From Profootball talk

Hopefully Naives will like the direction the defence is going with Del Rio as Def Coordinator and he can be resigned prior to testing the waters

 

mag, i didn't follow you. first you say that there won't be a need for Naives next year and then it seems you're crying about our lb situation once we lose him. i only ask because i was surprised to see Naives listed as a player that could be cut this year to make cap room for Peppers. i thought he was pretty much a shoe-in to start if he stays healthy. witherspoon would seem to be a kid that's going to need some time to develop and would be used in a limited role this year ... barring injuries. i personally thought naives looked really good in what little time there was to see him. any chance we could keep him?

 

It was Losing Navies, Towns, Jackson and Minor that got him worried.

I think.

 

Staying healthy has always been Navies problem. 3 years of it. It's getting old.

I don't think we will cut him if he's healthy. We don't save anything for one, he's only making 563K, which would barely make the top 51, so it's a small savings at this point. And two, we need the depth, and he can start if healthy.

Next season he may be a more difficult sign if he's productive, he'll be an UFA. If he's not healthy or productive, I would not want him.

 

I forgot about Hoover, Jordan, james, and Towns.

Well, the good news is it's a contract year for them.
The bad news is that it's a contract year for them.

I want Jordan to step up. Gotta like Hoover, too.

 

yep. Not the one, but the fact that we'd be possibly losing all. Backup linebackers aren't a problem - they can be had. It's finding/keeping a starter that's a bastard.

 

I think we would be better off if we would have cut Dilbert a couple of years ago. I will probably be saying the same thing 2 yrs from now too. I say, cut his ass and move on. He IS NOT WORTH that cap figure.

 

Your dream may come true. Gilbert should be cutable next year, just hang in and wait for it.

 

Del Rio stated that defensive tackle is the strongest position in our defense. This is not a relative statement, as in the rest of our D is bad but tackles are ok. No, he also said we have more talent than the Ravens had when he was there. I look to the DT as my particular inspiration to evaluate a defense. I see Gilbert coming out this year. The reports out of camp so far have been good. He won the sprint for the linemen. He is focused and serious. Jenkins had better show this year or Leroy is going to take his place. I have a good feeling about this guy and have heard some really good things about his strenght from people who claim to know him personally. I hope he is the monster I've heard he is. Some of you SEC fans might can give me your opinion on Leroy. I've whinned and pined for some big stud in the middle ever since Kragen retired. Please tell me this is the year.

 

DT is probably our deepest unit. Even with Rucker being our best player on the line, and Peppers potential there, sure, I might give a slight edge.

But Del Rio was fudging if he's calling Gilbert and Jenkins better than Goose and Sam.