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Well, with the Bill sout of it early again this year there have been plenty of Zoners offering opinions on what this team needs in the off season.
Realistically if we are going to contend for a playoff position next year we need immediate help from FA in some high priority positions. Yes, we should improve automatically with the return of a healthy roster but it is guarenteed that we will see some changes with both our offense and defense.
A new offensive scheme will set us back a bit and it is a good possibility that we may see a new offense but naything will help at this point. I don't expect our defense to change much other than the addition of a few new players especially in the DT place.
As far as free agency is concerned, we MUST get a solid #2 WR that is good at fighting off a CB and going up for the jump ball. Tall, fairly big bodied WR with good hands and reliability. We cannot rely on a rookie in the draft to start on day one. It won't happen. We are lucky that we have had good draft picks that have started for us in recent years. It won't happen every year.
We also need to pick up a hefty DT in FA. Where will our next Ted Washington come from? That is the type of player we need to clog the D line and allow our linebackers to make more plays.
The third need from FA is a back up QB. We need the services of a solid veteran play caller that will be able to help the learning curve of TE and also be able to hold down the fort in the event that Edwards goes down. Not a Vinny Testeverde but a Todd Collins/Kerry Collins type veteran.
If we address any areas in FA these are the three positions we need to strengthen. We should expect to see a fairly high profile player signed in FA even if it comes in the form of a trade and not just a unrestricted FA. I would guess that it would be the DT position because there are not too many solid run stuffing DT's that are UFAs.
As far as the draft, this will depend on what positions we can fill through FA. Assuming that we get who we need from FA for WR, DT and QB we will bolster depth and find soon to be starters in the draft to satisfy expectations in the 2009 season. Our first priority in the draft would have to be best player available for certain positions in the 1st round. Either an OLB or WR. I say this because the top players that we would jump at no matter what positions we needed to fill won't be there. No Chris Long, no Dorsey or Ellis. We won't go after a QB or offensive lineman, running back or a DE.
1st round
DT=Dorsey/Ellis, LB=Connor/Laurinaitis (either can play OLB), WR=Kelly/Sweed
2nd round
TE=Keller/Rucker, LB=Sean Lee/Highsmith, WR=Bowman, CB=McKelvin/Porter/Talib
3rd round
TE/WR/CB
I would hope to see...
1st-Ellis
2nd-Highsmith
Trade both 3rds to get a second rounder to take Keller
Trade the 4th round pick I could see us getting for JP and one of our 5ths to get back into the 3rd and take a CB or a tall WR.
Scrap the Hback crap and get a real tight end and FB formation.
Realistically if we are going to contend for a playoff position next year we need immediate help from FA in some high priority positions. Yes, we should improve automatically with the return of a healthy roster but it is guarenteed that we will see some changes with both our offense and defense.
A new offensive scheme will set us back a bit and it is a good possibility that we may see a new offense but naything will help at this point. I don't expect our defense to change much other than the addition of a few new players especially in the DT place.
As far as free agency is concerned, we MUST get a solid #2 WR that is good at fighting off a CB and going up for the jump ball. Tall, fairly big bodied WR with good hands and reliability. We cannot rely on a rookie in the draft to start on day one. It won't happen. We are lucky that we have had good draft picks that have started for us in recent years. It won't happen every year.
We also need to pick up a hefty DT in FA. Where will our next Ted Washington come from? That is the type of player we need to clog the D line and allow our linebackers to make more plays.
The third need from FA is a back up QB. We need the services of a solid veteran play caller that will be able to help the learning curve of TE and also be able to hold down the fort in the event that Edwards goes down. Not a Vinny Testeverde but a Todd Collins/Kerry Collins type veteran.
If we address any areas in FA these are the three positions we need to strengthen. We should expect to see a fairly high profile player signed in FA even if it comes in the form of a trade and not just a unrestricted FA. I would guess that it would be the DT position because there are not too many solid run stuffing DT's that are UFAs.
As far as the draft, this will depend on what positions we can fill through FA. Assuming that we get who we need from FA for WR, DT and QB we will bolster depth and find soon to be starters in the draft to satisfy expectations in the 2009 season. Our first priority in the draft would have to be best player available for certain positions in the 1st round. Either an OLB or WR. I say this because the top players that we would jump at no matter what positions we needed to fill won't be there. No Chris Long, no Dorsey or Ellis. We won't go after a QB or offensive lineman, running back or a DE.
1st round
DT=Dorsey/Ellis, LB=Connor/Laurinaitis (either can play OLB), WR=Kelly/Sweed
2nd round
TE=Keller/Rucker, LB=Sean Lee/Highsmith, WR=Bowman, CB=McKelvin/Porter/Talib
3rd round
TE/WR/CB
I would hope to see...
1st-Ellis
2nd-Highsmith
Trade both 3rds to get a second rounder to take Keller
Trade the 4th round pick I could see us getting for JP and one of our 5ths to get back into the 3rd and take a CB or a tall WR.
Scrap the Hback crap and get a real tight end and FB formation.
....thanks.
"Expect rejection, but expect more to overcome it." 
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