Just thinking, because it seems like a slow week?

jatfly

jatfly

AKA:Burgraider
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I was thinking about off season acquisitions and I have a few guys that make me think we could maybe just maybe end up with or at least I wouldn't mind seeing come in.



QB - (ONLY if Walter doesn't pan out) Matt Shaub (I know he is RFA) I like how he stands in there, Pat Ramsey (someone to push Walter) or What about Byron Leftwich? There seems to be some rumbles out of Jacksonville, I would love him if we could protect him. There is always Favre, but we all know that won't happen.

RB - how about a Micheal Bennet, Chris Brown or Najeh Davenport someone to pound,,,I am sure we will also see a cut or two.

WR - Drew Bennett, Peter Warrick, Kelley Washington or Patrick Crayton most of these guys can produce as a number 3 guy, but who will be our 1 and 2? Moss and Curry I hope?

OL - Leonard Davis, other then him there may not be a whole lot to write home about. Maybe a Sean Locklear, Roman Oben, Mike Gandy, or Eric Steinbach. Looks like we are drafting a Line man again.

On the
DL - I know Sands is a UFA so resign him but we need to look for a monster in the middle. I am not sure there is any one at all that may be availible. I know that Vonnie Holliday and Dwight Freeney are availible but those two will take some massive payday....I really wasn

LB - The LB that are out there seem to be pretty good, not great but good.
Lance Briggs (I would take him in a heartbeat) and then it's Cato June Adalius Thomas, Na'll Diggs, and Randall Godfrey

CB and S - I think we could use on or two guys for depth.
Nate Clements is out there but not in our price range or need. How about some middle releivers like a Tyrone Carter, Michael Lewis, Deon Grant, Jordan Babineaux, Nick Harper, or Roc Alexander
 
Schaub is probably going to get a first round tender... Regardless, I think we need to give Walter a couple of years to develop before we throw money at another guy...


I'd love to add a safety that allows us to move Schweigert to a nickle safety role... Ken Hamlin or Michael Lewis would work for me....


I'd like to see us devote a bulk of our FA money to getting the O-line and D-line up to speed... Maybe even get some of the key young guys extended early for a change.... Hopefully a Jon Runyan type vet RT will shake free this offseason and we'll make a move on him quickly...
 
Not the sexiest pickup... but I'd like to see us get a REAL backup QB to mentor Walter. Someone who knows his role and will embrace it ala' Trent Dilfer in SF.
 
My take...

On O, I want the following through draft and FA.

OL. Simply put the demise of our team over the last 4 years is all about this unit. No matter who we have at QB, wr and RB will not matter without fixing this unit. I don't care if only backups are available as that is all we seem to have right now. Comp is never a bad thing and I believe this staff can make a decent unit better.

3rd down back. I think Jordan is solid and would do better with a better line (i.e. I cannot blame everything on him but he owns some of the crap). I think a speed guy would be nice....someone we all wish Fargas truly was.

TE. All our good teams through history have had a good TE. We have not had one in some time. Rather than trying to convert someone, lets go and get a guy to play TE that actually is a TE. I know it might be a silly concept.

On D:

I am with HBoy about S. Stu is a solid nickel guy and Huff is more suited for FS. We could really use a snot knocker at SS and out secondary would be set. I am fine with our CB's.

I am also fine with our LBers and think depth signings would not hurt. I feel we are too thin here.

On DL, you can never have enough good rushers. Get a guy to pair with Burgess and our seconday becomes that much better. We also need a fatty for the middle.
 
Early Planning 2007/2008:

Off-season:

Trade: Jerry Porter for 2nd rounder (Atl?)

Gone: Sapp, Sims, Walker or Slaughter

Re-Sign: Terdell Sands

FA:
Mike Gandy OT (Buffalo)
Eric Steinbach OG (Cincinnatti)
Michael Turner RB (San Diego)
Michael Lewis SS (Philadelphia)

Draft:
1 - Calvin Johnson WR (Georgia Tech)
2a - Doug Free OT (Northern Illinois)
2b - Josh Beekman OG (Boston College)
3 - Cory Anderson FB (Tennessee)

New Line-up:

Offense:

WR: Moss

TE: Anderson

LT: Gandy (FA)
LG: Steinbach (FA)
C : Gallery
RG: Boothe / Beekman (R2)
RT: Walker / Free (R2)

WR: Curry / Johnson (R1)

QB: Walter

RB: Turner (FA)

FB: Anderson (R3)


Defense:

DE: Brayton
DT: Sands
DT: Kelly
DE: Burgess

OLB: Williams
MLB: Morrison
OLB: Howard

CB: Asomugha
SS: Lewis (FA)
FS: Huff
CB: Washington
 
Thanks Bones.

I got the invite via PM from HB. Usually he PM's for advice on how to deal with his new found heterosexuality or questions about how to please a woman, but this time he tuned me into this site.

Good to see the work of some familiar posters and read the posts of some I haven't had the chance to view before. I look forward to being a part of this group.
 
I'd love to have Turner here, but I don't know if it's going to be possible without releasing Jordan. And Turner's profile is remarkably similar to Jordan's.
 
Only thing I'd modify is try to trade Sims. Sell him as a 3rd-4th conditional down to a 2nd if he meets all conditions. Or a 3-4 for this draft and another for the following year if he does it all. Sims CAN be a high quality Olineman in the right scheme. Adding Turner would be a great bonus, just because we know that he has the skills, he's just stuck behind the best RB in the league. Only other thing I'd add to your plan is trying to find another DT plugger to go along with Sands.
 
Jack, I can see your point about having to rid the team of Jordan and they likely won't. I am just getting so frustrated with his play. Last season it was dropped passes (mental lapses) and this year he seems very hesitant at the line of scrimmage.

I don't know if he has a myriad of reads he tries to do on each carry, but zone blocking doesn't seem to be something an Art Shell led team would be running. Something about Jordan's game is lacking, whether that is due to mind-set (not hungry) or scheme, I hope it can be fixed.

Yoda, I would love it if the Raiders could get something for Sims but I think his value has dropped every year since 2003 and his salary is grossly disproportionate to his skills ($6.1M 2008 and $6.2M 2009).
 
I personally hate the idea of turning the OL almost completely over like that. That said:

I think Grove can and is stepping up. If your OG's are solid, your center should be progressing to the 2nd level and taking out a backer. Grove can definitely handle that.

Sims is pedestrian at OG and definitely doing the long slide to worthless.

We probably need to just bite the bullet on Gallery and move him to LG. He's too nervous in space.

Boothe looks like a keeper at RG.

Walker shows flashes and lapses at RT. Is Slaugter the answer? If he can get rid of the yips (false starting all the time or trying to cheat the count). Seems that he thinks he needs to have that little edge. Maybe McQuistan can do it? Based on his performance at RG, he needs development no matter what he's going to do.

So where does that leave us? Lacking at LT and with question marks at RT. Wonderful. Gandy might be a good acquisition and we can try to get one of our three almosts shaped up at RT.
 
Ghost To The Post said:
Yoda, I would love it if the Raiders could get something for Sims but I think his value has dropped every year since 2003 and his salary is grossly disproportionate to his skills ($6.1M 2008 and $6.2M 2009).
Click to expand...
I'm sure that his contract would have to be reworked to something more friendly to the recieving team, but I have a feeling that he'd be willing in order to stay as a potential starter.
I have a strange faith that some team would be willing to give up a 4th and a conditional in the following season for a guy that could still start on many teams. I think some of his issues are that he keeps getting blocking schemes switched up on him year after year, so if he gets in something consistent, he could be solid again.
 
Ghost To The Post said:


Usually he PM's for advice on how to deal with his new found heterosexuality or questions about how to please a woman,
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And you've given me nothing but bad advice...








LT: Gandy (FA)
LG: Steinbach (FA)
C : Gallery
RG: Boothe / Beekman (R2)
RT: Walker / Free (R2)
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I think it would border on cruel and unusual punishment to have Gallery move to yet another position... IMO it's putting him on that position merry-go-round that jacked up his technique to begin with... I'm not ready to give up on the guy yet... His slip ups get magnified but I also see alot of good things with him... I think once he gets his technique in place, he'll start playing with the leverage he displayed his rookie year...

I'd love to see Steinbach line up at LG next to him, but I have a feeling we'll stay static with the line once again to gain continuation... I thought I just saw that Sims salary drops from $4.5 mill this year to $1 mill next?... If so, I expect we'll see him back :( , maybe with the thought that a draftee or a guy like McQuistan beats him out and he becomes quality depth... Frankly, I'm not happy with anyone we have at RT, but that's a horse I beat loud and often last offseason with the Jon Runyan Crusade so I'll leave it alone...


I agree with Rupert that Grove has been looking tons better as his injuries have healed... but unfortunately the question with him always seems to be if he can stay healthy...

Frankly I think the best thing we could do for Grove is to surround him with a couple of big loads at guard... Sims has been pretty useless blocking down on the big noseguards lined up over Grove... As often as we've been linked to Leonard Davis, I expect we'll make a push at him hopefully as a LG...

I just find it hard top believe we'll sign a big ticket FA O-lineman or sign multiple OL FA's... I think best case scenario under that circumstances would be:

LT: Gallery with his technique cleaned up after some time with Kirk Ferentz
LG: Leonard Davis motivated
OC: Grove injury free
LG: Boothe doing a reasonable impression of Shawn Andrews
RT: McQuistan back stronger and at a position he's more comfortable at
TE: Daniel Graham showing a Casperish like ability to block DE's
FB: A legit smashmouth blocker PLEASE!
 
FB: A legit smashmouth blocker PLEASE!
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Haven't had a decent fullback since Ritchie, really. Crockett, for all the love I can give the guy, is more of a big tailback than a real fullback.
 
Crockett always looks unleashed at TB. Like someone gave him some ephedra. Dude could have a couple good years there. I don't know that it makes sense to waste Lee's speed in a banger position, but he looked good at FB Sunday.
 
Yeah, actually.. when we first signed Crocket from Indianapolis I was stoked because I thought he'd be the starting 'bruiser' tailback for us for years.. and then we promptly turned him into a fullback when we signed Wheatley and Salaam (that same year?).
 
I'll never forget the game Zach Crockett had against the Chefs in the rain a few years ago. One word:

PUNISHING

The chefs wanted no part of him by the 4th QTR. It was beautiful.
 
Speaking of fullbacks where's Matt Bernstein anyway? I thought for sure he'd stick somewhere. Definitely a priority position this offseason.

Offense

#1 priority OL. I have Davis, Steinbach and Ryan Lilja high on my wish list. We need at least one decent FA acquisition. With the emergence of Boothe and hopefully Mcnasty, I don't think we need to look to the draft.

One guy that I think would be an interesting proposition is Kyle Young from Fresno State. He's freaking huge and although primarily a center is versatile enough to play anywhere on the OL.

#2 priority RB. Just don't think LJ's the guy for this offense. I want a bona fide game breaker and a franchise type RB. Marshawn Lynch, Peterson or Michael Bush will work. I'm leaning towards Lynch with AP's and Bush's injuries. Michael Turner could be a contingency pick if we don't look to the draft. I definitely don't want to see us blow the #1 on a wideout but if Calvin Johnson is there, you know it would be tough for Al to pass on him. Besides, I think Moss comes back next season and we can look to FA for a veteran receiver like Drew Bennett.

Mark it down. Alvis Whitted will be back next year

#3 TE We have just sucked eggs at this position. Eric Johnson will be out in SF next year. I think we'll make a strong play for this guy or Daniel Graham. I don't think next year's draft is particularly strong for TE's as it was in 2006. I certainly don't want to see Randall Williams on the field next season.

Defense

#4 DT If we let Terd walk I'll be real pissed. The FA market is real thin here so I suspect he'll get some play. Most likely we'll look to the draft here. HB"s boy Branch if he declares or Brandond Mebane. Not a particularly strong DT crop coming out next season. Hopefully Taj keeps progressing.

#5 DE Like to see us move Tommie Kelly back to more familiar climes if we can get someone to play UT. Sapp will be gone next year. Most likely, we won't make much splash here and remain with the status quo. Love to see Jared Allen in the S&B.

#6 Safety. Ken Hamlin along side Huff would look mighty good although both are better suited to playing the FS position. Just don't see Huff making a career at the SS position. Probably a position we can address via the draft or move Bing back here.
 
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Madturk said:


One guy that I think would be an interesting proposition is Kyle Young from Fresno State. He's freaking huge and although primarily a center is versatile enough to play anywhere on the OL.
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I think someone will look to switch him to OG and make him a Logan Mankins type guard... I like Young a lot, but man did he get his ass kicked all over the place by the noseguard in the Hawaii game... I'm amazed that Dan Mosebar played as well as he did against the 34 back in the day... Alot of these tall centers seem to have troubles with the short squat NT's...


#2 priority RB. Just don't think LJ's the guy for this offense. I want a bona fide game breaker and a franchise type RB. Marshawn Lynch, Peterson or Michael Bush will work. I'm leaning towards Lynch with AP's and Bush's injuries.
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I prefer AP myself...


#3 TE We have just sucked eggs at this position. Eric Johnson will be out in SF next year. I think we'll make a strong play for this guy or Daniel Graham. I don't think next year's draft is particularly strong for TE's as it was in 2006. I certainly don't want to see Randall Williams on the field next season.
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If it were up to me, I'd move Madsen back out to WR permently and see if we can pull a possession type WR from the Morant/Madsen twosome to go with Curry... I wish we give up trying to find the next Antonio Gates and just bring in a TE that can block... I'd take Daniel Graham as our starter at TE with Courtney as our #2 TE...
 
Speaking of fullbacks where's Matt Bernstein anyway? I thought for sure he'd stick somewhere. Definitely a priority position this offseason.
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I dunno about Bernstein, but tell you what, that Mike Cox kid from Georgia Tech is fast becoming one of my favorite players... Just crushes guys and to top it off, he wears Ritchie's #40...


My favorite offensive play may be the fake dive left off tackle where the entire O-line pulls left, the the QB bootlegs right and hits the FB in the right flat where he can build up a head of steam with the ball.... GTech ran it to perfection today...
 
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