Deke Cooper back +

I was thinking about signing Deke Cooper. He should be a solid backup type guy. I suspect the other 2 are unlikely to stick, but you never know.

If we had to play Deke, it wouldnt be a tragedy. I was beginning to think we may have a revolving door of street FAs there.

 

Think special teams. I'm sure we all remember just how bad they were last year aside from the punter and kicker.

 

Well a big name safety might be surprised to get a call from us but he is not going to tell us no just because we have not paid guys at his position in the past. He will say no because we do not want to pay him either.

There is a difference between not valuing a certain position enough to put a lot of money into it and being a cheap team that wont pay for talent. Letting Peppers or Smith leave would be what earned us that kind of reputation.

 

a big name safety would definitely be surprised to get a call from us, considering all of them are signed.

 

I think he did in '04 (?)


I feel better with him. Salley is still up in the air, but Cooper has proven that he can be a decent back-up and even contribute as a starter.

DeLoach isn't much, but can fill a role on special teams and can play about any position in the secondary. I think that would give him a slight edge over Strait, Wilds, Salley, etc. for a roster spot. He did have a respectable year in '05 rotating at the Giants nickle.

Lavalais is interesting. I think it's a good gamble on our part, because there are no serious character issues, and maybe he pushes Moorehead or even Lewis. Not sure where he is after a year off, but the team obviously feels good enough to find out.

 

I am speaking in HypO-Thetickal!

 

This looks to be the focus of Panther F/A 's this season

Loading up on potential S/T players and using draft to fill starter holes

 

I think it's definitely something we're trying to improve. Cooper is very capable in that department, Melton and DeLoach have pretty much been exclusively special teamers, and we've ousted certain players (Hankton, McAwful) who were clear liabilities. We do seem to be upgrading. The only thing missing is a KR.


edit: I also like how some of these guys can actually do something beyond special teams, instead of a guy like Hankton who gets the vague lable of "special teams maven".

 

I like that we're paying attention to the bottom of the roster, ST should benefit.

 

Nuh uh. A&T.