saintswhodi

To save 2.3 mil and use it toward getting some good free agents in here? Bye bye Jerome.

Danno

Too much typing. I\'ll just list my significant changes to this years roster...

Offense
RT-Free Agent (TBD)
WR#3 Henderson (replaces Pathon)

Defense
LDE-Smith (Howard dealt off)
DT-Free Agent (TBD, replaces Green/Sullivan)
SLB-Free Agent (TBD, replaces Allen)
WLB-Kevin Burnett (1st round draft pick, UT)
SS-Mel Mitchell (beats out Belamy)
CB-Brown (takes command opposite McKenzie)

4saintspirit

Here is my take --

1. Sign and trade Howard for a solid linebacker
2. Use our cap money to Smoot and an OLineman.
3. Possibly draft a center (therre are 2 good ones out there) and move Bentley back to the line
4. Use our draft picks to get a young QB, and a cornerback

BrooksMustGo

I think the basic observation is right. I don\'t think Henderson progresses enough to be an every down player.

But I figure that we resign Deuce, Horn, Howard, Mitchell, Craft, Hall and McAfee. I see Pathon, Bellamy, Hodge and Riley as guys who are cap casualties or not signed again.

I don\'t see us making a move on Smoot or Woodson, too much money given that MM might be wanting a new deal sooner rather than later. Given this organization\'s history with the CB position, I see Loomis/Haslett choosing to \"make do\" with what we have.

I want to believe that we sign a LB in free agency. I\'m taking a wait and see attitude. If we don\'t do something in free agency, then I see us drafting an OLB on the first day and he\'ll get the chance to start over Colby.

http://www.blackandgold.net/site/signature/buddysig.jpg

MatthewT

Any thoughts of moving Bentley back to guard is not good. He needs to be left at the center spot. He got much better as the season progressed, and should be an all pro at the position very shortly. Maybe as soon as 2005.

I agree that Pathon will be gone. If he is willing to redo his contract he may get to stay, however I see no reason for him to do it. He should get decent action in the free agent market once cut.

JKool

T,

I couldn\'t agree more:

C is a tough job to learn and Bentley is very young. Once he gets rolling, he\'s going to be a BEAST. Gs are not anywhere near as hard to come by and are usually much cheaper than Cs or Ts.

I do have some concern about the center exchange with Brooks. He looks slow coming back from the snap. Now, many will blame Brooks for this, but it is also possibly on Bentley. This is a mechanical thing, and I have some faith it can be fixed before the end of preseason - it is probably just a matter of the two of them getting used to each other and Bentley getting used to his position. Also, it seemed to diminish as the season went on.

"... I was beating them with my eyes the whole game..." - Aaron Brooks

saintswhodi

And when I said this people thought I was blaming Brooks for the line\'s blocking. It is true. He takes a beat or two longer to get from under center since Bentley took over. Could be both he and Bentley, but whatever the case, it DOES NOT help the line in having to block. I think we discussed the before. Either the exchange is awkward, or Brooks is so concerned about the fumbles he is trying to guarantee he has the ball every time. I hope they fix it in the offseason as well.

JKool

Actually, Whodi, we did discuss this before, and you and I were the ones who noted this point. We still agree.

LKelley67

there are dreams, hopes, and predictions. hope has to do battle against predictions with the crew in this front office.

predicting is too wacky, like two firsts for a lazy slob or no DB last year. i do think pathon gone is a given unless he takes a significant cut. howard out (for something hopefully).

hope (not dream) is at least one major OL upgrade, a major veteran addition at LB. how can a team with so many picks invested in DL still need a DT? a top pick there or DB seems most logical. (oh no!)

WhoDat

No way we go after Smoot. Too big a name, too much money at a position that is probably the second most solid right now on the defense. LB!! LB!!! LB!!! Then DT... then it\'s probably safety before CB. If we sign or draft a DE, I might send hate mail to Haslett.