Missing pieces?

Let's say we go with the expected combo of Peppers and a corner. Let's assume that each are assumed parts of the long distance run, whatever that may yield. Let's assume that we don't get any other long term starters out of it.

Who else can we count on, for the moment, as potential parts of the long haul?

IMO Jenkins can turn into one. Rucker, if re-signed, isn't enough to be elite but good enough to be a damn good contributor, especially with a good rush end across from him like Peppers.
Morgan, Minter, and Grant I'd assume, as they're our three best defenders and all are under contract for a while.

We'd want to go corner again, and DT, next year along with possibly linebacker. Fields should be around for two years at minimum but I'd have to see him succeed here before I'd call him anything of long term substance.

So what's everybody else think?

 

I'd love to get another linebacker. Especially if it's someone with a mean streak in him.

 

on offense/special teams, you have to have steve smith as a keeper. moose is starting to get up there. walls wont be around for the big super bowl run. kasay may not be either. the punter is a keeper. stuesie is in.

i think there needs to be another top player added to OL, CB, WR, RB and DL in the next two years of acquisitions to make this thing work.

 

Offense is very hard to predict and deals with so many more possible roleplayers. I guess along the OL, we should probably look for a more typical right tackle, and it'd be nice to see more out of Nesbit, Jordan, or James.


Agree about the linebacker, but I guess I'm looking for a more encompassing description. As in, who stays/who goes in your opinion.

 

Offense

WR
----
Moose-still has a few good years left, a keeper

Jeffers-the knees have me worried, hopefully he'll last another 2-3
years, we need a replacement by next year at the worst

Byrd-good guy to have around as the 3rd option

Smith-think Jermaine Lewis, excells on ST, also can get it done in a limited role for the offense

Hankton, Turner-Hankton helps tremendously on ST so he may keep a spot for the next couple of years. Turner, waiting on the next injury

TE
---
Walls-God love him, if he were a horse, he'd have been shot by now. One or two years tops, he retires and gets his statue beside Mills

Mangum-hasn't really shown me anything to get excited about, there are and will be better guys out there. Sayonara,adios, good bye

Crawford-showed flashes two preseasons ago and simply disappeared. Why I don't know, injury history, may hang on

OT
---
Steussie-one mean SOB, too bad that mean streak doesn't rub off
He's getting up there, maybe 3-4 yrs left

Terry-I still can't figure out why we haven't looked for an upgrade.
He gets bullrushed too often for my tastes. Boudreau has helped with his sacks against totals but still those two 60+ sack years with him being the main road to the QB makes me think we can find better.

Tuten-why is he being paid this much? Goner

OG
----
Nesbitt-needs to improve if he's going to stay. Still gets dominated on occassion. May end up replacing Mitchell at center.

Donalley-how much tread is left on the tire? Needs replacing by next year.

Jordan-time to fish or cut bait with the guy. With his size he could be a monster, but he seems to have a problem picking up the offense

C
--
Mitchell-good player, love his attitude. He's got bad knees, so if they hold up maybe another 3 years tops.

Williams-his ability to play most of the o-line positions may be the only thing keeping him on the team at this point.

RB
---
Smith-servicable, but on the backside of his career, two years tops

Montgomery-the big mystery in all this, how will he come back from injury? If he works out, he's a bargain, if not he's out of here.

Hoover-Cult hero, but needs to step up at FB if he wants to be around.

Brown-3rd down back at best, don't think he'll be a feature back.

QB
__
Weinke-the surgery has me a little worried as to why he continued to play with the injury. I don't think the team has let all the info out. He can be a steady player, but I think his late start in the NFL will keep him from being an upper tier QB.

Lytle-this year will probably make or break him with the team. he must show progress again this year and put himself in a positsion to challenge for the starter's job or he's of no lasting value to the team.

Peete-who'll be rent a QB next year, hope his wife shows for a few games though.

Harrington is tempting given our present perdicerment, but he can't play defense.

 

y'all are frustrating me. I'm only concerned about the defense.

 

Fields.
Navies could have a good year.
Towns is still solid.

I think you covered it pretty well.

Peppers
mystery other good draft guy
Grant
Minter
Morgan
Fileds
Rucker
Jenkins

Hell that's 8. Not too shabby. Add 2 corners, and we can play football.

And one other guy.

 

From what I have read from the most reliable source... Peppers is not the expected... Oh, by the way that reliable source is John Fox...

If he is baiting folks thats fine, I'll be wrong, it will not be the first time nor the last, I am human. My gut is usually more right than wrong...

As another side note, no one on this board has given any logical reason to draft Peppers...Aside from the bandwagon speculation.

 

Be more concerned about the offense... The right defensive Co... can whip up a decent defense quicker than the offensive Co... IMO.

 

Defense

DE
----
Peppers-still not sold on him. How on one hand can he be the best thing since sliced bread and still have so many questions about him?

Rucker-steady, but not spectacular. Needs to be resigned if possible..

Williams-your plane is departing at gate 12. never lived up to expectations. Costs too much for a backup IMHO.

We'll be drafting DE's for the next 3 years for depth if not as a replacement for Rucker if he bolts.

DT
---
Jenkins-showed some flashes early and hit the wall late. Can develop into a good player.

Burton-short term solution to a long time problem. Can also play some DE I think. Depth if hothing else.

Buckner-he'll be gone this time next year.

Gilbert-will we ever be able to get rid of his contract? some one give me some hope!

The postion definately needs an up grade. Sims over Peppers any one?

LB
---
Morgan-this is the guy we build around. Good all around player, will be if not already the leader of this bunch.

Fields-great against the run, so so against the pass is the rap.
Good pickup for the short term. Probably will be lkooking for a replacement after next season.

Navies-has the tools, but can he stay healthly? One more injury and he becomes a third time offender and it's time to look elsewhere IMHO.

Towns-competent backup to Morgan, will have to see what he can do at OLB

Minor-after Morgan, probably the best ttackler out of the whole lot. He needs to challenge for a starting spot to stay after next year.

Jackson-knows Del Rio's scheme, performed pretty well as a fill in in Baltimore, may challenge to start by the end of the year should Navies falter.

Kyle-can we find a TE or OL that can long snap? He's a waste of toster space otherwise.

CB
---
Anderson-got to believe he's dug his own grave by delaying his surgery this long. I don't see him coming back next year.

Cousin-will probably start opposite the rookie CB we draft. Decent player, starter with the Bears a few years ago.

Jenkins-he has nickle back written all over him, probably a goner after this year.

Vinson-do we have a death wish for players with bum knees?
Worth a shot, but he's one injury away from being unemployed again.

Harper-I like what I've seen of him in the preseason the last two years, should get a shot at starting sometime soon or he needs to be gone.

Howard-good ST guy, kind of shakey otherwise though.

S
--
Minter-team leader, needs to stay here as long as we will keep him

Grant-showed improvement during the year, a keeper

Cooper-great ST player, good man in the dime package. May develop into a starter in a few years.

Richardson-must have something on some one in the front office, I can't see why we don't go after some one better.

Happy now mVm?