I've put together the list based on highest priority to lowest priority, IMO, but also grouped the needs because let's face it...this team has so many holes and could use a ton of upgrades so many can be interchangeable depending on who is available in FA or when we draft...
34 DE
OT
ILB
OLB
---
CB
TE
NT/DT
WR
QB
---
OG
Safety
RB
34 DE - We suck against the run, and still have no pass rush. We desperately need a guy that can pick up the slack in both phases...A real stud that can hold his own in a 34 set and also slide inside/step outside in a 43. If Dareus isn't at the top of our big board, he should be.
OT - Build from the trenches out...Control the line of scrimmage, you win. Bell is about as much 'the answer' at LT as Fitz is at QB. In other words...he ain't. Best case scenario we get a lock-down LT, and Bell moves to the right. If we end up with a Rightie, fine for a season or two but LT still remains a high priority.
ILB - Our LBers suck. Period. the POS is the best ILB we have right now, and that should tell you something. A big, physical presence that can attack the line of scrimmage that's also quick enough to roam and drop into coverage and even the POS will look adequate.
OLB - See above. Without a miraculous recovery from Merriman, or an unheard of leap in ability from Moats and/or Maybin we have nobody that can go sideline to sideline or get even close to coming off the end on a pass rush or cover a TE or HB. Kelsay blows, but would make better depth than a starter.
CB - McGee is breaking down, Florence is too inconsistent, McKelvin is more toast than money, Corner and Youboty have hit their ceiling. We need a lockdown guy badly. So much for our vaunted secondary being the strength of the team.
TE - If we don't have the worst TE's in the league, I don't know who does. We need a TE far more than any other skill position on the offense...the dearth of talent is simply embarrassing. We could actually use multiple upgrades here...one blocker, one receiver, one that can do both adequately.
NT/DT - Williams has had a nice year, but he's no space-eater...and that's necessary if you're going to run a true 34. Grab a hog that can occupy multiple blockers and occasionally blow up the line of scrimmage and let Williams back up the NT/DE spots, and play DT in 43 sets.
WR - Evans is not a #1 receiver, but is still a nice speed compliment. Johnson's hands are too inconsistent, and apparently the drop against Pittsburgh has affected him on the negative end...He may never actually recover. We need a #1 go-to guy, because as of right now we don't have one.
QB - Fitz played better than expected, and could be adequate with a better surrounding cast, but he's not the franchise by any means. Love his leadership, control of the game, smarts and toughness, but he's still far too inaccurate and a little bit too much of a risk-taker.
OG - Wood/Levitre/Rhinehart seem OK, but each take their turns getting blown up at the point of attack by stronger big men. We need a mauler that isn't going to take anybody's **** anytime, anywhere.
Safety - Whitner had a decent season, but he's no world beater. Who knows how Byrd is going to come back next season...back to '09 form, or more of the same from '10? Probably losing Whitner to boot.
RB - Hopefully next season the offensive guru's will have already figured out that Jackson is your money, and how to use Spiller more effectively. The talent is there, we just have to use it properly. On the downside, Freddie is starting to get up there in years and an every-down replacement is going to be imperative in a couple of seasons (because Spiller will never be one) but at least we have some breathing room here.
34 DE
OT
ILB
OLB
---
CB
TE
NT/DT
WR
QB
---
OG
Safety
RB
34 DE - We suck against the run, and still have no pass rush. We desperately need a guy that can pick up the slack in both phases...A real stud that can hold his own in a 34 set and also slide inside/step outside in a 43. If Dareus isn't at the top of our big board, he should be.
OT - Build from the trenches out...Control the line of scrimmage, you win. Bell is about as much 'the answer' at LT as Fitz is at QB. In other words...he ain't. Best case scenario we get a lock-down LT, and Bell moves to the right. If we end up with a Rightie, fine for a season or two but LT still remains a high priority.
ILB - Our LBers suck. Period. the POS is the best ILB we have right now, and that should tell you something. A big, physical presence that can attack the line of scrimmage that's also quick enough to roam and drop into coverage and even the POS will look adequate.
OLB - See above. Without a miraculous recovery from Merriman, or an unheard of leap in ability from Moats and/or Maybin we have nobody that can go sideline to sideline or get even close to coming off the end on a pass rush or cover a TE or HB. Kelsay blows, but would make better depth than a starter.
CB - McGee is breaking down, Florence is too inconsistent, McKelvin is more toast than money, Corner and Youboty have hit their ceiling. We need a lockdown guy badly. So much for our vaunted secondary being the strength of the team.
TE - If we don't have the worst TE's in the league, I don't know who does. We need a TE far more than any other skill position on the offense...the dearth of talent is simply embarrassing. We could actually use multiple upgrades here...one blocker, one receiver, one that can do both adequately.
NT/DT - Williams has had a nice year, but he's no space-eater...and that's necessary if you're going to run a true 34. Grab a hog that can occupy multiple blockers and occasionally blow up the line of scrimmage and let Williams back up the NT/DE spots, and play DT in 43 sets.
WR - Evans is not a #1 receiver, but is still a nice speed compliment. Johnson's hands are too inconsistent, and apparently the drop against Pittsburgh has affected him on the negative end...He may never actually recover. We need a #1 go-to guy, because as of right now we don't have one.
QB - Fitz played better than expected, and could be adequate with a better surrounding cast, but he's not the franchise by any means. Love his leadership, control of the game, smarts and toughness, but he's still far too inaccurate and a little bit too much of a risk-taker.
OG - Wood/Levitre/Rhinehart seem OK, but each take their turns getting blown up at the point of attack by stronger big men. We need a mauler that isn't going to take anybody's **** anytime, anywhere.
Safety - Whitner had a decent season, but he's no world beater. Who knows how Byrd is going to come back next season...back to '09 form, or more of the same from '10? Probably losing Whitner to boot.
RB - Hopefully next season the offensive guru's will have already figured out that Jackson is your money, and how to use Spiller more effectively. The talent is there, we just have to use it properly. On the downside, Freddie is starting to get up there in years and an every-down replacement is going to be imperative in a couple of seasons (because Spiller will never be one) but at least we have some breathing room here.
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