mgteich

OUT: Carter, Anderson, Ellis
IN: Scott, Fanene
NEED: Another pass-rusher

JackBauer

Shouldn't this thread be called "Need in the Draft"?

mgteich

That is your perspective. I disagree. I think it most unlikely that Belichick goes into the draft expecting to get Carter-like production in 2012 from someone he drafts.

JackBauer

Oh? And who, pray tell, are the suitable DE/OLB candidates currently available in FA?

BTW: You have Carter penciled as an out. Why?

patfanken

ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!!!. It's very rare that a rookie comes in an makes an impact contribution to a defense.

I just wrote about this in the Fells thread. A this point we need to replace fully HALF our sack total and more than 2/3rds of our outside rushing threats. That is NOT good. So far on defense we've added 3 role players. All look like solid contributors, but by not addressing our outside pass rush and not resigning Anderson and Carter, we've take 2 steps back.

At this moment, our only 3 outside pass rush prospects are:

Rob Ninkovich: A competent rusher, but who also has to drop back on a lot of plays
Trevor Scott - who hasn't played for the better part of 2 years
Jermaine Cunningham - Now I might be he last supporter on this board, but I don't want to count on him right now to replace Carter/Anderson.

That's it guys. THAT is pretty bleak. No that is VERY bleak. Now, I don't want to panic, because we could eventually resign both guys, though I don't know where the money is going to come from, and Anderson looks like he's more than half way out the door. But it IS fair, with no money left in FA (I think), to at least start asking the question of where our outside pass rush is going to come from?????

patfanken

Mark Anderson and Andre Carter

JackBauer

No, it isn't. Particularly if you're willing to expend the resources to acquire elite talent.

mgteich

Yup. They are listed as the best DE's available in free agency (along with Ellis).

I'm fine with us signing Anderson and/or Carter. However, there will be competition. There is almost no one else out there.

Marqui

Some of the better pass rushers in the NFL last year were rookies (Miller,Smith,Kerrigan). Sure if you draft some stiff in 2nd/3rd round you won't get much, but if you trade up for elite talent you can get great production year 1.

mgteich

Sure! If we were willing to use both of our 1sts and our 3rd, we might be able to land an elite pass-rusher who will provide significant help in 2012. Don't hold your breath waiting for this to happen.