and a couple less significant that I believe the Giants should make, and would provide Reese the draft flexibility he likes and not require him to force a need pick.
1. Bryan Bulaga (RT GB), he's just 26 it would be similar to the McKenzie signing in that he should anchor the right side of the line for 5 - 6 years and frees up Pugh to move inside (as discussed in the other thread)
2. JPP (DE NYG), he's also just 26, and this might be controversial since he hasn't seemed to duplicate his lofty 2011 season, but he is lethal vs the run and we're seeing now how his pass rush is more effective with he emergence of Kennard and the increase in PT for Moore. PFF (for those who care) rank him by far as the #1 4-3 DE vs. the run and #2 overall 4-3 DE in the NFL after Cameron Wake. His loss would be hard to replace and would require a significant free agent signing anyway or premium draft pick.
3. KJ Wright (LB SEA), not flashy, but good at everything, decent size, decent against the pass, and decent rushing the passer, the run is probably his weakest facet and it's not bad. He'd be an immediate upgrade.
Lesser signings:
Devin McCourty, S NE, he's a converted CB, and more of a centerfielder than an in the box safety, but he's generally good in coverage and doesn't get beat deep
Eddie Royal - a good stretch the field guy to allow ODB and Cruz to work underneath and/or not always draw the safety help
no clue what these guys will actually cost, we'll find out soon, but given the cap space the Giants have and contracts still to shed I think this can be doable.
Other considerations would be a TE.
What's a salary cap
Bulaga is constantly hurt. Constantly.
I like Royal as well, as the Giants can use an upgrade to the slot position, regardless if Cruz lines up there a lot.
I think if the Giants are at all skeptical about Cruz being Cruz again, they will make a serious run at Cobb.
Keeping JPP, which I don't think will cost as much as some think, and signing Suh should be priorities 1 and 1a for free agency. Ayers-Hankins-Suh-JPP would be as good of a line in the league and there would still be money for a few other priority signings.
As for OL, I like Iupati but wouldn't break the bank for him. He's an excellent run blocker but not so much in the passing game. I'd prefer Orlando Franklin who wouldn't cost as much and not only plays LG but has experience at RT if a change was made or we needed emergency snaps. I'd like a swing tackle or super sub signed as well. Michael Roos has had a solid career but will be 33 next year and isn't in the Titans future. He would be far better than Charles Brown and still has tread on the tires. Another option is Joe Barksdale from St. Louis. He's only 26 and though he's been at RT for the Rams he has some experience at LT and LG. Sign any two and grab one OL in the draft and we're set.
Lastly I'd look to sign an RB for cheap. Can't trust Jennings health or Williams vision. Mark Ingram, CJ Spiller and Justin Forsett all have question marks but should come cheap with reward outweighing risk.
Royal is a great PR as well, so I would definitely be a good overall depth addition for the right price.
This is the reason I have not gotten behind the calls to move Pugh this year or next year. They can try him inside in camp, but I wouldn't pencil him in or make an overhaul based on this move given that he played OT exclusively in college. Plus, I think you are correct in that he only played LT.
Keeping JPP, which I don't think will cost as much as some think, and signing Suh should be priorities 1 and 1a for free agency. Ayers-Hankins-Suh-JPP would be as good of a line in the league and there would still be money for a few other priority signings.
As for OL, I like Iupati but wouldn't break the bank for him. He's an excellent run blocker but not so much in the passing game. I'd prefer Orlando Franklin who wouldn't cost as much and not only plays LG but has experience at RT if a change was made or we needed emergency snaps. I'd like a swing tackle or super sub signed as well. Michael Roos has had a solid career but will be 33 next year and isn't in the Titans future. He would be far better than Charles Brown and still has tread on the tires. Another option is Joe Barksdale from St. Louis. He's only 26 and though he's been at RT for the Rams he has some experience at LT and LG. Sign any two and grab one OL in the draft and we're set.
Lastly I'd look to sign an RB for cheap. Can't trust Jennings health or Williams vision. Mark Ingram, CJ Spiller and Justin Forsett all have question marks but should come cheap with reward outweighing risk.
I agree. My top three targets are Suh, Frankin, and KJ Wright
Brandon Mosley played LT in a big time college program and I don't think he's ever played anything BUT guard as a pro.
Joel Bitonio, a rookie that has quietly put together an exceptional season, is one of just five guards this year to have over 400 pass block snaps and has yet to allow a single sack. I'd argue that he's having a better season than Martin.
Mike Iupati and Orlando Franklin will be top free agent guards this offseason that played tackle in college.
I thought during the '13 draft that Pugh would make a decent tackle but potentially a pro bowl guard. I still think he can.
I think Beatty should be penciled in at LT and Richburg at OC and we should look to fill the other 3 positions with the very best we can get. Even at that, neither of those guys should be written in stone either. It may turn out that a healthy Schwartz is our RG or RT. It may turn out he is the first guy off the bench. It may turn out we get 2 outstanding OGs and Pugh stays at RT benefitting from improved play next to him. I wouldn't discount that he was playing next to one of the worst OL in the league this year, in my opinion.
My top 3 FA targets would be:
1) JPP: I want to keep him at a reasonable dollar amount.
2) Orlando Franklin / James Carpenter / Ryan Harris: This is hugely dependent on how the staff sees Pugh. But Franklin can play RT or slide inside if Pugh stays there. But he'll want to be paid like a RT either way. We could also target Harris if Pugh moves inside. If the Giants are all-in on Pugh at tackle, I'd look at Carpenter for LG.
3) KJ Wright: It's time to address the LB spot on this team, and I don't think Wright is breaking the bank.
I'd also grab second-tier FAs, like Roos (who was mentioned earlier) and Roy Helu.
Based on... what?
Why not just re-sign him?
Plus, I am not an expert, I'll say that upfront, but I feel like he's misused (like others feel this way too), so perhaps a different DC would put him back in positions to excel, like 2011.
I don't believe it's all injury or lack of desire on his part that explains the performance difference. Lastly he's legit stifling against the run, no one is better as a 4-3 DE. You can find pure pass rushers - as evidenced by Ayers but the way the NFL is today, when you play teams who have a QB that takes a 3-step drop a lot of that pass rush is neutralized, you need two-way DE's, otherwise the Osi's of the world are situational players, not every down guys. JPP is an every down player.
Why not just re-sign him?
Plus, I am not an expert, I'll say that upfront, but I feel like he's misused (like others feel this way too), so perhaps a different DC would put him back in positions to excel, like 2011.
I don't believe it's all injury or lack of desire on his part that explains the performance difference. Lastly he's legit stifling against the run, no one is better as a 4-3 DE. You can find pure pass rushers - as evidenced by Ayers but the way the NFL is today, when you play teams who have a QB that takes a 3-step drop a lot of that pass rush is neutralized, you need two-way DE's, otherwise the Osi's of the world are situational players, not every down guys. JPP is an every down player.
It's the same DC, though.
It's not like one guy used him one way in 2011 and then Fewell came in and stopped using him that way and now he sucks.
I don't know why he's been less dominant. I think last year was injury related to a degree.. this year he has been pretty good at times just not consistent. 2012 he seemed out of shape to me.
I don't know. I'd like to retain him but it depends on the price and it also depends who the DC is going to be next year and what type of defense they want to run.
I'm not sure how much it'll cost to sign him, but it can't be too much.
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is replaceable, but my point with him is to replace him you would need either a) a high $$ free agent or b) a premium draft pick.
Why not just re-sign him?
Plus, I am not an expert, I'll say that upfront, but I feel like he's misused (like others feel this way too), so perhaps a different DC would put him back in positions to excel, like 2011.
I don't believe it's all injury or lack of desire on his part that explains the performance difference. Lastly he's legit stifling against the run, no one is better as a 4-3 DE. You can find pure pass rushers - as evidenced by Ayers but the way the NFL is today, when you play teams who have a QB that takes a 3-step drop a lot of that pass rush is neutralized, you need two-way DE's, otherwise the Osi's of the world are situational players, not every down guys. JPP is an every down player.
It's the same DC, though.
It's not like one guy used him one way in 2011 and then Fewell came in and stopped using him that way and now he sucks.
I don't know why he's been less dominant. I think last year was injury related to a degree.. this year he has been pretty good at times just not consistent. 2012 he seemed out of shape to me.
I don't know. I'd like to retain him but it depends on the price and it also depends who the DC is going to be next year and what type of defense they want to run.
It was the personnel is my guess. Osi, Tuck, Linval, Canty, etc. commanded more OL/TE blocking respect and attention and JPP was freed up more in one on one battles - and he won them. Fewell seemed like he was running the same calls like he had a younger, healthy Tuck and Osi out there with JPP.
I think another DC might be creative enough with the existing personnel to free up JPP for more effective pass rushing. Just a guess though.
I think almost anyone would look good with that Dline Buffalo has..
Does a tree make life difficult for a squirrel?
Does a tree make life difficult for a squirrel?
Is that a serious post? Not many better run defending linebackers in the entire NFL than Brandon Spikes. Regardless of who the RB is.
AP is likely cut after this year he's a huge question mark and cap hit next year. But I'd ask what they would want for Cordarelle Patterson whom theyve clearly given up on. Wonder what Macadoo would be able to do with that kind of unit yet skillset
It's possible. I'm just not sure how much more Fewell can do for him. It's not like he's getting double and triple teamed on every play. A LT and maybe a RB are usually the only things standing between he and the QB. He's got to win more of his battles.
Maybe stunting more to stretch some holes or collapse could help.. maybe sending the RCB to force the RB to pick someone else up.. who knows.
Hopefully if he's still here next year, the next DC can get more pass rush out of him. His run defense is obviously not in need of any help.
The grass is always greener.
Both players were drafted in 2010.
Player 1 Stats:
76 games
170 tackles
58 assists
34 sacks
14 Pass-Def
1 INT
1 SFTY
Player 2 Stats:
73 games
197 tackles
80 assists
39 sacks
28 Pass-Def
2 INTS
1 SFTY
2 TDs
One plays DT and one plays DE...bla bla bla bla bla
KJ Wright is an interesting play - does Sea re-sign him and put more money on the D side of the ball or let him go
The FA LB market is thin.
I would also look at G - either Orlando Franklin or Clint Bolling. Both young. Denver has got to deal with a lot of FA starters. Franklin will cost more than Bolling but Bolling can play
Not going to happen
I don't trust a guy who has crashed and burned on two other teams before finally making it with the Cowboys. I actually don't think he will be very expensive and the Cowboys will keep him.
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Look at what he's doing for Buffalo. I want someone that will make life unpleasant for McCoy and Murray. Team him with Kennard and all of a sudden the LBs are hitting machines.
I think almost anyone would look good with that Dline Buffalo has..
Anyone that has watched Buffalo this year will tell you the LBs are not what makes their Defense. Don't get me wrong, they are collectively better than the Giants LBs, but Spikes is just a cog in the machine. The D is built on a dominant DL (Hughes, Kyle Williams, Dareus, and Mario Williams are the best front 4 in football) hard hitting and aggressive safeties, and strong cover CBs. Arguably, the Bills best defensive player is rehabing a knee injury (LB Kiko Alonzo)
I'm not sure how much it'll cost to sign him, but it can't be too much.
Sign me up for Torrey Smith. He would instantly relegate Randle to the #4 WR and I think he also returns kicks. The Ravens also nominated him for the Walter Payton man of the year award.
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makes life miserable for a RB like McCoy, who could dance circles around him.
Does a tree make life difficult for a squirrel?
Is that a serious post? Not many better run defending linebackers in the entire NFL than Brandon Spikes. Regardless of who the RB is.
It's a serious post.
I'll take Spikes 9 times out of 10 to destroy anything between the tackles, but McCoy's career is built on ridiculous speed, agility, and making people miss.
I didn't think they'd have the money with Wilson needing to be paid, as well as others, but I guess ditching Harvin probably opened some future space.