Team needs at half way point.....

[Portland Fanatic]

Don't blast me for having fun...I love the draft, so this is fun to see what our team needs are at this point and then compare at the end of the season to see if they remain the same...not getting into draft players...just focusing on team needs that would put us over the top.

I'm projecting what I think the defense & offense will look like next year interms of starters and back ups...legit playoff teams MUST be two deep. I'm ranking them A,B,C etc...for both O and D, then ranking in terms of high priority....


Defense:
RE = Ellis & Canty
NT = Glover & Fergi
LE = Spears & Ratliff
SLB = Fugita & Singleton
MLB = James & Fowler
*JLB = Burnett & Shanle
WLB = Ware & B
LCB = Tnew & Glenn
RCB = Henry & C
SS = Roy & Berry O
FS = A & Davis or Pile


*Don't shoot me for leaving off Dat! My gut feel is that BP will move on without him...I hope I'm wrong. I think Burnett will be that dynamic inside LB we need their next year. That will be his best position.


Offense:
LWR = Keys & C
LT = A & Pettiti (swing)
LG = LA & B
C = Al & Gurode & D
RG = Rivera & Peterman
RT = Flo & Pettiti (swing)
TE = Witten & Campbell & Pierce
RWR = Glenn & Crayton
QB = Bledsoe & Romo & Henson
FB = Polite
RB = Jones & Barber & Thompson

Special Teams:
Kicker = A

Priority of need:
K...it's so sad I have this first...not a first round pic obviously, but a huge need to solidify.
LT...even if that means grooming him behind Flo for a year or part of year.
FS...may not be a high draft pic, but important to nail down.
WLB...we need a good back up to Ware...I fully expect Burnett to be inside next year.
RCB...if we lose Henry to injury (knocking on wood we wouldn't)...I'm scared.
LG...Not sure Peterman is the answer...would love a promising Guard in here behind both LA and Rivera.
C...Al is getting blown up at times...smart, but small. If BP sees a top C fall to him in the second or 3rd...not sure he'd pass.

Thoughts??????

Hey this is for fun...if you can't handle looking forward stay out!

 

[Hiero]

yep nice post, especially with the bye coming up. dont hate us draft obsessed people, join in the fun.

Don't blast me for having fun...I love the draft, so this is fun to see what our team needs are at this point and then compare at the end of the season to see if they remain the same...not getting into draft players...just focusing on team needs that would put us over the top.

I'm projecting what I think the defense & offense will look like next year interms of starters and back ups...legit playoff teams MUST be two deep. I'm ranking them A,B,C etc...for both O and D, then ranking in terms of high priority....


Defense:
RE = Ellis & Canty
NT = Glover & Fergi
LE = Spears & Ratliff
SLB = Fugita & Singleton
MLB = James & Fowler
*JLB = Burnett & Shanle
WLB = Ware & B
LCB = Tnew & Glenn
RCB = Henry & C
SS = Roy & Berry O
FS = A & Davis or Pile


*Don't shoot me for leaving off Dat! My gut feel is that BP will move on without him...I hope I'm wrong. I think Burnett will be that dynamic inside LB we need their next year. That will be his best position.


Offense:
LWR = Keys & C
LT = A & Pettiti (swing)
LG = LA & B
C = Al & Gurode & D
RG = Rivera & Peterman
RT = Flo & Pettiti (swing)
TE = Witten & Campbell & Pierce
RWR = Glenn & Crayton
QB = Bledsoe & Romo & Henson
FB = Polite
RB = Jones & Barber & Thompson

Special Teams:
Kicker = A

Priority of need:
K...it's so sad I have this first...not a first round pic obviously, but a huge need to solidify.
LT...even if that means grooming him behind Flo for a year or part of year.
FS...may not be a high draft pic, but important to nail down.
WLB...we need a good back up to Ware...I fully expect Burnett to be inside next year.
RCB...if we lose Henry to injury (knocking on wood we wouldn't)...I'm scared.
LG...Not sure Peterman is the answer...would love a promising Guard in here behind both LA and Rivera.
C...Al is getting blown up at times...smart, but small. If BP sees a top C fall to him in the second or 3rd...not sure he'd pass.

Thoughts??????

Hey this is for fun...if you can't handle looking forward stay out!

 

[Cowboy Junkie]

I think the number one priority should be a kicker. The guy we have now would scare me in a close gain.

Safety would be up there at # 2

Getting some youth at receiver at 3

Would take best players Available in draft

 

[tvooz]

thornton is on IR, but he should be able to back up demarcus ware next year.

 

[Hiero]

1) Make sure OL is set.
2) Free safety help. FA draft, isnt that hard to get one. Will be done.
3) Young fast WR to be Crayton's buddy
4) Get another young qb to sit behind Bledsoe
5) Offensive help of any manner.

 

[Hollywood Henderson]

Good post PF,
I am glad you asked not to be shot by making views, like I have for some of the same ones! ha ha...
I fully agree with your take of the LBers!

I think right now I would rate RT as the top need...(Kicker will be adressed as well)

A real NFL level ball hawk FS would be a MUST in the draft of FA...
We might need a speed WR with decent speed...

I question if Thornton will return at OLBer next year? Wasn't his knee's a chronic situation?

 

[burmafrd]

We should know by the end of the season how our tackles are. FS as well. Outside of that no real great need.

 

[junk]

I actually think SOLB might be a bigger need than WOLB. I don't think Singleton will be back and I am not 100% sold on Fujita yet either. We'll see if Burnett gets reps there and what he looks like. Could be a position of need. I'd love to see a big, nasty pass rushing OLB opposite Ware.

If BP was going to send Dat packing, he should have sent him packing to NO and gotten a solid DE in exchange. Dat may evolve into more of a nickel/dime backer, but I suspect he sticks.

Personally, I wouldn't mind adding another big ILB as well. A lot hinges on Burnett's ability to contribute next year and where he can contribute at.

FS - A definite need, but I don't think the team really puts much of a priority on it. I mean, Ty Law was ripe for the picking and they passed. Chris Hope or Demps in FA, a converted corner or a later round draft pick. Beriault is the wild card here.

NT - A youngster to groom here would be nice if BP decides Pepper isn't that guy.

CB - Some depth would be nice. Not a high priority.

WR - I rate it as a pretty high need. I don't know if BP puts much emphasis on the position. This team needs dynamic playmakers on offense though.

OL - I think a guard is a must. LA/Rivera = aging and expensive. Tackle depth is weak. Some decent FAs are available here as well (S. Hutchinson, L. Bentley).

QB - Eventually a successor to Bledsoe must be found. Maybe its Romo, maybe its Henson. That would sure be nice.

Offensive playmakers. This team has needed a couple for awhile. A guy or two that keeps defensive coordinators up at night.

 

[Trip]

Excellent post. I agree with most of what you said.

* I think you underestimate at Nguyen. He's got some football left.

* I'm with you on an ot, fs and kicker being priority.

* I agree with you on WR. It's a need, but it's not the most critical thing in the world. We'll still have 3 good ones, regardless.

* I'm okay on our linebacker situation, whereas you list it as a need, probably because of our different views on dat.

* I think you have guard too low. We've been blessed, but it's time to groom a starter quickly. I don't like our depth there at all, or our age.

* We need a fullback in free agency or the 4th/5th round.

That's about it. Excellent post.

 

[jterrell]

My short reply would be to look at WR, FS, FB, OC, OT, LB, NT.

I suspect this team is talented enough to force any youngster into a part time or backup role shy of a 1st round OC/safety or 3rd round or higher FB. We're getting really close to being able to pick the best available player.

I like Steve Smith out of USC a lot late in round 1. Others to watch: Demetrius Williams (Oregon), Derek Hagen (Arizona State), Hank Baskett (New Mexico),Martin Nance (Miami (Oh), Travis Wilson (Oklahoma)--Texas kid, Jason Avant (Michigan),
Mike Haas (Oregon State), Maurice Stovall (Notre Dame)

The LBs are deep and plentiful for once. OSU, Iowa and Virginia have a handful of them. Dqwell Jackson out of Maryland seems a good one as well.
At OC: Mike Degory (Florida), Greg Eslinger (Minnesota) and Nick Mangold (Ohio State) should get looks.

The OT group is deep and Eric Winston from UofMiami is a Texas kid who could fill the bill as a long term LT that can fit in as a 3rd TE in goal line situations because he was a TE in high school.

NT/DT:Jesse Mahelona (Tennessee), Claude Wroten (LSU), Babatunde Oshinowo and(Stanford) Gabriel Watson (Michigan) with Haloti Ngata out of Oregon a watch and follow.

 

[FLcowboy]

Defense:
SLB = Fugita & Singleton
*JLB = Burnett & Shanle
WLB = Ware & B
LCB = Tnew & Glenn
RCB = Henry & C
FS = A & Davis or Pile




Offense:
LWR = Keys & C
LT = A & Pettiti (swing)
LG = LA & B
C = Al & Gurode & D
RG = Rivera & Peterman
RT = Flo & Pettiti (swing)

QB = Bledsoe & Romo & Henson
FB = Polite
RB = Jones & Barber & Thompson

Special Teams:
Kicker = A

Priority of need:
K...it's so sad I have this first...not a first round pic obviously, but a huge need to solidify.
LT...even if that means grooming him behind Flo for a year or part of year.
FS...may not be a high draft pic, but important to nail down.
WLB...we need a good back up to Ware...I fully expect Burnett to be inside next year.
RCB...if we lose Henry to injury (knocking on wood we wouldn't)...I'm scared.
LG...Not sure Peterman is the answer...would love a promising Guard in here behind both LA and Rivera.
C...Al is getting blown up at times...smart, but small. If BP sees a top C fall to him in the second or 3rd...not sure he'd pass.

Thoughts??????

Hey this is for fun...if you can't handle looking forward stay out!

Well, since this is for fun, I've deleted the obvious from your post, and will differ in some other areas.

Singleton may not come back. While he is the "Dan Campbell" of the defense, I think Ellis can fill that role. Time to get another youngster into the mix.

Burnett appears to be more of an outside linebacker. Dallas needs someone to play the middle like Urlacher. Someone who can control the middle of the field.

Peterman is the backup to Allen. I don't think Parcells is down on the guy. Need more help on the right side, although Allen will play one more year due to his cap hit.

I pretty much agree on the D backfield. Dallas needs a star free safety, someone with cover skills and speed. Glenn isn't likely to be in Dallas next year, so someone has to be brought in to replace him.

Kicker? Parcells watched his kicker in the pregame Sunday night. Too bad for Arizona.

Offense, we're way apart here. Why move Petitti to the left side as a swingman? He's got 8 more games to learn and grow, plus the off season. He isn't a bust by any stretch of the word, and will solidify the RT for years to come. If Flo comes back, and I think he will, he'll play LT very well. His replacement must be drafted however.

Peterman is Allen's replacement, and I think that will hold. Rivera will be here for a while, but his days are numbered. He is not his former self, and could find himself being the swingman. A new right guard is needed.

Center? Al Johnson is going to be alright. Gurode is going to be on the bubble.

Henson is gone. A new quarterback will be on the field as a third stringer next year, but he will push the hell out of Romo if not in 2006, then in 2007. Omar Jacobs anybody?

 

[Sitting Bull]

Excellent post. I agree with pretty much everything but since we play so many two TE sets (and since Parcells collects them anyway), I'd add that position to our list of "needs." Campbell is getting old and I haven't seen enough of Pierce to feel comfortable that he's the answer. I also think we need a real long-snapper.

 

[Portland Fanatic]

Excellent post. I agree with most of what you said.

* I think you underestimate at Nguyen. He's got some football left.

My view on Dat...love the guy! He makes plays day in and day out. A guy you know will always show up and do a very good job. One of those guys you don't have to woory about.

I'm going with my gut that he is not in Bill's long term plans...early on yes, but things are evolving. I really hope we keep him...whether he starts or plays nickle I would like the guy to stay. I hope my gut is wrong.....

 

[sonnyboy]

WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU! WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEASON AND IN THE RACE! SOME PEOPLE THINK WE'RE EVEN A DARKHORSE FOR THE SUPERBOWL!

Just kiddiing! I'm sorry but I just couldn't help myself after reading you're plead to not be blasted. I like the list. I do think by years end we'll see WR as our number need.