Propping up the sky around here

[Slingin Sammy 33]

Originally Posted by djnemo65

Obvious joking aside, you are talking about the mother of all free agency splurges as the solution to this team's problems? Sorry, but that does not prop up any sky for me. And just because Paintrain presented a case for optimism does not mean we have to accept it. If we are being optimistic just to goof around and feel better, reality be damned, Tryfuhl's 13-3 thread was a perfectly fine space for that. Otherwise we still have to debate the points raised right? I don't see how that constitutes a bitch session.

Joking aside, here's the reality. We will not be successful this season, no chance at the playoffs. However, we have some good players to build around and can right the ship fairly quickly (for 2010 & beyind) if the correct moves are made for the rest of this season, and in the off-season. Tryfuhl's point about player evaluation being all that matters at this point is spot-on.

We need a GM, the Wilbon article was very good the other day and he identified 5 quality GM candidates. Snyder should get one of these guys ASAP, again I don't know the rules or protocol surrounding bringing in a GM mid-season, but if it's possible it should be done immediately. Will Snyder do that, based on the article rumoring Gruden, it sounds like No.

If DS fires Zorn at the Bye week, which I suspect, Gray should be named interim coach and hopefully Sherm Lewis will call the O for the remainder of the season.

Here's how I see our personnel, keep in mind I'm assuming an uncapped year in 2010:
RDE - Orakpo, difference maker for 10+ years
RDT - Haynesworth - Pro Bowl DT for at least 3 more years
LDT - Griff / Golston / Alexander - solid to average players, decent rotation.
LDE - Jarmon, first look seems to be a great use of next year's 3rd rounder. Could solidify LDE for 10+ years
Carter can be kept for DE/LB depth or released freeing up a good chunk of $$$
Fletcher - Pro Bowl caliber MLB, probably this year and one more left.
McIntosh - knees appear to be recovered, solid WLB
Wilson, Blades - average LB backups
SAM - must be addressed in off-season by draft or FA
CB - Rogers good cover CB with poor hands/ball skills. Good in run support. Overall a solid CB who will get beat at times making plays on the ball.
CB - Hall, great hands, makes mistakes, poor in run support. Always seems to be at the right place at the right time to get a pick. Overall a guy who will make plays, but will cost you too. Overpaid, but an average overall CB.
CB depth - Tryon looks to be stepping up as a good nickel guy, Barnes appears to have the tools to be a #1 or #2 CB, he just needs to get on the field.
S - we are solid here with good young talent

K- Suisham, solid so far this year
P - Hunter Smith - good punter

LT - Samuels, if he comes back this year likely only has one or two productive years as a backup/mentor to the young guys. This position should be our first pick in the draft unless Clausen is available.
LG - Dock, average but makes mistakes. We need an upgrade here but Dock is not horrible.
C - Rabach, serviceable but I would like to see Monty at C the rest of the way to see if he can win the position going forward. Rabach would be good depth.
RG - Rinehart, I don't agree with him being benched if it's not an injury issue. What I've seen so far is that he's been solid and improving. He needs to be on the field and should develop into a starting RG.
RT - Heyer has been solid overall. He and Rinehart can develop into a good right side, if allowed to stay on the field together and develop chemistry.
TE - Cooley, Davis - TE is not an issue for several years
FB - Sellers isn't playing at a Pro Bowl level, but not terrible either. He's been solid, he just doesn't pick up the inside quick enough on the Stretch play. FB isn't making or breaking the team.
RB - Portis is still a solid RB, just a straight ahead guy without that extra-gear. In an uncapped year he may stay at $ 10M / yr. If not, this needs to be addressed in the off-season.
QB - JC isn't the answer to take us deep into the playoffs without a dominant defense and run game. He won't win games with his arm alone. Can he be a solid, but unspectacular QB? That needs to be figured out within the next few games, if he plays like he did against the Lions/Bucs, he's gone. Zorn, or whoever is calling the plays after the Bye, needs to put him in situations to either make a play or fail. Let him earn his new contract or lose it by his play, don't protect him with playcalling. My gut feel based on what I've seen over the last three weeks is that JC won't progress and QB will need to be addressed. Problem is other than Clausen or Bradford in the 2010 draft, there aren't any potential solutions I see other than taking a look at Quinn or Woodson.

Our immediate needs this off-season: QB, LT, SAM
This is not the "mother of all FA splurges". If there are solid FAs that can fill holes, we don't need to worry about cap issues from contracts of older/unproductive players holding us back from bringing guys in.

In the short term (the rest of the season) the outlook is bleak. Long term I think the outlook is much brighter if Snyderatto makes the correct decisions. Will that happen.....that's a whole different thread.