Prospects Update (ESPN-style)

Is it because the FO doesn’t like him?

Or because we think he is going to get a bigger payday somewhere else? If it’s a money thing, I wonder if he is going to get a big payday somewhere else, perhaps he does sign a long term deal here. I agree that there is no way he gets franchised or RFA tendered here, but maybe a long term deal?

I guess I just made the assumption that Sproles would be back because it’s hard for me to imagine us losing the top two returners at any position. If we lose LT, I could see us signing Sproles to a long-term deal.

I don’t think a bruiser back would be counterproductive to this offense though.. with a committee, I see a big, two-down back combined with a Sproles-type third down specialist.

What makes you think that our offense would be hindered by a bruising RB? I think that Norv’s offenses are (and have always been) based on the concept of setting up the pass with the threat of the run. We throw deep from the I-formation and even if we don’t have a super productive running game, the threat of the run keeps the deep options alive.

I know the Colts and the Patriots do fine without having even a threat of a running game but I’d rather have something like the Saints this year. What took them from an average team to a Super Bowl contender was a strong defense and a power running game to pair with Drew Brees. Why can’t we have a Pierre Thomas/Mike Bell combo running the ball here?

Because LT’s been here the whole time AJ has been at the helm. So while AJ’s draft history so far shows him picking up run-of-the-mill RBs later in the draft or as UDFAs (think Gartrell, Marcus Thomas, Curtis Brinkley, Eldra Buckley), that could just be because we’ve always had a clear #1.

So RB is a big question mark that we can’t predict based on AJ’s history.

First, there is cowbell’s point about LT preventing the use of a 1st round pick on a RB. Second, he has also drafted a WR (Buster Davis) and a DE (Luis Castillo) with his 1st round picks. I’m pretty sure that his past 1st round picks have been a case of circumstance rather than philosophy. I could be wrong.

To go even further to explain circumstance, I think that the CB picks have been mostly out of need. Until Cro established himself as the starter there hadn’t been anyone who could stand to be replaced. I think it just became a default position to draft for. And when Cason was drafted, it was for depth since there was basically no one behind Cro and Jammer at the time and our nickelback (Weddle) was moving to starting safety. I think you are somewhat right on OLB in that A.J. feels that its so important that he’ll draft a top talent a year early rather than a year late as he did with Merriman (to replace Foley/Leber) and English (to replace Merriman).

If I were to come to some kind of middle ground it would be to say that A.J. values the OLB and CB to the point where he’s not afraid to pull the trigger on them in the first round even if it’s not his highest need, but I still think that he’s willing to draft almost any position in the first round (I say almost because I wonder if he would ever draft a RT or OG in the first round and obviously K, FB and P are extremely unlikely).

my point is that we don’t have quality OLBs as depth notwithstanding Harris not resigning.

English was supposed to be “that back” to step in after merriman leaves. he will and possibly may be that starter. do i see our pass rush improving once that happens? No.

So once that happens, it’s not bad idea to pick up an OLB to A) push english as a starter or B) if he can’t, be a back up.

phillips is fine where he is. but i don’t think he has the strength to replace merriman on the strongside.