Looking ahead to '04 final 53

IMO we wait to “reward” Jake with a big extension until after NEXT year’s super bowl. If we hand him a huge extension now and he slumps even a little in what will really be his sophomore year next season the whining around here would be intolerable. Given his humble disposition and love for simply playing the game, his standing contract should suit him just fine for one more season. Then we can focus on Smitty and all of the other key players that we need to keep for the cohesion and wellbeing of what is already a super bowl team. We can’t afford to let too many guys get away (losing Al is bad enough) and we can’t afford to sign any high-priced FAs like Bailey, Peterson, Pace, and Owens. Lets focus on our own and just a couple of key free agents this time on the defensive side (CB and LB). Last year those couple of key free agents were on the other side of the line (QB & RB) and they worked out pretty damn well.)


WR - Moose, ROOK #2 - Moose stays and in the 2nd there WILL be his eventual successor
LT - Gross, Willig - The switch we have all been anticipating
LG - James, Brzezinski (or Reyes) – Got to retain Jeno and let Brz & Reyes fight for backup
C - Mitchell, Nelson – Nelson gains strength in the off-season and becomes the #1 C/G backup
RG – Donnalley, ROOK #4 – Our biggest hole if KD retires, might have to pick G in the 3rd
RT – Steussie, ROOK #5 (or FA) – As durable as Stuess is can draft a project to groom at RT
TE – Seidman, Wiggins, Mangum – Seidman steps up & we can finally sit Mangum a little
WR – Smith, Dyson (or FA) – If Dyson can’t fill the Prohel role then we need another FA
QB – Jake, CW, ROOK #6 (or FA) – A QB with our 6th, any overlooked game manager will do
FB – Hooover, Goings – These two get a little stronger every freakin year
RB – Davis, Foster – Gotta love this combo


LDE – Pep, Rasmussen - I believe that Ras will step up, he’s good on ST too
LDT – Buck, Moorehead – Psyched to see Moorehead grow into Bucks eventual successor
RDT – Jenx, Burton – Gotta love this combo too
RDE – Ruck, Pittman (or FA) – Assuming Pittman can come back from injury
SLB – FIELDS, ROOK #3 – Assuming Mark will be 100% and the draft is deep in speed at OLB
MLB – Morgan, *FA Short – Morgan stays well, if not Short can step in OR replace Fields at SLB
WLB – Spoon, Allen – Due to his speed and youth Allen is the only backup LB to return
LCB - *FA Vinson, ROOK #1, Hampton (or FA) – Our shutdown rook CB in the 1st AND Vinson!
RCB – Manning, Howard – Mannings the man and Reg won’t push his luck in accepting new role and less cash
SS – Minter, Branch – Colin cozier at SS and develops there with Minter as mentor
FS – Grant, Wesley – If we can’t afford to re-sign him then we can’t afford to upgrade either. I see Dante as the key to our secondary depth and a great replacement in Dime and as gunner for Cooper


PK – Kasay - FGs ONLY
P – Sauerbrun – punting and holding
KO – ROOK #7 – Need a cannon legged kid to boom KOs & potential future Kasay successor
KR/KC – Smart, Hankton (or Young) – Returner and Gunner, Young needs huge step up to move Hank out
LS – Kyle (or FA) – whatever

 

we won't carry 3 kickers

 

Don't be so sure. There is no doubting that Kasay can't bury KOs and the field is getting shorter for our opposition. We can keep him for a year as we work on finding a replacement and a cheap rook to handle booming KOs would be valuable enough IMO. BTW - There are plenty of strong kickers coming out this year.

 

we won't carry 3 kickers

 

We won't carry 3 kickers. You can't waste a roster spot with three kickers. Either Kasay will be replaced by another kicker, or Sauerbrun will work on kickoffs in the offseason.

 

ding, ding, ding!!! good answer (little thumbs up icon guy inserted here)

 

I would love to sign Matt Stover away from the Ravens but, he's not great on kickoffs either, I think the Ravens carried a 3rd kicker (Wade Richey) for his distance on kickoffs.

 

hell if we want distance on kickoffs Sauerbrun has that... and if people say we want distance AND accuracy... well hell fuck if ya have that you've got another kicker and Kasay is gone.

 

And for the record I want David Ackers to play here, but I don't expect that to happen any time soon

 

And for the record I want Shayne Graham to play here, but I don't expect that to happen any time soon