Off Topic V

[fatlever]

armanti won't break out in our current system (coming from an armanti homer). the only chance he has to succeed in this league is to be put in a wes welker type role operating in the slot, finding space in that 5-10 yd range and then looking for YAC. but we never ever use WRs in the slot. use use the RBs and TEs as the 3rd receiving option usually. armanti doesnt have the size to be a big possession receiver on the outside. he doesnt have the speed to be a deep threat on the outside and he doesnt have the polish to be a hybrid WR who thrives on superb route running.

[penquin11]

We are looking for a Slot receiver right now.... Armani could fit the bill, he just really hasn't been given the chance yet. Also Armani is much faster/quicker than Welker....

[countryboi]

the few times bruce campbell played he was awful. I dont think this kid is ever going to be good or even decent.

[Liver_Pooty]

armanti won't break out in our current system (coming from an armanti homer). the only chance he has to succeed in this league is to be put in a wes welker type role operating in the slot, finding space in that 5-10 yd range and then looking for YAC. but we never ever use WRs in the slot. use use the RBs and TEs as the 3rd receiving option usually. armanti doesnt have the size to be a big possession receiver on the outside. he doesnt have the speed to be a deep threat on the outside and he doesnt have the polish to be a hybrid WR who thrives on superb route running.

Edwarda getting chased down by a Punter last year was pathetic.

[TheKingofSting]

LaFell will be in the last year of his contract this season (as well as Hardy, Bell, Gettis, AE, and Clausen). Obviously Clausen and probably AE and Gettis aren't big concerns (even if they have big seasons they won't warrant a huge contract), but Hardy, LaFell, and Bell are possible starters and he honestly won't command a big salary even with a career year, but if LaFell had a huge year he could be in for a decent pay day, especially if Smith slows down and no one steps up.

And what is everyone's opinion of Hardy? The three opinions I've seen the most are A.) Re-sign Hardy ASAP, B.) Let Hardy finish the 2013 season, then re-sign him, C.) Trade him now so you don't have to pay him. I guess option D could be let him play this season then if he's not affordable franchise him and trade him. I'm personally in favor of re-signing him now if he'd take 8M/season or less, but if not, I'd let him play the season out. I believe Paul Kruger got over 8M/season from the Browns, so I'm sure another season like 2012 could get Hardy 11M+/season in FA.

[penquin11]

Hardy and Lafell are the only two of that group I am interested in unless Gettis can magically regain his promising rookie form. Hardy is improving with each passing day and is sort of like a man possessed on the field/in the locker room, at least that what team-mates say. What will be great is when we have DT who can crash the inside as well, perhaps we can even bring back Dwan to add additional pressure. I would love a front of Hardy-Dwan-(sheldon richardson)-Johnson.

[BlackOutBuzz]

I think Armanti is a sunk cost, I pulled for the kid in college but I just don't see him "breaking out" at this point. And, faster than Welker? The guy is a punt returner that gets outrun by punters. I'm not too upset about losing Murphy but I don't like what we have behind him on the depth chart. I want to believe in guys like Gettis and Bryant but they're both pretty much unknowns. Hopefully we acquire another receiver, one who can be at least a competent number 3.

I think/hope we go offense early in this draft. Gotta protect Cam, so if by chance Lane Johnson falls to 14 I think you've gotta take him. If not then perhaps we go WR or pull one of the top guards (several good ones this year). Ideally we get Johnson and take a WR in the second (at least one of Hopkins, Rodgers, Hunter, etc. should still be there at our second pick), though I wouldn't be too upset if we grabbed a DB in the 2nd either.

I agree that DT is a huge need but I just don't see it as a big impact area. It takes guys awhile to develop, and even when they do they don't seem to have as big of an impact as DEs or rushing LBs in 3-4 defenses. I mean, just ask Detroit, Tampa, and Buffalo; all of which recently spent top 5 picks on highly regarded DTs, and they all look pretty good; but it hasn't translated to the win column. I know we need to fill the void left behind by the Edwardses, especially Dwan, but I think we find their replacements in FA, just like how we first acquired them.

[SWedd523]

Edwarda getting chased down by a Punter last year was pathetic.

[JMAC3]

Panther talk...

First off, I am a Bears fan first and foremost, but I watch the Panthers every sunday, because they are always on.

Here are a few thoughts on them.

They need to trade or cut Deangelo. They have too much money in the backfield and Stewart is better. Tolbert can play some Tailback if you need him to and they would be best suited grabbing a change of speed back for cheap.

Pass Catchers wise they arent in horrible shape. Smitty is getting older, but you still have to gameplan for him and he demands a double team most games. Lafell has proven to be a solid number 2 receiver on the outside. After that the cupboard gets pretty bare. I think Peolares actually has some upside in the slot, but I would not count on that. I think their best bet would be to grab a guy who can play the outside and move Smitty to the slot fulltime, kind of like Washington did with Santana Moss. They need to focus on free agents and guys who were just cut. Laurent Robinson, Darius Heyward-Bey, Austin Collie, or Danario Alexander would all be good guys to go after rather then grabbing a guy early in the draft.

Also, they need to get another talented tight end to pair with Olsen. Cam really did well with Shockey and Olsen together two years ago, so somebody like Chris Cooley or Dallas Clark could be cheap options.

Offensive Line wise they seem pretty solid other than RT and I think they would be fine with either an internal option or a mid round draft pick competing with the current guys on the roster.

Defensively things are kind of a mess.

Linebacker is a good group, Kuekley is a monster and Davis and Beason are good when healthy, but it is important to have depth because both guys are too injury prone.Jordan Senn is a good backup, but they let Anderson and Phillips walk so bringing in an another guy who can step in if needed is important.

Defensive line is decent. Hardy is developing into a good player and Charles Johnson is good, yet overpayed. Frank Alexander is a solid backup as well, but DT is a joke. I think that is what they need to address with the first round pick. Either Star or Richardson would be who I draft and then maybe sign a few cheap guys with upside.

Secondary needs to be completely revamped. The Safety play was the worst I have ever seen last year. I would make sure to grab a safety with some experience like a Bernard Pollard, Kerry Rhodes, or Michael Huff. All those guys can play and would help be a leader in a young secondary. Then I would draft a corner back in the second round, and a safety in either the 3rd or 4th. Their are plenty of talented corners available in free agency right now, so I would look at grabbing one like Brent Grimes or Jammer. I think if they can sign 2 guys to start and draft 2 guys to compete for starting spots then they can make a quick turnaround, but the secondary is horrible as it stands especially after cutting Gamble.

Other quick hits. Sign an NFL caliber Kicker it is pathetic when they kneel the ball before halftime because the kicker cant hit a 50 yarder. Also, Josh Cribbs is a free agent and the Browns prolly wont bring him back. He could be a big weapon in the return game that has been nonexistent for the last 7 years in Charlotte.

Draft
1- DT
2- CB
3- S
4- WR
5- OT
6- S
7- RB

[BlackOutBuzz]

They need to trade or cut Deangelo. They have too much money in the backfield and Stewart is better. Tolbert can play some Tailback if you need him to and they would be best suited grabbing a change of speed back for cheap.

First off I see this a lot, even the morons on WFNZ preach it (no offense to you since you aren't a fan, but these guys cover the team and should know the situation better), but frankly cutting/trading DeAngelo isn't as simple as most make it out to be. (Doing this from memory) Williams' cap hit this year is a little over $8 mil (damn Hurney), however cutting or trading him this year would accelerate his cap hit to about $9.5 mil (again, that's from memory). You read that right, it would cost us MORE money to have an open roster spot than it would to just keep him. (The same thing goes for Beason, his cap hit the last two seasons where he barely played was about $5.5 mil, this year it jumps to $9.5 mil, and if he's cut the hit jumps to $12 mil. HURNEY!! ). And seeing how close we are to the cap, we could actually go over by cutting these guys.

I think we're mulling the idea of designating both guys as June 1 cuts, but designating them as such now does nothing for the cap until June 1, so we might as well hold on to them and see what the market looks like in June. Cutting Williams after June 1 would free up $5 mil in space and Beason would create about $5.5 mil I believe, but in both cases we'd push the majority of the hit to next season, and we're up against the cap that year too. Anderson got the early June 1 designation because he was an obvious cut, and if you can help it you may as well give him the opportunity to seek employment elsewhere. I really think 1 or both of these guys could be gone in a few months.

Draft
1- DT
2- CB
3- S
4- WR
5- OT
6- S
7- RB

Unfortunately we don't have a 3rd (Frank Alexander) or 7th (Louis Murphy, who's now a Giant ) Like I said earlier I, personally, don't like taking a DT early, would rather find one in FA a la Dwan Edwards. I agree that the DBs need a lot of help but I can't see us waiting until the 5th to address OT. That area was awful last year, and I'd rather not get Cam killed. Our great pass rush helped disguise the dreadful DB play too, so I'd definitely put OT above S and CB. And if we draft a RB I might scream.

[fatlever]

one thing i have never ever tried to understand is NFL cap rules. no thanks.

[BlackOutBuzz]

one thing i have never ever tried to understand is NFL cap rules. no thanks.

It's certainly a mess, much more difficult than NBA rules (but I do like that they have a hard cap). Frankly I'm still learning how to figure stuff as well, but the bottom line is that it costs more money to cut guys like DeAngelo and Beason unless we cut them after June 1. Or if we designate them as a June 1 hit now we won't get any cap benefit until June 1.

[penquin11]

We can easily draft a good Tackle in the 2nd round though. Terron Armstead could be there for us. Also I forsee DJ Flucker falling a tad, and he is our sort of player given that he is a massive run blocker (though he is a HORRID pass blocker).

Bottom line is if Star's heart checks out, he does well at his pro day, and he is around when we pick; I can't see us passing him up. We need CB depth, but I do agree that it can be dealt with later.

[countryboi]

Looks like ted ginn jr is coming on board

[TheKingofSting]

Looks like ted ginn jr is coming on board

Signed D. J. Moore too, not a huge signing but any secondary help is good after last season.

[BlackOutBuzz]

Looks like ted ginn jr is coming on board

Signed D. J. Moore too, not a huge signing but any secondary help is good after last season.

Cap's back too, we really love our nickelbacks.

[TheKingofSting]

Looks like ted ginn jr is coming on board

Signed D. J. Moore too, not a huge signing but any secondary help is good after last season.

Cap's back too, we really love our nickelbacks.

Didn't know that yet but that's even better. Now we just need Gettleman to have a good draft and we may be onto something.

[JMAC3]

Ted Ginn Jr. is one of my favorite college players of all time, being an Ohio State Fan. He runs like a Gazelle and he is not an ideal WR, but he is one of the best kick and punt returners in the league. He is not a bad deep threat as a 3rd or 4th option. Also, this signing would allow them to cut guys like Adams and Armanti if they needed to.

DJ Moore is a straight playmaker, I am a Bears fan and he will be sorely missed as our nickleback. He much like Captain is too small to play much corner tho, so I am surprised they signed both of them.

Still think they need to go after Bernard Pollard, Michael Huff or another guy off this list....

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/freeagen ... osition=36

If they could have an experienced safety in the back I think that would help the young guys out a ton. Think of what Mike Minter meant to this team.

[LamarMatic7]

Yours truly on the TBJ podcast:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUHB-aFICrE#t=40m48s

[fatlever]

Yours truly on the TBJ podcast:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUHB-aFICrE#t=40m48s

haha.. good stuff. he really butchered that sentence though didnt he.

what prompted you to send that stat to them?