We now have a clearer vision of the plans moving forward

[panther4life]

Love or hate the moves and non moves, it's news and something for us to talk about. 

Coming into free agency we had major questions on who we would line up at DE, LT, SS, WR next year.

LT: we know now. We are better than we were and about as good as one could reasonably expect. Okung would have been ideal but him not having an agent muddied the waters and delayed us from even having the chance to contact him until 4 pm today. Gettleman at minimum played it safe here and secured one of the 2 and at most got the one he really coveted. It's a good addition to the team in terms of an upgrade in talent and especially potential. Only time will tell if it was a good deal in terms of value, either way we should all rejoice that we don't have to worry about Byron Bell or Mike Remmers ever playing LT for us again.  Before anyone cries about missing on Whitworth, Gettleman needed to swing for a long term solution and that guy was not the one due to his age.

DE: Addison's contract shows he's ready to become a starter. No way he only subs in anymore. I think he will see plenty of snaps next year. Johnson's deal is very fair and worst case scenario he will be the other starter. Ealy has not done much over the years and this is his last chance to prove he's worth retaining. I'll pull for the guy, I just don't see it with him and I am glad Addison has come on strong in the interim. The peppers front has been awfully quiet lately but still seems like a chance that could happen. If we do acquire another Vet, this at least means we won't be wreaking of desperation for a DE in the draft. Which is good, because last time that happened we gambled and lost on Ealy.

SS: we know we preferred at least 1 vet to fill that role. He's gone but it shows we at least were not banking on filling that need in the draft. Who's left, no idea really. That whole frenzy happens quickly. Surely there is someone who can be found that will allow Coleman to go back to his natural position and hopefully start earning his new contract last year, as he definitely did not last year.Not his fault as he played out of position, but at least the team has learned that he needs to move back to where he belongs and Boston can no longer be counted on. 

WR: I thought we would have held onto both Brown and Ginn. Then supplemented that with  pick in the first 2 days and a  veteran possession receiver. Well those 2 were the only ones with above average speed on the team and are both now gone(Byrd omitted since he is far from proven he's anything but ps squad material). Not major losses assuming we have a viable strategy to add more speed on the field. Ginn is obviously the bigger loss of the 2. Take a look at our 2016 WR SNAPS:

1. Benjamin- 802
2. Ginn - 688
3. Brown- 587
4. Funchess -493
5. Bersin- 63
6. Byrd -11

For you young bucks who took common core math,  Ginn and Brown combined for 62% of the snaps taken by a WR last year for us.  This has created a massive void that must be filled.

But what about production? Ginn(4 TD's) and Brown (1 TD) combined for 1,028 yards and 5 TD's. Vs Benjamin (7 TD's) and Funchess'(4 TD's) 1,312 yards and 11 TD'S. 

But wait, look at 2015 when we went 15-1.

1. Brown - 884
2. Ginn - 813
3. Funchess - 587
4. Cotchery - 528
5. Bersin -   99
6. Norwood -13

In 2015 Ginn led all receivers with 739 yard's and 10 TD's. The other big 3 that year almost mirrored each others production

Cotchery: 485 yards, 3 TD'S

Funchess 473 yards and 5 TD's

Brown 447 yards and 3 TD's.

 

Other thoughts and musings regarding teams drafting ahead of us. 

• Maybe Jamal Adam's isn't coveted by anyone in front of us? Bears have the third and it would be awfully early for a safety at 3 anyway but they signed Demps. Jags at 4 signed Church. Titans at 5 signed Cyprien and Chargers at 7 re-signed Addae. Jets pick 6 but have Calvin Pryor who they took at 18 in 2014 draft. This doesn't mean they won't do it but I would say already having him and multiple other needs to address may get them to pass on him as well. To take it a step further, our interest in Church shows had we landed him, we likely wouldn't have taken Adams either.
• Jag's are well on the way to setting themselves up to go BPA. They added some nice upgrades to their Defense. Bouye, Campbell and Chuch are all instant starters and all good ones at that.
• John Fox now has his safety net and can possibly avoid having to start a rookie QB even if they draft one with the contract they just handed Glennon.
• The Browns have a ridiculous amount of picks in the next 2 drafts, including 2 first, and 2nds this year. Plus 3 2nd round picks next year and a bundle of 4th's and 5th's.

 

So far I am content just to get some news in and officially say goodbye to the nightmare that was 2016. Too early for any hardline stances to take on the moves made thus far but outside of a having a hole WR, 2017 already looks much better than 2016, with the positive being still plenty of time to upgrade the other areas of need that we failed to attack last year and much a better draft arsenal as well.