2016 Roster Building - Here's a look at the Current Roster

[Navy_football]

I disagree with many posters here. This team has a huge need on offense - PLAYMAKER. 

I don't care if it's a RB or a WR or even a TE. Not a crafty route runner with good hands. Not a power ru, but someone that can make defenders miss in the open field and take it to the house at any time - sort of what Steve Smith did. Ginn could be that guy, but his unreliable hands make him more of a decoy than a real playmaker. I think it says a lot when your QB is the biggest playmaker on the offense. That should never be, not even when Cam Newton is your QB. 

[TheSpecialJuan]

8 hours ago, KB_fan said:

So, with all of those transactions, here is what our roster looks like this morning (March 8).  I've copied this from another thread where I was discussing "Roster holes":

The roster is broken it down into the following groups:

Starters,  Key Role Players, Backups.  (With the exception of new punter Swayze Waters, all of these guys were either on the active roster or the IR during the 2015 season)

Then there are the PS guys signed to a Futures contract, and the new Futures contract players.

Assuming that Harper and Tillman  do not return, and assuming that J-No and Remmers DO return, we would have spots for 4 or 5 "new" starters on our roster.  Probably 3 of these spots are taken by players already on our roster.

1)  Jared Allen's spot is our biggest hole.  We need another starting DE.  Presumbly this will be a free agent.

2) Harper's spot would presumably be filled by Tre Boston, or perhaps a FA.

3) Charles Johnson's spot would presumably be filled by Kony Ealy.

4 & 5) Peanut Tillman's spot is presumably filled by Bene Benwikere,... but that opens up Bene's roster spot at nickel.  That could possibly be filled by Finnegan, McClain, a FA or a draft pick.

Other possible changes to starters:

We could upgrade Remmers (presumably Daryl Williams).

We also might want to upgrade Ed Dickson (FA or draft). 

Ginn & Brown are listed among the starters at WR since that was their role in 2015, but I'm assuming that Funchess will take one of those spots, with our top 3 WRs being Benji, Funch and either Ginn or Brown.

Running Back?  Do we want another RB to share the load with J-Stew?  Could CAP or Wegher be that player?

 

Among role players:

Edwards is gone.  Alexander will be gone.  For now, I assume we'll re-sign Love, Tolbert and Webb.  I assume Cotchery will leave.  Finnegan perhaps could stay around as competition for Nickel CB (but in any case, we would need more CB depth)  Nortman will likely stay, but in any case we've already signed Swayze Waters as a potential replacement.

So the holes:

1) DT to replace Edwards in the rotation.  High priority - FA and/or draft.

2) DE Depth (to "replace" Alexander and also Ealy who will now be a starter)... we might be ok with Addison, Horton & Delaire, Cox and Miley, but I would think we'll at least draft someone.

3) CB Depth to replace / compete with Finnegan & McClain.  Pretty big need.

4) WR to replace Cotchery - we already have Benjamin, Funchess, Ginn & Brown.  Possible 5th wideouts are Hill, Norwood, Bersin, Byrd, or a draftee.  Doubt we'll sign a FA, but a draft pick is quite possible.  (Someone like Sterling Shepard?)

5) Safety Depth:  With Boston presumably starting, we may need added Safety depth.  Perhaps with Marlowe, Marcus Ball and Ras-I Dowling we might have enough players, but a FA or draft pick is possible.

6) Fullback?  Depends on if we re-sign Tolbert.  Almost every Mock draft I've done / seen has FB "baby Gronk" (Glen Gronkowski) available on the board when we pick in round 5.  I could see him being a possible draft pick for us.

7) Running Back??  I could see Fozzy losing his place in the RB rotation.  I can't see us carrying 4 RBs & a FB on the active roster again.  Either Fozzy or Wegher is likely gone.  Do we draft or sign some competition?  I've seen several post-Combine mocks with Ezekiel Elliot falling to us, but I don't think it really very likely....

 

Depending on whether we resign Silatolu and Velasco, Our biggest need for greater depth is on our Oline, with particular attention at Center (Kalil is on the final year of his contract).

 

Finally, here are the PS / Futures contracts:

this is great, thanks

[Woodie]

3 hours ago, Navy_football said:

I disagree with many posters here. This team has a huge need on offense - PLAYMAKER. 

I don't care if it's a RB or a WR or even a TE. Not a crafty route runner with good hands. Not a power ru, but someone that can make defenders miss in the open field and take it to the house at any time - sort of what Steve Smith did. Ginn could be that guy, but his unreliable hands make him more of a decoy than a real playmaker. I think it says a lot when your QB is the biggest playmaker on the offense. That should never be, not even when Cam Newton is your QB. 

I agree.  The one thing our offense is missing is that shifty guy that can turn nothing into something.  I do disagree a bit that Ginn could be that guy if it weren't for his hands.  Ginn is fast, but he's really not all that shifty.  Yes, he can make explosive plays, but only if he gets behind a defense or catches the ball with open field ahead of him.  I think a guy that can take a short 5 yard catch, make defenders miss, and turn it into a big play would make our offense deadly. 

And Philly certainly doesn't fit that mold either.  Like Ginn, he's also got more straight line speed and is not particularly shifty and quick.