Most pressing needs in the offseason?

[rake]

How do YOU see it?
Here’s what we are likely to have assuming all the more seriously injured (X) return back to form by camp -

(3)
Delhomme, Jake QB 6-2 215 30 6
Peete, Rodney QB 6-0 230 38 16 (retire? please)
Weinke, Chris QB 6-4 232 32 4
Rutherford, Roderick QB 6-2 223 24 R

(4)
Foster, DeShaun RB 6-0 222 25 3
Davis, Stephen RB 6-0 230 30 9 (X)
Goings, Nick RB 6-0 225 26 4
Smart, Rod RB 5-11 201 28 4 (?)

(2)
Hoover, Brad FB 6-0 245 28 5
Cramer, Casey FB 6-2 250 23 R

(3)
Mangum, Kris TE 6-4 252 31 7
Seidman, Mike TE 6-4 261 23 2
Gaines, Michael TE 6-3 280 24 R

(5)
Muhammad, Muhsin WR 6-2 217 31 9 (?)
Smith, Steve WR 5-9 185 25 4 (X)
Colbert, Keary WR 5-10 193 22 R
Proehl, Ricky WR 6-0 190 36 15 (retire?)
Hankton, Karl WR 6-2 202 34 6
Carter, Drew WR 6-3 200 23 R (X)

(2)
Mitchell, Jeff C 6-4 300 30 8

(3 or 4)
Reyes, Tutan OL 6-3 305 27 5
Wharton, Travelle OL 6-4 312 23 R
Brzezinski, Doug G 6-4 305 28 6
Nelson, Bruce G 6-5 301 25 2 (X)

(3 or 4)
Gross, Jordan T 6-4 300 24 2
Fordham, Todd OL 6-5 319 31 8
Kadela, Dave T 6-6 304 26 2

(2)
Kasay, John K 5-10 198 35 14
Sauerbrun, Todd P 5-10 215 32 10

(4 or 5)
Gamble, Chris CB 6-1 181 21 R
Manning, Jr., Ricky CB 5-8 185 24 2
Hawkins, Artrell CB 5-10 190 28 7
Hampton, William CB 5-10 190 29 3 (X)
Jackson, Eddie CB 6-0 190 24 R ? (X)
Wesley, Dante CB 6-0 211 25 3 ?

(4)
Minter, Mike S 5-10 195 31 8 (?)
Branch, Colin S 5-11 205 24 2
Tillman, Travares S 6-1 190 27 4
Richardson, Damien S 6-1 210 28 7 (?)

(7 or 8)
Witherspoon, Will LB 6-1 231 24 3 (?)
Morgan, Dan LB 6-2 245 26 4
Fields, Mark LB 6-2 244 32 10
Short, Brandon LB 6-3 253 27 5
Tufts, Sean LB 6-3 236 22 R
Ciurciu, Vinny LB 6-0 235 24 2 (?)
Allen, Brian LB 6-0 232 26 4 (?)
Kyle, Jason LB 6-3 242 32 10 (?)

(4)
Peppers, Julius DE 6-6 283 25 3
Rucker, Mike DE 6-5 275 29 6
Wallace, Al DE 6-5 275 30 5
Rasmussen, Kemp DE 6-3 265 25 3

(4)
Jenkins, Kris DT 6-4 335 25 4
Buckner, Brentson DT 6-2 310 33 11 (retire?)
Moorehead, Kindal DT 6-2 285 26 2
Jordan, Omari DT 6-4 315 26 1 (?)



1). T (1 starting RT please)
2). S (might need both FS AND SS!)
3). G (1 upgrade over ANY of the guys we currently have)
4). RB (if Davis’ knee checks out and he can handle 1/3 of the load then we are OK. IMO that's a huge IF)
5). DT (since Buck probably will hang it up and IMO he should)
6). LB (need depth to add to Short and Tufts)


WR - We are probably going to need at least one WR. Since it’s too damn depressing to think Moose wouldn’t be back and Smitty won’t return to form I refuse to consider those possibilities for now. However Ricky probably retires and Carter probably doesn’t even get a career started . . . so we need one more WR IMO. I wish we could find a return specialist as a #4 WR so we could utilize his speed as an occasional deep threat too.

Center is another possible worry. Without Mitch we are screwed, and no I don’t see Nelson recovering from his misshapen hips to contribute. Maybe a vet G we could acquire will also be able to backup at C effectively.

LS (we may need a cheaper option than Kyle and staying in house i.e. Rasmussen? would be nice)

 

[y2b]

i definitely think we need to try and get better

 

[rake]

i definitely think we need to try and get better

Though Y2s contribution to the thread is staggeringly insightful I was shooting for something a little more specific.
Last year we picked up approximately 10 or 11 guys that might play a role in the clubs future -

Gamble
Colbert
Wharton
Hawkins
Short
Fordham

Gaines?
Tufts?
Jackson?
Rutherford?
Cramer?


Where will the bodies be added to vacancies and weak spots this offseason and at what priority? I like the GM for a day idea that someone introduced recently. What positions would you draft, which ones would you address in free agency . . . etc

RT (to replace the Meadows/Willig F’up)
SS (since Minter may not take a big pay cut)
FS (to compete with Branch and bachup at the VERY least)
G/C (to replace the Brzezinski/Nelson misstep)
DT (since Buck may retire)
RB (if Davis is done)
WR (since Ricky probably retires, and/or worse)
LB (to groom a future starter behind Dan or Mark and add depth for now)
RS (to relieve Smitty and hopefully add an upgrade in depth somewhere)
LS (to replace Kyle and his salary that is close to 800k I think)

 

[y2b]

well, depending on what we can do in free agency will probably affect the draft, and if we have to cut some guys to sign to guys, then that's just the price you pay

 

[magnus]

Sorry that this is rehash but God knows nothing's changed.

Need to get a RT, first off, and depth is always appreciated. It'd be great to continue the Kadela project, and if so, then a C/G is only needed if Tylski doesn't return and Brzezinski is released - which I want. We have no business paying that guy to not be able to beat our marginal guards, that money should be spent elsewhere and we should find a young guy in middle rounds to add depth instead.

Facing reality, the 2003 line was about middle of the league, and the 2004 one was one of the worst - sack totals are only average because we weren't throwing much at a time, especially in 03. Mitchell must be retained, and I'm all for a 2-3 year extension that lessens his 2005 cap number in exchange for a few more $2 million/year seasons. That's reasonable.

FS - I don't need to argue it anymore, because it's somewhere we must upgrade. We need a guy who can make plays and cover, bottom line, because Gamble is going to be what he needs to be only with a FS to help him keep from getting tested deep as much. Plus, a FS with range allows us to use Minter in ways that will mold to his skills as he ages, and allows us to have a roleplaying SS after Minter's gone (rather than a $3 mil one) who can stop the run and cover the TE like Sam Garnes did with Fox in NY.

We need a linebacker or two, hopefully bone-cheap, and we could use a 4th DT with some run stopping experience. We really must have more backs in camp, and we gotta find a return specialist. In my opinion, this and bringing back Moose and Fields are the goals, and we damn well better achieve at every single one of them.

 

[Wp28]

We only have two real safety's under contract for next season, So we need help there.

The Moose decision will start the domino effect, WR becomes top priority if we lose him (imo)

CB - we have our top 3 but I'd expect at least one more decent guy to come on board.

RT/G we need.

We need atleat 1 thumper DT. (2 if we lose Buck)

only 3 DE's under contract, but the 3 are real good.

RB we need a guy to come in, and our guy's to get healthy. Much as I like Goings and was proud of what he did. We need a better insurance policy.

QB - we're fine.

FB - lets see what they do with Cramer

TE - OK

LB - we have a fe FA's there but neither should be a problem, we could use a decent MLB.

 

[Wp28]

Sorry that this is rehash but God knows nothing's changed.

Need to get a RT, first off, and depth is always appreciated. It'd be great to continue the Kadela project, and if so, then a C/G is only needed if Tylski doesn't return and Brzezinski is released - which I want. We have no business paying that guy to not be able to beat our marginal guards, that money should be spent elsewhere and we should find a young guy in middle rounds to add depth instead.

Facing reality, the 2003 line was about middle of the league, and the 2004 one was one of the worst - sack totals are only average because we weren't throwing much at a time, especially in 03. Mitchell must be retained, and I'm all for a 2-3 year extension that lessens his 2005 cap number in exchange for a few more $2 million/year seasons. That's reasonable.

FS - I don't need to argue it anymore, because it's somewhere we must upgrade. We need a guy who can make plays and cover, bottom line, because Gamble is going to be what he needs to be only with a FS to help him keep from getting tested deep as much. Plus, a FS with range allows us to use Minter in ways that will mold to his skills as he ages, and allows us to have a roleplaying SS after Minter's gone (rather than a $3 mil one) who can stop the run and cover the TE like Sam Garnes did with Fox in NY.

We need a linebacker or two, hopefully bone-cheap, and we could use a 4th DT with some run stopping experience. We really must have more backs in camp, and we gotta find a return specialist. In my opinion, this and bringing back Moose and Fields are the goals, and we damn well better achieve at every single one of them.

oh, yes, I forgot we need a return man.

 

[magnus]

a good RS is very important. For one, we really missed having our field position of times past, and two it keeps us away from using Steveophone.

I was honestly hoping that ScottyO' would be able to teach our new RS, but he's gone, and that makes me fear that we'll just stick with as much of what we had before (Richardson returning for SS, Smitty doing punts and Smart taking up a roster spot to return/cover)

 

[Piper]

1. Right Tackle.

Really, really, not liking the draft possibilities much, so I think we need to look long and hard at Free Agency for this pickup, and it would be nice to take care of our biggest need now.

2. Wide Reciever - As rake rightly hinted to, Moose may go, RP may retire (likely), and Smitty may not be 100 percent, we just don't know for sure. As for Carter, I'm running a pool on when, not if, he goes on IR. Even Hankton is a FA. That gives us Colbert, and, uh, no one in particular.

Look to the draft here. How high depends on Mushin's situation.

3. Safety - Minter is getting older, Branch had his struggles. Even if you give both wonder pills to make Minter younger and Branch a better tackler, we have not depth. Need here, I'd wait for the draft.

I don't think we can afford to outright cut Minter, we will look to extend at a cheaper price. If he doesn't go for it, we will pay him out here. We can't go making holes were we don't need. Same argument to those who thought Moose was addition by subtraction. No such thing. Unless their is a veteran Safety we think would be a real upgrade to pay top dollar too, no cut.

4. Linebackers - Decisions await on our two FA OLBs. They seem easy enough. WW will be back, its just how that remains a mystery. With a long term contract, or do we have to give him a one year first round tender to protect him? Fields has indicated he will come back for a reasonable price, this should a fairly easy signing.

As for the ILB, I would look to the draft to increase depth and perhaps draft Morgan's replacement. Impactful at times when healthy, but that's been about 50/50. No long term deal here, but he gets another year.

5. Guard - Wharton's been a find. If the staff sees him long term as a tackle, this need will be moved up. We can get by with Reyes, but a push would be nice and an upgrade preferable. Henning likes pieces that can move, and King Tut's a little creepy in that department.

Tyliski can come back for depth/compete with Nelson.

6. RB - Look for the draft for a third down back to give us help with depth. A second day pick will suffice.

7. DT - Buckner has indicated he may retire. Even if not, we could use someone in the rotation.

8. CB - We don't have great depth here. Getting another player that can at least come in for nickle would be nice. We've got three who can start, but one goes down and we are hurting.

 

[y2b]

I agree, RT


and hopefully somebody that can fucking punt with without opening his pie hole