dbair1967
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Lets start with the big change, Garrett and most of this coaching staff being shown the door, and Jon Gruden being brought in to replace him. Gruden might retain 2 or 3 of Garrett's current assistants (Callahan would be a lock, RB coach Skip Peete probably a lock too, worked with Gruden in Oakland for his entire stay, WR coach Jimmy Robinson also might stay, has WC offense experience and has done a nice job with Bryant and Harris)
Gruden will junk the 3-4 and hire a 4-3 defensive coordinator. I dont know who it might be, but one name to think about might be now suspended DC Gregg Williams, who was just told by Fisher in St Louis he wont be brought back. He's an aggressive coach and his blitzing style would be a good fit as we have CB's who can play aggressive press man coverage. We will also have two new starting safeties.
In terms of our own free agents, the only guys I'd attempt to resign would be the veteran backup safeties Peprah and Frampton (both on 1yr vet minimum wage deals) and long snapper LP LaDouceur. Had we stayed with the 3-4, franchsing or signing OLB Anthony Spencer would have been a must do, but we save approximtely 10.5mils (franchise tag) by changing schemes, and that money can now be used elsewhere. Costa, McCray and Shaeffering are all RFA's, I tender Costa and McCray the minimum required offers to retain them as well. Costa gets another chance to compete at C, and McCray gets a chance to show he can be a corp special teamer/compete for a roster spot.
Several veterans under contract would be jettisoned. Ratliff and Free would be designated as post June 1 cuts. I would call around and see what trade value Miles Austin has. If a 3rd rd pick (or ideally a 2nd) can be obtained, I trade him on or before draft weekend in April. Otherwise he probably gets a restructured contract. If he could stay healthy, he could potentially be a great fit for Gruden's passing game. But thats a big if. I think Livings and Bernadaeu get to stay and compete for their jobs in training camp. If Livings is beat out he is probably cut. Bernadeau might have a little more value as a backup, as he can possibly backup at C & G and doesnt have much of a cap charge. The other surprise cut will be SS Gerald Sensabaugh, who's play doesnt equal his pay.
We probably wont be big spenders in free agency, but I think they'll add maybe one guy on offense and defense. The free agent crop at G/C isnt very good, but there are a number of tackles they could sign. How aggressive they got with it might depend on their belief (or lack of) in Jeremy Parnell. If Gruden and Callahan truly like him as a starting RT, maybe they can avoid this. Otherwise maybe they add someone like a Sebastian Vollmer or Branden Albert. Defensively, I think they will target a proven starting safety. Jairus Byrd would be a potential ideal FS, or maybe they could pursue Louis Delmas, who's young and would add a real physical presence to the backend of the defense. He's an injury risk though. I think they'd add the other starting safety via the draft.
If Chance Warmack is available at 18, we take him. Otherwise we trade down into the late 20's and take his teammate Barrett Jones and fix the C positon for a decade. By moving down 10-12 spots, we pick up an additional 2nd rd pick as well. One of the 2nd rd picks will be a starting safety, the other will be our QB of the future. If they dont draft Warmack in first, either our 3rd or 4th rd pick will be another interior OL prospect (I like Alvin Bailey from Arkansas) and the other will be a DL, most likely a DE with pass rushing skill. We'll add another CB and maybe another DL with our other picks.
On defense, my thought is Ware at RDE, they tell Crawford to drop a few lbs and out him at LDE. Hatcher and Lissemore would line up inside at DT. Carter at WOLB and Lee at MLB are locks and sure to be major playmakers, the SOLB would be Albright or potentially some middle-to late rd pick, or cheap free agent. We'd have Claiborne and Carr as CB, a free agent and rookie at safety and either Scandrick or draft pick at nickel DB. Maybe Matt Johnson has a significant role next year as well.
Gruden will junk the 3-4 and hire a 4-3 defensive coordinator. I dont know who it might be, but one name to think about might be now suspended DC Gregg Williams, who was just told by Fisher in St Louis he wont be brought back. He's an aggressive coach and his blitzing style would be a good fit as we have CB's who can play aggressive press man coverage. We will also have two new starting safeties.
In terms of our own free agents, the only guys I'd attempt to resign would be the veteran backup safeties Peprah and Frampton (both on 1yr vet minimum wage deals) and long snapper LP LaDouceur. Had we stayed with the 3-4, franchsing or signing OLB Anthony Spencer would have been a must do, but we save approximtely 10.5mils (franchise tag) by changing schemes, and that money can now be used elsewhere. Costa, McCray and Shaeffering are all RFA's, I tender Costa and McCray the minimum required offers to retain them as well. Costa gets another chance to compete at C, and McCray gets a chance to show he can be a corp special teamer/compete for a roster spot.
Several veterans under contract would be jettisoned. Ratliff and Free would be designated as post June 1 cuts. I would call around and see what trade value Miles Austin has. If a 3rd rd pick (or ideally a 2nd) can be obtained, I trade him on or before draft weekend in April. Otherwise he probably gets a restructured contract. If he could stay healthy, he could potentially be a great fit for Gruden's passing game. But thats a big if. I think Livings and Bernadaeu get to stay and compete for their jobs in training camp. If Livings is beat out he is probably cut. Bernadeau might have a little more value as a backup, as he can possibly backup at C & G and doesnt have much of a cap charge. The other surprise cut will be SS Gerald Sensabaugh, who's play doesnt equal his pay.
We probably wont be big spenders in free agency, but I think they'll add maybe one guy on offense and defense. The free agent crop at G/C isnt very good, but there are a number of tackles they could sign. How aggressive they got with it might depend on their belief (or lack of) in Jeremy Parnell. If Gruden and Callahan truly like him as a starting RT, maybe they can avoid this. Otherwise maybe they add someone like a Sebastian Vollmer or Branden Albert. Defensively, I think they will target a proven starting safety. Jairus Byrd would be a potential ideal FS, or maybe they could pursue Louis Delmas, who's young and would add a real physical presence to the backend of the defense. He's an injury risk though. I think they'd add the other starting safety via the draft.
If Chance Warmack is available at 18, we take him. Otherwise we trade down into the late 20's and take his teammate Barrett Jones and fix the C positon for a decade. By moving down 10-12 spots, we pick up an additional 2nd rd pick as well. One of the 2nd rd picks will be a starting safety, the other will be our QB of the future. If they dont draft Warmack in first, either our 3rd or 4th rd pick will be another interior OL prospect (I like Alvin Bailey from Arkansas) and the other will be a DL, most likely a DE with pass rushing skill. We'll add another CB and maybe another DL with our other picks.
On defense, my thought is Ware at RDE, they tell Crawford to drop a few lbs and out him at LDE. Hatcher and Lissemore would line up inside at DT. Carter at WOLB and Lee at MLB are locks and sure to be major playmakers, the SOLB would be Albright or potentially some middle-to late rd pick, or cheap free agent. We'd have Claiborne and Carr as CB, a free agent and rookie at safety and either Scandrick or draft pick at nickel DB. Maybe Matt Johnson has a significant role next year as well.
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