GroupThink 3 - Sizing up the Kitty Hawk Flyers

[QuikSand]

Originally posted by Swaggs
An idea, that I think would be both helpful and fun, would be for one of us (presumably QS), that would hold the title of GM, and would act as the overall administrator of the team, which is what he is more or less doing now, anyway. Perhaps the GM should set some yearly and long range goals (on field success, financial success, etc.) and remind ourselves of them prior to each season.

Gee, and I have a backup screen name that woud be just dandy for such a role...

[Fritz]

A very good point swaggs.

[Fritz]

More on Swaggs excvellent point about our LT.

he is a Capricorn. The list of OL and QB I provided above work well for establishing affinity.

C Winters fits in the band as well, although he will probably remain the leader even with the LT mentioned above on the roster.

[QuikSand]

Originally posted by Swaggs
Just so we are clear, T Andrews is in the eary stages of a mammoth contract given to him by the previous ownership group. He is still owed $13.2M in signing bonuses over the next four seasons, so I think we would be better off in letting him play this season (with a cap hit of roughly $10.5M) than to release him and pay $6.6M this season and $6.6M next for him not to play for us. After this season, releasing Andrews and his signing bonus (factored with his increasing base salary) would be a little more palatable.

Well, yes and no, I think.

If we are sticking with our rule that any player we keep must receive a new contract, then that means retaining LT Andrews requires giving him a new contract right away. That will give him an additional $15 million in signing bonus that will carry out through the next four seasons.

With that, if we then decided to cut him next season, we'd not only be up against the $3.3 + $6.6m from his current contract's signing bonus, but we'd also face another $3.8 + $5.7m from the new one he'd receive this season.

So, if my math is correct (using his current demands), then here are the cut scenarios:

Cut him in 2020 (now) - eat $3.3 in 2020, $9.9 in 2021
Cut him in 2021 - eat $7.1m in 2021, $12.3m in 2022

It just seems to me that our choices are either to commit to him long term (at least through the four year contract) or else let him go now and eat his current bonus. I don't think re-signing him and then cutting him next year is viable.


My inclination is to re-up with both Winters and Andrews, make our investment there, and go on with that.

[QuikSand]

Originally posted by QuikSand
If we are sticking with our rule that any player we keep must receive a new contract...

Or, pehraps we ought to waive this rule in such a case (a player who already is heavily burdened by a fairly new, heavily bonus-laden contract).

[Fritz]

FWIW, RB Finley is a Libra and would fit with the line we are building.

Our selection of supporting RB that would allow Finley to become the leader is very poor.

FB Rondell Kilowoski (Aquarius) would be a good fit for a backfield leadership role. The FB has 11 years of service with 3 "All League" awards. He has a leadership of 80 and is idolized by fans. This is guy is strictly a 2 down blocking back.

[Bee]

Originally posted by QuikSand
Or, pehraps we ought to waive this rule in such a case (a player who already is heavily burdened by a fairly new, heavily bonus-laden contract).

I say we keep the rule "as is".

[QuikSand]

Getting a little adrift, but I can't help myself. We definitely ought to have a strong look at WR Kenneth Carr. He's not a ratings standout, but he has been very productive the last few years. In 2017, he started 16 games and caught 81 passes for 1,346 yards and 12 TDs. He followed that up in 2018 with 70-936, 5 TD for a less potent Fort Worth offense. Manhattan used him as a backup last season, but he has shown he can be productive.

Plus - two bonuses here:

- If TE Diana is going to be our position leader, Carr will have an affinity with him (Pisces-Taurus). it's possible that Carr could become the position leader, but that should work out okay, too.

- Carr is also a solid kick returner, so he would help fill that role as well - which might help us conserve roster spots for specialists.

[Fritz]

As much as I would like to, keeping SE Stanford (L 87, Virgo) and FL Song (L 62, Gemini) just will not work out. Virgos and Gemini fight.

We could bring in a Cancer, Sagittarius, Scorpio, or Pisces TE with a high (88 +) leadership rating and hope he takes over. This would make the two WR nuetral.

edit after Quiks post.

Diana will be overshadowed by Stanford if the SE gets much starting time (I think). I like the player, but stanford might be a chemistry headache.

[QuikSand]

Originally posted by QuikSand
Okay, here is a tentaive list of CUTS - I'm offering this up for genral consumption before I move ahead with them. Please voice any objections.

This doesn't necessarily mean these are the only cuts, but this will give us a clearer sense of our immediate financials once we execute... er, effect these moves.

- - -

RB Farrell
S Fyie
G Lash
G Foley
G McCord
QB Ater
RB Rogero
WR Stanford
LB Francis
K McDaniel
TE Parten
TE Wester
P Phillips
T Zorich
LB Baxter
DE Hurtado
CB Cranga
DE Bush

Any objection to the cuts on this list? Going ahead with them might give us a slightly clearer financial picture...

[Fritz]

1 vote for go for it

[Bee]

Originally posted by Fritz
go for it

ditto

[albionmoonlight]

2 votes

[Swaggs]

Lash and McCord looked like our starters at Guard.

If everyone else is for this move, I'm okay with it.

[QuikSand]

Here's our updated roster review - followng our first wave of "cleaning house."

Front Office Football: The Fourth Edition
Kitty Hawk Flyers Roster, Contract View
   
  Player                #   Pos  OnTm   EndCnt Exp  Cap Cost        Save if Rlse  
Clayton, Jon            14  QB   2017   2022   4    $5,680,000      $3,190,000        
Gray, Ray               11  QB   2019   ----   4    $0              $0                
Finley, Daniel          20  RB   2018   2023*  3    $5,830,000      $2,570,000        
McGinnis, K.C.          47  RB   2017   UFA    6    $0              $0                
Rice, Joey              24  FB   2019   UFA    8    $0              $0                
Ackerman, Byron         40  FB   2015   UFA    6    $0              $0                
Diana, Julio            80  TE   2019   2020   12   $2,350,000      $1,800,000        
Song, Peter             84  FL   2019   2024*  2    $4,990,000      $2,240,000        
Ramsey, Howie           89  FL   2019   UFA    8    $0              $0                
Boroniec, Al            87  FL   2019   ----   2    $0              $0                
Chapman, Doug           86  SE   2018   ----   3    $0              $0                
Andrews, Willie         65  LT   2018   2023   11   $10,460,000     $7,160,000        
Grandon, Don            67  LT   2016   2020   5    $4,750,000      $3,710,000        
Perry, Lewis            57  C    2019   2020   2    $1,060,000      $830,000          
Winters, R.J.           54  C    2012   UFA    13   $0              $0                
Peterson, Rufus         68  RG   2019   2020   2    $860,000        $860,000          
Coffey, Darren          63  RT   2019   ----   2    $0              $0                
Martin, Cedric          78  LDE  2018   2022   10   $14,290,000     $11,100,000       
Shields, Walt           95  LDT  2019   ----   2    $0              $0                
Ramsey, Todd            71  RDT  2017   2020   4    $3,150,000      $2,290,000        
Littlejohn, Jack        77  RDT  2019   2023   2    $2,480,000      $1,440,000        
Davison, Frank          94  RDT  2018   2020   3    $1,120,000      $1,070,000        
Emerson, Geoff          76  RDE  2019   ----   2    $0              $0                
Brito, Byron            58  SLB  2018   2020   3    $1,720,000      $1,130,000        
Dern, Gino              55  MLB  2014   UFA    9    $0              $0                
George, Leland          56  MLB  2014   UFA    7    $0              $0                
Ruiter, Vinny           59  MLB  2019   ----   2    $0              $0                
Fuller, Bernard         32  LCB  2019   UFA    10   $0              $0                
Sims, Teddy             26  LCB  2019   UFA    8    $0              $0                
Bordano, Edgar          29  RCB  2018   2021   3    $3,060,000      $2,040,000        
Foster, Johnny          28  RCB  2019   UFA    13   $0              $0                
Blades, Jermaine        37  SS   2019   UFA    7    $0              $0                
Rodenhauser, Andre      48  SS   2018   ----   3    $0              $0                
Reynolds, Louie         30  FS   2018   2020   11   $4,130,000      $3,100,000        
   
$$ - player is in starting lineup, ## - player is inactive.  
   
Players Under Contract: 15
On Active Roster: 15
   
Salary Cap: $169,300,000
Cap Room: $86,070,000
Maximum for New Player: $79,350,000
Cap Room Lost (to old contracts): $17,300,000
   
Cap Room Lost Next Year (to old contracts): $12,940,000
Cap Room Required Next Year: $66,680,000 

On an unrelate dnote, this is the first time that my print-to-file function worked properly... I wonder if the latest Windows Service Pack might have fixed my first-character truncation problem? Anyway, hooray!

[Fritz]

can we resign some guys that we know are keepers?

[QuikSand]

Originally posted by Swaggs
Lash and McCord looked like our starters at Guard.

Re-signing those two, along with the emerging plan to retain Winters and Andrews at C and LT, would mean we'd have $44 million locked up in four guys on our offensive line, even before we filled in the remaining 4-6 positions. I just don't think that's workable without this turning into some sort of "gimmick" team.

We're still going to be heavily invested in our offensive line, but releasing those two frees up opportunity for us to build our good chemistry around Winters and Andrews.

[Fritz]

If we are picking Winters up we need to move LT Grandon (conflict)

[QuikSand]

Okay, I have worked out new deals with most of the players that we seem to have agreed are “keepers.” I tagged the remaining ones with a question mark – those are the players we still have to decide about.

 Front Office Football: The Fourth Edition
Kitty Hawk Flyers Roster, Contract View
   
  Player                #   Pos  OnTm   EndCnt Exp  Cap Cost        Save if Rlse
Clayton, Jon            14  QB   2017   2022   4    $3,580,000      $1,090,000        
Gray, Ray               11  QB   2019   ----   4    $0              $0                
Finley, Daniel          20  RB   2018   2023   3    $8,260,000      $4,000,000        
McGinnis, K.C.          47  RB   2017   UFA    6    $0              $0                
Rice, Joey              24  FB   2019   UFA    8    $0              $0                
Ackerman, Byron         40  FB   2015   UFA    6    $0              $0                
Diana, Julio            80  TE   2019   2021   12   $2,800,000      $1,800,000        
Song, Peter             84  FL   2019   2024   2    $7,750,000      $4,000,000        
Ramsey, Howie           89  FL   2019   UFA    8    $0              $0                
Boroniec, Al            87  FL   2019   ----   2    $0              $0                
Chapman, Doug           86  SE   2018   ----   3    $0              $0                
Andrews, Willie    ?    65  LT   2018   2023   11   $10,460,000     $7,160,000        
Grandon, Don       ?    67  LT   2016   2020   5    $4,750,000      $3,710,000        
Perry, Lewis            57  C    2019   2021   2    $960,000        $730,000          
Winters, R.J.      ?    54  C    2012   UFA    13   $0              $0                
Peterson, Rufus         68  RG   2019   2021   2    $730,000        $730,000          
Coffey, Darren          63  RT   2019   2020   2    $730,000        $730,000          
Martin, Cedric          78  LDE  2018   2022   10   $8,350,000      $3,500,000        
Shields, Walt           95  LDT  2019   ----   2    $0              $0                
Littlejohn, Jack        77  RDT  2019   2023   2    $3,790,000      $2,200,000        
Ramsey, Todd            71  RDT  2017   2020   4    $3,150,000      $2,290,000        
Davison, Frank          94  RDT  2018   2022   3    $2,340,000      $1,750,000        
Emerson, Geoff          76  RDE  2019   2020   2    $3,550,000      $2,920,000        
Brito, Byron            58  SLB  2018   2021   3    $2,780,000      $1,690,000        
Dern, Gino              55  MLB  2014   UFA    9    $0              $0                
George, Leland          56  MLB  2014   UFA    7    $0              $0                
Ruiter, Vinny           59  MLB  2019   ----   2    $0              $0                
Fuller, Bernard         32  LCB  2019   UFA    10   $0              $0                
Sims, Teddy             26  LCB  2019   UFA    8    $0              $0                
Bordano, Edgar          29  RCB  2018   2022   3    $5,020,000      $3,000,000        
Foster, Johnny          28  RCB  2019   UFA    13   $0              $0                
Blades, Jermaine        37  SS   2019   UFA    7    $0              $0                
Rodenhauser, Andre      48  SS   2018   ----   3    $0              $0                
Reynolds, Louie         30  FS   2018   2022   11   $3,190,000      $1,800,000        
   
Players Under Contract: 17
On Active Roster: 17
   
Salary Cap: $169,300,000
Cap Room: $79,810,000
Maximum for New Player: $73,090,000
Cap Room Lost (to old contracts): $17,300,000
   
Cap Room Lost Next Year (to old contracts): $12,940,000
Cap Room Required Next Year: $75,540,000

[VPI97]

Originally posted by QuikSand
I wonder if the latest Windows Service Pack might have fixed my first-character truncation problem? Anyway, hooray!

If you're on Windows 2000, you are correct. Service Pack 4 addressed this long-time problem.

[Fritz]

other than winters, who among our players without a contract are we going to work on keeping?

[QuikSand]

Originally posted by Fritz
other than winters, who among our players without a contract are we going to work on keeping?

I don't see anyone else on that list who I think we plan to keep. It's conceivable that one or two become late fill-ins if we have no other options, but I think it's really just Winters.

We put in a big offer to Winters to lock him up, and assuming we get him done, we let go T Grandon, as required. Then, I'll re-do our del with T Andrews, and we'll be all set to focus on outside players. (Net additional cost for this year - something like $10 million, I guess)

[Swaggs]

I am willing to work with whoever. I do not mind lobbying for high draft picks at OL if we do decide to completely rebuild the entire offense.

On a side note, what would type of duties would come with being head of rookie scouting? It sounds fun, but I would obviously have a tough time doing reports on the hundreds and hundreds of players availalbe? Curious on how it was handled in the past. In our short-lived OOTP Groupthink, we turned over the file to the head of scouting to execute it. I don't think that wold be as fun here, because the NFL draft is so much more exciting and has such an immediate impact on the team.

On yet another side note, are we good with the number of participants we have right now in the groupthink, or should we (perhaps actively) recruit a few more players to fill roles? I think it would be fun to have the roles branch out. For example the QB, Backs, OL, and Receivers coaches would all report to the OC, while the OC, DC, scouts, etc. would report back to the GM. Thoughts?

[QuikSand]

At the moment, I have entered the following free agent bids:

FB Rondell Kowalkoski - 2yrs, $3.6m
C R.J. Winters - 3yrs, $30m
T Timothy Johns - 2yrs, $2.78m
CB Joseph Henderson - 3yrs, $15m

We definitely need to shore up the LB position, so we will await some input from albionmoonlight there. Past that, I'm open to whatever we decide to do.

We will need a positional leader in the secondary,and from the looks of it, it will have to be our remaining starter at safety. (It's a little uncertain who might be the leader among our current group)

Past that - we certainly want to invest a few bucks into a starting QB, also. Clayton is a fringe guy, probably a #2 at best -- it would be wise to at least bring in a journeyman who can sling it for a season or two.

I've pointed out one receiver I like - that's another position where we have a lot of filling in to do, as well.

[QuikSand]

Originally posted by Swaggs
On a side note, what would type of duties would come with being head of rookie scouting? It sounds fun, but I would obviously have a tough time doing reports on the hundreds and hundreds of players availalbe? Curious on how it was handled in the past. In our short-lived OOTP Groupthink, we turned over the file to the head of scouting to execute it. I don't think that wold be as fun here, because the NFL draft is so much more exciting and has such an immediate impact on the team.

I think the lead scout just becomes the final decision-maker on our drafting decisions. Back in the original GT, Daimyo served this role pretty well. He got he game files, simmed up to our pick, posted the results to that point (sometimes with an updated game file) and then the rest of the participants openly debated whom to select. It remains an open, participatory process -- much of which would be done by consensus. But there needs to be one person in charge, and that would be our director of scouting.

In that version of GT we had specific people tabbed as heads of veteran scouting - but that seems to work better as a community exercise, whether by position or just generally. I guess it then becomes th GM's role to decide where we invest our resources in that stage.

[QuikSand]

SS Ricky Hawkins is an age-old veteran, who might be a perfect fit for our secondary. A 10th year veteran with a leadership rating of 82, he'd surely become our positional leader. He would have a natural affinity with our two recently re-signed DBs Bordano and Reynolds, and would be okay with the CB we are pursuing.

He wants about $4m a year - a little bit steep, but he's a pretty good fit, and certainly good enough to start for us.

[Fritz]

QB Chuck Hutchens
QB Heath Sparks

Are both high on my list of FA's for us. Please give them some consideration. We need two, and both of these can be had at an afordable price.

Hutchens - former first rounder who has been overlooked. Still developing after 7 season with no starts. good understanding of many plays (15) A steal

Sparks - a 5'9" former first rounder. Fairly good at everything, excels at timing passes. Four year starter with TB before riding the bench last season for TIJ. Moderate playbook (12) guy.

Both fit with the chemestry we are working towards with the backs and the runners. Will not conflict with TE Diana's bunch.

[QuikSand]

Okay, let's have a look at our position leader situation - just to separate out where we'll be in terms of QB conflicts:

Projected position leaders (tentative):
Backs - FB Kowalkowski, Aquarius
Receivers - TE Diana, Taurus
O Line - C Winters, Libra
Def Front - DE Martin, Taurus
Secondary - S Ricky Hawkins, Cancer

That puts all our leaders into two groups:
Pisces-Taurus-Cancer
Aquarius-Libra-Capricorn

Meaning that we have six signs that would build at least two affinities with positional leaders.

However, when we look at the opposing signs, we see that Libra and Taurus are opposed signs within our pairing -- meaning that none of our QBs can come from either sign (following our strict rule against conflicts).

So, the ideal signs for our QBs (assuming these position leaders) would be:

Capricorn
Pisces
Aquarius
Cancer

I have put in qualifying, multi-year offers to QB Hutchens (Capricorn) and QB Sparks (Aquarius), consistent with our overall model. I think Hutchens, despite not having thrown a pass in the league, is a guy worth getting a bit excited about.

Our current QB Jon Clayton will be neutral with each of our projected position leaders.

[QuikSand]

Just to help out albionmoonlight a little, as he evaluates the LB position:

At the LB position, assuming that DE Martin remains our leader for the defensive front, we'd get chemistry bonuses from players who are Taurus, Pisces, or Cancer. We cannot acquire players who are Libra at these positions.

Leroy Peterson is a pass-rushing specialist who gav me some effective playing time in Lake Erie. He actually did pretty well in full time duty a few seasons ago with Nashua (66+29 tackles). He could probably be helpful in the DE rotation as well, as a situational pass rusher. He's looking for less than $2.5m a year. He's an Aquarius - which would be neutral with our position leader.

J.J. Mills is a serious run stopper, with a career TkPct of about 15.9 (pretty good). He actually got to the QB early in his career, but his forte is obviously against the run. He's seeking about $2.5m a year. He's a Pisces - which would create an affinity with Martin, the position leader.


The two towering studs available at OLB Odegard (Taurus) and Kasica (Aquarius) would both be fine with regard to chemistry, if you fell strongly that we need to pursue one of them. It looks like it will take over $10m a season to land either one, and either one might assume the position leadership role from DE Martin, as they both have leadership ratings in the 70s.

[Buzzbee]

Originally posted by Swaggs
On yet another side note, are we good with the number of participants we have right now in the groupthink, or should we (perhaps actively) recruit a few more players to fill roles? I think it would be fun to have the roles branch out. For example the QB, Backs, OL, and Receivers coaches would all report to the OC, while the OC, DC, scouts, etc. would report back to the GM. Thoughts?

I'm interested in participating, although in a minor role. I usually have an hour or so in the mornings while my daughter gets ready for school that I could devote to such an endeavor. I would apply for the Director of Rookie Scouting position, but feel my resume is woefully inadequate. I'm not as in depth as you guys where FOF is concerned. I could sim TCY seasons to generate draft files if needed.

I haven't downloaded the files to view the players but based on the comments here, I'll share a few thoughts.

My philosophy has always been to have a solid, well rounded (no pun intended) offensive line. With a good, balanced OL you can turn an average running game into a good running game. Same with an average passing game. Time in the pocket helps the QB complete passes and keeps you from going backwards from sacks. So, I think keeping Winters is the more attractive of the options. Yes, he is pricey, but the price on the OL might allow you to get a solid, inexpensive FB and develop a bruising running game. Also, you MIGHT get a trade offer which would allow you to dump some of his salary. Not to mention you might get a draft pick or marginal player in return, as opposed to cutting him, in which case you'd get nothing.

[QuikSand]

Buzzbee, please do go ahead and download the files, and pick up from there. We'll find a role for you, I'm sure - managing a position, or whatever.

[albionmoonlight]

Odegard and Kasica are too old to get the kind of money they demand. If they were 6 year players around whom we could build a defense for the next seven years, then OK. As it is, I think that we will put down a lot of money for these guys, only to have them decline just as we are stepping it up as a team. (I know this is the opposite argument that I am using when I say keep the old OL guys, but 1.)There are more OL spots than LB spots, so I think that it is important on the OL to keep some guys around while we rebuild. 2.) OL is more important to the team than LB. 3.) I have an illogical attachment to older players who are on our team already)

I like both Peterson and Mills as good, low cost upgrades to what we have. I would like up to persue them both.

If we want to put big $$ into LB (and I do), I want to go after stud Russell Daniels, a 6th year low leadership Tarus who plays ILB. Perhaps he and Peterson and not Mills?

[QuikSand]

ANother guy we can consider, although more for a short term role, would be MLB Trevor Hylton. He's a 12th year guy, but is still playing very well. He has a big, obvious void in his skill set - but it's man coverage, which I don't think LBs do very much of in most schemes. Look past that, and you see a staller run stopper, with star quality skills elsewhere.

Again, I have some experience with this player - he gave use a few very solid seasons in Lake Erie. He could certainly earn his keep as a starter for us for a couple years, perhaps bridging the gap until we find an anchor "LB of the future" type.

[QuikSand]

So, how close are we to having a sufficient plan to allow us to move ahead into free agency? I think this first year, with such huge open spaces on the roster, we won't follow what will become our "house rules" on free agent timing - we'll just pursue players as best we can. In future seasons, we'll follow some kind of restrictions regarting when we can make offers.

Where are we? My best sense right now:

QB – We have one guy signed and two offers in. If we lock up all three, we’ll be pretty well set.

RB – We have one guy signed, and no offers. Is this a position we want to fill via the draft and rookies?

FB – One offer in for a starter/leader. Fill in with a rookie afterwards?

TE – One guy signed, fill in with rookies afterwards?

WR – We have one guy signed, and I have put in an offer for WR Kenneth Carr to be a starter at SE. There are plenty of decent players out there who would also make sense… do we want one or two more veterans?

OL – Assuming we get Winters, re-sign Andrews, and dump Grandon -- we’ll have 5 guys signed. Fritz has recommended a few signees… how many veteran guys do we want to pursue?

P & K – Nobody on the roster yet, we’ll plan to grab undrafted rookies of late-stage free agents

DL – We return 5 guys on new contracts, so we probably cannot afford to invest in veterans here – we’ll fill in with rookies (or take a look in late free agency)

LB – One guy signed, and offers in on three starting-caliber veterans – we should fill in with rookies (assuming we get all three guys we are pursuing)

DB – Two guys signed, two offers in give us our four starters – we can fill in with a late FA and a few rookies

- - -

My sense is that we need to have a plan at WR before we go too far ahead, and maybe at RB (if we want to pursue any veteran players there). Also, I need some more guidance on the OL.

[QuikSand]

Money-wise, here are the FA offers I currently have outstanding:
(just showing approximate cap values for this year)

 1.3 QB Hutchins
 2.8 QB Sparks
 1.8 FB Kowalkowski
 2.7 WR Carr
 0.9 WR Mathews
10.0 C Winters
 1.2 G Hauserman
 1.4 T Johns
12.3 LB Daniels
 2.3 LB Peterson
 2.4 LB Mills
 5.0 CB Henderson
 4.0 S Hawkins
- - - -
48 million in offers

edited to add G Hauserman, WR Mathews

[Bee]

Ramsey, Todd            71  RDT  2017   2020   4    $3,150,000      $2,290,000        

Did we resign Ramsey? I had thought he was being cut.

[Fritz]

OLB that may be worth looking at

OLB

ILB that may be worth looking at

ILB

Both of these groups have an affinty with DE Martin (Taurus) and have 9 or fewer years.

[QuikSand]

Originally posted by Bee

Ramsey, Todd            71  RDT  2017   2020   4    $3,150,000      $2,290,000        

Did we resign Ramsey? I had thought he was being cut.

Hmmm. Actually, he ought to have been labeled with a question mark - he has not yet been re-signed. If we did, he would become a $1.9m player this year, and $1.1m for next year.

I guess he might be last-minute decision for us... he has great chemistry with Martin, and might actually be worth something there despite his very meager talents.

Sorry for the oversight...

[QuikSand]

How about as a nickel back we grab CB Andre Ensley? He's a 5th year player, pretty good skill in man coverage (44/66), and was a full-time starter last season for Cheyenne. Not a star (and not good in run support) but he would probably sign fairly cheaply (under $4m a year) and would have an affinity with our presumptive secondary leader S Hawkins.

Hugh Cobb is a chaeper alternative, pretty good hitter, decent all-around cover man, and looking for a modest minsal contract. He would be neutral with our leadership on chemistry, but at $1.3m, he'd be a value acquisition.

[Fritz]

QB – I would to see us get a fourth. He could be a rookie of little value as his role is to keep the the "3 QB" requirement from busting us when an injury happens. Might take a flyer on a longshot to develop with this guy.

RB – We can use this to provide depth at KR. I would to see us add one that would not make us cry if our guy goes out, or a pass chatching type. 3 more needed please (we need to take care to avoid super high leadership guys)

FB – A pass catching rook would be my first want, but a blocker will do. If we can find a talent with a high leadership in the right sign would could start developing a replacement for our veteran FB.

TE – I would prefer a blocker.

WR – I think we need one guy who can start in a pinch, one young guy to develop, and a reserve. somewhere in there we can have STers


A guy like FL Barnhardt could do (1,000,000/1)

FL Julio Matthews would be a total steal (950,000/1)

OL – If we can make one side of the line solid (T,G,C) then we can get a running game going. The other side can be prospects if needed. Swaggs will certainly lobby for early picks, and I am on board with that if we don't bypass a better talent to do so.


- - -

My sense is that we need to have a plan at WR before we go too far ahead, and maybe at RB (if we want to pursue any veteran players there). Also, I need some more guidance on the OL.

I am not a fan of veteran RBs. They are often not much better than rookie RBs, and they cost a lot more.

[Fritz]

dola

Quik

FL Julio Matthews (950,000/1) is WAY up on my want list.

[QuikSand]

Other possible WR targets who would work well with our presumed positional leader:

SE Omar Freeney - 6th year, asking for 2.7m - has two 1,000-yd seasons under his belt, 16.0 yds/rec career - bit playmaker type

FL Julio Matthews - 3rd year, asking 910K - won't catch many passes, but has pretty sure hands and can make some plays

[QuikSand]

Good timing, Fritz... I like him, too.

He is, however, rated pretty low in "route running" - which I find very frequently correlates to "how many passes get thrown his way." I like him as a value pick-up, but we can't expect him to ever be more than a marginal contributor at WR, even if he got pressed into starting duty (we'd just see more passes going to other guys).

[Bee]

Originally posted by QuikSand
Hmmm. Actually, he ought to have been labeled with a question mark - he has not yet been re-signed. If we did, he would become a $1.9m player this year, and $1.1m for next year.

I guess he might be last-minute decision for us... he has great chemistry with Martin, and might actually be worth something there despite his very meager talents.

Sorry for the oversight...

ahh...ok.

I'm still inclined to cut him loose. If I remember correctly, not only did he not have any talent but he didn't have much potential either. I'd rather see us bring in a URFA who at least has some potential to break out. Perhaps we can make that call after the draft and we've had a look at the URFAs unless we need the salary cap before then.

[QuikSand]

We have a 2yr offer in to WR Julio Matthews, added to the list above.

[QuikSand]

Fritz, if RB O.J. Falk had return skills, I'd think he could be a very, very useful role player for us - great on 3rd down in particular. He's neutral on chemistry, though - so probably not worth a $3-4m investment.

From the "veterans" at RB, the best fit I can find might be RB Norm Ebeling, who is seeking only 910,000. No playing experience, but has a little bit of talent, and as a Libra he would mesh with our FB leader. No star by any stretch, but not much more costly than a rookie. One year deal, perhaps?

[QuikSand]

I don't know if we want to make this much investment, but FB Hardy Wolf looks like the kind of player you're talking about, Fritz. Great route running skills, still a decnt blocker, but not a guy to carry the ball for us. Would have affinity for our FB position leader, but would not challenge for the leadership role. He wants $1.3m and up... could be.

[Fritz]

RB Irving McCallister (730,000/1) would be worth a look

[Fritz]

Originally posted by QuikSand
I don't know if we want to make this much investment, but FB Hardy Wolf looks like the kind of player you're talking about, Fritz. Great route running skills, still a decnt blocker, but not a guy to carry the ball for us. Would have affinity for our FB position leader, but would not challenge for the leadership role. He wants $1.3m and up... could be.

He would ok, and could step in to start if needed, but I wish he were fresher.

We could go with him and still pick up a rook FB later as the 3rd FB/TE if a good one falls to us.

[QuikSand]

Originally posted by Fritz
RB Irving McCallister (730,000/1) would be worth a look

We certainly wouldn't want McAllister to sneak into the leadership position, though... he has a 94 rating in leadership. With a couple years' playing time, we could have a disaster on our hands if we had to start this clown.