Urgent
In the Starting Line-Up
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2005
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- 3,116
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On some of the roster competition:
WR - the issue with carrying a large corps here is that none of the true WR play Special Teams, and there are a couple "WR" that are ST leaders in Edelman and Slater. As good as he has looked, I see Stallworth getting squeezed out here.
OL - the reports on Koppen are troubling, and he certainly struggled the last couple years in the middle. Reports and limited viewing of Donald Thomas are positive. Thomas may prove a better option at guard, enabling Connolly to play at center. Koppen doesn't play ST either.
DT - a lot of competition here. Brace has seemed to bubble up from the bottom of the mix. Pryor performed really well when he played, but starting the season on PUP may be the best thing for him and the team. Deaderick played a lot after exiting PUP last year, but has had a pretty quiet camp. Looks hard to cut one of Wilford-Love-Fanene-Deaderick-Brace - and even tighter if Pryor comes off PUP.
DE - the Carter watch becomes more intriguing as we hear strong reports from Jones, Bequette, Cunningham, and Francis. Even without Carter, it's unlikely the team can carry Ninko-Jones-Scott-Bequette-Cunningham, let alone the charge Francis has been making. Very tough cuts coming here. I'd trade Carter for Scott in a second if it happens, but would be less surprised if it doesn't now. And I'd be more disappointed if Cunningham joins the list including Markell Carter, Shawn Crable, Vince Redd, and so forth, as another quick release.
LB - Carpenter has been receiving a lot of attention. His ST background and ability to sub at LB makes the release of White, Tarpinian, and Koutovides less risky. Based on the reviews, I think the team would be far more comforatble starting Carpenter in December than White or the others. Fletcher and Carpenter can play on three or four ST groupings and play well on defense as well.
DB - there is a greater premium on back-up DB's defending the pass, given the evolution of the league. Sterling Moore and Will Allen get a huge benefit here when compared to Barrett, Ihedigbo and Ebner. Moore and Tavon Wilson certainly contribute on ST. Allen as a dime defender offers much more than Barrett or Ebner as a ST missile.
I think the people competing as subs on defense this year offer a better combination of ST and substitute defense than years past. Playing Brown, Ihedigbo, White, and Koutovides on defense was painful. The team should be in a better situation this year when injuries eventually hit.
WR - the issue with carrying a large corps here is that none of the true WR play Special Teams, and there are a couple "WR" that are ST leaders in Edelman and Slater. As good as he has looked, I see Stallworth getting squeezed out here.
OL - the reports on Koppen are troubling, and he certainly struggled the last couple years in the middle. Reports and limited viewing of Donald Thomas are positive. Thomas may prove a better option at guard, enabling Connolly to play at center. Koppen doesn't play ST either.
DT - a lot of competition here. Brace has seemed to bubble up from the bottom of the mix. Pryor performed really well when he played, but starting the season on PUP may be the best thing for him and the team. Deaderick played a lot after exiting PUP last year, but has had a pretty quiet camp. Looks hard to cut one of Wilford-Love-Fanene-Deaderick-Brace - and even tighter if Pryor comes off PUP.
DE - the Carter watch becomes more intriguing as we hear strong reports from Jones, Bequette, Cunningham, and Francis. Even without Carter, it's unlikely the team can carry Ninko-Jones-Scott-Bequette-Cunningham, let alone the charge Francis has been making. Very tough cuts coming here. I'd trade Carter for Scott in a second if it happens, but would be less surprised if it doesn't now. And I'd be more disappointed if Cunningham joins the list including Markell Carter, Shawn Crable, Vince Redd, and so forth, as another quick release.
LB - Carpenter has been receiving a lot of attention. His ST background and ability to sub at LB makes the release of White, Tarpinian, and Koutovides less risky. Based on the reviews, I think the team would be far more comforatble starting Carpenter in December than White or the others. Fletcher and Carpenter can play on three or four ST groupings and play well on defense as well.
DB - there is a greater premium on back-up DB's defending the pass, given the evolution of the league. Sterling Moore and Will Allen get a huge benefit here when compared to Barrett, Ihedigbo and Ebner. Moore and Tavon Wilson certainly contribute on ST. Allen as a dime defender offers much more than Barrett or Ebner as a ST missile.
I think the people competing as subs on defense this year offer a better combination of ST and substitute defense than years past. Playing Brown, Ihedigbo, White, and Koutovides on defense was painful. The team should be in a better situation this year when injuries eventually hit.