2009 Free Agents

When you have as many needs as we have it's hard to address them all with really good players in one year. Plus I think we were thrown a curve with the whole JT thing. I think we've made some improvements but I don't think we're done yet.

I think in the end we won't be able to address everything we need. I know it sounds bad, but that's just the reality. I mean look at Tampa Bay, they have a ton of cap money and they haven't acquired anyone. I don't know what are their needs, but with all that cap space, you'd imagine they acquire some big name free agent after releasing a whole bunch of their veterans. To be honest, I don't even know who is their current QB.

... btw I've bought a ticket on the "draft Mack" train, but only if we can 1) trade down w/ the lions and get their 1st and 2nd round picks 2) draft Mack and a LB starter w/ those two picks. The only thing bugging me is it means we have to address LDE in FA and also IMHO a legit RT too. Daniels/Wynn can do the job @ DE by rotating, neither guy you'd want to stay in there three downs. RT is a tough call. I'm scared to death about going into yet another season w/ Jansen/Heyer for our only options. It never turns out well right? Jansen shouldn't even be considered a RT anymore... he can be an interior backup for one year until he's cut. Anyway I think we'd be wise to get a legit RT in FA, if not the draft, and let he and Heyer compete for the starter's spot. Let the best dude win :)

I'm not even sure if Tampa knows who their QB is. :) We're probably just going to have to decide which position is the weakest with who we have right now. We need RT but could Heyer handle that position better than say Blades could handle OLB? But then again you don't want to pass up someone who you think would truly be outstanding at one of those positions. I don't think we'll be nearly as bad this year as some seem to think.

I think in the end we won't be able to address everything we need. I know it sounds bad, but that's just the reality. I mean look at Tampa Bay, they have a ton of cap money and they haven't acquired anyone. I don't know what are their needs, but with all that cap space, you'd imagine they acquire some big name free agent after releasing a whole bunch of their veterans. To be honest, I don't even know who is their current QB.

I don't want to give up hope yet Ruh. Again, Daniels/Wynn rotating fix the LDE problem for a year. Sure it's not what we all hoped for but it's a short term fix. That leaves o-line and LB. I mean maybe we get lucky and draft 2 starters in a trade-back scenario. Maybe we just get one standout at 13 in Oher, Rey and then we hope to hell we have a gem fall to us at the other position the way Hall and Dock fell to us. We're kind of on a lucky streak...

I don't want to give up hope yet Ruh. Again, Daniels/Wynn rotating fix the LDE problem for a year. Sure it's not what we all hoped for but it's a short term fix. That leaves o-line and LB. I mean maybe we get lucky and draft 2 starters in a trade-back scenario. Maybe we just get one standout at 13 in Oher, Rey and then we hope to hell we have a gem fall to us at the other position the way Hall and Dock fell to us. We're kind of on a lucky streak...

Well that's what I meant, you've given a good example of an area that we wouldn't address, and just patch up for this year. And I think with AH, Carter, and Griff, we should be able to plug a decent player at LDE for the year (or like you said, rotate Daniels/Wynn). I think LB is a concern, as well as the offensive line. But if we don't need to address the DE this year,then we can focus on LB and the offensive line.

Although, we still have a ways to go (the period between now and the draft and the draft itself) before we can say whether or not things have been addressed.

Glad to have you on the Mack train Goat. I look at it this way. Say we really want help at strong safety and our LT is a pretty good player nearing the end as an elite tackle. Jonathen Ogden is on the board, but there are some pretty good safties out there too. The best ones will be gone by the time you pick or have some questions about them but there are some others with some pretty good upside available later on. You can get by with the SS you have for at least one more year. Do you pass on Ogden even though he will be an all pro player who will make your line better for many, many years and take a pretty good safety because you want to improve that position right now? Or do you take a guy who will be the cornerstone of your line for years even though you could get by at that position for a while longer?

... btw did Marcus sign somewhere cuz i'm not seeing him listed on the ESPN FA tracker.

Daniels and Wynn are a fine one year solution at LE. Excellent even at vet min prices. But the pass rush then has to come in part from the linebacker position, where we currently sport HB Blades, who can't rush the passer, Rocky McIntosh, who can't rush the passer, and soon-to-be Khary Campbell, who can't really get on the field on defense.

Daniels and Wynn are a fine one year solution at LE. Excellent even at vet min prices. But the pass rush then has to come in part from the linebacker position, where we currently sport HB Blades, who can't rush the passer, Rocky McIntosh, who can't rush the passer, and soon-to-be Khary Campbell, who can't really get on the field on defense.

I heard about this kid Rey who can really rush the f'ing passer... :D

Seriously, I think a monster addition to LB shores up the defense assuming we stopgap LDE w/ Daniels/Wynn.

... we've spent so much money there I'm tempted to just say f it and go all the way. We have to get the best possible FA at OT in that case but we haven't even heard anything brewing...

I heard about this kid Rey who can really rush the f'ing passer... :D

Seriously, I think a monster addition to LB shores up the defense assuming we stopgap LDE w/ Daniels/Wynn.

... we've spent so much money there I'm tempted to just say f it and go all the way. We have to get the best possible FA at OT in that case but we haven't even heard anything brewing...OT market:

Player, age

J. Runyan, 35
T. Thomas, 34
Marv. Smith, 31
M. Tauscher, 32
Oli. Ross, 34
Br. Gorin, 31
J. St. Clair, 32

That's pretty much why Willis stood out.

If I put Jansen on this list, he'd be between Marvel Smith, and Tauscher, so most of those guys wouldn't start for us anyway. Runyan might even retire, and he was Jansen's predecessor at Michigan, so he's old as dirt.

On a two year deal, Marvel Smith makes sense for us. But that doesn't eliminate the need to land a tackle at thirteen exactly.