Originally posted by ImaMod:Originally posted by jaghetersofie:Originally posted by ImaMod:
Free Agency
-Resign Franklin
-Sign OJ Atogwe
-Cut Roman (Give Reggie Smith the playing time Roman had)
-Cut Battle
-Trade or cut Michael Lewis (Since we now have Atogwe)
Draft
1a. Trent Williams/ any great OT that could start right away
1b. Mike Iupati or any good guard that could start right away
2. Javier Arenas (Great PR/KR and can play nickel back)
3. Anybody fast
So we: Get OJ Atogwe, keep Franklin, get a NFL ready OT and OG, a great returner, cut Roman and Battle.
I like it. Not sure I'd take a G with that high of a pick. This draft is so deep that I can't agree with taking a Guard that early, especially since it isn't the biggest area of need. I also wouldn't sign Atogwe only because he's getting up there in age (for a SS in our scheme) and we need a long-term replacement for Lewis.
My Mock Off-Season Version 1.0
1a - Best Tackle available. I don't care what his name is or where he's from. UNLESS Berry/Haden fall. It's highly unlikely but if they fall it's a no-brainer on the Crabtree level.
1b - If we can I'd like to see us trade this back 5 or 6 slots and pick up an extra 3rd or 4th. Then with an early-mid 20's pick we take Taylor Mays. This one is tricky. There are so many talented players available at this pick but we have a lot of young developing talent at those positions (OLB/DE/G). When I see Taylor Mays play I see a younger Michael Lewis with an attitude. Manusky would be drooling about how to use this guy in blitzes and he'd be a fierce hitter who would be the attitude of our defense for the next decade. His main weakness is coverage but I think with him and Goldson patrolling the middle, their intimidation almost adds an extra element of coverage. To me, Goldson/Mays = Dawkins/Lewis in 2 years.
If we take Berry/Haden with the first than this pick goes to the best Tackle available.
2 - Dexter McCluster. PR/KR/3RB/Home-Run Threat. Unless somebody falls dramatically, we need to pick him up while we can. I don't see him making it out of the 3rd round and I'd put money on him going in the 2nd based on what Chris Johnson did this year and what McC will do at the combine. He's a Chris Johnson type (he won't be as good) who will be a threat to get 15-20 yards a play if not go all the way. He also solves the PR/KR problem. For the record I don't think he's a 2nd round talent but if we want him, we'll have to get him early.
I like Arenas but he doesn't have next level speed. He will at best be a #2 corner and we've already got a few guys like that (Spencer, Brown). If we need a PR/KR I'd rather have McC due to his explosiveness.
3rd on - I trust Scotty to do his thing in the late rounds, especially in a draft this deep.
Free Agency - I like everything you said except for Otogwe since we got Mays.
I'd go pick up the best G we can if we have some money available. If not, I'm fine with our O-line the way it is (with the new RT).
Trade -
I might get some heat for this but I trade Manny Lawson + 4th or 5th round pick for Joey Porter. Our defense got to the quarterback this year but we still don't have that one guy who can get to the QB at will in big situations. Porter will also come on the cheap (compared to other elite pass rushers). Brooks is good but he's still young and extremely raw. It seems to me as though he's still relying heavily on his physical skills but once he gets the mental aspect of the position he will be devastating. Who better to learn the modern OLB position from than Joey Porter? Bring Brooks in on 3rds with Porter/Haralson/Smith, that's a deadly pass-rush.
I like Lawson but he isn't and never will be Joey Porter. I also think Brooks' ceiling is far higher than Lawson's. Porter and Taylor Mays take our D from really good to great.
QB - Smith
RB - Gore/McC/Coffee
WR - Crabs/Morgan/Jones
TE - Davis
LT - Staley
LG - Baas (OR best G in FA)
C - Heitmann
RG - Rachal
RT - BTA
DE - Smith
DT - Franklin
DE - Sopoaga
OLB - Haralson/Brooks/Briggs
OLB - Porter/Brooks/Briggs
MLB - Willis/Spikes/McK
CB - Clements/Spencer/Brown/Harris(If Harris retires I'd like to see us bring Bly or Strickland back for depth)
FS - Goldson
SS - Mays
Our defense is top 5 and our offense is solid with weapons out the wazoo. Playoffs would be guaranteed(especially without Warner in the division.)
What you think Fail_Streak?.
Well the only real problem I have is that Id rather have a cover safety and move Goldson to SS since he really plays and is more suited for the SS position...Maybe Earl Thomas instead of Taylor mays..
But I do agree with getting the BTA with our first pick unless someone like Joe Hayden is there...
Ahhh moving him to SS makes a lot of sense. I'm not sure he's big enough to play SS for a long time though. He's a heavy hitter but he just looks really thin to me for a SS. I like your idea of getting a cover safety though. Makes Atogwe/Rhodes more viable options. I wouldn't mind seeing us get Mays but if we don't it's not the end of the world... I really wouldn't mind seeing Thomas/Goldson or Goldson/Mays. Either way I think we're set at safety for the next 6-8 years.
Our first pick shouldn't take Scotty more than 30 seconds to make regardless of who is on the board.
