Random Blasphemy ~ Unsolicited Speculation!!

[Off The Grid]

Just a few thoughts that I've had about our current off season. Many'f'm'll be about moves that've already been made or could've been made, though some'f'm're about moves that might yet be.

I continue to bite off more than I can chew in the Work/School/Workout/Blog worlds, so I probably will fall short, yet again, of the goal of contributing to the Draft Forum, but for anyone who wants to comment on my draft-inclusive theoretical off season, that's where it'll be, though not until the eve of The Draft and, more likely, not until afterwards!! But in any case, I've gotten a lot more out'f this Site, via y'all contributing your thoughts, than I've given back, for quite a while, now, so I'm redoubling my efforts, as they say, to be less'f a lurker and more'f a contributor. Here's hoping this finds y'all well!!

What follows are some'f my thoughts on our prospective ReBoot Season. They are definitely subject to change and are not intended as a defined blueprint, just yet. And I’ll defer any Draft notions until later on, as my perspective on that beloved field of endeavor is still very transitional, except for the top QuarterBack Prospects. This is about Free Agency:


01 ~ I believe that we face roster peril far in excess of that which is generally perceived, by media and by fans. To wit: Many key players are at or are on the brink of reaching that inflection point between Rookie Contract and Max Contract that forces us ~ or Mad Bill, were he running the team

~ to face tough, grueling questions, given the constraints of The Infernal Salary Cap, about whether or not each key player is more valuable to the team and its championship quest ~ or not ~ than the 1, 2, or even 3 or 4 key Role Players that we might sign or retain instead.

02 ~ That's tough ~ extremely tough. But it'd be a thousand times tougher if not for the persistently brazen generosity of Tom Brady. How much do you think he would've averaged, the last several years, had he taken his talent on the open market? Even now, going on 41. Were he a Free Agent, with a stated intention of playing for another 4 or 5 years, and exhibiting absolutely no sign whatsoever of slowing down, what do you think he'd get? 35 million? 40 million?

03 ~ Thank God for Tom Brady and his incalculable loyalty and generosity above and beyond his brilliance in realizing that the less he makes, the better his chances of winning it all.


04 ~ According to OverTheCap, we were, when I started writing this and before we made any moves, about $21,000,000 under the Cap, this being on The Ides of March.


05 ~ So I’m looking at Free Agency and possibly Trades with a mind towards freeing up Cap Space, looking at how much Cap Capital we can amass…and then signing Players.


06 ~ My first addition to Cap Space is of course Brandin Cooks. I know that everybody loves that guy and that I’m going to get eviscerated for this, and I do not give a rat’s ass. I lauded Cooks in 2013, and he’s certainly top shelf talent…But I can’t stand’m. I’m a bit’f a braying jackass, myself, so I’ve got nothing against a fellow trying to build his brand, and I’ve got nothing a guy venting in public, per se, but Cooks publicly squawked about his role in New Orleans after a dominant victory, exposing himself, in my eyes, as a guy who doesn’t genuinely care about winning…and his pathetic play in the 2nd Quarter of the Super Bowl, when he easily had the crucial 1st Down, but gave it away to leap in the air like a putz, because he didn’t want to get clobbered when he cut it inside ~ and in so doing, cost us points that would’ve earned us our 6th Super Bowl Championship, for those scoring at home ~ confirmed my impression: He’s a Prima Donna who sells out when we need’m the most. I know that he talks a fine game and everyone loves’m, but I do not. I believe that he’s just been shining it up, to paraphrase Lou Gossett to Richard Gere in An Officer And A Gentleman, and I believe that, as with Randy Moss, his true character will eventually become clear to all. I’d trade’m to the highest bidder, and recoup that 8.4 Million to spend elsewhere. And I’d do so knowing that the market on Players of his skill are going for pretty much twice his 2018 salary. I don’t care. I don’t want this guy on my team, I know damned well he’s gone in a year if I’m running things, anyway ~ this is all an exercise in playing Fantasy General Manager, after all ~ so I’d rather get 2018 Draft Picks than a 2020 Draft Pick whose value is a 3.5 Round Pick at absolute maximum, while spending that 8.4 million on somebody who’ll hopefully think’f his teammates before himself.


07 ~ Cut or trade Kenny Britt. Good God, what a horrible move, picking up that guy. I cannot stand his work ethic. Cooks, at least, has a terrific work ethic. Britt has almost Randy Moss talent, but doesn’t seem to care. That’s $2,000,000 right of the books.


08 ~ Cut or trade Phillip Dorsett. Blech. Zoomer who can’t run routes. All set on that. That’s another $1,600,000 of the books, adding $12,000,000 from WideOuts. Sweet.


09 ~ Probably cut Dwayne Allen. I like the guy, and I’m not 100% sure of this move, because I love’m as a Blocker and I was stunned that he wasn’t more effective as a Receiver. And if he develops as a Receiver, he could become absolutely crucial to our success as a Hybrid who presents more’r less equally effective options in the Run or the Pass…But I’m provisionally gonna cut’m to free up that $5,000,000, as there’re only so many bucks to go around.


10 ~ Cut Jordan Richards. Just on general principles. In fact: cut’m, sign’m back, and cut’m again. ************. I take a back seat to no man in my fawning adoration of William Belichick, but the first thing that I’m gonna do when I’m Emperor of the Universe is to revoke Coach Belichick’s license to draft Defensive Backs in the 2nd Round. That’s $1,000,000.


11 ~ I like Eric Rowe just fine, but I don’t perceive him making the team. $1,000,000 more.


12 ~ OK, that’s a total of just about $40,000,000 in Cap Space to play with. That doesn’t count any changes reconfiguring or extending Brady, Gronkowski, or anyone else might entail. Me, I detest the business of pushing Salary Cap hits down the road, so I wouldn’t do any such thing, but I’m just acknowledging those things…It also doesn’t include the dozen players, all at about $500,000 or so ~ so that’s about another $6,000,000, not including other guys who’re likely to get cut, later ~ that I’ll ignore, in the interest of accounting for Rookie Contracts.

 

[Off The Grid]

So who might we spend that $40,000,000 on? I’m gonna go position by position:

13 ~ QuarterBack. I’ve always liked David Fales, but he was a restricted Free Agent, and I just have no willingness to allow another team to control even a fraction of my team’s destiny for any length of time. He’d probably be a no go, as that $40 Million is gonna go rapidly, and I’ll probably end up liking some later round QuarterBack in the Draft to compete with Hoyer…Much’s I like Fales ~ the Fish resigned’m ~ he’s not a match.


14 ~ Center. All set. Some good ones out there, but David Andrews seems to be coming along really nicely under Dante’s tutelage. Better to spend elsewhere.

15 ~ Offensive Guard. Ditto. I really liked both Shaq Mason and Joseph Thuney, coming out’f college, mocked both’f’m to us, and’ve been thrilled both with Mad Bill’s wisdom and with their development under Coach Dante. They’re still dirt cheap for one and two more years, respectively, so I’ll pass on Free Agent Offensive Guards.


16 ~ Offensive Tackle. Well, now…The stark paucity of genuine Left Tackles renders the decision to let Nate Solder go terrifying, but I applaud it, nevertheless. There are only so many dollars available with the Salary Cap. Is spending them on Left Tackle wise? Of course it is. And I can swallow it and pay "great" money for a “good” Tackle, such as Solder, because he plays a premium position, and value is always relative... But matching the Giants' offer, or maybe misering out at $15 Million flat x 4 years would've been investing almost 10% of our entire Salary Cap in a guy who's turning 30, is so tall that he's always had problems with shorter guys, and is particularly susceptible to injuries because'f it. And of course there’ve been whispers about his potentially retiring…I like Solder, but that contract could prove disastrous.

17 ~ I certainly hope so!! Screw the Giants. But where does that leave us? LaAdrian Waddle and Cameron Fleming are both interesting, in different ways. Waddle is a genuine talent, but riddled with injuries, while Fleming is a guy I did not like out’f Stanford ~ mind you: I didn’t hate the fellow!! ~ who has grown on me. Coach Dante will do that for you. I perceive Waddle as a potentially good Offensive Tackle, but one with lots of health risk, and I perceive Fleming as a potentially effective Offensive Tackle, with far less health risk. I would be interested in having either back as Reserves, but doubt that a market that is desperate for Left Tackles will render such services affordable. But Fleming might be available for a Shadow Starter’s salary, in which case I might want to sign’m, if only a “bridge”…But again I remember Salary Cap restraints, and believe it likely that, considering what I’m about to propose ~ theoretically, as it already too late for such a move ~ I couldn’t justify spending the money on a 3rd Tackle.


18 ~ The Offensive Tackle pickings are always slim...But from my particular perspective, this year, not entirely so...Let me just preface this by saying that 99% of you aren't gonna like this idea: It's unconventional, and while most'f us'll claim to embrace renegade thinking, most'f us in fact do not: Christopher Hubbard. It's purely an intellectual discussion at this point, of course, as Hubbard's already signed with CleveLand, but might provide insight into future transactions, one way or the other. Hubbard, at 6033/286, was far smaller, in 2013, than the generally agreed upon 6060/312 or so ~ higher if you can get'm that way!! ~ optimum for an Offensive Tackle...But I increasingly find that "optimum" to be foolish. Vertical Leverage ~ a term I've coined and repeatedly used ~ is crucial to success in The Trenches, so the taller you are, the easier to handle you...nor does it seem to me that Weight is of great advantage out on the Flanks, where you're more likely to be dealing with 250-275 pound opponents than you are at Guard or Center: Speed is as crucial as Ballast at Offensive Tackle, and Hubbard's dimensions seem about perfect from my perspective. Kelvin Beachum is considerably shorter than Hubbard, yet has proven to be an extremely effective Left Tackle, when healthy..and at $7,500,000 a year, Hubbard costs half of what Solder costs...and he's just entering his Prime, and he’s an athletic freak. Just sayin!!


19 ~ Still on Offensive Tackle: Luke Joeckle. A spectacular Bust, but one who started to gain traction, last year, though as a Guard, mind you, I would nevertheless love to see what Coach Dante might do with this former high flyer who’s value is now officially dirt cheap!!

 

[Off The Grid]

20 ~ Power End. Rob Gronkowski’s future is of course a cause of much speculation, but I for one see no value in worrying about it. First off, his choices are beyond anyone else’s control, and second off, I’ve long seen no value in depending on’m in the first place. No offense to’m. I love the guy. But his Frame renders’m susceptible to injury, regardless of his conditioning. In one Mock Draft, I actually traded’m, because of this, for among other things a Pick that I spent on Aaron Donald. But this recent tendency of Mad Bill’s to have two top shelf talent Power Ends? I love it!! I’ve been eyeballing none other than Austin Seferian Jenkins. He just signed, for 2 Years and $10,000,000, and I would’ve pounced on this guy. He’s been sober for a year, now, was consistently dependable on a bad and badly led team, last year…and I feel that he’s poised to launch. He got Star potential, and with him and Gronkowski out there, we could absolutely dominate as a running team and as a passing team…and with both’f’m out there, nobody’d ever know if it was gonna be run or pass. The tactical advantage on every Snap would be insane.


21 ~ Flex End. The old Aaron Hernandez gig. I’d probably pass altogether on that, because if I’m gonna work a role into the lineup, I want a worthy backup, as well, so we can still do the same things at a comparable level if the top guy gets knocked out…And even though I’m still a fan of Terrell Pryor a year after failing spectacularly on’m, and would love to get’m back at a presumably steep discount…well, Flex Ends aren’t as effective as Hybrids as Power Ends are, as they’re mostly just Slot Ends ~ big, athletic Receivers who don’t block so well. And with only so many Cap Dollars and roster spots, I’m thinking that both are better spent elsewhere.


22 ~ WingBack. Probably a no go, this year. I’d maybe even cut James Develin loose. WingBack is, bar none, my favorite position of’m all and is insanely underutilized, as I see it: FullBack sized Players, playing not in the old linear FullBack role, but in a dynamic, transitional, WingBack role a genuine Hybrid, as FullBacks used to be…But the talent isn’t there.


23 ~ Split End. Jordy Nelson!! 2 Years at $15,000,000??? Are you kidding me??? Yes, I know that he sucked, last year, and that is inexplicable, but there’s no way in Hell that I believe he’s suddenly lost his wheels. 10 to 1 he was suffering some unknown malady, last year. Nelson is oozing Comeback Player of the Year potential. He’s a top shelf talent, and the rare Split End who actually runs excellent Routes…and he was reportedly interested in coming here!! It’s theoretical, of course, as he’s now a Raider, but I’ll be he prove to be worth twice that contract if we’d’ve scooped’m up…and his presence would’ve set up the entire offense. Damn.


24 ~ Split End. DeAndre Smelter. Just a former Prospect that I was high on, one that I’d sign only on the cheap, as he probably wouldn’t make the team.


25 ~ Split End. Cody Lattimer. Ditto.


26 ~ Flanker. Kenny Bell. Ditto.


27 ~ SlotBack. Nobody. I love Albert Wilson, but he ended up going for too much for me to justify against other wishes, even though I’m certain that he’s worth it.


28 ~ PowerBack. As my strategic and tactical perspectives have evolved, I’ve come to accord far more value to PowerBacks than to SpeedBacks, because PowerBacks are more likely to become effective Blockers, and thus genuine 3 way Hybrids who might run the ball, run a route, or block, thus according their team the maximum tactical advantage on every Snap…But in any case I greatly prefer HalfBacks of either ilk who’re effective as Receivers, to such extend as I cannot justify their presence on my roster if they’re not. Having said all that…There ain’t much out there!! I love Zach Zenner, but would probably prefer my chances in The Draft…But I’d also keep an eye out on Cortrelle Javon Anderson…If the Broncos cut’m, or if they offer’m up cheaply enough, I’d love to have’m. Resigning Brandon Bolden was flat out brilliant. He’s vastly underrated in terms of getting it done on every Play, and in every way.


29 ~ Didn’t like the Jeremy Hill signing. I gave’m a 4th/5th Round grade out’f LSU, and he’s proven to be a mediocre runner who doesn’t catch the ball. And I don’t perceive’m as very powerful, either, even at 234 pounds or so: big but not especially strong.


30 ~ SpeedBack. Dion Lewis. 4 Years for $20,000,000?? Done. He is magnificent. Honestly, at 6 or 7 Mill, as I expected, I was ready to let’m walk ~ not ‘cause he ain’t worth it. He is ~ but because tough choices have to be made, and top quality SpeedBacks can often make huge impacts right out’f The Draft, and at far cheaper salaries…But Dion Lewis is the rare SpeedBack who’s so compact that he’s genuinely tough between the Tackles as well as outside…and he’s not even a bad Blocker, thanks again to his compact Frame, Motor, and Intelligence. Pay the man!!


31 ~ SpeedBack Rex Burkhead. Absolutely love this move. I’ve always been an enormous fan of Burkhead, and I’m dizzy with joy that we locked’m up for’is Prime Years!!

 

[Off The Grid]

Defense

32 ~ Bear Tackle. That’s the Vince Wilfork type: Short, powerful, interior Trench Gorillas who can optimally crush the running game and maybe rush the Passer. Malcolm Brown seems to be developing into a genuine lynch pin in the interior, as expected. I liked the Danny Shelton trade, because we’re effectively trading a 4th ~ a deferred 3rd, to be exact ~ and getting back a 5th, so we’re basically just moving down a round to get an ascending Beast on the interior, where we badly, badly, need’m…We’re only getting one year of cheap money on’m, mind you, but we didn’t pay very dearly for it. I might not necessarily echo that move when all is said and done with my Back Draft, depending on who’s available even cheaper, but I applaud that move. Defensive Tackles that can routinely command double teams impact every Snap far more dramatically than they’re given credit for, and now we have two. That was a coup.


33 ~ Justin Ellis. A supreme talent, really started to blossom in’is 4th year, who the Raiders got back for 3 and 15. He’s entering’is prime, and could be poised, at 5/year, for dominance.


34 ~ Yeti Tackle. Phil Taylor!! Longest of long shots, injury-riddled, and hasn’t played a Snap in a game since 2014…but going on 30 with few miles, highly talented, and if he’s got a brain cell in’is head, he’s completely focused, at this point. Potentially seismic impact, and dirt cheap.


35 ~ Lion End. Ty Warren type. 6.4/300, that sort of type. Lawrence Guy.


36 ~ Shamar Stephen is a guy I’ve always been high on, despite his sketchy pedigree, being from Connecticut. Blech. Looks like he might come dirt cheap, heading into’is prime!!


37 ~ Adrian Clayborn, I thought, was an excellent signing at 2/12. He’s good and well worth the money. Even so, I’d probably makes other moves, constraints being what they are.


38 ~ Dragon End. McGinest. Vrabel. Ninkovich. We’re actually not hurting too badly, with my boys Trey Flowers and Deatrich Wise, around, but we need at least two more.


39 ~ Junior Galette. I’d look at this guy very carefully. Accusations of violence in his past, and he hasn’t been on the field in about 800 years…But my God, is he incredibly talented, he’s entering his prime, and he is quite possibly available dirt cheap. Incredibly talented.


40 ~ Jaqueis Smith. Intriguing young, talented veteran. Potentially dirt cheap.


41 ~ Tank Carradine. Ditto. Highly talented. He’s been misused.


42 ~ Aaron Lynch. Ditto. Super talented. Psychotic.


43 ~ Karl Klug. 30, but light tire wear. Cheap.


44 ~ Bandit. Players too light to play Dragon and Set The Edge yet too heavy or tall or both to effectively boast the range in Run Defense or Pass Coverage as a MidFielder ~ that’s “LineBacker” to you Earthlings ~ but who nevertheless can make an impact in either regard, and especially as a Pass Rusher. Derek Rivers and Eric Lee both meet that description, as does Kyle Van Noy and my man Shae McClellin. So does Marquis Flowers, who’s worth retaining. I cannot see any Free Agents worth the price, though, as I don’t favor Bandits.


45 ~ MidFielder. Donte HighTower, I actually characterize as a Dragon, due to the fact that he’s the size and weight of a Dragon and effectively plays one, though spending far more time in the middle of the field than most. I had mixed feelings about signing him a year ago, much as I admire’m, but it is what it is: Hopefully, he’ll acquire sustained health.


46 ~ The only Free Agent MidFielder that really intrigues me is Navorro Bowman. He looks like he may finally be 100% and returning to’is old form as his 30th approaches. He’s probably dirt cheap, and yet when he was 100%, before, he was a freaking superstar.


47 ~ We’re somehow hurting at both Dragon and MidFielder, two gigs at which we so recently boasted amazing depth of talent. I’d address MidFielder intensely in The Draft.

 

[Off The Grid]

48 ~ Gryphon. MidFielder/RoverBack (“Strong Safety”) Hybrid. Big Nickle, if you like. An emerging role that even Coaches seemed beyond coming up with an appropriate name for, so I came up with one. These are the Box Safeties that’re mislabeled “LineBackers”.


49 ~ RoverBack. We’re obviously strong there, with Patrick Chung. I suppose that we ought to keep an eye out for a reserve in the draft, though I persist in fantasizing that Nate Ebner is somehow going to develop into something more than a Special Teamer.


50 ~ CenterFielder. Looking good there as well, with Devin McCourty and Duron Harmon.


51 ~ CornerBack. Butler’s gone, of course. But there’re several interesting players out there.


52 ~ Jason McCourty. I suppose that if you can get Devin’s Bro for $3 Million and by moving back a round late in the draft, you do so. Maybe. There’re other possibilities:


53 ~ DeShean Shead. The Lions signed’m for $3.5 Mill. Emerged as Richard Sherman’s partner in Seattle in 2016 and played very well before blowing up his ACL in the PlayOffs and essentially losing the entire 2017 campaign. But he should be 100%, now, he’s dirt cheap at 3.5/year, and at 29 he’ll be poised for’is best years, unlike McCourty, I think, who’ll be 31 and has a lot more mileage on’m. But I wouldn’t rule out getting both’f’m!!


54 ~ Aaron Colvin. This is the guy I’d really like to’ve got. 1st Round talent who sank to the 4th in 2014 because of injury and who emerged into prominence, last year. 26, entering his prime years, with top level potential, I think he’s incredibly cheap at 4/$34 Million.


55 ~ Terrance Mitchell. I’m just mentioning’m, because there’s no way I could fit all the other guys I want under the cap, and him, too, even at the 3/12 the Browns game’m. Not exactly overwhelmingly talented, but a scrapper that I’ve always liked, entering his Prime.


56 ~ Delvin Breaux!! Top talent who rocked it in 2015, but has missed most’f the last two years, owing, it seems, to the Saints misdiagnosing his injury. 28, in his prime, should be 100% healthy, dirt cheap, and he’s even just visited the Patriots a few days ago!!


Now, these moves wipe out that $40,000,000 surfeit and put us about $5,000,000 over The Cap, not including what it’d take to haul in Galette, Bowman, and all those dirt cheap guys, so additional tough decisions would’ve had to’ve been made…But all’f this is meant to be a fuzzy picture of what I’d’ve like to’ve seen us do, not a finished product. As always, I’m striving to master the art of player assessment, value, timing, and chemistry and all that, and like all such endeavors, it helps to put it one’s thoughts down for future assessment to see what can be learned…And any comments are of course welcome and appreciated…mostly.

I have no business spending this much time on this...Then, again: It's sort'f been built, incrementally, over the course of many weeks, so I suppose it ain't so bad...

Maybe.

 

[manxman2601]

01 ~ I believe that we face roster peril far in excess of that which is generally perceived, by media and by fans. To wit: Many key players are at or are on the brink of reaching that inflection point between Rookie Contract and Max Contract that forces us ~ or Mad Bill, were he running the team

~ to face tough, grueling questions, given the constraints of The Infernal Salary Cap, about whether or not each key player is more valuable to the team and its championship quest ~ or not ~ than the 1, 2, or even 3 or 4 key Role Players that we might sign or retain instead.

This. My one disappointment with some of the moves last year and this* is whether they’ve put us in a place to project to the next 3-5 years especially considering, for one reason or another, the disappointments from last years draft. I think we’re at the point where the future is uncertain, particularly in relation to Gronk and Brady. B.B. needs to nail this upcoming draft because his free agent moves appear to be pretty short-term ones and this might be a very different team in three years. Time to prepare now.

* I’m pretty happy with what has happened in free agency in terms of the short-term, I just don’t think they’ve helped much projecting forward.

 

[IllegalContact]

One sentence response :

You don’t do a ‘reboot season’ without replacing a 41 year old QB

 

[Clonamery]

You lost me when you quoted An Officer and a Gentleman.

Other than that, well, you've given the team a lot of thought and that says a lot about your Patsfandom.

 

[holyredeemer]

You got rid of Cooks, Dorsett, Britt and Allen. I understand other than Cooks, most of those guys didn’t produce a ton for us as far as catches go last season, but that is still 4 bodies you have to replace. Where are we going to find 4 guys with that much talent that will also be that cheap?

 

[Froob]

How do you know Britt has an awful work ethic? Kinda hard to say without working with humans if B.B. kept him, I doubt it’s that bad.

 

[patfanken]

Thanks for the read, Grid. I didn't agree with some of it, but you left a lot to think about that I wouldn't have been aware of, if you hadn't put in the work. I like some of the FA's you are looking at and will be interested in finding out who you like in the draft given we will be at 31 in most rounds.

It took so long to read your tome, I no longer have time to comment on specifics right now except to say I'm glad there is at least one other optimist who is waiting for Nate Ebner to emerge beyond his special teams role.

 

[neuronet]

Cut James Develin? Nope, nada can't get on that train.

Most of the rest I find intriguing and agree with, especially Cooks.

With Lewis, I'm confused: are you saying we should have let him go, or...?

 

[Tony2046]

Cut James Develin? Nope, nada can't get on that train.

Most of the rest I find intriguing and agree with, especially Cooks.

With Lewis, I'm confused: are you saying we should have let him go, or...?

He's saying we should have kept him.

 

[Tony2046]

Wow. OTG. Love your writing style.

A few of my counter thoughts:

1. I'm ok with trading Cooks but I would insist on keeping Dorsett if you did so. From watching the all 22 he looks slightly faster on film than Cooks. He's made a few tough contested catches and this will be his first full year in the offensive system. I expect that what we'll get this year from him will be better than last year.

2. Not a disagreement but think or hope Rivers could be the potential Ninko replacement or the Dragon Edge guy.

3. Completely agree with you, as do most, that we need to add some solid vets at midfielder.


Thanks again. Really enjoyed reading that.

 

[patfanken]

Wow. OTG. Love your writing style.

A few of my counter thoughts:

1. I'm ok with trading Cooks but I would insist on keeping Dorsett if you did so. From watching the all 22 he looks slightly faster on film than Cooks. He's made a few tough contested catches and this will be his first full year in the offensive system. I expect that what we'll get this year from him will be better than last year.

2. Not a disagreement but think or hope Rivers could be the potential Ninko replacement or the Dragon Edge guy.

3. Completely agree with you, as do most, that we need to add some solid vets at midfielder.


Thanks again. Really enjoyed reading that.

I don't think Rivers is ever going to be a Ninko replacement. He's not big enough. No I see Rivers as the guy we keep so we didn't have to go after Vinny Curry. THAT's the role we get to see from him, if not this year, by next year when the ACL will be well in his past.

 

[Tony2046]

I don't think Rivers is ever going to be a Ninko replacement. He's not big enough. No I see Rivers as the guy we keep so we didn't have to go after Vinny Curry. THAT's the role we get to see from him, if not this year, by next year when the ACL will be well in his past.

Well I'll definitely defer to your judgement. The only reason I thought so is because Rivers has unique speed for his size. He definitely has the potential to play the OLB/DE role in a 3-4 scheme. But you could be right. I often over estimate positional value.

 

[ATippett56]

You lost me when you quoted An Officer and a Gentleman.

Other than that, well, you've given the team a lot of thought and that says a lot about your Patsfandom.

Off The Grid wants Brandin's "DOR".

 

[Clonamery]

Off The Grid wants Brandin's "DOR".

Yeah. It’s from the Lifetime Channel, even I’m not that “manly” (at least that’s what mom says).

 

[patsfaninpa]

We need a couple of midfielders....err....linebackers....err 240-250 men who can run and knock people to the ground!! Enough of the WR's!!

 

[doesntmatter1]

I have waited years for viable deep threats. I'm in no hurry to get rid of any of them. We usually struggle in drafting receivers and there isn't really anyone in free agency available better than what we have. Dorsett did little things such as block like a beast from the slot. I see Dorsett taking on Amendola's role of great blocker and forgotten receiver that will come through when least expected. Britt is more of a question mark for me mainly because he is a burger away from being a tight end. Maybe it would be better for him if he was a tight end battling against Hollister instead of Mitchell.

For the defense.....cut Richards. I don't even care if he were to turn his career around and become an all-pro. I am officially rooting against him. It is rare for me to 100% quit on any patriot but the last time I did it was when I declared myself the #1 Gary Guyton hater. No regrets so far lol. I want us to find another Jamie Collins. More importantly, I want a guy that is great at blitzing and routinely gets by blocks from running backs. Collins and Hightower are great blitzers and that is something no one including Van Noy was able to replace. I'd even take a guy similar to Brandon Spikes if they can blitz up the gut. Our run defense has to be priority #1. Almost forgot....cut Elandon Roberts. Roberts regressed and he was barely good enough to start.

Hill...meh. He is experienced, big, and cheap. Not too much risk and could potentially be good at short yardage.