Safety is looking rough. The starters are average at best and the depth is pretty non-existent.

(04-29-2025, 06:20 PM)samhain Wrote: Safety is looking rough.  The starters are average at best and the depth is pretty non-existent.

That is my opinion as well. Blackman it appears is resigning with the Colts.

Leaves Simmons, not sure how much he has in the tank.

Biggest need is interior pass rush.

They’re set at iOL. Whether they should be is another matter.

I’m disappointed they haven’t done more at Safety. They don’t even seem to have made any effort to bring in any decent safeties for the PS.

(04-29-2025, 06:20 PM)samhain Wrote: Safety is looking rough.  The starters are average at best and the depth is pretty non-existent.

Anthony had a great camp last year and the coaches were quite high on him.  They may be comfortable with him as the backup, or maybe even pushing for a starting spot.  But yeah, on paper, the starters are mediocre.  If Battle can refind the form he had as a rookie, it would be a big boost.

(04-29-2025, 07:10 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: That is my opinion as well. Blackman it appears is resigning with the Colts.

Leaves Simmons, not sure how much he has in the tank.

Dang, Blackmon was the other Safety I was hoping for us to sign. Simmons did fall off a bunch last season.

I would still bring him in along with an interior pass rusher for the Defense.

I just think the coaches really think one of Kris Jenkins or McKinnley Jackson will really emerge in their sophomore season.

Maybe Daijahn Anthony as well at Safety next to Battle if Stone continues to suck.

(04-30-2025, 12:04 PM)TJHoushmandzadeh Wrote: Biggest need is interior pass rush.

They’re set at iOL. Whether they should be is another matter.

I’m disappointed they haven’t done more at Safety. They don’t even seem to have made any effort to bring in any decent safeties for the PS.

They seem happy with the players they have which is frustrating after last season.

(04-30-2025, 01:51 PM)Whatever Wrote: Anthony had a great camp last year and the coaches were quite high on him.  They may be comfortable with him as the backup, or maybe even pushing for a starting spot.  But yeah, on paper, the starters are mediocre.  If Battle can refind the form he had as a rookie, it would be a big boost.

Agree, none of us should be happy with the lack of moves at Safety, but I like Anthony's upside and Battle was damn good as a rookie.

Tycen Anderson I think would of been used late last season since he was so good as a gunner for us on ST's. I know ST's are really important
but so is starting Safety lol

1) New Owners
2) New GM
3) Scouts
4) Head Coach
--------------
5) S
6) G (still)
7) 3T pass rush
8) TE1
9) CB (CB1 or slot)
10) WR3
11) OT3

My fears are we think:

S) Stone/Battle are fine to start and Anthony/Anderson, with no experience, are OK as backups.

G) Still no one I'd call a surefire starter despite a FA pickup AND 2 picks. Good job, Duke.

DT) Cam Sample is our pass rushing DT.

TE1) Drew Sample is fine as TE1 and it is totally fine to give away the play call with our TE personnel because execution.

CB) Josh Newton is OK to start at slot.

WR3) Yoshi is fine as WR and Sizzle/Williams/Burton are OK as 4-6.

OT3) Ford is good here.
---------

I can kinda see it with Yoshi if he makes a leap. The rest.......

Waive Volson & Pratt. Sign Blackmon (S) and one of the FA guards (No way we do either). Extend Trey. Hope like hell a vet CB can come cheap or the Bears get rid of Kmet. And a pass rushing DT shakes loose.

(04-28-2025, 02:04 PM)Clark W Griswold Wrote: I would love for them to sign Risner but I think they have their guards for 2025.  They are going to give Fairchild every opportunity to start and I’m sure they signed Patrick to be a starter.

Better than last year but still not ideal. Hope they surprise me and sign another vet but I wouldn’t bet on it.

I believe you're right.  I will be astonished if they sign a quality FA guard.

Which makes me sad.  I like Patrick and Fairchild, but would be nice to have a quality veteran on board for the next few years.

(05-01-2025, 03:48 PM)3wt Wrote: I believe you're right.  I will be astonished if they sign a quality FA guard.

Which makes me sad.  I like Patrick and Fairchild, but would be nice to have a quality veteran on board for the next few years.

Same, would be nice if they went that extra mile for once as insurance. But it is unlikely with us adding 2 Guards in Patrick and Fairchild, 
drafting Rivers and bringing back Cody Ford with Jaxon Kirkland coming back and hopefully getting healthy. I would still add Risner or 
Sherff as vet insurance and more competition.

I still don’t get their plan at safety. Ok so they keep Stone. Hate the gamble but what can you do they are all in. But they still never replaced Bell.

I like Anthony but it still feels like we are short a safety. We certainly aren’t prepared for an injury.

For 2026, I find this very early look at the draft interesting. IT says DL again will be strong. Does that help a Bengal's team that did not draft a DT, but will have 2 on last year of their contract because a lot of tems used high picks on DT in 2025. He has us taking a DT with pick 25.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2026/story/_/id/44925346/2026-nfl-mock-draft-early-first-round-predictions-quarterbacks-trades-32-picks

He has 3 taken in round 1 and one is by the Steelers taking a 2nd DT in round 1 consecutive years.

(05-01-2025, 07:55 PM)jj22 Wrote: I still don’t get their plan at safety. Ok so they keep Stone. Hate the gamble but what can you do they are all in. But they still never replaced Bell.

I like Anthony but it still feels like we are short a safety. We certainly aren’t prepared for an injury.

Battle should replace Bell and be much better as long as he stays in shape. It is Stone they need to replace unless they are banking on him being
what he was with the Ravens and even then, he was THEIR 3rd Safety and not a starter, he started because of injury and lucked into picks that got
him paid by us because we were panicking losing all our Safeties and Dax not being the best and being hurt.

While on this topic of need, I can't help but imagine what a front four of Trey, Stewart, Murphy and Ossai would do on a true passing down.

Extend Trey on an incentive laden contract and feel good about at least one position on the D-Line.

(05-01-2025, 09:49 PM)XsandOs Wrote: While on this topic of need, I can't help but imagine what a front four of Trey, Stewart, Murphy and Ossai would do on a true passing down.

Extend Trey on an incentive laden contract and feel good about at least one position on the D-Line.

I fill good already with Trey (extension or not), Hill, Jenkins and Ossai

I think Golden is going to adapt his defense in away to create mismatches for Stewart. I don't see Stewart starting, but when he is on. the field, I have a hunch will be hard for the other team OC and OL coach tso game plan for him if he lines up all over the DL.

Jenkins and Jackson had flashes last year, and got thrown into the fire before they were ready, but they mostly sucked.

The coaches lived Carter after year 1 as well.