Philter25
MORE COWBELL!!!
So preseason is almost over and its time to take a looksie at the roster to positions where we need depth and positions where we have depth:
Offense:
QB: I was very impressed with Harrington this preseason. He looked comfortable and confident here in Miami, rather than dazed and confused in Detriot. With him and Lemon, we have solid depth at the QB position if Culpepper goes down.
Action Recommended : None
RB/FB: Depth at FB is very good. However I am concerned about the RB position. Morris is an ok 3rd down back and Minor is ok also. If Brown goes down, I really wouldnt feel comfortable about either of them moving into the starting role. Its been proven time and time again that some of the better teams in the NFL have a 2 back semi-rotation so if one back goes down, they have a solid RB to move into the starting role. Ronnie has never had a full load put on him so we really dont know what he can handle. Look at Caddy last year, he had 3 games early in the season where he must have had almost 80 carries and it took a toll on his body.
Action Recommended : When teams trim down their roster, see if we can pick up a backup RB. Denver, among other teams, is very deep at RB with Mike Bell, Tatum Bell, and Cobbs. It might be beneficial if we could trade for Tatum Bell if Mike Bell is the starter.
WR: Good depth here. We are one of the deeper teams at WR this year. Action Recommended : None. Maybe even use our depth at WR as trade bait.
TE: Again, good depth here. Peelle has shown good hands a few times in the preseason and Jason Rader isnt a bad #3 TE. Action Recommended : None
OLine: Good depth at OT with McIntosh. Damien is a former starter who, even though he struggled, knows our blocking scheme and could come in without many problems if Carey or Shelton goes down. Questionable depth at C and OG. I hate to admit it, but losing McKinney hurts us. He was great depth at the OG and C position. If Hadnot, Anderson, or Jeno goes down, we might be in some trouble on the Oline. I dont put much stock into late round rookies or projects who havent seen much playing time.
Action Recommended : Watch for an OG to be released that might be a good depth signing.
Defense:
Dline: Flat out solid. Great depth at all positions. If any starter went down, DE, DT, or NT, I have full confidence in anyone to come in and produce.
Action Recommended: None. Maybe even use our depth at Dline as trade bait.
Linebacker: Questionable depth here. If Jt goes down, or ZT goes down, we are in a world of hurt. Crowder played very well last year and I would expect the same thing year, but with Pope, Hodge, Bowens, and Newman as our depth, I dunno.
Action recommended: Watch to see if there is someone we can add, but I really dont think there will be anyone. This position pretty much goes to the top of next years draft need.
DB: I will lump CB/S into one category as Saban likes all his DBs to be interchangeable. I think we have decent depth in the secondary. To start the season, I have Will Allen, Daniels, Tillman, and Hill penciled in. We have good depth with Jason Allen, who hopefully should push Tillman for the starting S spot sometime this year, and Bell, who knows the system and can play both safety positions and Goodman at CB. The reason I only say we have "decent" depth in the secondary is that we have a lot of young and new players in our system. We really dont have that 4-year-been-in-the-system vet that you can count on.
Action recommended : None. Just hope that the young guys can learn a lot and progress throughout the system.
Overall: I wouldnt be suprised if we traded/picked up a RB primarily. Then an OG/C and LB. We have good depth on the Dline and at WR which we can use as trade bait. Off the top of my head, I see Pittsburgh and Denver as potential trade partners.
Offense:
QB: I was very impressed with Harrington this preseason. He looked comfortable and confident here in Miami, rather than dazed and confused in Detriot. With him and Lemon, we have solid depth at the QB position if Culpepper goes down.
Action Recommended : None
RB/FB: Depth at FB is very good. However I am concerned about the RB position. Morris is an ok 3rd down back and Minor is ok also. If Brown goes down, I really wouldnt feel comfortable about either of them moving into the starting role. Its been proven time and time again that some of the better teams in the NFL have a 2 back semi-rotation so if one back goes down, they have a solid RB to move into the starting role. Ronnie has never had a full load put on him so we really dont know what he can handle. Look at Caddy last year, he had 3 games early in the season where he must have had almost 80 carries and it took a toll on his body.
Action Recommended : When teams trim down their roster, see if we can pick up a backup RB. Denver, among other teams, is very deep at RB with Mike Bell, Tatum Bell, and Cobbs. It might be beneficial if we could trade for Tatum Bell if Mike Bell is the starter.
WR: Good depth here. We are one of the deeper teams at WR this year. Action Recommended : None. Maybe even use our depth at WR as trade bait.
TE: Again, good depth here. Peelle has shown good hands a few times in the preseason and Jason Rader isnt a bad #3 TE. Action Recommended : None
OLine: Good depth at OT with McIntosh. Damien is a former starter who, even though he struggled, knows our blocking scheme and could come in without many problems if Carey or Shelton goes down. Questionable depth at C and OG. I hate to admit it, but losing McKinney hurts us. He was great depth at the OG and C position. If Hadnot, Anderson, or Jeno goes down, we might be in some trouble on the Oline. I dont put much stock into late round rookies or projects who havent seen much playing time.
Action Recommended : Watch for an OG to be released that might be a good depth signing.
Defense:
Dline: Flat out solid. Great depth at all positions. If any starter went down, DE, DT, or NT, I have full confidence in anyone to come in and produce.
Action Recommended: None. Maybe even use our depth at Dline as trade bait.
Linebacker: Questionable depth here. If Jt goes down, or ZT goes down, we are in a world of hurt. Crowder played very well last year and I would expect the same thing year, but with Pope, Hodge, Bowens, and Newman as our depth, I dunno.
Action recommended: Watch to see if there is someone we can add, but I really dont think there will be anyone. This position pretty much goes to the top of next years draft need.
DB: I will lump CB/S into one category as Saban likes all his DBs to be interchangeable. I think we have decent depth in the secondary. To start the season, I have Will Allen, Daniels, Tillman, and Hill penciled in. We have good depth with Jason Allen, who hopefully should push Tillman for the starting S spot sometime this year, and Bell, who knows the system and can play both safety positions and Goodman at CB. The reason I only say we have "decent" depth in the secondary is that we have a lot of young and new players in our system. We really dont have that 4-year-been-in-the-system vet that you can count on.
Action recommended : None. Just hope that the young guys can learn a lot and progress throughout the system.
Overall: I wouldnt be suprised if we traded/picked up a RB primarily. Then an OG/C and LB. We have good depth on the Dline and at WR which we can use as trade bait. Off the top of my head, I see Pittsburgh and Denver as potential trade partners.