We've heard Tannenbaum advocate draft flexibility each year, which essentially, depends on on FA. Assuming Favre retires, along with contract restructures and some cuts being made, we should have a little bit of money to spend on FAs. Considering all of the many needs - holes, depth, upgrades, etc - what do y'all think is the best way to achieve flexibility heading into the draft? Looking at the LB position: we know one ILB and one OLB is set, those being Harris and Pace. Gholston will either start or provide depth in Ryan's scheme. Bowens should be kept as depth. If we sign Bart Scott, then that gives us two starting ILBs. Bryan Thomas is up in the air right now, and I'd like to see what Ryan/Pettine can do with Cummings and Murrell. Therefore, I think the signing of Scott becomes paramount because that allows us to focus on other needs/value in the draft, or if anything, choose a LB for depth in the later rounds - e.g. I keep seeing Brinkley in every Mock- (provided, Cummings and Murrell don't make the squad). In my opinion, CB or S are also the most important positions to address in FA. I'm not saying we need a big name or even a starter at either of those positions, but we can't bank on getting only 1 in the draft and leaving it at that. We need depth here as Miller is gone, Poteat is probably on his way out, Coleman is blah, and Carroll probably won't make the team, unless he does as the absolute last CB on the depth chart (but used more on ST). I think Eric Smith is a goner and Elam should be held onto for depth and STs. The important thing is to acquire as much depth as possible because you have to plan on injuries occurring. So, are there other positions that can be filled in FA that will allow flexibility heading into April?
CBs will be the biggest drafted position on this team because of all the cuts at that position. Barrett, Coleman, Poteat. That's half the depth chart. There will be guys in FA to get for backups, but I can see 2 or 3 CBs being taken in this draft.
Personally I see a backup NT as our most pressing need this offseason. In the 3-4, the defense goes as the NT goes. Look at the drop off in production when Jenkin's play declined. I attribute this to fatigue and some injuries. You can't expect a big guy like that to go 3 downs every series. And Pouha just doesn't cut it. I would love to see us target a young NT in one of the first 2 rounds. That would give us great depth and foundation for the next decade. And help to give Jankins rest and keep his production up all season. Then I see our needs as CB, S, WR, and ILB. I want us to target Scott. He is young and produces. And another priority is resigning Washington, he CANNOT hit the open market next offseason.
So Scott we pretty much agree on. And I agree, we need a quality backup at NT. NDmick, I don't see how we can afford to take 2-3 CBs in this draft because we only have 7 picks (possibly 8?). I think the only way this can happen is if we trade down to acquire more picks. This is why I feel 1-2 DB's we be obtained in FA, however, I don't think they'll be anything more than depth. There are just so many needs and holes; this is the worst Offseason to have limited cap space and no extra picks. I think Tannenbaum will have to sign a handful of JAG FA's that can hopefully contribute in the event of injury.
Don't forget we need OL depth too. I think Turner and Hunter are the only two we have right now that are capable of playing without a significant dropoff. Imagine having to endure what Jax had to endure this past season -- I think their entire OL was injured wtf? I suppose one of the good things that comes out of this is that we have so many needs/upgrades that we can really draft for value - BAP - which is definitely the best method of drafting.
I personally like Karlos Dansby in the ILB, but Bart Scott would bring familiarity with the defense. I just think Dansby will be cheaper. But you are right. Our need on defense is clearly the secondary. With Revis and Rhodes our only two solid starters. Lowery again, even though it was his rookie season, showed some promise, I believe he will be the starter this season, but it depends on how our draft needs. But, keep in mind the defense that Rex Ryan runs. He doesnt run a formal 46, his 46 is a hybrid scheme with a mix of 4-3 and 3-4 combinations. The key to his defense is the pass rush. So in reality, its safe to say that he will address our need at DT, (I like Ron Brace), and DE (Insert a solid option here) first. Then I believe the rest of the pieces will follow. I do NOT like the choice of keeping Sutton to coach our linebackers, however his familiarity with the 3-4, the personnel is crucial to the development of the linebacking corps, including Gholston. He's not calling the plays this season, he's simply coaching the backers. His responsibilities have become micro managed. He reminds me of a Marvin Lewis. Awful coach when it comes to a heavy load of responsbilities but better when his focus was narrowed at DC. Sutton was an average DC, not horrendous but not great. Lets see what he does with those linebackers, with Pettine/Ryan calling the defensive schemes.
Thats true. Either our O-Line's conditions and training is great to prevent injury or we are lucky. Either way your right in regards to the fact that we need depth. Perhaps take a 6th and 7th pick on O-Line. It can happen. Most offensive linemen who are starters in the NFL were undrafted free agents, and some of the best were picked in the late rounds (i.e. Mark Tauscher) With respect to the Walter Jones, Nick Mangold, Logan Mankins, and Joe Thomas' that have all panned out as 1st round selections and are perrenial starters in the league. http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2008/04/07/building_an_offensive_linepart_1 http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2008/04/09/building_an_offensive_linepart_2 http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2008/04/11/building_an_offensive_linepart_3 http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2008/04/14/building_an_offensive_linepart_4 Despite that its a Kansas City beat reporter, he did a solid job in evaluating some of the NFL's top offensive lines. Note: the Jets were not amongst them. These blogs were written in April 2008, before last season started with the addition of Faneca, and Woody.
I think we can all agree on what the needs are. I guess what I'm getting at is, which of those needs will be (realistically) addressed in FA so that we have flexibility in the draft? Dansby would be a very nice pickup, but I don't necessarily think he'll come that much cheaper - if at all - than Scott. Since we have a tight cap budget, I think one of those guys would be the "big" FA acquisition, and then several other cheap FAs will be signed as depth. After the "big" signing, I'd say go for one (backup) OL in FA, one or two CBs, and possibly one DL; then cross our fingers that we score on our picks in rounds 1-4. The plus with signing depth FAs is that you can still justify selecting that position in the draft if it's an upgrade or a steal. For example, let's say we sign two cheap FA CBs and then Vontae Davis is the best value at our pick, we can still get him and potentially solve the CB issue. Same goes for S/CB Sean Smith. And the same goes for E.Brown if he's the best value, even after we may have signed a FA DE. It's tough to speculate what our cap space will be, but there has to be guys who'll hit the market who we can sign as depth heading into April. And based on how much Tannenbaum advocates this, I think he'll find a way to get it done.
The secondary has to be fixed prior to the draft. A corner and a safety have to be signed in free agency. There are other positions that are weaknesses but other then Favre the reason we sucked this was the secondary. They can't tackle, they can't cover and it made the defense predictable. The following players need to go: Drew Coleman Ty Law Eric Smith David Barrett Possibly Poteat Elam can be retained but not as a starter. In order for Rex to play the defense he wants to play he is going to need to have confidence in his secondary to cover and tackle and not make mental mistakes. Getting another nose tackle would be nice, but those guys don't exist. Rex is not going to run the Belicheck 3-4 so it's not as necessary to have those types of players. Jenkins will have many more 1 gap assignments where he can blow up the play.
O.J. Atogwe to be our FS opposite Rhodes Chris Canty to be our DE opposite Ellis Kyle Boller to compete at QB - not a big fan of his but Rex is familiar with him and we need more competition than just Kellen and Brad those are the FAs we need to sign
Unless Mark Sanchez is there, I think Alphonso Smith is the best pick for us at 17. He's phenomenal in coverage and only lacks size. Smith would be perfect for the Man-to-man system Ryan is going to need. I could also see us trading up around 8 to steal Sanchez from the 49ers, or trading down a few picks and taking a Clint Sintim/Brian Cushing. I think he'll jump in to the 1st, but I'd like to see us try and grab Josh Freeman in the 2nd. If not Freeman, then an offensive weapon like Shonn Green or LeSean McCoy.
