Post draft - Where are we weak?

[Cowboyny]

Do they need another DE?
- Fowler can rush the passer. He just isn't very good vs the run.
- Armstrong is good vs the run. He had some good pass rushing snaps last season but is unlikely to ever be an elite pass rusher.
- DLaw likely remains for a few years now that he took a lower valued contract.
- Basham was OK as a 4th DE last season.

They may stand pat, but there are some quality options if they decided to go back in that direction. Think they will see what theses players look like before considering if they need a veteran

 

[IrishAnto]

A few times in recent years we've made some post-draft moves.

• Amari Cooper (trade)
• Michael Bennett (trade)
• Everson Griffen
• Malik Hooker

Not expecting massive activity but one or two guys maybe a possibility. We were less active than usual in FA and have more free cap space.

Cooper was out of desperation as their original plan of WR by committee fell flat on it’s face.
Bennet was during the latter half of the season and the other two didn’t make that much difference in their first seasons ( although I have hope for Hooker this year if he can stay healthy).
So all in all I wouldn’t get my hopes up if I were you.

 

[Cowboyny]

And people also know that whatever’s left in free agency ( that they’re willing to pay for) will mean very little.
What we have now is pretty much what we’ll play the season with.
At the moment this team has less talent than last year, so I don’t see us progressing.

That is debatable, let’s not forget Collins was suspended, Gregory missed several games and Cooper disappearing in big games

 

[stilltheguru]

Some areas of concern:

- We’ve downgraded at DE due to losing Gregory
- We’ve downgraded our WR corp SHORT TERM (I’m very high on Talbert and think he’ll be a stud in year 2/3)
- DT: we’re ok here but could upgrade
- C: we’re ok here but could upgrade

Honestly, I think the roster is fine and is still a playoff caliber team on paper. We just need our young players to continue to develop and step up.

My bigger concern, more so than the roster, is our OC. We’re force feeding an overpaid / overrated RB and he’s shown zero ability to generate high volume / targets for our best players.

Say it again. Especially the last part. If I hear how we took what the defense gives again from these clowns. Meanwhile Stafford was throwing to Kupp nonstop the same way he did Calvin Johnson.

 

[Landryhat73]

So now that we have had the draft and brought in the following:

• Rd 1. Tyler Smith (OG/OT)
• Rd 2. Sam William (DE)
• Rd 3. Jalan Tolbert (WR)
• Rd 4. Jake Ferguson (TE)
• Rd 5. Matt Waletzko (OT)
• Rd 5. Damon Clarke (LB)
• Rd 5. John Ridgeway (1T)
• Rd 5. Daron Bland (CB)
• Rd 6. Devin Harper (LB)

My opinion:
Offense:

• OC: Biadasz wasn't terrible last season but wasn't good either. Farniok, while having traits is completely unproven. Not gonna lie, I wouldn't liked an early investment in the draft and would have gone Linderbaum round 1 with a OG 2nd round. But I don't know the draft or the roster like the FO and coaching staff so here's hoping.
• TE: I was a bit disappoint to see Sprinkle as our FA investment at TE. Matching OJ Howard's 1 year 3.5m contract would have been something I was happier with. It's not breaking the bank and gives a more solid all round no.2 while Ferguson develops.
• WR: With Gallup having an ACL and a 3rd round rookie developing, It would have been nice to have a more reliable option that can play as a no.2 receiver that could match Cedric Wilson's output for a year. Still possible with some talent left in FA.

Defense:

• 1T: Bohanna should be better with a year in the system, and we now have 5th round pick Ridgeway to go with the smaller Watkins. To be honest I would have liked a splash in FA rather than Watkins. He was solid but I feel re-signing him is treading water when we needed to get better against the run.
• LB: Parsons is obviously a beast but playing as a part-time edge rusher puts LVE again as at least a part-time starter. I would have liked someone in FA a bit more expensive on a short-term deal while draft picks develop.

Special Teams:

• Kicker: It would be nice to have competition and if we had drafted our favorite option in the 6th round or traded in a 7th to avoid the UDFA race. We need someone.

It seems they are pushing Farniok as competition to Biadasz. Not only did Stephen Jones talk about it but so did the offensive line coach before the last day of the draft.

 

[IrishAnto]

That is debatable, let’s not forget Collins was suspended, Gregory missed several games and Cooper disappearing in big games

And all our rookies are going to do what?
Our first round pick is very raw, with technique issues and is changing position.
If our 2nd pick gets near what Gregory did last year that would be a great success.
Again Tolbert getting 30-40 catches would good which won’t make up for Coopers production.
As for the rest, what are you realistically expecting?
Tell me how is that likely to be better next year?

 

[timb2]

Corner is critical. I know Commissioner Goodell is licking his chops to suspend Kelvin Joseph like a Cowboy every year. Joseph I think is looking at jail time,he might get a plea deal out of it,but if the law doesn't get him, Goodell will....If Trevon Diggs gets hurt,we are screwed.

 

[cnuball21]

Say it again. Especially the last part. If I hear how we took what the defense gives again from these clowns. Meanwhile Stafford was throwing to Kupp nonstop the same way he did Calvin Johnson.

It's absolutely laughable how awful we were down the stretch at targeting our best weapons and manufacturing touches. No other teams have issues with targeting their big money WR. Cooper had 104 freaking targets. His complaints were warranted last year. If you're going to pay someone $20 mil and make him the go to WR make him the go to WR.

Kupp - 191
Adams - 169
JJ - 167
Diggs - 164
Moore - 163
Hill - 159

 

[Pass2Run]

I actually like Ferguson. I didn't spend enough time going over TEs in this draft. He's definitely better than the ones I looked at.

He'll definitely be productive,and has the potential to push Shultz down the roster.

Could be a TD machine in our offense.

Really tall as he runs middle routes.

Dude is always open.

 

[IrishAnto]

It's absolutely laughable how awful we were down the stretch at targeting our best weapons and manufacturing touches. No other teams have issues with targeting their big money WR. Cooper had 104 freaking targets. His complaints were warranted last year. If you're going to pay someone $20 mil and make him the go to WR make him the go to WR.

Kupp - 191
Adams - 169
JJ - 167
Diggs - 164
Moore - 163
Hill - 159

Agreed! And we’ve yet to see how well Lamb plays as a number one.

 

[cnuball21]

I actually like Ferguson. I didn't spend enough time going over TEs in this draft. He's definitely better than the ones I looked at.

He'll definitely be productive,and has the potential to push Shultz down the roster.

Could be a TD machine in our offense.

Really tall as he runs middle routes.

Dude is always open.

Big catch radius and soft hands. Looks like someone who can take over for Schultz after next year if he can improve blocking.

 

[cnuball21]

Agreed! And we’ve yet to see how well Lamb plays as a number one.

If boy wonder Kellen doesn't figure it out it'll be the same story with Lamb.

We'll watch him force feed Zeke all year for 3 ypc and target Schultz on 7 yard comeback routes all year.

 

[unionjack8]

Front office

 

[cnuball21]

Front office

Lololol...this times a million.

 

[CouchCoach]

WR? LOL You people will never be happy. WR is clearly one of the strongest positions on the team. Total nonsense.

OL is still a weakness until proven other wise.

RB will be a big position of need in the offseason.

LB will be stacked going into next season if Damone comes back healthy.

Agree 1 T

WR corps is unknown. Is the #1 a real #1? The #2 is recovering from surgery, the #3 was a disappointment in PIT and the #4 is a rookie.

I seem to remember some saying the WR corps is just fine going into that season they let Bryant walk. Then they had to trade for Cooper.

 

[Bluefin]

It seems they are pushing Farniok as competition to Biadasz. Not only did Stephen Jones talk about it but so did the offensive line coach before the last day of the draft.

Matt Farniok was mentioned several times as pushing/competing with Tyler Biadasz this weekend.

Stephen Jones was asked point blank on his radio appearance Friday morning how they feel about Center and if there was no established starter there right now (@ 4:20).

SJ said Biadasz is the man to beat for sure and obviously Farniok is going to push him, but thinks Biadasz gets better each year.

 

[CowboyRoy]

WR corps is unknown. Is the #1 a real #1? The #2 is recovering from surgery, the #3 was a disappointment in PIT and the #4 is a rookie.

I seem to remember some saying the WR corps is just fine going into that season they let Bryant walk. Then they had to trade for Cooper.

Those are questions that you have. I have no concerns about Lamb at all. The guy is a #1 and he proved that last year no doubt for me. Gallup only has to recover. He is a high end #2.

Shultz is the #2 or #3 pass catcher in this offense. Washington is better than Wilson in my eyes. Then we have the rookie. Personally, I am not worried at all about it.

Now if Gallup can never recover, we are thin, but you can make decisions based on him not coming back.

 

[cnuball21]

WR corps is unknown. Is the #1 a real #1? The #2 is recovering from surgery, the #3 was a disappointment in PIT and the #4 is a rookie.

I seem to remember some saying the WR corps is just fine going into that season they let Bryant walk. Then they had to trade for Cooper.

Once Gallup gets back Im not overly concerned about the WR room.

This will be year 3 for Lamb and he has shown he can handle volume as he has back to back 1K seasons. Gallup is a proven, solid #2 entering his prime and Tolbert is a similar prospect to Gallup coming out. He’ll have some rookie bumps and bruises but he’s a quality route runner so his game should translate well.

The most important thing is just keeping the QB upright and the OL playing better than they did down the stretch.

Oh yea and Kellen not sucking as an OC and actually targeting his best weapons.

 

[CowboyoWales]

OL is still a weakness until proven other wise.

If last year's anything to go by then the opposite's true.....the O-Line started well and only fell off with Tyron's injury and then forcing him back as Steele was forced to play (unsuccessfully) at LT and an unhit Smith was preferable to the alternative.

 

[stilltheguru]

WR corps is unknown. Is the #1 a real #1? The #2 is recovering from surgery, the #3 was a disappointment in PIT and the #4 is a rookie.

I seem to remember some saying the WR corps is just fine going into that season they let Bryant walk. Then they had to trade for Cooper.

Whens the last time a wr returned from an acl and looked like they lost a step?