Peppers says he wants to explore free agency

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by 53Fan

Hood is a guy to keep an eye on. If we get a 2nd round pick and he's there, I would take him. He may not be Haynesworth but he's good and would be a hell of a lot cheaper. I'll doubt he'd still be there in the 3rd. His stock will probably rise.

Yeah, I was talking to this college scout last week, and he was really high on Hood and some center whose name I can't remember). But he had Hood as a 3rd or 4th rounder back then.

He said Malcolm Jenkins was far and away his favorite player in the draft and if by some chance he fell to 13 we had to take him. I disagreed and said we didn't need to spend our 13th pick on a CB, we need line help. He said "you can find linemen later, you won't find Jenkins for a long time"

If it's any consolation, the team he scouts for is pretty awful.

But anyhow, I know nothing of Hood.

[The Goat]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Well the latest on Curry is he's skyrocketing to probably being a top 3 pick so that improves the likelihood at this point that we're taking Cushing at 13 (assuming he's there). I really like the idea of adding a young, playmaking OLB but I'm not convinced entirely that Cushing is the right choice that high.

I think the plan for the offensive line is Samuels is the LT until he has to carted off; at LG they really (and so do I) want to see Rinehart take that spot this summer, though I think they'll probably bring back Kendall for cheap if they can regardless, C is kind of a toss up position right now-I don't think they're in love with Rabach but I also get the sense they don't think it's all that important a position relative to others-I think they take a C very late in the draft and have Rabach, Geisinger (if healthy) and the draft pick battle it out in training camp with Jansen and Kendall being long shots. At RG, Thomas probably stays there. RT is the wild card, I think they're really trying to trade into the 2nd round to get an OT there. There are probably 7-8 draft picks who could start at RT right away and who knows when that will happen again.

So to summarize-Samuels, Rinehart, Any old bloke, Thomas, Rookie is probably their ideal starting scenario.

I can't help but be worried that we might not take a truly top OT in this year's draft. For all practical purposes we don't have a RT and Samuels while still very, very good is no spring chicken. A franchise tackle gives us so many options at this point where we can shore up both tackle positions for the foreseeable future.

... I understand OLB is def a need. Also realize it's just my opinion that a franchise OT is the best move but it will be sooooo unfair to JC (and the fans) if the FO fails to significantly upgrade the line.

I would just add that w/ Thomas struggling so bad last season and his resurgence as an effective guard questionable, but the near certainty he is retained because of the cap hit) it's all the more important we put a monster at RT.

[The Goat]

Also curious as to how Rocky Mac would be effective @ strong side LB when he struggled at weak-side? The official skins site has him listed @ 232 lbs... lighter than Marcus, Fletcher, Blades and even Fincher (who looks the meanest of them all BTW).

[53Fan]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Yeah, I was talking to this college scout last week, and he was really high on Hood and some center whose name I can't remember). But he had Hood as a 3rd or 4th rounder back then.

He said Malcolm Jenkins was far and away his favorite player in the draft and if by some chance he fell to 13 we had to take him. I disagreed and said we didn't need to spend our 13th pick on a CB, we need line help. He said "you can find linemen later, you won't find Jenkins for a long time"

If it's any consolation, the team he scouts for is pretty awful.

But anyhow, I know nothing of Hood.

Was it Alex Mack?

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by The Goat

Also curious as to how Rocky Mac would be effective @ strong side LB when he struggled at weak-side? The official skins site has him listed @ 232 lbs... lighter than Marcus, Fletcher, Blades and even Fincher (who looks the meanest of them all BTW).

I believe that SLB is the easiest position to handle on the entire defense, and while "strong side" would imply that you need a bigger, stronger player there, the fact that you spend a lot of time taking on blocks from the tight end instead of a tackle or guard makes me think that a smaller guy should be able to handle SLB better than WLB.

That, and I think it's somewhat easier, without having curl-flat coverage responsibilities and all.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by The Goat

I can't help but be worried that we might not take a truly top OT in this year's draft. For all practical purposes we don't have a RT and Samuels while still very, very good is no spring chicken. A franchise tackle gives us so many options at this point where we can shore up both tackle positions for the foreseeable future.

... I understand OLB is def a need. Also realize it's just my opinion that a franchise OT is the best move but it will be sooooo unfair to JC (and the fans) if the FO fails to significantly upgrade the line.

I would just add that w/ Thomas struggling so bad last season and his resurgence as an effective guard questionable, but the near certainty he is retained because of the cap hit) it's all the more important we put a monster at RT.

I think the feeling is there are a lot of top OTs

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by 53Fan

Was it Alex Mack?

No, it was some no name

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by The Goat

Also curious as to how Rocky Mac would be effective @ strong side LB when he struggled at weak-side? The official skins site has him listed @ 232 lbs... lighter than Marcus, Fletcher, Blades and even Fincher (who looks the meanest of them all BTW).

I think he played SAM in college, but it's more about just filling him in somewhere until someone else (Cushing?) takes over

[Trample the Elderly]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

I think he played SAM in college, but it's more about just filling him in somewhere until someone else (Cushing?) takes over

So what's the down low about how the FO wants to address the needs of the teams with the draft and FA or is that another thread? Can you just start another thread about the rumors that you hear being floated around?

[sandtrapjack]

According to the press release on Fox Sports, Peppers specifically mentioned wanting to cross over from the 4-3 to the 3-4 defense.

FOX Sports on MSN - NFL - Peppers won't sign long-term deal with Panthers

[53Fan]

Originally Posted by Skinny Tee

ProFootballTalk.com - PEPPERS WANTS TO PLAY IN A 3-4 DEFENSE

This should dash some hopes of the Peppers fans.

We already got it sandtrapp.

[TheSmurfs22]

Haynesworth is a good player no doubt but his character and the way he conducts himself is a big turnoff for me.
Stick to the draft and build that way. Enough of this paying for overpriced players who end up doing little to nothing.

[53Fan]

Maybe the Cowgirls will sign Haynesworth. You know.....team chemistry and stuff.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by sandtrapjack

According to the press release on Fox Sports, Peppers specifically mentioned wanting to cross over from the 4-3 to the 3-4 defense.

FOX Sports on MSN - NFL - Peppers won't sign long-term deal with Panthers

Which a lot of people think will be a mistake

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Trample the Elderly

So what's the down low about how the FO wants to address the needs of the teams with the draft and FA or is that another thread? Can you just start another thread about the rumors that you hear being floated around?

There are so many rumors being floated around, as is customary at this point, that starting a new thread would be all over the place. I hinted at most of what I know a few posts back with my somewhat educated guess.

Happy to answer any questions