Quote:What grade would you give last year? I thought A- at the time but after a year and seeing their roles for 2015, it's hard to grade it better than a D. I'm sold on Julius deal but lukewarm on the rest. No thanks on Murray for me also. Draft is loaded this year and it will cost about 20 cents on the dollar compared to what Murray will command.
Yeah, I agree with you about last year. It somewhat exemplifies my point. It could be argued that there was less excitement going into that period than this year, but still, did the players exceed or even meet their expectations after signing last year. Gerhart was way under the bar, obviously.
That's why I never get too excited about free agency. Seems more bust than boom. That said, I don't immediately criticize any signings, either. I'll wait to watch them play.
Here is the first list of top 25 free agents that I clicked on. Of this list at least 7 have allready returned to their teams (so not true free agents). Of the 18 remaining, we have allready signed 2. Considering the tremendous competition for these players I don't understand how people are not excited for this free agent class.
<a class="bbc_url" href='http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000468197/article/ndamukong-suh-leads-list-of-top-25-free-agents'>http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000468197/article/ndamukong-suh-leads-list-of-top-25-free-agents</a>
I imagine if this list was extended to the top 50 then Parnell and House would also be included. And we may still add a player like Murray which would be a great help.
The class gets a solid A from me so far, in the sense that I am truly excited for next year and we havn't added a single draft pick yet.
You have the AUDACITY to come in here and make SENSE?!?
Quote:Here is the first list of top 25 free agents that I clicked on. Of this list at least 7 have allready returned to their teams (so not true free agents). Of the 18 remaining, we have allready signed 2. Considering the tremendous competition for these players I don't understand how people are not excited for this free agent class.
<a class="bbc_url" href='http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000468197/article/ndamukong-suh-leads-list-of-top-25-free-agents'>http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000468197/article/ndamukong-suh-leads-list-of-top-25-free-agents</a>
I imagine if this list was extended to the top 50 then Parnell and House would also be included. And we may still add a player like Murray which would be a great help.
The class gets a solid A from me so far, in the sense that I am truly excited for next year and we havn't added a single draft pick yet.
I have a hard time giving last year's class a D. This is the way I see it. Of course, having gone through such disasters as Laurent Robinson etc, anytime you get out of free agency without screwing your cap and totally wasting your money, I consider that at least a D by default. At this point I would probably give last year a C+ :
Watson : D
Doss : Incomplete
Clemons : B+
Hood : C
Bryant : B/B+
Beadles : C/C+
Henne: C
Gerhart : C-
Letting Mojo go : B+
Quote:
I have a hard time giving last year's class a D. This is the way I see it. Of course, having gone through such disasters as Laurent Robinson etc, anytime you get out of free agency without screwing your cap and totally wasting your money, I consider that at least a D by default. At this point I would probably give last year a C+ :
<div>Watson : D
Doss : Incomplete
Clemons : B+
Hood : C
Bryant : B/B+
Beadles : C/C+
Henne: C
Gerhart : C-
Letting Mojo go : B+
</div>
Watson: F cut last season
Doss?
Clemons B
Hood: D
Bryant C
Beadles C
Henne D
Gerhart c
Mojo: A
I voted A. I think J thomas is huge. If we cant protect our quarterback for a 3 step drop he needs an escape valve. We haven t had a RB or TE that he could count on to actually catch the ball. Demarco Murray would be another huge one. I bet he re-signs with the Cowboys but I hope the Jags give him whatever it takes to bring him here. I am not unhappy with the D side of decisions either. Sounds like good signings. I actually trust the Defensive side of the ball. Except the secondary. Now draft as many OL as possible and call it a good offseason.
Quote:I have a hard time giving last year's class a D. This is the way I see it. Of course, having gone through such disasters as Laurent Robinson etc, anytime you get out of free agency without screwing your cap and totally wasting your money, I consider that at least a D by default. At this point I would probably give last year a C+ :
Watson : D
Doss : Incomplete
Clemons : B+
Hood : C
Bryant : B/B+
Beadles : C/C+
Henne: C
Gerhart : C-
Letting Mojo go : B+
I wouldn't grade that different. I think beadles was a little more of a disappointment only because it was pretty high dollar for the return. Ex Hawks did the job they were asked to do pretty well. It's fair to consider that players are now just coming around on wanting to come here. This was the first year in a long time where it felt like we could get almost anyone we really wanted.
Quote:^Fake account?
Really? A fake account with over 5000 posts, ok.
Sorry I don't share your rose colored optmism but I have seen most of these players that have been signed play and not really impressed. Thomas at least is a good catching tightend but that really is all he does well, given our Oline issues and an inexperinced QB I just dont see the use. I have seen this to many times and watched it become a diaster every time with this team. Agian this is my opinion and you don't have to agree with it but since this is a forum for expressing your opinions on the team there you go.
I graded a B.
Because - I'm pleased to see Caldwell being aggressive when there's money that must be spent.
I like the Thomas signing and think adding an outlet for Blake is huge. I always discount the "but, but Peyton" crap. He obviously won't put up the same numbers in Jax - but he's still worth the money if he can provide something like 8 or 9 TDs and 500-600 yds , IMO. I think the value/pricetag on this crop of players has to be viewed slightly differently due to the cap situation. So the production vs cost ratio can slide a bit. Not a lot. But some. (Those J. Thomas numbers also allow for a second year QB with a questionable line.)
As long as Thomas hits around those numbers or better ^ - and two of the other 5 guys turn out to be upgrades in a starting role - then I'll stick to my B grade.
It's inevitable that a couple of these guys will be disappointments - that's just FA. But if a couple turn out to be Alan Ball/ SenDerrick Marks type additions - then Caldwell continues to earn my respect.
Quote:But if a couple turn out to be Alan Ball/ SenDerrick Marks type additions - then Caldwell continues to earn my respect.
Good point, especially about a player like Ball. He gave us a few good years. We don't always have to extend someone for them to have been a valuable free agent acquisition. A while back I was concerned about us not re-signing him, but the move with House shows Caldwell is thinking long term while using some free agent hires judiciously to bridge the gaps. While i would have loved to get McCourty, we did the best we could. We at least got someone in to compete, and got upgrades for our other two biggest positions of need. To me the signings at corner and DT are gravy. I am curious as to the total guaranteed money hit and how it compares to getting one monster player like Suh. I have a feeling it will look pretty good in comparison.
Considering how we kept hearing the Jags trying to sign all these guys who instead went back home...and we still ended u with 6 solid players on the younger side who should make impacts.... Ill go with an A and hope it really turns into a real A. Plus we still have time to sign even more players.
Thomas and Odrick were good signings. The rest are overpaid backups with a starting caliber prayer attached.
C
From what I have read, this is the guaranteed money involved in the contracts.
<div>Thomas : $24
Odrick: $22
Parnell: $13
House: $10
Skuta: $8
Brown: $1
Total: $78M guaranteed
(edited to add Brown)
</div>
Quote:Conservative me wants to wait until after 4 PM before I celebrate. More precisely I will wait until after the signings of contracts before I celebrate. I will say I am hopeful.
B...
I'll wait until they play a few games...
NH3...
Quote:From what I have read, this is the guaranteed money involved in the contracts.
Thomas : $24
Odrick: $22
Parnell: $13
House: $10
Skuta: $8
Brown: $1
Total: $78M guaranteed
(edited to add Brown)
I am wondering what that means for this year.? If those are over an average of 4 years ? Thats still leaves a lot of room, no?
Maybe Khan should fly out in the private jet, give Murray the Shipyards video and a few drinks while they are flying back to Jax. Bring him in and have drinks by the pool at the stadium. Get the him and we most definitely will be a better than .500 team next year. You would have to give the whole organization an A.
Quote:I am wondering what that means for this year.? If those are over an average of 4 years ? Thats still leaves a lot of room, no?
Not really sure, that is up to someone more cap savvy than me, like Jags02. I think one way of looking at it is if you can cut bait after the second year of a deal you aren't really hamstrung by the contract. From what I understand the $78 Million shouldn't put us in a bind even if one of the guys busts. And yeah, we probably have enough space to make more of a splash. I am not too keen on Murray, but looks like we could still afford him if we wanted.
Quote:Were any of these guys on your wish-list? Is Dave doing enough to satisfy your expectations in free agency?
Julius Thomas TE
Jermey Parnell OT
Dan Skuta LB
Davon House CB
Jared Odrick DE/DT
*Sergio Brown FS
*late addition/edit
C
Julius Thomas was a great signing.
Skuta is apparently a good ST player and backup LB. A useful signing.
Odrick is getting star-level money and he's just a guy. He also is not a significant upgrade over Bryant.
The rest are a bunch of Laurent Robinson one-year wonder types.
I'd would rather the Jags packaged what they paid Odrick and the Robinsons and used it to grossly overpay Suh. At least the Jags would have gotten a known star-level player that way.
EDIT: And I definitely don't want Murray.
I'll give it an 'A' based on the feel of the Free Agency push. The team went after young talent to fill holes. Even when they didn't get who they wanted (read: McCourty), they were targeting weak spots and going hard for it.
Also, I get the feeling that the Odrick signing was done "on the prowl" in that they really didn't think he would come free, but once he was they pounced on him.
How the players pan out will ultimately decide the grade of this Free Agent class, but the intent and mindset of the Organization seems to be on point.
Quote:Really? A fake account with over 5000 posts, ok.
Sorry I don't share your rose colored optmism but I have seen most of these players that have been signed play and not really impressed. Thomas at least is a good catching tightend but that really is all he does well, given our Oline issues and an inexperinced QB I just dont see the use. I have seen this to many times and watched it become a diaster every time with this team. Agian this is my opinion and you don't have to agree with it but since this is a forum for expressing your opinions on the team there you go.
Valid concerns - not sure why all the bashing. Personally I am very excited with the signings and think it accelerates the rebuild into a team that the front office expects to win now. Also gives us flexibility in the draft.
Odrick is NOT "just a guy."
He is a legit starter on most NFL rosters that is scheme versatile.
I remember Jeff Lageman saying that Red Bryant's performance dropped from 2012 to 2013 (before we signed him last year) ... I wonder if his performance continued to drop last year?
If so, and if Bradley's defense thinks that having a stud at that position is an absolute MUST, then getting Jared Odrick is just a no-brainer.