think Minnesota is gonna make that mistake. They average 1 horrible signing a year, that might be Johnson.

Randy Starks? Rather have Tony Starks

Not all of them, Chico. I'd just like to have some of them.

OK, then I'll name five that I'd most like to have: Mike Mitchell, Aquib Talib, Anthony Collins, Geoff Schwartz, and Dexter McCluster. Those five would improve our team in our areas of greatest need, IMO.

There is some risk with Michael Johnson but I wouldn't characterize him as high risk. He might not get as many sacks as we'd hope for but he is better than Bowen in that department. He's also strong against the run. Jay Gruden should know whether or not he is someone we should go after.

Randy Starks is a damn good all-around player who has produced in the 3-4 and the 4-3. He has speed and quickness, a good motor, and he seems to have a lot left in the tank. He could push the pocket for us.

[MTK]

My plan would be to avoid jumping into the pool during the initial wave. Focus on the middle tier of available players. Focus on good fits vs names.

[NC_Skins]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

My plan would be to avoid jumping into the pool during the initial wave. Focus on the middle tier of available players. Focus on good fits vs names.

This is the smart plan and the one Bruce will most likely go with. He is cheap after all.

[donofriose]

As long as they fall in love with the value, and not the player, any signing should be fine.

Hopefully they go the Seattle route and sign players based on value.

[Monkeydad]

Wish list.



DEFENSE:

FS Mike Mitchell (play Thomas or Rambo at SS, Hall is backup FS if Mitchell goes down)

backup FS plans - Major Wright, , Chris Clemons, Louis Delmas


CB Alterraun Verner (start with Hall, Amerson starts if Hall plays FS),

backup CB plabns - Sam Shields, Captain Munnerlyn (who can also return kicks), Corey Graham


NT/DT - BJ Raji, Paul Soliai, Alex Carrington, Corey Peters

ILB - D'Qwell Jackson, Wesley Woodyard, Pat Angerer, Akeem Jordan,





OFFENSE:


WR - Emmannuel Sanders (will be WR2 behind Garcon)

WR/KR - Jacoby Jones (will be WR3, McCluster is likely staying in KC, they have the money)



T - GO after Eugene Monroe! The #1 tackle available and Baltimore did not tag him!

If we get him, do we move Trent to RT?



Backup plans at RT - Roger Saffold, Anthiny Collins, Breno Giacomini (was Seattle's Zone-Option RT), Zach Strief.


Guard - Jon Asamoah, Travelle Wharton, Chad Rinehart, Zane Beadles.

[EARTHQUAKE2689]

Originally Posted by Monkeydad

Wish list.



DEFENSE:

FS Mike Mitchell (play Thomas or Rambo at SS, Hall is backup FS if Mitchell goes down)

backup FS plans - Major Wright, , Chris Clemons, Louis Delmas


CB Alterraun Verner (start with Hall, Amerson starts if Hall plays FS),

backup CB plabns - Sam Shields, Captain Munnerlyn (who can also return kicks), Corey Graham


NT/DT - BJ Raji, Paul Soliai, Alex Carrington, Corey Peters

ILB - D'Qwell Jackson, Wesley Woodyard, Pat Angerer, Akeem Jordan,





OFFENSE:


WR - Emmannuel Sanders (will be WR2 behind Garcon)

WR/KR - Jacoby Jones (will be WR3, McCluster is likely staying in KC, they have the money)



T - GO after Eugene Monroe! The #1 tackle available and Baltimore did not tag him!

If we get him, do we move Trent to RT?



Backup plans at RT - Roger Saffold, Anthiny Collins, Breno Giacomini (was Seattle's Zone-Option RT), Zach Strief.


Guard - Jon Asamoah, Travelle Wharton, Chad Rinehart, Zane Beadles.

Why would you move the best LT to RT?

[Monkeydad]

Originally Posted by EARTHQUAKE2689

Why would you move the best LT to RT?

Because we'd have a better LT. Would instantly be the best bookends in the NFL.

Crazy you may say but some say it was crazy how much we gave up for Griffin. Protect the investment.

Trent played both positions in college.

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by Monkeydad

Because we'd have a better LT. Would instantly be the best bookends in the NFL.

Crazy you may say but some say it was crazy how much we gave up for Griffin. Protect the investment.

Trent played both positions in college.

My guess is that TW would be insulted by a "demotion" to the right side. Why alienate our best lineman?

[EARTHQUAKE2689]

Originally Posted by Lotus

My guess is that TW would be insulted by a "demotion" to the right side. Why alienate our best lineman?

With a lineman who isn't as good.

[artmonkforhallofamein07]

Originally Posted by Lotus

My guess is that TW would be insulted by a "demotion" to the right side. Why alienate our best lineman?

Considering TW is one of the best 3 LT in the game moving him and not some one else to the RT spot is ludicris.

[Paintrain]

I'm also in the camp of good mid level fits vs. big name splashes. I expect us to free up about another $8-12 million in cap room with cuts/restructures (Carriker, Bowen, Chester, Polumbus, Rocca) and enter free agency with around $26 million in cap space. Remember the graphic during the Eagles game that showed that with our $18 mil penalty, that equated to like 5 starters and 3 key reserves? The hand wringing over the Orakpo franchise tag is so silly when taking the true value of cap space into consideration. We still are able to be significantly active and productive in free agency. With that said...

Wish list-
DE- Everson Griffen: pass rushing specialist, makes impact plays and should make life easier for Orakpo and Kerrigan

ILB- Brandon Spikes: though he's a big name, coming off of injury and being a 2 down player, he's not going to warrant a huge contract. Spikes and Keenan Robinson can hold down one ILB spot.

RT- Zach Streif: A tier below the top tackles but solves the RT problem instantly

S- Chris Clemons or Malcolm Jenkins: Solid, dependable, not playmakers though

WR- Andre Roberts: Garcon 2.0, still young enough to grow, has produced with average QB play. Plus the draft is deep at receiver and I expect us to pick one at #34 so no need to spend big here.

ILB- Perry Riley: His value and fit are best here, although he will test it on the open market I suspect he will return

CB- Corey Graham: Solid vet in the secondary and special teams beast

C- Evan Deitrich-Smith: Upgrade on the interior OL, allows us to cut Montgomery and have Lichtenstieger compete with LeRib, EDS and Gettis for an interior starting OL role.


Luxury signings that I'd like but don't really see happening:
Dexter McCluster, Emmanuel Sanders, Linval Joseph

[Schneed10]

I would pay the freight for Byrd, he's a free safety with serious range, a necessary ingredient to permit Haslett to run the scheme he wants to. If your CBs are going to be Hall and David Amerson - players whose strengths are reading the QB and jumping the route to grab INTs - then you need a bad ass safety to cover for their inevitable mistakes. (Rest in peace, Sean Taylor).

The impact safety also allows Haslett to blitz more creatively. It's the biggest hole on our entire team given the way we play.

Other than Byrd, I'm with Matty. Keep it cool calm and collected, and wait to see what falls to us.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

I would pay the freight for Byrd, he's a free safety with serious range, a necessary ingredient to permit Haslett to run the scheme he wants to. If your CBs are going to be Hall and David Amerson - players whose strengths are reading the QB and jumping the route to grab INTs - then you need a bad ass safety to cover for their inevitable mistakes. (Rest in peace, Sean Taylor).

The impact safety also allows Haslett to blitz more creatively. It's the biggest hole on our entire team given the way we play.

Other than Byrd, I'm with Matty. Keep it cool calm and collected, and wait to see what falls to us.

I would definitely be on board with going after Byrd as our one big splurge. He could be a big difference maker as you point out.

[Paintrain]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

I would pay the freight for Byrd, he's a free safety with serious range, a necessary ingredient to permit Haslett to run the scheme he wants to. If your CBs are going to be Hall and David Amerson - players whose strengths are reading the QB and jumping the route to grab INTs - then you need a bad ass safety to cover for their inevitable mistakes. (Rest in peace, Sean Taylor).

The impact safety also allows Haslett to blitz more creatively. It's the biggest hole on our entire team given the way we play.

Other than Byrd, I'm with Matty. Keep it cool calm and collected, and wait to see what falls to us.

With regards to Byrd, is there a question of philosophy meaning do you believe that coverage more benefits the pass rush or the pass rush more benefits the coverage? Can we spend less on the back end considering we just spent $11+ on Rak, plus will have to spend at ILB & DE (either by retaining or replacing Carriker/Bowen) and still get improved results?

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by Paintrain

With regards to Byrd, is there a question of philosophy meaning do you believe that coverage more benefits the pass rush or the pass rush more benefits the coverage? Can we spend less on the back end considering we just spent $11+ on Rak, plus will have to spend at ILB & DE (either by retaining or replacing Carriker/Bowen) and still get improved results?

Coverage and pass rush certainly benefit each other. But for the specific defense that Haslett likes to run, even if the pass rush is great the coverage will break down regardless. Orakpo and Kerrigan both had good years, yet our defense left a lot to be desired. Sure you could get more pass rushers from the DL spot, but the way Haslett likes to get pressure is by blitzing in various forms.

Here's how a very fast FS allows Haslett to do his thing:

- the fast FS is capable of covering the gap left behind when a SS blitzes

- the fast FS is capable of covering the gap left behind on the seam route when a middle LB blitzes - the fast FS can successfully walk the line between covering the deep middle and covering the seam route, whereas a slower FS really has to choose either/or

- the fast FS lets the CBs play an off-zone the way it's meant to be played, with eyes on the QB ready to jump the route. Inevitably some of those gambles will go wrong, and the safety needs to be there to save the day.

- the fast FS just straight up reduces the risk of the long ball when a CB just gets flat burned

These are all reasons why we still miss Sean Taylor dearly. We'd be an entirely different defense.

If Haslett played a Tampa 2 then safety's not that important a position. Or if he played a conservative stop-run-first scheme like Blache always did, safety isn't as important. But to blitz and play soft-zone coverages, it's crucial.