2013 FA Thread (Updates on OP) New: Merling, Brace, Pashos, Trueblood, EJBig, Tapp, White, Williams, MATTHEWS; Re-up: Rex, Hall, Davis, Paulsen, DY, RJax, Lich, Sundberg, Baker, Sav, Golston, Kehl, Polumbus; Paycuts: Carriker, Moss, BMeri, J. Wilson

[DC9]

Thats exactly the point I was making. If we sign Ryan Harris too, then we have a ton of options at RT but only Trent at LT. I would rather bring back Polumbus for cheap and find a swing Tackle who can play both spots. Black is still an option but I believe his suspension goes into next yr, so I want to find someone like that

These guys:


Endorse this guy:



EDIT: And yes, I believe Jordan Black has served three games of his four game suspension (Eagles, Cowboys, Seahawks)... so still one left.

[MartinC]

I've seen this through twitter. I can't remember who tweeted it but I remember being upset. This guy is a beast and if he doesn't comeback to play, he needs to coach his position. He has a natural instinct that can't be figured out on your own. I will probably try to get his jersey at some point in my life.

Great players often don't become good coaches - you can't coach instinct. I do think though that Fletcher will make a good coach if he wants that role and to stay in the game - his work ethic and intelligence will carry over. Not many great modern players become coaches become coaches though simply because they have made enough money not to have to do the hours and workload that being a coach requires for a fraction what they earned as players - it's has to be something they REALLY want to do.

[skinny21]

Thats exactly the point I was making. If we sign Ryan Harris too, then we have a ton of options at RT but only Trent at LT. I would rather bring back Polumbus for cheap and find a swing Tackle who can play both spots. Black is still an option but I believe his suspension goes into next yr, so I want to find someone like that

It seems to me that swing tackles are generally in-game fill-ins, not guys you can trust for a stretch. I'd rather have a stud that we can move over and then Polumbus, Hurt or Compton can take over at RT. I know that's easier said than done, but it's why I'd be happy to get a tackle in the 2nd or 3rd. FS and corner are the other two positions I feel we should look at early (though NT, TE, WR, ILB and DE wouldn't bother me either).

[skins2323]

I am still hoping Compton becomes that swing tackle. Harris is a pure RT, as is Polumbus and Hurt (actually he is a pure OG but whatever). If the coaches think Compton can fill Black's role and be the swing tackle, then so be it.

[DC9]

Great players often don't become good coaches - you can't coach instinct. I do think though that Fletcher will make a good coach if he wants that role and to stay in the game - his work ethic and intelligence will carry over. Not many great modern players become coaches become coaches though simply because they have made enough money not to have to do the hours and workload that being a coach requires for a fraction what they earned as players - it's has to be something they REALLY want to do.

this is a great point. But I think great players EXPECT other players to do the same things that they did. IE: Concerning film study, preparation, working out, etc... most great players assume that every player does those things and they won't typically check on that player until it has already bitten them in the ass. Then they either become less friendly or they decide that coaching isn't for them. It's hard to motivate grown men. But this is true in all facets and professions in this great world.

[clskinsfan]

You need to stop bringing this into every thread, it derails it every time. Keep it where it belongs.

---------- Post added January-14th-2013 at 02:54 PM ----------



Riley and Robinson.

Derails the thread how? The original question was about why we needed more play makers on offense. I answered that question.

[DC9]

Okay... so two rules I am adding to the thread:

No Tebow and No Stairway to Heaven.

[doghouse4x4]

Ha! Well played sir.

[DC9]

I know it's only SB Nation, but everything I've looked at FA 2013 wise has us targeting Sebastian Vollmer from New England as well. This guy is injured quite a bit, but I'll go ahead and add him to the OP as a young, possibly affordable, guy to bring in for competition.


EDIT:

Got this from his wikipedia page (looks like lots of injuries):

2009 season
Vollmer was drafted by the Patriots in the second round (58th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft. On July 17, he signed a four-year contract. Vollmer made his official NFL debut in the Patriots' first game of the season. He made his first start at left tackle, filling in for an injured Matt Light, in the Patriots' record-setting 59–0 victory in Week 6 against the Tennessee Titans, and started the next four games. After being sidelined for two weeks with a head injury, Vollmer made his sixth start of the season in Week 14 against the Carolina Panthers; Vollmer lined up at both left tackle and right tackle, in place of veteran tackle Nick Kaczur, during the game. Vollmer started the Patriots' next two games after Kaczur was injured, and when Kaczur returned in Week 17, he continued to start at right tackle, including the Patriots' playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

2010 season
In 2010, Vollmer started all 16 games of the regular season at right tackle for the Patriots. He performed well throughout the season and was named to the Associated Press 2010 All-Pro Team (2nd team, thus one of the four best tackles—left or right—in the NFL), but was not voted to the 2011 Pro Bowl, as “Vollmer's anonymity kept him out of the Pro Bowl”.

2011 season
Vollmer injured his back in a preseason game and missed the beginning of the 2011 season. He returned in week 2 and rotated with Nate Solder at RT but was injured again in the win over the Chargers. Vollmer returned in week 8 at Pittsburgh, rotating again with Solder.

--- BREAK---

I've checked the official Pats website, and it looks like he is still on the active roster. I was high on him during the draft... but man, this is a lot of baggage.

http://www.patriots.com/team/roster.html

[SemperFi Skins]

1. Chris Houston/ Tracy Porter / Keenan Lewis - CB
2. Greg Jennings - WR (Don't see us picking up any WR's though)
3. Andre Smith/ Jermon Bushrod - OT (highly unlikely, too pricey, Bushrod will be resigned by Saints as stated by Loomis) Jake Long is another option but may be pricey and is oft. injured.
4. Desmond Bryant/ Ricky Jean Francois - DE/NT (you'll see more of Jean-Francois this weekend if you didn't see enough last weekend.
5. Michael Johnson - Pass rushing specialist, could possibly play DE in 3-4 and some stand up in hybrid role. (One of my man crushes you rarely hear about, I really wanted to draft this guy)
6. Martellus Bennet - TE

And one of the most intriguing prospects available (unless the Chargers franchise him) is Danario Alexander. He's a RFA but would be worth seeing how we could get him. 6'5, 221 (now)

Alexander is a huge WR with adequate straight-line speed and good ball skills, especially when going over the middle and catching the ball in traffic. He is competitive to the ball when covered and should have an immediate impact as a red zone receiver at the next level. He still needs work on his route running skills as he will telegraph his moves at times. He is more than just a willing blocker and has shown the kind of work ethic and competitiveness to make you think he could develop into a quality receiver at the next level.

6'5" Height
34 3/4" Arm Length
215LBS. Weight
10"

---------- Post added January-15th-2013 at 12:22 PM ----------

Also, I'd be looking at Louis Delmas as insurance for the FS position... He's been labeled as "injury prone" but it's mainly just been a nagging injury without enough time to heal. He loves the game of football and will be looking to prove himself. I'd be more than happy to bring him in. Only 26 years old, 5'11 202, and can ball his rear off when on the field.

[DogofWar1]

Vollmer is interesting, but my key concern is actually age. He'll be 29 for this season, so a 4 year contract would have him through age 32. While I'm not too terribly worried about injuries, he has had one bad season, which IMO isn't enough to invalidate him, the possibility that he could turn into another Jammal Brown sort of nags at the back of my mind.

On Danario Alexander, he'd be interesting to grab, but we're just going to have to wait I think. Others have mentioned it, RFAs simple don't change hands. He does look like a good redzone target, so our best hope for acquiring him might be for him to get a lot of TDs but have meh yardage numbers (more as a result of Rivers than himself), allowing us to get him for a decent price.

That might not be too farfetched a scenario either, Morgan is on a two year deal ending 2013, and Briscoe wasn't the redzone threat we thought he was (though I think jury still has to be out), so I could envision a situation where Hankerson evolves such that we let Morgan and Briscoe go, while signing Alexander.

And Mike loves his blocking WRs, so it's definitely a possibility.

[SemperFi Skins]

Someone said they wanted Maualuga? Yikes. To me, the only ILB on free agency that I have interest in is Tavares Gooden.

What about Brad Jones or Danell Ellerbe? Seems unlikely the Packers/Ravens would just let them walk away but i'd take them before Gooden. Brad Jones is the signal caller for the Pack as well.

[DC9]

What about Brad Jones or Danell Ellerbe? Seems unlikely the Packers/Ravens would just let them walk away but i'd take them before Gooden. Brad Jones is the signal caller for the Pack as well.

Nice call on both. Though I don't see us picking up an ILB via FA unless it's a Bryan Kehl type... you never know.

[SemperFi Skins]

Nice call on both. Though I don't see us picking up an ILB via FA unless it's a Bryan Kehl type... you never know.

Brad Jones reminds me of a Lance Briggs type who's quickly progressing to a household name.

[DC9]

Brad Jones reminds me of a Lance Briggs type who's quickly progressing to a household name.

7th round pick... still young. My buddy who is a Packers fan says that if Bishop comes back healthy they will probably let Jones walk.

EDIT: I like them both, but between the two I'd take Jones over Ellerbe. Not many Baltimore players play well once they've left the nest, so to speak.