Just thought I might as well get in on the act.
Whilst the Nix/Gailey hiring seems unexciting, I prefer to hold comment until I see how they do in Free Agency and in the draft -of which I think two will be required before a true assessment can be made on the legacy of this pairing.
When considering Free Agency, I prefer to consider mid-rank signings because of the historic difficulty in attracting free agents, whilst those looking for a starting gig might be more open to offers. It is clear that if we move to a 3-4 defence we will need both NT and DEs because those currently on the roster might never fully adapt.
So starting with the draft
R1. BRUCE CAMPBELL, LT, MARYLAND. (6ft7, 310lbs, 4.94)
Our most critical need on offense, surpassing QB. If we cannot keep a QB, any QB upright, this team will never have an effective offence
R2. ARTHUR JONES, NT/DE, SYRACUSE (6ft4, 294lbs, 5.06lbs)
A guy who could play either position, coming from a wrestling background he might have the necessary strength and if he can add 10-15lbs he will be at a similar weight to Jay Ratliff NT of the Cowboys
R3. SEAN LEE, ILB, PENN STATE (6ft2, 236lbs, 4.75)
Mitchell never succeeded when he played ILB with the Chiefs and I think we need to get a better player alongside Posluzny
R4. NAAMAN ROOSEVELT, WR, BUFFALO (6ft0, 191lbs, 4.49)
the best college WR the national press have not reported on. There are some good players locally and its about time we sent our scouts down the road
R5. COREY PETERS, DE, KENTUCKY (6ft3, 295lbs, 4.97)
Had a strong senior season, but is a middle ranked prospect who could go as high as the 3rd but as low as the 6th
R6. JAMES STARKS, RB, BUFFALO (6ft2, 211lbs, 4.55)
With a final season missed with a shoulder injury, he'll have fallen down the rankings but would be a great complement to Fred-x
R6. JARVIS GEATHERS, OLB, CENTRAL FLORIDA (6ft2, 238lbs, 4.59)
11 sacks in his senior season so who cares if he's a little undersized
R7. GREG MIDDLETON, DE, INDIANA (6ft3, 285lbs, 4.92)
Had a great sophmore season but production has declined since then. However he has transitioned in size to be a 3-4 DE and I think he'd be great value here
R7. CORY JACKSON, FB, MARYLAND (6ft1, 245lbs, 4.73)
If we are serious about running the ball we need someone to plow the road. Good hands, and a hardass blocker
Moving on to free agency, I think we won't be look a high price veterans, but second tier guys looking for starting gigs who have upside. So some potential names include
GABE WATSON, NT, ARIZONA CARDINALS (6ft4, 329lbs)
ANTHONY MONTGOMERY, DE, WASHINGTON REDSKINS (6ft6, 315lbs)
D'QWELL JACKSON, ILB, CLEVELAND BROWNS (6ft0, 240lbs)
DAVID CARR QB, NEW YORK GIANTS (6ft3, 220lbs)
MALCOLM FLOYD, WR, SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (6ft5, 226lbs)
with an exception in:
SHAWN MERRIMAN, OLB, SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (6ft4, 265lbs)
who the Chargers will struggle to resign with both Jackson and McNeill as Free Agents. With his injury and drug history the competition might be lighter than expected.
For those to stay and or go, I see the following:
The QBs will remain the same with one falling by the wayside.
Reed and Owen probably will not be resigned but with Floyd, and Roosevelt plus Evans, Hardy and Steve Johnson we would have depth.
TE depth remains the same.
At RB I see Lynch being traded but it is possible we will look for a pick in 2011 as any partner might be prepared to offer more.
OL I see remaining broadly the same
On the DL I see it being more radical for obvious reasons. If we switch to 3-4 we will look to offload 4-3 players like Ellison and Kelsay. Kyle Williams might be traded for a middle round pick. With Stroud on the way down, he might simply be cut. With 3 draft picks and two free agency signings, a choice might be made between retaining Ryan Denney or Spencer Johnson, as both can be a 3-4 DE. Schobel may well simply retire.
At LB, Mitchell and Ellison go, but Palmer is retained.
In the secondary, there is no change with the CBs but I wonder if a trade of Whitner might be investigated especially as we have depth at S, and Whitner will be in the final year of his contract.
So in essense a core roster of
QB Carr (plus 2 from Brohm, Edwards or Fitzpatrick)
RB F.Jackson (backed up by Lynch and UFA)
FB C.Jackson
WR Evans & Floyd (supported by Hardy, Johnson and Roosevelt)
OL Campbell - Levitre - Hangartner (Wood) - Incognito - Butler, depth coming from Bell, Meredith and whoever loses the C battle
on the 3-4 defence I see it as
DE Montgomery
NT Watson
DE Sp Johnson
(backed up by a rookie trio of Middleton-Jones-Peters)
a LB Corps of Merriman-Jackson-Pozlusny-Maybin with initial depth from Lee, Palmer and Geathers
a Secondary of McGee, Byrd, Wilson and Florence, with depth from Corner, McKelvin, Lankster, Harris, Wendling and Scott.
Whilst the Nix/Gailey hiring seems unexciting, I prefer to hold comment until I see how they do in Free Agency and in the draft -of which I think two will be required before a true assessment can be made on the legacy of this pairing.
When considering Free Agency, I prefer to consider mid-rank signings because of the historic difficulty in attracting free agents, whilst those looking for a starting gig might be more open to offers. It is clear that if we move to a 3-4 defence we will need both NT and DEs because those currently on the roster might never fully adapt.
So starting with the draft
R1. BRUCE CAMPBELL, LT, MARYLAND. (6ft7, 310lbs, 4.94)
Our most critical need on offense, surpassing QB. If we cannot keep a QB, any QB upright, this team will never have an effective offence
R2. ARTHUR JONES, NT/DE, SYRACUSE (6ft4, 294lbs, 5.06lbs)
A guy who could play either position, coming from a wrestling background he might have the necessary strength and if he can add 10-15lbs he will be at a similar weight to Jay Ratliff NT of the Cowboys
R3. SEAN LEE, ILB, PENN STATE (6ft2, 236lbs, 4.75)
Mitchell never succeeded when he played ILB with the Chiefs and I think we need to get a better player alongside Posluzny
R4. NAAMAN ROOSEVELT, WR, BUFFALO (6ft0, 191lbs, 4.49)
the best college WR the national press have not reported on. There are some good players locally and its about time we sent our scouts down the road
R5. COREY PETERS, DE, KENTUCKY (6ft3, 295lbs, 4.97)
Had a strong senior season, but is a middle ranked prospect who could go as high as the 3rd but as low as the 6th
R6. JAMES STARKS, RB, BUFFALO (6ft2, 211lbs, 4.55)
With a final season missed with a shoulder injury, he'll have fallen down the rankings but would be a great complement to Fred-x
R6. JARVIS GEATHERS, OLB, CENTRAL FLORIDA (6ft2, 238lbs, 4.59)
11 sacks in his senior season so who cares if he's a little undersized
R7. GREG MIDDLETON, DE, INDIANA (6ft3, 285lbs, 4.92)
Had a great sophmore season but production has declined since then. However he has transitioned in size to be a 3-4 DE and I think he'd be great value here
R7. CORY JACKSON, FB, MARYLAND (6ft1, 245lbs, 4.73)
If we are serious about running the ball we need someone to plow the road. Good hands, and a hardass blocker
Moving on to free agency, I think we won't be look a high price veterans, but second tier guys looking for starting gigs who have upside. So some potential names include
GABE WATSON, NT, ARIZONA CARDINALS (6ft4, 329lbs)
ANTHONY MONTGOMERY, DE, WASHINGTON REDSKINS (6ft6, 315lbs)
D'QWELL JACKSON, ILB, CLEVELAND BROWNS (6ft0, 240lbs)
DAVID CARR QB, NEW YORK GIANTS (6ft3, 220lbs)
MALCOLM FLOYD, WR, SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (6ft5, 226lbs)
with an exception in:
SHAWN MERRIMAN, OLB, SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (6ft4, 265lbs)
who the Chargers will struggle to resign with both Jackson and McNeill as Free Agents. With his injury and drug history the competition might be lighter than expected.
For those to stay and or go, I see the following:
The QBs will remain the same with one falling by the wayside.
Reed and Owen probably will not be resigned but with Floyd, and Roosevelt plus Evans, Hardy and Steve Johnson we would have depth.
TE depth remains the same.
At RB I see Lynch being traded but it is possible we will look for a pick in 2011 as any partner might be prepared to offer more.
OL I see remaining broadly the same
On the DL I see it being more radical for obvious reasons. If we switch to 3-4 we will look to offload 4-3 players like Ellison and Kelsay. Kyle Williams might be traded for a middle round pick. With Stroud on the way down, he might simply be cut. With 3 draft picks and two free agency signings, a choice might be made between retaining Ryan Denney or Spencer Johnson, as both can be a 3-4 DE. Schobel may well simply retire.
At LB, Mitchell and Ellison go, but Palmer is retained.
In the secondary, there is no change with the CBs but I wonder if a trade of Whitner might be investigated especially as we have depth at S, and Whitner will be in the final year of his contract.
So in essense a core roster of
QB Carr (plus 2 from Brohm, Edwards or Fitzpatrick)
RB F.Jackson (backed up by Lynch and UFA)
FB C.Jackson
WR Evans & Floyd (supported by Hardy, Johnson and Roosevelt)
OL Campbell - Levitre - Hangartner (Wood) - Incognito - Butler, depth coming from Bell, Meredith and whoever loses the C battle
on the 3-4 defence I see it as
DE Montgomery
NT Watson
DE Sp Johnson
(backed up by a rookie trio of Middleton-Jones-Peters)
a LB Corps of Merriman-Jackson-Pozlusny-Maybin with initial depth from Lee, Palmer and Geathers
a Secondary of McGee, Byrd, Wilson and Florence, with depth from Corner, McKelvin, Lankster, Harris, Wendling and Scott.
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