Quarterback situation in '08

Do you know off hand how successful Foster has been running inside on 3rd and short situations? Just from being at home games and watching road games, my assumption is he has not been consistently good on 3rd and short. Now, is that Foster, the O-line, or more likely a combination of both. Still leaves us with the question, do we need a more powerful back or can we get it done with Foster/Williams if we improve the o-line?

 

No idea offhand. I can look it up later, see if I can come up with anything.


Last year, early, Foster was leading the league in first down runs. This year he's shown an ability to bounce off guys and take some of the really hard yards inside, to the detriment of his overall game IMO.

The fumbles hurt, and we can find someone who can do things he does now, for less. You can go either way- Foster could improve with a better line situation, and of course someone else could, too.

Fox likes him, and more importantly JR does; it's funny how people give Fox so much shit, and possibly correctly, for loyalty to players, when clearly Richardson has a good bit of that himself, we just don't know to what end.

 

FWIW, I know everyone's all about "OMG GET FANECA AND MICHAEL TURNER AND IT"S A DYNASTY", but a great budget pickup and an underrated player right now is Chris Brown. Certainly, of that tier player, he's a better bet than a Musa Smith right now.

There's also the earnest hope we could have the balls to go get a guy like Tony Richardson.

speciflcally, regarding Turner, he would fit somewhat well here as a part time back, but overall I haven't seen the production to expect he's as good as the hype. It's a shame, because i think he's quality, but I don't see him as a guy who'll grow toward being elite.

 

You forgot teh Derek Anderson (probowl snub), Max Starks (big an' yung!), bob sanders (oops! too late), karlos dansby (you can't overspend on one position and he is great weakside backer). All dis' wiht cowehr coachinem' up .

 

He's been ass in a can. On third down and less than three yards, Foster has had 16 runs for a grand total of 14 yards. Granted, I don't think that's all his fault since the run blocking is just pathetic in short yardage situations, but it's not like we'd lose anything by using DeAngelo there. Emmitt Smith wasn't a big back, but they were incredibly effective because their line actually moved people. Ours doesn't.

 

The OL has not won the LOS often enough, especially in short yardage. I am surprised when we win a battle up front. Fix that and our backs would look a lot better.

 

Jake
Moore
Basenz (both of them - NOT competing for 1 spot)
vet in case one of the 3 above is hurt in camp. If all 3 above make it through camp healthy and playing well, the vet gets cut.

Yes, I think DeAngelo can be the #1 RB.

Since this has become a more general thread, am I the only one who worries that Peppers may be satisfied, and permanently gove back to not playing physically, and that it would be a disaster to extend him? Also that we should look to trade him, assuming we get a good deal, this offseason?

 

Its been discussed before. Most people think we ought to just gamble on his returning back to form, which is the same risk any team we trade him to would have to take along with the $$$ of an extension. We've seen in the years before this one that he is far and away our most talented defensive player so trading him based on one bad year feels like an overreaction. I'm in the crowd that says extend him and hope.

 

If it was just bad statistically I would agree. However, there are only a few plays where he's even playing physically. So I'm worried. We'll see. Maybe getting an alternative and rotating for him more would help. Make him fresher, and give the message that if he just looks that the blocker but doesnt engage, or if he makes no attempt whatever to get off a block, he's coming out.

There is no way that I make him the highest paid defender in the NFL though. That's what he still wants.

 

Yes, because despite rumors to the contrary, he's never been a guy who didn't play physically or give maximum effort. I have no concerns whatsoever about his will, only his skill.