F. Mulder said:
Question marks? Sure, I have tons:
In no particular order:
Defensively: Obviously they need at least 1 if not 2 safeties. IMHO as long as none of them are named Dahl we are on the right track.
I really think JL needs to bounce back. He is a solid nice MLB but I keep waiting for him to become an impact MLB; a difference maker. He simply seems somewhat limited to me. I think he is lights out smart but want to see him become a force. I also expect more from Langford. I also want to see Quinn develop something other than a sprint to the outside on every pass play. He needs an inside move to add to his quickness, plus he is easy to sucker on inside counters due to his speed and aggressiveness outside. I want an OLB who can run. I don't care if the only directions he can run are forward or horizontal, just run. I thought Dunbar was very solid last year but he is a better SLB or situational LBer IMO. I need a LBer who can catch Kapernick, Wilson, or a TE and who can bring the heat from the outside on a blitz. I think this unit has the chance to be a top 10 one but the Safety, OLB, and better gap assignments from the DL are necessary.
Offensively:
1) I worry about OL continuity. I'd love the OL to be set (whoever the 5 starters and primary 1-2 backups are) and be able to play as a unit the majority of the time. Too often there were just plain whiffs or blown assignments. I think a lot of that can be solved with a cohesive unit. Guys like Dahl, Wells, Saffold, Long, all are vets and should be able to handle things IF they can stay together. I'm not too worried about Guard. If Watkins, Smith, Williams?, Washington, fight it out whoever wins wins and I'm fine by that. I'm more worried about the 3rd OT.
2) Improve the 3rd down conversions, especially 3rd and short. I blame Bradford, Jackson, Shotty, the OL, the Refs, and everyone else but for god's sake pick up more 3rd downs.
3) In that same vein improve the red zone offense from a FG unit to a TD unit.
4) Can Pead, Richardson, and Gannaway (?) do the job?
5) Bradford needs to take control of this team now that Jackson is gone. He needs to be the undisputed leader of this team and help win games they have no business winning.
Random issues/questions:
I may be flamed but I think Danny A and Jackson being gone might not be a bad thing for this team in the long-term. Bradford needs to look for other players than Danny A and Jackson is a nice back but I'm anxious to see how they approach the RB position now that he is gone and how other teams try to defend them.
Quick will not jump up to be a true starting WR stat-wise this year BUT he should be a 40-50 catch WR and that in itself will help with the hopeful continued development of Givens, the presence of Cook, the development of Kendricks, and Pettis.
Find a friggin kick and punt returner. I don't want Givens back there with Danny A gone and I sure don't ever want to see Jenkins again. Pettis is a suicide mission waiting to happen.
Draft-wise:
I'm scared to death of Patterson, Ogletree. Not high on Fluker. Don't want Lacy in the 1st round. Think there are starting safeties into the late 2nd round. Think Austin is gone by 16. Think Hopkins is solid if you are looking for a number2. Like Allen and Woods in the 2nd. Scared to death of Hunter. Would rather have a Patton or Wheaton.
First 3 picks in no particular order: WR, OL, Safety
Probably nobody is reading at this point and I probably have more to say but I forgot what I had for lunch today so carry on.. :nono:
That's what I'm talkin' bout. Nice, detailed response.
Regarding JL55, I think he's a tremendous asset when it comes to calling the defensive alignments and making adjustments. He's very good at getting guys in position to make plays, and his recognition is really solid. Very smart player, and very disciplined. But on an individual level, he could absolutely use some improvement. I'm hoping it was changing defensive schemes that held him back a little last year and that he bounces back this year in a big way (along with everyone else).
Here's his individual rankings through 16 weeks last year. Not his best work, but he's not a liability either.
I agree that Langord can (and will) show more this year. I love that dude's tenacity. I agree that Quinn could add some more weapons to his arsenal, but I'd like to see him get much stronger and develop a bull-rush. His inside move is there already - he's just gotta perfect it.
Offensively, I want to see MUCH more between the hash plays. The middle of the field was largely underutilized last year, and that's something that should open up in a big way with the addition of Cook, and the continued development of Kendricks. I still maintain that they could add another pass-catching TE to the mix and really give defenses fits. I'm okay with Givens on the outside. As he incorporates more of the route tree, I think he'll be phenomenal. Quick, I'm not really worried about. He just needs to catch up to the speed of the game and think much quicker. Get on his toes, so to speak. I'd love to see us add Patterson for the rewards he'd provide a couple of years down the road. I'd like to see a Quick-Patterson duo on the outside with Givens and Pettis as our 3rd & 4th guys. We'd have it all then. Speed, hands, size, strength, quickness, whatever you need - just put that combo out there.
I'm not worried about Bradford, and that's not a homer opinion.
I see what I see in him, and I know what he's going to provide.
There's an elite QB in there. I can see it.
