RG? RT? or both?...

[KillerKat]

How do you suggest we go about upgrading it?

Our defense needs much more attention than our offense. Everyone agress we need a CB bad. Then most agree we need a d-lineman bad just can't agree on DE or DT. Hell I am not even on the DT bandwagon but I could make an argument thats more of a need as well than a new RG OR RT. We have so many holes to fill on D as it is and will likely have to pickup a FS through F.A to compete with Martin. If Connor leaves then we will have a need at backup MLB too. We are already over the cap and don't have the luxury of upgrading positions that did not cost us games last year.

Jesus Christ. You guys act like upgrading 1 or 2 positions on O is going to take up all of our cap. We will have the cap to do this. Stop with this nonsense.

[Cyberjag]

We had a top five offense. Sure I would like to upgrade everywhere. But if you want me to expend energy on the offense, how about waiting until the defense is set first?

I think Otah will do well in his contract year. And I'm naive enough to think there may be something to Ziemba. I'm not a huge Hangman fan, but the Dude does OG well enough. What we need more than anything is to stay healthy....

At any rate, if we do as well on offense in 2012 as we did in 2011 I will be happy. In my humble opinion, this offseason should be about the defensive side of the ball.

[pantherclaw]

Im hoping Ziemba is that guy, but he was quiet as hell last season.

i was excited to see Ziemba, then we never did. Of course, he needs time to develop. Love his attitude and motor.

[pantherclaw]

Hangman has been the starting guard for one of our best olines. He plays well at guard. With kalil to his left, and better play from whomever ends up playing to his right, he'll be a great starter for us. I don't understand the discomfort towards him, that so many people feel.

Rookies playing next to him didn't help, and certainly affected his play this season. Shore up the RT position, and we'll be able to run anywhere we want.

[I am Hubby]

Wasn't Zimba on IR? IMO, we have a decent O-line. And IF everyone gets healthy, it may even be pretty good.

We need talent on the D, no doubt about that. But if the BPA happens to play offense, I say take the kid and run with it.

Talent is talent. I do not give one cats whisker what position he plays.

Geesh, this ain't rocket sauce. And GOOOOO CATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

[I am Hubby]

Hangman has been the starting guard for one of our best olines. He plays well at guard. With kalil to his left, and better play from whomever ends up playing to his right, he'll be a great starter for us. I don't understand the discomfort towards him, that so many people feel.

Rookies playing next to him didn't help, and certainly affected his play this season. Shore up the RT position, and we'll be able to run anywhere we want.

Two things about this post I like. 1) Hangman may be pretty good with Kalil and a solid RT. And I would be happy with that. 2) Actually used shore.

All this posting tonight sure was fun. Thanks folks. And GOOOO CATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[Marguide]

Who the hell said we need a lot of money to upgrade at RG or RT? Those are the only positions that need upgrading on O, as I stated in the OP. You're going off topic.

Here is my reasoning:

• Our offense was quite potent with a rookie QB in a new system with no OTA's
  
• Our defense was bottom of the pack. Other than Beason (Davis was iffy to begin with), injuries didn't hit us any harder on D than they did on O.
  
• We can put 9 Pro Bowl or 1st round picks on the field on offense. On D, the number is 2. Make it 3 if you believe Davis is going to come back good as new.
  
• To get a guard or tackle ready to start immediately, we probably would need to pick one up in the first 3 rounds. We have no third, so that means using a one or two for the offensive line, thus continuing to pour resources into an already potent offense at the expense of our defense.
  
• Choosing a guard or tackle in rounds 4 through 7 is fine, but they are not likely to be better than the ones we already have, at least not this year.
  
• I don't believe we have the cap space to sign a significant offensive lineman, unless we cut Wharton, and I don't see that improving our offensive line.
  

That is my reasoning. Not sure why you would view it as off topic.

My question to you...How do you anticipate fixing the defense while still addressing RG and RT?

[KillerKat]

Signing/drafting 1 or 2 players for the oline is not going to affect anything we need for defense. We can work things to get what we want. Trading for more picks in the draft perhaps? Maybe signing a vet that can start right away in case Otah can't play a full season? Whatever it is we want, we can make it happen. Fixing a spot on the offense will not cripple us.

[Urrymonster]

Schwartz was very good at RG, with Hangman in rotation, I don't think we need to touch RG...

[mick eye]

But we need defense. Waaah. Truth is if Riley Reiff or Jonathon Martin are there we maybe should look that direction. We need to find a eventual replacement for Gross and Otah is unlikely to be resigned after this year. ( Trade Bait alert) So if we took Martin lets say we could pull a draft day trade of Otah for a high second. You know the Vikings would salivate at that opportunity.

1. Martin

2a. Dontari Poe

2b. Harrison Smith

Pretty good haul i would think. Sherrod martin upgrade, a future LT, and the biggest dude in the draft. Lastly reason LT is a high value pick is if we are good as i think we are gonna be we will not get another shot at one in a long time. It's hard to find a franchise LT in the mid to late 20's of the draft. PLAYOFFS and SUPER BOWLS for the next 10 years.

[Urrymonster]

But we need defense. Waaah. Truth is if Riley Reiff or Jonathon Martin are there we maybe should look that direction. We need to find a eventual replacement for Gross and Otah is unlikely to be resigned after this year. ( Trade Bait alert) So if we took Martin lets say we could pull a draft day trade of Otah for a high second. You know the Vikings would salivate at that opportunity.

1. Martin

2a. Dontari Poe

2b. Harrison Smith

Pretty good haul i would think. Sherrod martin upgrade, a future LT, and the biggest dude in the draft. Lastly reason LT is a high value pick is if we are good as i think we are gonna be we will not get another shot at one in a long time. It's hard to find a franchise LT in the mid to late 20's of the draft. PLAYOFFS and SUPER BOWLS for the next 10 years.

Why would anyone give up a 2nd round pick for a player who has played in four games the last two years and has NEVER played a full season...

Let's also forget that he is exclusively a RT and therefore a significantly less desirable commodity than a LT.

[Marguide]

But we need defense. Waaah. Truth is if Riley Reiff or Jonathon Martin are there we maybe should look that direction. We need to find a eventual replacement for Gross and Otah is unlikely to be resigned after this year. ( Trade Bait alert) So if we took Martin lets say we could pull a draft day trade of Otah for a high second. You know the Vikings would salivate at that opportunity.

1. Martin

2a. Dontari Poe

2b. Harrison Smith

I agree with Urry on the potential trade of Otah. Find us a team to give us a 2nd for him, and they should fire Hurney and give you the job. Seriously.

As to Poe, he is very likely to be gone in the 1st round.

[MHS831]

Reality check: Wharton will have to redo his contract or get cut. If Penalty yards were positive, Bell would have averaged more yards per game than our 4th WR. We are old and injured at T. Hangartner is a free agent. Hangarter and Wharton were bull rushed so often and so effectively last season, there were many times Cam could not step up into the pocket.

Think about the business of the NFL. Wharton is not getting $8 million in 2012. He and Hangartner are as good as gone, unless they play cheaper. If you have a Schwartz and Bell to play G, are Wharton and Hangarter worth nearly 10% of the cap?

The smart thing to do is cut Wharton--good run blocker, bad in pass protection. This creates $5 million in cap room. Use that money on 2 defensive STARTERS (OLB, FS). Draft the LT of the future in the first (BUT WE NEED D!!! We just addressed it). Gross, Riley Rieff or Jon Martin, Lee Ziemba make us good. Bell at RG should do a better job run blocking, and Schwartz at LG is going to improve pass protection.

In the second round, get the DT because CB is deep. In the fourth, grab a CB to compete (everybody seems to be forgetting that Hogan will make us better at CB too). Draft LB depth after that, maybe a troubled DE with solid upside.

We lose so we can gain. That is the way it works.

[KillerKat]

yea that's another thing to consider. Wharton did have a down year, but I still think he's good enough to keep.