Top 10 reasons to look forward to next yearÃ¢Â€Â¦

Danno · 01-07-2004, 10:22 AM

Top 10 reasons to look forward to next yearÃƒÂ¢Ã¢Â‚Â¬Ã‚Â¦
OFFENSE-
1. RB- We have a top 5 talent in McAllister and a good FB. Add a dependable back-up and this unit is as good as it gets. A multi-dimensional fullback would be a nice addition.
2. QB- I see Brooks as a top 10 guy. Solid back-up in Bouman. A developing 3rd QB in fiesty emotional O'Sullivan who reminds me of a young Jake. Definitely not the weak link on this team.
3. Good O-line with young interior. Bentley, Holland, Jacox (at center) gives us a solid interior that should be a better run-blocking unit next year. Riley and Gandy played well enough at tackle to hold their own. An upper middle-of-the-pack unit that should improve next year. Not great, but not bad either.
4. Best TE group here in a while. Boo will only get better, Conwell was solid after a shakey start. The youngster Hilton may develop into a weapon either in 2004 or 2005.
5. WR- Horn still has a few solid years left. Stallworth's nagging injury problems should start decreasing as it has with other WR's who had similar probs. Pathon is a versatile, dependable WR that can play all 3 positions well. Lewis was much better than I ever thought he would be. Gardner is still a 2-3 year project with HUGE upside. Add a sure handed possession type free-agent and this unit should rebound to be one of the better ones around. They were the weak link this year on Offense and I feel they know it, and better improve.
DEFENSE
6. DL- Howard, Grant, Sullivan will all be better. Add a true nose DT and this unit should dominate for years to come.
7. LB- The weakness of this unit will be addressed this offseason. There WILL be a proven stud added to this unit before the season starts. I can see 2 new starters (maybe all 3) on opening day in 2004. It'll be exciting to see what they do. Hodge must improve, I think he will. Grant may be the stud in the middle we need. Although I'd move him outside. Between Rodgers, Ruff, and Allen one should step up and improve.
8. CB- Its no secret that we have one solid corner, and 3 seviceable nicklebacks. I see a solid vet and a young stud added to this unit. Thomas will start (and he should) but I see a new guy on the other side. Its possible that Thomas may be the only keeper on this unit for 2004.
9. SS- Mel Mitchell should be back to 100%. If he was truly good enough to put Bellamy on the bench then it'll be exciting to see what this guy can do.
10. FS- OK. I know he was hammered all year, and it was justified, but he did start to play better as the year went on. I think he will improve quite a bit. His poor tackling technique has at least been admitted to. A copy of Tackling for Dummies and some additional attention should be the recipe for improvement. Whether he finally justifies his salary remains to be seen but I do think he'll be much improved.

I eagerly await the obvious "Top 10 Reasons We'll Still Suck" replays. You know who you are.

01-07-2004, 10:22 AM	#1
Danno Truth Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R) Posts: 24,756	Top 10 reasons to look forward to next yearÃƒÂ¢Ã¢Â‚Â¬Ã‚Â¦ Top 10 reasons to look forward to next yearÃƒÂ¢Ã¢Â‚Â¬Ã‚Â¦ OFFENSE- 1. RB- We have a top 5 talent in McAllister and a good FB. Add a dependable back-up and this unit is as good as it gets. A multi-dimensional fullback would be a nice addition. 2. QB- I see Brooks as a top 10 guy. Solid back-up in Bouman. A developing 3rd QB in fiesty emotional O'Sullivan who reminds me of a young Jake. Definitely not the weak link on this team. 3. Good O-line with young interior. Bentley, Holland, Jacox (at center) gives us a solid interior that should be a better run-blocking unit next year. Riley and Gandy played well enough at tackle to hold their own. An upper middle-of-the-pack unit that should improve next year. Not great, but not bad either. 4. Best TE group here in a while. Boo will only get better, Conwell was solid after a shakey start. The youngster Hilton may develop into a weapon either in 2004 or 2005. 5. WR- Horn still has a few solid years left. Stallworth's nagging injury problems should start decreasing as it has with other WR's who had similar probs. Pathon is a versatile, dependable WR that can play all 3 positions well. Lewis was much better than I ever thought he would be. Gardner is still a 2-3 year project with HUGE upside. Add a sure handed possession type free-agent and this unit should rebound to be one of the better ones around. They were the weak link this year on Offense and I feel they know it, and better improve. DEFENSE 6. DL- Howard, Grant, Sullivan will all be better. Add a true nose DT and this unit should dominate for years to come. 7. LB- The weakness of this unit will be addressed this offseason. There WILL be a proven stud added to this unit before the season starts. I can see 2 new starters (maybe all 3) on opening day in 2004. It'll be exciting to see what they do. Hodge must improve, I think he will. Grant may be the stud in the middle we need. Although I'd move him outside. Between Rodgers, Ruff, and Allen one should step up and improve. 8. CB- Its no secret that we have one solid corner, and 3 seviceable nicklebacks. I see a solid vet and a young stud added to this unit. Thomas will start (and he should) but I see a new guy on the other side. Its possible that Thomas may be the only keeper on this unit for 2004. 9. SS- Mel Mitchell should be back to 100%. If he was truly good enough to put Bellamy on the bench then it'll be exciting to see what this guy can do. 10. FS- OK. I know he was hammered all year, and it was justified, but he did start to play better as the year went on. I think he will improve quite a bit. His poor tackling technique has at least been admitted to. A copy of Tackling for Dummies and some additional attention should be the recipe for improvement. Whether he finally justifies his salary remains to be seen but I do think he'll be much improved. I eagerly await the obvious "Top 10 Reasons We'll Still Suck" replays. You know who you are.