If Saban wants to evaluate how our players compete....

[phinfan2003]

why not activate guys like Manny Wright, Nick Rogers, and Joe Berger and give them some PT to see if they can help us out for next year. Next year, we need to get younger. We need to see if they can help us out and if they have a future. Here is a position by position analysis of where we need to upgrade IMO

QB-We need to draft a stud QB and sign a cheap veteran to be a stop gap for 1 year (not Frerotte). Let that stop gap compete with either Lemon or Rosenfels for the backup job for that year.

RB/FB-Our best position. If we can get a 2nd round draft pick, I say trade Ricky (even though personally I like him a lot). If not, I say we keep him and do a better job of getting both of them PT like the Chiefs do. Keep Morris but look to get a more versatile FB than Barnes who is a great blocker and that's pretty much it.

WR-We need a #1 WR. Chambers isn't cutting it. In fact, if we sign a FA to a big contract, I believe we have to cut either Booker or Chambers. Welker and Gilmore are not bad #3 and #4 IMO.

TE-No real problems here.

T-We need a stud LT and let Carey and McIntosh compete for the RT position with the loser being the swing man at the T position

G-We should draft one but Hadnot and James haven't played bad (except of the early penalty problems Hadnot had).

C-Seth has been ok but we need to upgrade at C

DE-We need to get younger

DT-If Wright and Vickerson can contribute next year, we'll be fine here

LB-We need to replace Seau (retire), and Spragan. I believe Crowder will take over at MLB soon so we have to fill in the outside backers.

CB-Depending on if Poole and Mitchell can make significant contributions next year, this may be one of our strong spots. We should cut Madison (old and expensive even though he's still good). That would give us Poole, Mitchell, Daniels, Thomas, and Jackson.

S-Keep Bell and Tillman. Draft or sign another FS and SS to compete with these two.

 

[fishypete]

I agree....it doesn't make sense not to play the younger players....if your truely evaluating for the future.

 

[Freeki_phin]

Don't be surprised that these guys get some playing time in the coming games.

 

[caneaddict]

I didn't understand why Saban kept Mitchell on IR when the decision needed to be made. Now we can't activate him all year (as far as I understand). I think it would have been good for him to get out there and get some PT.

 

[McGaniel]

You are right. We will start seeing these young guys in the upcoming weeks. Hopefully we get some good play out of them.

 

[GWNFinfan]

Agree.

I'd trade Ricky if we can get good value for him as I'd prefer to go with one featured back. I think this is the best route, I mean KC is not going to win the SB and I think we drafted Ronny to be a workhorse and threat running and receiving, ie like Marshall Faulk or Edgerrin James.

The QB situation makes me the most nervous because overall, veteran or rookie, it usually takes time to get acclimitized to an offense. I think there is no doubt we need to draft a franchise QB for the future, but who to get as a vet worries me - they need to fit or know the system and even still could have the same problems as Gus. Maybe Culpepper would be a good stop gap if Johnson keeps winning (not serious, he'd be too expensive - and I don't view Culpepper as a franchise QB).

 

[dolphan117]

I could see Wright playing.

 

[finfan54]

I just hope we draft a stud QB. I dont want to hear you fans all year long whine about Gus as if he were the only problem.

 

[Prime]

Remember when Saban said that we are one injury away for Wright to play? Well since Thomas and maybe Seau out, do you think it's that time for Wright to see some action?


As for playing the younger players, I wouldn't expect to see that until we have about 3 games left.

 

[Disgustipate]

The reason why these players are not playing at this point is that they CANNOT help us out. Throwing a player out there who isnt ready and telling them to ad-lib is a pretty damned good way to ruin his confidence and kill his motivation, especially in the case of someone like Wright.

If these players dont have the proper technique, they are useless. Especially O-linemen and D-linemen. Wright isnt going to be worth a good goddamn to us if he is getting blown off the line because he isnt getting leverage and using his hands properly, or if he isnt conditioned, or is physically weak.

 

[T.R.U. FIN3]

why not activate guys like Manny Wright, Nick Rogers, and Joe Berger and give them some PT to see if they can help us out for next year. Next year, we need to get younger. We need to see if they can help us out and if they have a future. Here is a position by position analysis of where we need to upgrade IMO

QB-We need to draft a stud QB and sign a cheap veteran to be a stop gap for 1 year (not Frerotte). Let that stop gap compete with either Lemon or Rosenfels for the backup job for that year.

RB/FB-Our best position. If we can get a 2nd round draft pick, I say trade Ricky (even though personally I like him a lot). If not, I say we keep him and do a better job of getting both of them PT like the Chiefs do. Keep Morris but look to get a more versatile FB than Barnes who is a great blocker and that's pretty much it.

WR-We need a #1 WR. Chambers isn't cutting it. In fact, if we sign a FA to a big contract, I believe we have to cut either Booker or Chambers. Welker and Gilmore are not bad #3 and #4 IMO.

TE-No real problems here.

T-We need a stud LT and let Carey and McIntosh compete for the RT position with the loser being the swing man at the T position

G-We should draft one but Hadnot and James haven't played bad (except of the early penalty problems Hadnot had).

C-Seth has been ok but we need to upgrade at C

DE-We need to get younger

DT-If Wright and Vickerson can contribute next year, we'll be fine here

LB-We need to replace Seau (retire), and Spragan. I believe Crowder will take over at MLB soon so we have to fill in the outside backers.

CB-Depending on if Poole and Mitchell can make significant contributions next year, this may be one of our strong spots. We should cut Madison (old and expensive even though he's still good). That would give us Poole, Mitchell, Daniels, Thomas, and Jackson.

S-Keep Bell and Tillman. Draft or sign another FS and SS to compete with these two.

I think you want to keep Schulters. He has really come through for our pathetic secondary

 

[caneaddict]

The reason why these players are not playing at this point is that they CANNOT help us out. Throwing a player out there who isnt ready and telling them to ad-lib is a pretty damned good way to ruin his confidence and kill his motivation, especially in the case of someone like Wright.

If these players dont have the proper technique, they are useless. Especially O-linemen and D-linemen. Wright isnt going to be worth a good goddamn to us if he is getting blown off the line because he isnt getting leverage and using his hands properly, or if he isnt conditioned, or is physically weak.

Of course they would fail - and we would get a better draft position AND the players would gain experience as well as the coaches being better able to evaluate them. However, I do agree with you that it might kill their confidence. I wouldn't want to do it if Saban felt that it would hurt the player long term because of confidence.

 

[Silverphin]

I didn't understand why Saban kept Mitchell on IR when the decision needed to be made. Now we can't activate him all year (as far as I understand). I think it would have been good for him to get out there and get some PT.

Why not? Give him more time to study the playbook and recover some more from the ACL. Same with Poole.