Smart, experienced, he can read defenses, make adjustments at the line, and ran a pro style offense. He’s got great intangibles, is a good leader, and works hard in the tape room. He’s got good awareness in the pocket, goes through his progressions, and can throw on the run. A tad short, but well built. Could start from Day One.
I also think the concerns about his height are overstated (just ask Russell Wilson), and while he’s not a cannon arm, he can air it out fine.
A lot comes down to his shoulder injury and how well he throws at his pro day as he recovers, and watching some of his tape, I don’t think he has as weak an arm as his reputation appears (especially if he comes back stronger). He forced too many balls this year, but I think with some good coaching, he’ll improve on that.
I don’t think Woods has the shake and after the catch abilities that Jennings does. Woods is much more a possession receiver than a #1 like Jennings was.
Speaking of the Bengals - although it’ll never happen, they would make their passing game awesome by signing Wes Welker. He’d be the ideal complement to AJ Green.
It all depends on your view of the Bears. Do they now have enough offense to make one more run at the Super Bowl before the rapidly aging defense calls it a day? If so, you keep him and make your last ditch effort. If you think the Bears aren’t going to get past the Pack, or that defense can’t carry them any more, you cut him and start your rebuilding project, getting younger on both sides of the ball.
Personally, I’ve been thrilled that the Bears blew a few amazing years of defensive play with a crappy offense stopping them from getting the Lombardi trophy. But I think that defense is done carrying them, and that offense isn’t going to work with Cutler throwing only to Marshall and Forte plodding along.
Odds are, the Bears think they have a shot at one, if not two, more years of runs at the Super Bowl, so Peppers will be sticking around. But I don’t see him lasting past 2014.
Spent a lot of time today thinking about the Bears roster and this is going to be a tough, tough offseason. Not much cap room and a lot of holes that need filling. When the FA period officially kicks off I’ll be very interested to see what the first moves the Bears make are.
Will they reel in a OL or a WR to ease pressure there? Will they retain Roach, Izzy and Urlacher? Once the first round of moves happen I’m going to try and break down that Bears roster and see if I can piece together a strategy.
Danario Alexander only got a same round RFA tender, and since he’s a UFA, essentially that just gives SD the right to match - no compensation would be awarded. No idea why they’d do that, he’s a promising young player and would be cheap to keep for another year.
49ers are one of the teams interested in signing Cribbs, he’s likely not coming back to the Browns. Dawson either. Not sure why the organization is being cheap.
It’d be funny/sad if the 49ers stole the Browns special teams coach, and then their special teams ace and kicker. The only thing the Browns did well from around 2005-2011 was consistently good special teams play, and they’re letting those pieces slip away.
Cribbs I can’t get too worked up over, but I don’t know why they won’t let Dawson play out the rest of his career with the Browns. He’s only gotten better every year, and plenty of kickers have played well past his age.
He’s got no knees. He went undrafted because of injuries, and he’s done nothing to indicate he can stay healthy for 10, let alone 16, games. His production has come largely against nickel backs (note: not the horrible Nickelback, although I’d love to see them blow out their knees), and he’s never been a #1 guy in the NFL. I’m not sure he has the ability to get separation against better DB’s or double coverage. Certainly worth a flyer, but it’s really hard to develop any chemistry with Weedon or whomever is throwing the ball, when he’s unavailable for good chunks of time with injuries.
What do you guys think of the pass rushers who could project to 3-4 OLB at the top of the draft? Some evidently well respected doctor just came out saying Jarvis Jones never really had that big a deal with his neck and he’s fine (edit: I guess he was talking specifically about spinal contusions, not sure if he was talking about the stenosis), but other rumors were that at the combine after medical inspections 10 teams removed him from their board. So I don’t know. He seems like the Browns pick at #6 if he really is healthy. I really haven’t kept up with the draft stuff much this year, so I don’t know. Moore was in the running for a while but I haven’t heard his name in a while - what’s with him? What about Dion Jordan?
I love me some Dion Jordan. So much more than Jarvis Jones. Jordan is a bit raw (he came into college as a TE), but he’s rushed the passer, dropped into coverage (I’ve seen him line up covering the slot receiver), and is good in run defense (although he really has to pack on a few pounds of muscle for the NFL). He’s got great length, good instincts, and a ton of potential.
Looks like the Vikings have traded Harvin to the Seahawks. No word yet on the terms, I wonder if they’ll swap WRs and get Tate back or if it’ll be all picks.
I don’t love any of the OLBs in the top of the draft, feels a lot like the QB position in that they’ll be drafted high because they are the best available at premium positions but they aren’t worth the price. I’d much rather have Floyd or the Utah guy (not gonna try and spell it right on my phone).
I really like a couple Illini in the middle rounds, maybe 2-3, in Spence and Buchannan. Buchannan could be a steal for a team looking for a 3-4 OLB. Spence would be a steal for the Bears at DT in the 4th if he slips.
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Rumor is the Browns will be going hard after one of Kruger or Cliff Avril for OLB. Does anyone who watches the lions more than I do have any idea how Avril might translate to OLB? Kruger is going to be overpaid somewhere and I’m not excited to be the ones who do it.
Avril is overrated. I don’t think he’ll have any issue standing up, but in coverage he’ll be a mess as you’d expect from a guy who’s never really done it.
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Seems like a pretty fair price for both sides, some risk on the Seahawks side if Harvin can’t get on the field or is a clubhouse cancer. But also a lot of upside for a guy who’s frankly worth way more than a late first rounder when he’s playing.
I think the 49ers should be kicking themselves for not using all those extra picks they have to land Harvin themselves, he’d have been a goldmine for them. They may have just gotten lapped by the Seahawks.
Ravens are looking to ship Boldin somewhere else. 49ers maybe? Hmm…
Wow, that was total speculation and like 2 seconds later Twitter confirms that the 49ers sent just a 6th round pick to the Ravens for Boldin. Unconfirmed, but I’m taking the victory lap anyways.