CB in Round One
...is what I think we'll see. Here's why:
QB -- I think we'll sign Steve McNair and let him battle with Lemon for the starting job at QB next year. I don't think Saban wants to risk drafting a QB in the first round. There's too much of a chance for failure at that position, and we can't afford wasted 1st-round choices. And with Randy Mueller on board, I think Saban believes he can get a quality QB "the Mueller way."
LT -- I think we'll see Anthony Alabi starting at some point this year if we're out of the playoff race, and with a year of Houck's tutelage he'll be ready to compete with McIntosh, who's doing a fine job this year IMO, for the starting job there next year. I think we sign a couple or three free agents to battle for the other positions on the line. This is another area where I think Saban won't pick players too highly. Like Belichick, Saban IMO believes you can get OLs late in the draft and develop them with good coaching.
WR -- I think we sign an up-and-coming free agent for this position so he's ready to contribute right away instead of being a year away like a draft choice. We can't afford a year of development at the WR position -- we need a threat there right away next year to be a complete offense. This will also help the development of the new QB and Ronnie Brown next year.
That leaves the one remaining area of weakness on the team -- the secondary. Top-notch free agent CBs make too much money, so I think we draft one in the 1st. And they have a pretty good track record as 1st round picks. There isn't as much chance for failure at the CB position in the 1st round as there is at other positions.
...is what I think we'll see. Here's why:
QB -- I think we'll sign Steve McNair and let him battle with Lemon for the starting job at QB next year. I don't think Saban wants to risk drafting a QB in the first round. There's too much of a chance for failure at that position, and we can't afford wasted 1st-round choices. And with Randy Mueller on board, I think Saban believes he can get a quality QB "the Mueller way."
LT -- I think we'll see Anthony Alabi starting at some point this year if we're out of the playoff race, and with a year of Houck's tutelage he'll be ready to compete with McIntosh, who's doing a fine job this year IMO, for the starting job there next year. I think we sign a couple or three free agents to battle for the other positions on the line. This is another area where I think Saban won't pick players too highly. Like Belichick, Saban IMO believes you can get OLs late in the draft and develop them with good coaching.
WR -- I think we sign an up-and-coming free agent for this position so he's ready to contribute right away instead of being a year away like a draft choice. We can't afford a year of development at the WR position -- we need a threat there right away next year to be a complete offense. This will also help the development of the new QB and Ronnie Brown next year.
That leaves the one remaining area of weakness on the team -- the secondary. Top-notch free agent CBs make too much money, so I think we draft one in the 1st. And they have a pretty good track record as 1st round picks. There isn't as much chance for failure at the CB position in the 1st round as there is at other positions.
