Apologizes for all the Qs, but with no sport, this NFL offseason stuff is the only thing happening ATM.
@Botman,
@Northern Raider,
@The Bone,
Do you guys think your teams are putting themselves in a good position heading into the draft? Have they plugged holes? Are there still big Q's etc.
Ill start...
With 20 odd players off contract this yr, and already having cap issues this is/ was a train wreck waiting to happen. The big Qs being, Dak? Coopz? Byron? Quinn?
Well, QB... yeah we all know whats going there... or rather we dont. Dak is tagged, and in another 'prove it yr', which is really a 'whats the market value' yr.
WR, Coopz is now the 2nd highest paid WR in the game. We spent a 1st Rd pick on his last yr, so we basically HAD to pay him, or we made a mistake last yr. Given his on the road form, or lack of it, and a long list of preexisting niggles, I worry a little. However, there is no doubt, the second he arrived the 'Boys offense started rolling again. This kid can certainly play, and seems a good locker room guy.
Losing Cobb is a big one, and Im certain he was staying to re-unite with long time coach McCarty, until the Texans drove a bank truck full of green backs to his house. He was much better than his numbers suggested last yr; I mean his 1st 4 TD catches last yr came back for penalties. Which means ATM, the slot is 'by commitee', OR, we look to the draft - ill look at that at the end.
TE, Jarwin got paid! Witten has left, and as weird as it will be to see him in the Silver and Black, Id rather that than another yr taking snaps away from the other guys. As of last night we signed Blake Bell from Chiefs. Never heard of him, but thats fair enough give he was #2 or #3 behind Kelce. Sounds like he might slide straight into TE#2, which makes me a little sad, coz Ive got a little 'skin in the game' in regards to Schultz, who is the nephew of a good friend of mine.
OL, well, you cant replace Fredrick *full stop*. However, we have options in Looney (played for Fredrick 2yr ago, starting all 16 games), McGovern (injured all last yr), Redman, Williams and even Martin if we get really despite. Not sure we need to look at centre in the draft, but we might need to look at it as a 'best on board' type thing like we did with McGovern last yr, in regards to OL, and I doubt its a 1st or 2nd Rd thing either.
Saftey, Jeff Heaths dodgey shoulders are gone, but he was one of those guys who played above his pay grade. Never really a good player, but should have been total trash, and wasnt. Well, its a big upgrade getting Ha Ha to fill his spot, and he will likely play strong safety, meaning Woods will be our free saftey. Thompson is coming back, mostly for special teams, but provided adequate depth last yr. Both Woods and Ha Ha got 2-3 picks last yr, so that doubles our backend turnovers next season Woot Woot
CB, TBH, this is a tyre fire that is MUCH worse now than it was. I hated losing Bryon, but no way we could pay what Miami did. TBH, this will be our biggest lose this season, I have no doubt about it. Sure his turnovers were bad reading, BUT, no one threw on him either. If he was paired with a ball hawk on the other side he would be better... oh wait, no he is.
Anyway... Awusie is the reason Bryon didnt see action, and right now, is our #1 CB... OH DEAR!. I love the moxy of Jordan Lewis, he is a 'Dawg', as the NFL guys like to say. He can make plays, having both sacks and INTs on his highlight reel. He is our slot guy, and I think we are well served here. Brown is back, and he is an ok #2, but preferably #3 CB. Add in CJ Goodwin, and we have bodies in this positional group. DRAFT HELP REQ!!!!!
LB, well, EVERYONE is back in 2020. I think they will be better for our DL additions too. We have some block eaters in the middle now, which should free up LVE and Jaylon esp to play in space. It will also mean Lee and Thomas on rotation getting less hits too.
DL, well, lots going out the door, most notable Quinn, but again, he got a money truck delivered to his door. We have bought some serious beef to play inside though, in Poe and McCoy. McCoy has come cheap as his son has signed for Oklahoma, and he wants to be able to see him play. He is a 6 time pro bowler, and while he isnt the guy he was at 27-28, the guy can still play. He is a pretty handy upgrade on Maliek Collins who is gone. Poe, well, he is a man mountain, and while he doesnt get sacks, he does requires double blocks, so with any luck that frees up the likes on Lawerance and the LBs to get home more often. We are short a pass rusher on the right side, but Randy Gregory wants reinstatement (7 sacks total in his career, drafted in 2015, and like 16 games in that time...oooph!) and with any luck Tyrone Crawfords 2nd hip surgery went well and we have a rotation there. This is probably enough if our LBs can contribute in the sack department.
Draft:
The biggest issue is CB. So, the Q is, do they go there are #17 for a Henderson from Florida, Arnette from Ohio State, Diggs from 'Bama, assuming of course that Okudah is gone by then, which seems highly likely. I suspect they double down too, between 2-4 depending on who they like.
I think if Kinlaw is there, and his knee is cleared, they have another big Q, and he or McCoy could play edge, but I suspect they will pass now that they have Poe and McCoy. Maybe if K'Lavon Chassion is there, at least he get a start at DE. I know the Cowboys draft/ scout media guys love both these guys.
Honestly, the only reason they dont go CB at #17, is if Jeudy or CeeDee Lamb fall to them. I think they would pass on Ruggs (TBH Id take Ruggs too, who doesnt need a Tyreek Hill type guy?!?!?) or Jefferson, and look for a Rd 3-4 WR instead, like Mims, Cephus or Duvernay (Longhorn, so Texas favorite).
Overall, Im less worried than I was, but that CB depth chart is trash! The top 3 are all off contract next yr too. I suspect we keep Lewis and show the other 2 the door, esp Awuzie, pending the rookies from this draft. We need a 3rd receiver, but with the depth in the draft we will get something. We need a right edge player, and likely a OL player. Sneaky worries are LB (health of LVE and Lee), OL (Tyron isnt getting younger, and Fredrick retiring), TE - Jarwin is our only pass catcher.