2008 NFL whiteboard

[Joe Public]

The following are just some notes I've been jotting down about the current offseason.

This is sort of to keep them all in one place, feel free to add any random thoughts about what you think, in big picture terms, about teams, sides, etc. for the upcoming year.

NFC

Atlanta
Under Petrino, went to zone blocking, now going away from that.
Losing Hall, young potentially weak secondary
New coaching staff entirely
# Signed S Erik Coleman.
# Signed CB Von Hutchins.
# Signed TE Ben Hartsock.
# Signed RB Michael Turner.
# Signed DT Kindal Moorehead.
# Signed C Alex Stepanovich.
# Signed K Jason Elam


Carolina
Adding DJ Hackett and Mushin Muhammed could free up Steve Smith.
QB??
Good draft
Improved running game?
# Signed CB Ricardo Colclough.
# Signed OG Keydrick Vincent.
# Signed DE Tyler Brayton.
# Signed LB Landon Johnson.
# Signed RB LaBrandon Toefield.
# Signed WR D.J. Hackett.
# Signed S Terrence Holt.
# Re-Signed OT Jordan Gross.
# Signed OG Toniu Fonoti.
# Signed OG Milford Brown.
# Signed DT Darwin Walker.
# Signed DT Ian Scott.

NO
# Acquired LB Jonathan Vilma via Trade from New York Jets.
# Signed CB Randall Yag.
# Signed DE Bobby McCray.
# Signed QB Mark Brunell.
# Signed OL Matt Lehr.
# Signed CB Aaron Glenn.
# Signed CB Jerametrius Butler.

TB
Potentially strong secondary
# Signed C Jeff Faine.
# Acquired QB Brian Griese via Trade from Chicago.
# Signed LB Matt McCoy.
# Signed TE Ben Troupe.
# Signed WR Antonio Bryant.
# Signed RB Warrick Dunn.
# Signed DL Marques Douglas.
# Signed S Eugene Wilson.

Dallas
Secondary depth questions

Detroit
Running game--do they have one?
Fewer multi-receiver sets without Martz.
# Signed DT Chuck Darby.
# Signed CB Brian Kelly.

Chicago
# Signed WR Marty Booker.
# Signed WR Brandon Lloyd.

Minny
Seems to have WRs now, can Jackson get them the ball?
* Signed S Madieu Williams.
* Signed FB Thomas Tapeh.
* Signed WR Bernard Berrian.
* Signed RB Maurice Hicks.
* Signed LB Derrick Pope.
* Signed DL Ellis Wyms.
* Signed S Michael Boulware.
* Signed DT Kendrick Allen.
* Signed CB Benny Sapp.
* Acquired DE Jared Allen via Trade from Kansas City.


GB
Signed LB Brandon Chillar.
Watch Rodgers in camp.
Lots of returning players, and young.

SF
Mike Martz should mean points and a bigger year for Vernon Davis.
Still leaning 3-4
# Signed KR Allen Rossum.
# Signed RB DeShaun Foster.
# Signed WR Isaac Bruce.
# Signed DE Justin Smith.
# Signed WR Bryant Johnson.

St. Louis
Steals Josh Brown from Seattle
Fixing the O-line
New OC, Al Saunders

Arizona
Focusing on bringing that Pittsburgh power running to AZ continues
# Signed DE Travis LaBoy.
# Signed P Dirk Johnson.
# Signed LB Clark Haggans.
# Signed DL Bryan Robinson.
# Signed LB Matt Stewart.


Seattle
Improves running game along the line (Whale) and at RB
Loses Jim Zorn
# Signed RB T.J. Duckett.
# Signed TE Jeb Putzier.
# Signed RB Julius Jones.
# Signed PK Olindo Mare.

Philly
Brings in Sammuel, probably the best corners in the NFC.
Loses Harbaugh
Keeps LJ Smith (contract year)
# Signed DE Chris Clemons.
# Signed LB Rocky Boiman.

Dallas
Gets Pacman.
Keeps TO.
Signed Zach Thomas

NYG
Losses on defense.
SB hangover?

Washington
Gets Jim Zorn
Loses DC, OCs
Expect a WC offense
Promotes DC from within.
Acquired DE Erasmus James


---------------------------------

AFC

Oakland
Strong at the corners now with Hall as the #2
Fatty at QB and DMC at RB, could be interesting.
# Signed S Gibril Wilson.
# Signed OT Kwame Harris.
# Signed WR Javon Walker.
# Signed WR Drew Carter.
# Signed DT William Joseph.
# Acquired CB DeAngelo Hall via Trade from Falcons.
# Signed DE Kalimba Edwards.
# Signed LB Akbar Gbaja-Biamila.
# Signed LB Edgerton Hartwell.
# Signed DE Greg Spires.

KC
New OC, Chan Gailey = new offense
New, retooled O-line
Testing year for Croyle?
They need a kicker, their whole offense and special teams needs help.
WRs??
# Signed LB Demorrio Williams.
# Signed WR Devard Darling.
# Signed KR B.J. Sams.

SD
A lot of their O-line will be limited in training camp.
More throwing this year?
Missing an ILB for the first four games (suspension)
# Signed LB Derek Smith.
# Signed OL L.J. Shelton.
# Signed C Jeremy Newberry.

Denver
Rod Smith retires
# Signed WR Samie Parker.
# Signed WR Darrell Jackson.
# Acquired NT Dewayne Robertson via Trade from the New York Jets.
# Signed RB Michael Pittman.
# Signed LB Niko Koutouvides.
# Signed LB Boss Bailey.
# Signed S Marquand Manuel.
# Signed S Marlon McCree.
# Signed OL Casey Wiegmann.
# Signed WR Keary Colbert.



Houston
Hires Alex Gibbs--look for zone blocking soon.
Is Chris Brown enough?
# Signed CB Jacques Reeves.
# Signed LB Kevin Bentley.
# Signed RB Chris Brown.
# Signed LB Chaun Thompson.
# Acquired OL Chris Myers via Trade from Broncos.
# Signed S Nick Ferguson.
# Signed WR Tim Carter.
# Signed OLB Rosevelt Colvin.


Jax
Loses their DC.
Gregg Williams becomes their new DC
Should match up better in passing vs. Indy with Florence.
# Acquired WR Troy Williamson via Trade from Minnesota.
# Signed WR Jerry Porter.
# Signed CB Drayton Florence.
# Signed DT Jimmy Kennedy.
# Signed S Pierson Preioleau.

Indy
Signed RB Dominic Rhodes back.
Loses Ben Utech at TE (they're a 2 TE team)

Tenny
New OC, Heimerdinger
Stronger O-line?
# Signed TE Alge Crumpler.
# Signed DE Jevon Kearse.
# Signed OG Jake Scott.
# Signed WR Justin McCareins.



Baltimore
Adds Cam Cameron, can he help their QBs like he did for Rivers in SD?
New HC, new OC, slow implementation of offense?
Ogden retires
# Acquired CB Fabian Washington via Trade from Oakland.
# Signed CB Lenny Walls.
# Signed LB Brendon Ayanbadejo (help for their special teams)

Pittsburgh
# Signed RB Mewelde Moore.
# Signed LB Keyaron Fox.
# Signed C Justin Hartwig.

Cleveland
Kept Derek Anderson and Jamal Lewis
# Signed WR Donte Stallworth
# Acquired DT Corey Williams via Trade from Green Bay.
# Acquired DT Shaun Rogers via Trade from Detroit.

Cincy
New DC, look for the 3-4
Improved pass rush?
Defense should improve
Gets Kenny Irons back from injury.


Buffalo
Promotes new OC from within
Improved secondary or very thin secondary?
Improved defense thanks to health?
Using Marshawn Lynch like Westbrook, split wide? Or just running him more?
# Signed LB Kawika Mitchell.
# Signed DT Spencer Johnson.
# Acquired DT Marcus Stroud via Trade from Jacksonville.
# Re-Signed OL Jason Whittle.
# Signed TE Courtney Anderson.
# Re-Signed S Bryan Scott.
# Signed CB William James.


Miami
New HC, OC, DC
# Signed OL Steve McKinney
Not crazy about their other acquisitions
Toggling between 3-4 and 4-3, no decision yet


NE
Brought in Dom Capers to help on offense
# Signed CB Fernando Bryant.
# Signed LB Victor Hobson.
# Signed TE Marcus Pollard.
# Signed CB Jason Webster

NYJ
What they're doing in the offsesaon suggests running and clock control on offense.
If he's 100%, Tony Richardson helps this running game dramatically.
# Signed S Artrell Hawkins.
# Acquired DT Kris Jenkins via Trade from Carolina.
# Signed OG Alan Faneca.
# Signed LB Calvin Pace.
# Signed OL Damien Woody.
# Signed CB Andre Woolfork.
# Signed FB Tony Richardson.
# Signed RB Jesse Chatman.
# Signed TE Bubba Franks.
# Re-Signed CB Hank Poteat.
# Signed RB Musa Smith.

 

[Moneyline_Monster]

Dallas' secondary depth questions have been answered. Pac-Man if reinstated, resigning of Newman, drafting of Mike Jenkins. Roy Williams is always a problem though.

 

[Joe Public]

Thanks, Double M. Good point.

Dallas has the chance at a pretty monsterous defense this year.

I still think it all falls apart under Wade, but they should be a very good team.

 

[Moneyline_Monster]

I still think it all falls apart under Wade.

Now that is something I'm worried about as well.

 

[Throwback420]

AFC

Oakland

Strong at the corners now with Hall as the #2
Fatty at QB and DMC at RB, could be interesting.
# Signed S Gibril Wilson.
# Signed OT Kwame Harris.
# Signed WR Javon Walker.
# Signed WR Drew Carter.
# Signed DT William Joseph.
# Acquired CB DeAngelo Hall via Trade from Falcons.
# Signed DE Kalimba Edwards.
# Signed LB Akbar Gbaja-Biamila.
# Signed LB Edgerton Hartwell.
# Signed DE Greg Spires.

:eyes:

 

[brewer]

Reed Schreck, reporter for the Rockford Register Star, spent a lot of time at Bears OTAs this spring. He gave me an inside look at what the Bears have been doing right this offseason.

Devin Almighty: Bears coaches can’t stop gushing about Hester, who they claim has the potential to be the team’s top wide receiver. “I don’t have to tell him anything anymore,” said receivers coach Darryl Drake. “He’s telling me stuff when I am screwed up. He has taken the time to study [the system]. He has been in my office every day since the beginning … he’s just so far ahead right now it’s unbelievable.”
Drake sounds like he’s over-selling a bit. But Schreck has been watching Hester carefully throughout OTAs. “He looks like a receiver, not a guy who’s being converted,” Schreck said. Hester is no longer a guy who only runs bombs and reverses. He’s picked up much more of the offense, and he’s running all kinds of routes. But the bombs are still there: On one play, Hester slipped into one of his quantum gears to chase down an overthrown Orton pass. “That was the signature highlight of the offseason” according to Schreck. That raw athleticism offers hope that Hester can not only force safeties to play deep, but also use his make-up speed to cover for quarterback’s mistakes.

 

[reNew Orleans]

this is great, nice thread Joe

 

[reNew Orleans]

that fatty has always been fat, no big deal

 

[Throwback420]

that fatty has always been fat, no big deal

He's in the best shape ever. Gonne be even better after he gets in his 1st training camp.

He looks bigger been hitting them weights

 

[MusicCityGambler]

Tenny
New OC, Heimerdinger
Stronger O-line?
# Signed TE Alge Crumpler.
# Signed DE Jevon Kearse.
# Signed OG Jake Scott.
# Signed WR Justin McCareins.

They're going to throw the ball downfield this season which will open the offense up and make Vince much better. As critical as I was at first about the first round pick, the more I think about it the more I like it. LenDale will be healthy and Johnson will be the perfect complimentary back for the Heimerdinger system. The Titans will win 10 again, maybe more.

 

[Joe Public]

How are they going to throw the ball down field? To whom?

The Titans had basically one thing to do in the offseason, get VY some help, and I don't really think Justin McCariens qualifies, do you?

 

[brewer]

I dont think the titans have an offense that you can just chalk up 10+ wins again. offense is name of game.

 

[Joe Public]

offense is name of game.

So says the Bears fan.

There's another team, I mean, I get that Hester's going on offense, and great for him, but how in the hell is that team going to score other than him?

 

[brewer]

Renew, tells me Matt Forte is the next Barry Sanders

 

[MusicCityGambler]

How are they going to throw the ball down field? To whom?

The Titans had basically one thing to do in the offseason, get VY some help, and I don't really think Justin McCariens qualifies, do you?

JP-I was talking about this with a friend of mine the other day. If the Titans FO thought the receivers were the problem it would have been addressed in the draft. They had their choice of any receiver in the draft with the 24th pick but went another direction. Why would they do that?

Obviously from afar it looks like they fucked up, but Reinfeldt knew what he was doing when he let go of Travis Henry last year and he clearly knows something about the WRs we don't heading into this season.

The Titans had a lot of problems last year on offense.Here are couple reasons they will be better.

1. With Chow they refused to throw downfield which made them extremely easy to defend. Heimerdinger will keep defenses honest.

2. Young did regress some but he won't be as bad this season.(sophomore slump, Madden curse). The guy feeds off critics telling him he can't, and there have been lots of critics this offseason.

3.LenDale White played hurt last season and will continue to be steady.

4. They finally have a guy who will be dangerous in the open field with Chris Johnson. He's strong catching passes out of the backfield. He's also a solid kick returner, which the Titans didn't have last season.

5. Crumpler. This guy was a perfect fit for the team and QB.


I wouldn't expect the defense to be as good as they were last year, but the offense should be much, much better.

Jacksonville looks like a split, that's what usually happens when both teams are comparable. The Titans caught two huge scheduling breaks with the Colts. The first matchup is a Monday night game at home. The second matchup will disgust Cleveland Browns fans everywhere, you guessed it Indy's final game of the season. The odds of at least splitting with the Colts are pretty damn good.

The Titans should split with the NFC North(GB,MIN,@CHI, @DET) They should split with the AFC North(@CIN,@BAL,CLE, PIT).

The other two games are the Jets at home and the Chiefs. Although you can never tell with the NFL, it's hard not to like the Tennessee's chances in those two games.


Personally I think it's one of the easier OVER bets on the total for season wins. Vegas knows the perception is the Titans were lucky to win 10 games last year. That's true, they were. However they managed to do that with little to no offense at all, and Vegas lowered the number to eight to trap people on the under.

 

[Joe Public]

If the Titans FO thought the receivers were the problem it would have been addressed in the draft. They had their choice of any receiver in the draft with the 24th pick but went another direction. Why would they do that?

I don't know why they'd do that, is Andy Reid in charge of their draft?

I haven't looked at the schedule, but one, I wish that Browns/Titans game was in Cleveland as it would be a nice easy play. Still if they're motivated, the Browns have a number of reasons to pound the ever loving p*ss out of that team.

You know, not that I'm bitter or anything.

=)

 

[MusicCityGambler]

If the Titans FO thought the receivers were the problem it would have been addressed in the draft. They had their choice of any receiver in the draft with the 24th pick but went another direction. Why would they do that?

I don't know why they'd do that, is Andy Reid in charge of their draft?

I haven't looked at the schedule, but one, I wish that Browns/Titans game was in Cleveland as it would be a nice easy play. Still if they're motivated, the Browns have a number of reasons to pound the ever loving p*ss out of that team.

You know, not that I'm bitter or anything.

=)

Ha, sorry man. I understand that exact feeling Browns fans had last year being a Phillies fan in 03,05 and 06. So close yet so far, at least Cleveland didn't have to watch a team who actually had less wins in the playoffs like the Phillies did in 05 and 06. The Titans are generally the complete opposite of franchises like the Browns, Phillies, etc. They always seem to catch the breaks they don't really deserve.

The Browns should be motivated for the Titans game, but that isn't the game where I'm looking to pound the Browns. Their anger should be directed at the Colts and they play the game on November 30th at home. It can't get more ideal than that. The crowd will be violent and drunk and the weather could be a huge advantage since the Colts are an indoor team. The Browns should be extremely motivated for that game, as it was the Colts who fucked them, not the Titans.

Chances are we can get the Browns at plus 5 points or so. I'll probably have something on the ML as well.

 

[Joe Public]

Yeah, that's a good point. And actually, you may get the Browns as home dogs against the Colts in that game. Could be a really good spot for them--though I haven't really looked at schedules yet.

=)

 

[frankiegotti]

Titans will be a solid team, for years fisher hasn't been given squat to work with and has been bringing a knife to a gun fight since i can remember. He is one of the best coaches in the league and he will manage a way to stay competitive. I believe 10 wins is overly optomisitc but we'll see what happens, thats why they play the game.

 

[BlitzBandit]

NYG
Losses on defense.
SB hangover?

haha... I just love the negativities...

last year there was no respect for the Big Blue Wrecking Crew... most of the world projected them at 5 to 6 wins at the most... if anybody would have predicted them to be Super Bowl Champions, they would have been ridiculed to the extremes... but they would have had the last laugh of course... and now, as defending Super Bowl Champions, I still expect much of the same disrespect...

funny thing is, this team has a great foundation and a well organized front office... No, they don't go after superstar names or big money draft prospects... and they don't go trading around much either... not for players or for picks... that's the boring strategy that they used last season when they landed players like Aaron Ross, Steve Smith, Kevin Boss, Michael Johnson in the 6th round and Ahmad Bradshaw in the 7th...

this year I feel was a successful draft as well... and no matter how you look at this team, they are not fancy in any way, but they are a blue collar team that gets hard working solid players and fits them into key positions... they may eventually become great enough to want more money like Gibril Wilson or Kawika Mitchell did, but the Giants don't go splurging on em' unless they feel they are worth it and can't be replaced too easily... but they don't consider many players on the team to be at that level...

they did lose Strahan, but Justin Tuck is much younger and has the potential to be a beast... coming off the bench he still had more sacks (10) than Strahan and more tackles than both Strahan and Osi... trust me, losing Strahan will not be as big a deal as most think... Tuck can be huge this season... plus Kiwi is also back off injury... another big plus.

I wouldn't worry much about this team or them falling into that Superbowl hangover stuff... they are well disciplined and will keep there heads ready. I'm not saying they'll be Division Champs or anything (they weren't last year, but were the year before ), but they should be just as competitive as last season.

 

[MusicCityGambler]

haha... I just love the negativities...

last year there was no respect for the Big Blue Wrecking Crew... most of the world projected them at 5 to 6 wins at the most... if anybody would have predicted them to be Super Bowl Champions, they would have been ridiculed to the extremes... but they would have had the last laugh of course... and now, as defending Super Bowl Champions, I still expect much of the same disrespect...

funny thing is, this team has a great foundation and a well organized front office... No, they don't go after superstar names or big money draft prospects... and they don't go trading around much either... not for players or for picks... that's the boring strategy that they used last season when they landed players like Aaron Ross, Steve Smith, Kevin Boss, Michael Johnson in the 6th round and Ahmad Bradshaw in the 7th...

this year I feel was a successful draft as well... and no matter how you look at this team, they are not fancy in any way, but they are a blue collar team that gets hard working solid players and fits them into key positions... they may eventually become great enough to want more money like Gibril Wilson or Kawika Mitchell did, but the Giants don't go splurging on em' unless they feel they are worth it and can't be replaced too easily... but they don't consider many players on the team to be at that level...

they did lose Strahan, but Justin Tuck is much younger and has the potential to be a beast... coming off the bench he still had more sacks (10) than Strahan and more tackles than both Strahan and Osi... trust me, losing Strahan will not be as big a deal as most think... Tuck can be huge this season... plus Kiwi is also back off injury... another big plus.

I wouldn't worry much about this team or them falling into that Superbowl hangover stuff... they are well disciplined and will keep there heads ready. I'm not saying they'll be Division Champs or anything (they weren't last year, but were the year before ), but they should be just as competitive as last season.

I think the E-A-G-L-E-S won the division in 06 bro. However I agree with a lot of what you say on the Giants. They've got a great foundation with that defense. To me the question for them is whether the outstanding playoff run was the springboard for Eli to be consistent from game 1 to 16. If it is, then the Giants will be fine.

 

[Joe Public]

I do think the Giants have a good foundation in some ways (like in their pass rush), but I'm not really sold on a lot of their other parts.

Obviously this is going to sound biased coming from a Birds fan, but I didn't really think they deserved to make the playoffs last year and I don't really expect them to make them this year. But that's just based on my perception of their talent, I haven't looked at their schedule yet.

And, yes, I know that talent won a SB (I bet it in the SB, actually), I just feel that was more of a perfect storm than anything else and more power to 'em, they totally deserved it. They didn't fall into that ring, they won it. They played great when they needed two in really tough spots--even before they got to Green Bay. So if that's going to be their MO going forward, I'll have to add at least one if not two wins to their schedule just based on mental toughness.

 

[brewer]

We should of beat the giants. Fuckign hester has a go ahead bomb from rex bounce off his hands. Could of walked in endzone if he caught it.

 

[BlitzBandit]

We should of beat the giants. Fuckign hester has a go ahead bomb from rex bounce off his hands. Could of walked in endzone if he caught it.

I thought that's how the play was drawn up??.. to bounce off his hands... I mean, since they do that almost every game.. hehe... jk brew..

btw.. you did face us without Jacobs... and we got to Grossman 6 times.. it's hard to win that way... whether you had your chances at the end or not.

 

[BlitzBandit]

I think the E-A-G-L-E-S won the division in 06 bro.

yea, I was thinking the year before that when they won it.

 

[brewer]

Ya, i remember us getting sacked like 6/7 times that game and losing like 60/70 yards on those sacks, too. Such a pathetic team last year.

 

[brewer]

Ya, i remember us getting sacked like 6/7 times that game and losing like 60/70 yards on those sacks, too. Such a pathetic team last year.

Still wondering why Thomas JOnes is gone and we still thinking defense wins championships in nfl when offense is the key.

 

[BlitzBandit]

I didn't really think they deserved to make the playoffs last year and I don't really expect them to make them this year. But that's just based on my perception of their talent, I haven't looked at their schedule yet.

why wouldn't you expect them to make it??.. they've made it the past three years with Eli starting at the helm.

this team has gone through alot of injuries and through some player changes at crucial posititions and they have still found a way to make it.

And, yes, I know that talent won a SB (I bet it in the SB, actually), I just feel that was more of a perfect storm than anything else and more power to 'em, they totally deserved it. They didn't fall into that ring, they won it. They played great when they needed two in really tough spots--even before they got to Green Bay. So if that's going to be their MO going forward, I'll have to add at least one if not two wins to their schedule just based on mental toughness.

of course.. taking 14 pts or so... I bet you wouldn't have bet it taking less than a td.. hehe..

Obviously this is going to sound biased coming from a Birds fan

ya think??





so I'm thinking you are expecting big things from the Eagles again Joe??.. I hate to tell you this, but the Giants have been more consistant the past few years than the Eagles have.

 

[BlitzBandit]

Ya, i remember us getting sacked like 6/7 times that game and losing like 60/70 yards on those sacks, too. Such a pathetic team last year.

Still wondering why Thomas JOnes is gone and we still thinking defense wins championships in nfl when offense is the key.

I have always said... if your offense were to get a tune up, your team would be deadly as hell... right now, their defense is what makes them respected... but it's hard to keep a defense strong for an entire game (no matter how good they are) when the offense keeps going 3 and out.

 

[brewer]

I been looking at some things so far this summer as i been trying to put together a nfl system and there is really no merit i found with any strength that shows defense carrying over year to year like it does offense. So its real sad finding that and knowing a team you like is going about it all the wrong way.