Right Tackle and Free Safety

[JoeRedskin]

We keep having these discussions b/c: (1) We haven't drafted to address the need - or when we have it didn't pan out immediately (Morgan); and (2) the free-agent market for these positions the last couple of years has been either pay big early or pick through a bunch of Just-A-Guys. On top of that, there didn't seem to be a plan in place for addressing problem areas.

We made a play for Rolle, he went elsewhere. It seemed like the marquee names at safety were at SS not FS. At tackle, outside of Baluga, who is there that is a definite upgrade over Polumbus? I agree, Compton doesn't look like the answer, but is there any reason to believe Barksdale is either?

I think we should have spent money last year to address the FS position - not Byrd but one of the other guys getting $5-6M/yr. At tackle, they drafted a guy lots of folks wanted to take a round earlier and who was, as I remember, the best tackle on the board at the time. Still keeping my fingers crossed.

Don't know why these two positions are so difficult to fill but, in truth, every team has problem areas. By definition, every team can't have above average starters at every position. Just like every team has some above average starters, they are going to have some below average starters as well. We just keep getting stuck with them at these two positions.