Peppers says he wants to explore free agency

[Dirtbag59]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

My somewhat educated guess says the following:

-We're going to show some interest in Peppers and Jordan Gross but it won't be all that intense. And, much to my dismay, we're not likely to go after Karlos Dansby either.

-We're going to offer a lot of money to Albert Haynesworth mainly because he's exactly what Blache has been asking for, a dominating interior lineman. Personally, I think the concerns about Big Al's character issues are a bit overrated. The bigger concern is really durability issues, he's only played one 16 game season in seven NFL seasons.

-Blache is really hoping Daniels' knee is up for at least one more year so he can put him back at DE opposite Andre Carter and allow the team to...

-Move Jason Taylor (who I think they figure out a way to keep) to weakside linebacker.

-If Daniels can't go, maybe they go with Evans again. Either way, I know that at this point DE is not high on their list (probably some late round pick if they get some extra picks) so I expect the 2009 starters are already on the roster

-Marcus Washington is probably gone (along with Griffin especially if they are able to get Haynesworth)

-McIntosh moves to the strongside but could be benched pretty quickly if they are able to get the guy they hope might fall to them in the draft...

-Aaron Curry. If he's there at #13 (not likely) the Redskins will probably take him and hope to trade late into the first round or into the top third of the second round to take an OT (deep class) like Beatty or Loadholt

-If Curry isn't there, they'll probably take an OT there at #13 and then hope to trade late into the first round or into the top third of the second round take an OLB like Cushing or Sintim. I think Cushing might actually be the guy they most want (little worried about that) but not at #13

-If they keep their third round pick, it may be an interior OL but it's more likely to be a running back

That's all for my somewhat educated guesses for now

All this scares me because it sounds very plausible.

[SmootSmack]

Well day one of Senior Bowl week, and the early word is the D-Linemen are abusing the O-Linemen. Unger looking poor. Ziggy Hood and Ron Brace dominating. Raji playing like possibly a top 5 pick.

[53Fan]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Well day one of Senior Bowl week, and the early word is the D-Linemen are abusing the O-Linemen. Unger looking poor. Ziggy Hood and Ron Brace dominating. Raji playing like possibly a top 5 pick.

Hood is a guy to keep an eye on. If we get a 2nd round pick and he's there, I would take him. He may not be Haynesworth but he's good and would be a hell of a lot cheaper. I'll doubt he'd still be there in the 3rd. His stock will probably rise.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by 53Fan

Hood is a guy to keep an eye on. If we get a 2nd round pick and he's there, I would take him. He may not be Haynesworth but he's good and would be a hell of a lot cheaper. I'll doubt he'd still be there in the 3rd. His stock will probably rise.

Yeah, I was talking to this college scout last week, and he was really high on Hood and some center whose name I can't remember). But he had Hood as a 3rd or 4th rounder back then.

He said Malcolm Jenkins was far and away his favorite player in the draft and if by some chance he fell to 13 we had to take him. I disagreed and said we didn't need to spend our 13th pick on a CB, we need line help. He said "you can find linemen later, you won't find Jenkins for a long time"

If it's any consolation, the team he scouts for is pretty awful.

But anyhow, I know nothing of Hood.

[53Fan]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Yeah, I was talking to this college scout last week, and he was really high on Hood and some center whose name I can't remember). But he had Hood as a 3rd or 4th rounder back then.

He said Malcolm Jenkins was far and away his favorite player in the draft and if by some chance he fell to 13 we had to take him. I disagreed and said we didn't need to spend our 13th pick on a CB, we need line help. He said "you can find linemen later, you won't find Jenkins for a long time"

If it's any consolation, the team he scouts for is pretty awful.

But anyhow, I know nothing of Hood.

Was it Alex Mack?

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by 53Fan

Was it Alex Mack?

No, it was some no name

[The Goat]

Also curious as to how Rocky Mac would be effective @ strong side LB when he struggled at weak-side? The official skins site has him listed @ 232 lbs... lighter than Marcus, Fletcher, Blades and even Fincher (who looks the meanest of them all BTW).

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by The Goat

Also curious as to how Rocky Mac would be effective @ strong side LB when he struggled at weak-side? The official skins site has him listed @ 232 lbs... lighter than Marcus, Fletcher, Blades and even Fincher (who looks the meanest of them all BTW).

I believe that SLB is the easiest position to handle on the entire defense, and while "strong side" would imply that you need a bigger, stronger player there, the fact that you spend a lot of time taking on blocks from the tight end instead of a tackle or guard makes me think that a smaller guy should be able to handle SLB better than WLB.

That, and I think it's somewhat easier, without having curl-flat coverage responsibilities and all.

[The Goat]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

I believe that SLB is the easiest position to handle on the entire defense, and while "strong side" would imply that you need a bigger, stronger player there, the fact that you spend a lot of time taking on blocks from the tight end instead of a tackle or guard makes me think that a smaller guy should be able to handle SLB better than WLB.

That, and I think it's somewhat easier, without having curl-flat coverage responsibilities and all.

Much appreciated breakdown but it leads to another question: why didn't Marcus and Rocky swap sides long ago being that Marcus struggles to keep up w/ most in coverage (he usually looks hurt when he sprints IMO)?

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by The Goat

Much appreciated breakdown but it leads to another question: why didn't Marcus and Rocky swap sides long ago being that Marcus struggles to keep up w/ most in coverage (he usually looks hurt when he sprints IMO)?

Fear of the unknown maybe? Marcus has been a SLB his whole career, and if his 2004 contract is any indication, he was valued like one in the free agent market.

Our chasing of Lance Briggs in the free agent market makes it seem like we were never going to consider moving Marcus into the heavier WLB responsibility role. We drafted Rocky, in my opinion, because we had in mind the fact that he would fill the WLB role vacated by Arrington, and we just haven't at any point had someone who could handle that role since we released LA.

I think we should try Blades there, since for two years now, his numbers have been absoultely unbelievably impressive. I think he can handle that responsibility.

Of course, we then have to build the DL while keeping in mind that we have no LBs over 240 lbs, and there are bruising OLs like Carolina's who pose impossible matchup issues (see preseason, game 3).

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by The Goat

Also curious as to how Rocky Mac would be effective @ strong side LB when he struggled at weak-side? The official skins site has him listed @ 232 lbs... lighter than Marcus, Fletcher, Blades and even Fincher (who looks the meanest of them all BTW).

I think he played SAM in college, but it's more about just filling him in somewhere until someone else (Cushing?) takes over

[Trample the Elderly]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

I think he played SAM in college, but it's more about just filling him in somewhere until someone else (Cushing?) takes over

So what's the down low about how the FO wants to address the needs of the teams with the draft and FA or is that another thread? Can you just start another thread about the rumors that you hear being floated around?

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Trample the Elderly

So what's the down low about how the FO wants to address the needs of the teams with the draft and FA or is that another thread? Can you just start another thread about the rumors that you hear being floated around?

There are so many rumors being floated around, as is customary at this point, that starting a new thread would be all over the place. I hinted at most of what I know a few posts back with my somewhat educated guess.

Happy to answer any questions

[Trample the Elderly]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

There are so many rumors being floated around, as is customary at this point, that starting a new thread would be all over the place. I hinted at most of what I know a few posts back with my somewhat educated guess.

Happy to answer any questions

Alright, who do you think they're going after in the draft? You've been talking to the scouts. Is there anyone that the FO is rumored to be looking at with interest in the draft and FA?

[sandtrapjack]

According to the press release on Fox Sports, Peppers specifically mentioned wanting to cross over from the 4-3 to the 3-4 defense.

FOX Sports on MSN - NFL - Peppers won't sign long-term deal with Panthers