(03-01-2017, 11:41 AM)Yojimbo Wrote: I think next year is a "rebuilding" year in that we'll see a lot of young players getting a shot finally. Billings at DT, Fisher at RT or RG, Vigil at LB, Boyd and Core at WR and the top corners are likely to be Shaw, Dennard, Jackson and Russell. These guys need experience if they are ever going to be good and some years when your main roster has gotten too old, you just have to hit reset and take your bumps while the kids learn.

(03-01-2017, 12:21 PM)Whatever Wrote: Kirk is tough. On one hand, you'd like to get him back with the current Jones situation. On the other, he is a quality starter, but not worth what he will get in FA.

I can understand letting him walk given that they have 2 1st rounders, a 4th rounder that's looked pretty good, and effectively a 3rd rounder behind him, but it's an uneasy feeling since Dennard, Jackson, and Russell are largely unknown.

If they're going to let the kids play, then they need to address the pass push either in FA or early in the draft. They can also sign a comparable guy like Amaksmura or take a CB in the 2nd. There's lots of talent at CB in the draft this year, and it's possible the bpa in 2 is a CB that slid out of the 1st.

(03-01-2017, 11:19 AM)samhain Wrote: With yesterday's news about the team viewing it's available cap spend for FA at 15 mil, the tea leaves move a bit. I believe they'll likely spend 3-5 mil over that as they did last season if some appealing bargains come available.

However, even if they do, these numbers likely do not add up to signing 2 of our big 3 free agents once the new league year begins. Whitworth, IMO seems to be the priority and is most often mentioned as the guy most likely to return. This could change, obviously.

So now, we see a less-than awesome scenario taking shape at cornerback. I'd be shocked if Jones is not suspended, and Dre is going to get a huge contract. Now this team is looking at being down not only it's best young o-lineman, but also both starting corners from last season.

Unlike on the line, there are two first round picks on the roster to move up the depth chart. One, Dennard, has been a giant disappointment thus far. The other, Jackson, has not seen a NFL snap. There's the draft, and Jesus god shit dog **** will I lose my shit if they draft another first round corner. Makes me ill just saying it. Even if they did, the likelihood of him being ready in game one is very small given their recent track record at the spot.

Thoughts? is this team ready to hand the starting jobs over to two young players and see how it goes? How much if any drop off will this cause on the defense? Are we doomed to another mind-numbing first round selection that won't be ready for at least a year at the position?

(03-01-2017, 11:24 AM)THE PISTONS Wrote: Thus is the cycle of the NFL. Making the playoffs for 5 years in a row was great...but maybe they should have invested a little more to become an elite team.

We're now going to enter a partial rebuilding phase...and unfortunately the past 3 drafts haven't yielded much production YET.

At CB, you're looking at Jones, WJ3, Dennard, Shaw, Russell, and Benwikere. There are 3 1st Round picks in that unit...so hopefully we're ok...but I don't see us bringing in another $8-10 million a year CB. Maybe we bring in Amakumara for $5 million on a 1 year deal like he signed with the Jaguars...

There are actually a lot of good free agent CB's...so maybe we wait and get one on the cheap.

I think Kirkpatrick goes to Cleveland or SF.

(03-01-2017, 11:24 AM)THE PISTONS Wrote: Thus is the cycle of the NFL. Making the playoffs for 5 years in a row was great...but maybe they should have invested a little more to become an elite team.

We're now going to enter a partial rebuilding phase...and unfortunately the past 3 drafts haven't yielded much production YET.

At CB, you're looking at Jones, WJ3, Dennard, Shaw, Russell, and Benwikere. There are 3 1st Round picks in that unit...so hopefully we're ok...but I don't see us bringing in another $8-10 million a year CB. Maybe we bring in Amakumara for $5 million on a 1 year deal like he signed with the Jaguars...

There are actually a lot of good free agent CB's...so maybe we wait and get one on the cheap.

I think Kirkpatrick goes to Cleveland or SF.

(03-01-2017, 12:21 PM)Whatever Wrote: Kirk is tough. On one hand, you'd like to get him back with the current Jones situation.  On the other, he is a quality starter, but not worth what he will get in FA.

I can understand letting him walk given that they have 2 1st rounders, a 4th rounder that's looked pretty good, and effectively a 3rd rounder behind him, but it's an uneasy feeling since Dennard, Jackson, and Russell are largely unknown.

If they're going to let the kids play, then they need to address the pass push either in FA or early in the draft.  They can also sign a comparable guy like Amaksmura or take a CB in the 2nd.  There's lots of talent at CB in the draft this year, and it's possible the bpa in 2 is a CB that slid out of the 1st.

(03-01-2017, 12:05 PM)THE PISTONS Wrote: Yep. I'd like to see a guy like Foster drafted on defense too. We'd be really young...but Foster would be a huge upgrade to Maualuga. We'd also have more speed all over.

(03-02-2017, 09:26 PM)coachmcneil71 Wrote: If WJlll can run and break on the ball like he did at Houston, I think he is gonna be a pleasant surprise.

It's a make or break year for Dennard. Shaw will be receiving a raise soon. Benwikere is a solid 3rd CB,if need be.

(03-03-2017, 01:25 AM)jason Wrote: Agreed. Though I do think there will be a learning curve for Jackson. If he's given playing time, I think he shows a lot of flashes this year.

I think Dennard needs to be outside. I wanted the Bengals to take him in 2014. I think he can still turn out to be a very good CB. He just doesn't seem suited for the slot.

I wouldn't pay Dre Kirkpatrick what some think he will get on the open market. The guy was pretty good last year, and was a damn fine ST gunner for a year or two. Other than that... I haven't been overly impressed with him.

I'm done with Pacman...

(03-01-2017, 11:19 AM)samhain Wrote: With yesterday's news about the team viewing it's available cap spend for FA at 15 mil, the tea leaves move a bit.  I believe they'll likely spend 3-5 mil over that as they did last season if some appealing bargains come available.

However, even if they do, these numbers likely do not add up to signing 2 of our big 3 free agents once the new league year begins.  Whitworth, IMO seems to be the priority and is most often mentioned as the guy most likely to return.  This could change, obviously.  

So now, we see a less-than awesome scenario taking shape at cornerback.  I'd be shocked if Jones is not suspended, and Dre is going to get a huge contract.  Now this team is looking at being down not only it's best young o-lineman, but also both starting corners from last season.  

Unlike on the line, there are two first round picks on the roster to move up the depth chart.  One, Dennard, has been a giant disappointment thus far.  The other, Jackson, has not seen a NFL snap.  There's the draft, and Jesus god shit dog **** will I lose my shit if they draft another first round corner.  Makes me ill just saying it.  Even if they did, the likelihood of him being ready in game one is very small given their recent track record at the spot.

Thoughts?  is this team ready to hand the starting jobs over to two young players and see how it goes?  How much if any drop off will this cause on the defense?  Are we doomed to another mind-numbing first round selection that won't be ready for at least a year at the position?

(03-02-2017, 07:26 PM)TKUHL Wrote: If WJ3 was healthy and ready at the time rather than bringing Peerman off IR It would have been nice to let him get some experience so we can get a glimpse of what we have. I still don't understand that decision.

(03-04-2017, 02:39 PM)MoneyCityManiac Wrote: I would have loved to have seen Jackson get some snaps too. If I remember correctly I think I read somewhere (and I think it was an interview with Marvin Lewis) that the team was preparing to activate Jackson but when Gio went down they brought Peerman back to fill the open RB spot.