If the Jags feel that they can land Leonard Williams of USC with the 3rd pick and place him in the 5TechniqueDE which Red Bryant plays and which Alualu shares then it makes sense to make a play for JPP of the Giants.
JPP will be a hot commodity on the market if the Giants let him walk, but there is another intriguing pass rusher potentially available.
Has anyone considered Jerry Hughes of the Bills, the former Rd 1 pick of the Colts several years back.
He is not the same specimen as JPP, but he is fast around the corner.
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BTW, I love the idea of Bryon Maxwell of the Seahawks.
Realistically, the Jags could target
Julius Thomas - TE - Broncos - 10 Mil/Season
DeMarco Murray - RB - Cowboys - 4 Mil/Season
Jason Pierre Paul - DE (Leo) - Giants - 10 Mil/Season - (10 sacks in 2014)
Jason Worilds - OLB (Otto) - Steelers - 6 Mil/ Season - (6.5 sacks in 2014)
(that would be 30 MIl of the 60+ Mil of excess Cap Space available)
and then target
Daryl Williams - ORT - Oklahoma in Rd 3
DW is a 4 year starter for the Sooners and is the perfect ORT for the Jags to uplift the ground game.
I have heard rumors that Cody Prewitt's stock has fallen over the season and it may be possible to nab him at the top of Rd 4.
A sleeper that may fall is Jermain Whitehead of Auburn - who may be available in Rd 6 or Rd 7.
Assuming the Jags are looking to upgrade the Otto Lb position which player do you like more?
Jason Worilds - Steelers - 54 TT - 6.5 Sacks - 3 PD
or
Derrick Morgan - Titans - 58 TT - 6.5 Sacks - 7 PD
Quote:Be very, very weary of any receiving target of Peyton Manning's. They are almost never the same player when he leaves.
I'd be looking at cornerbacks. We have some good ones, but I'd like to see us bring in some more talent there.
Same for Rodgers. Ask the Vikings. Some QBs do make WRs, as well as a system. So I'm treading lightly on Cobb.
Julius Thomas...injury prone? Has had a major drop off
DeMarco Murray... One year wonder? Has been injury prone until this year. Can he do his job with our OLine?
JPP...with Gus D? Intriguing
I'd like to see 2 O-linemen signed for competition/depth and a FS. Even if they draft these positions as well - a vet presence is needed - as is depth. An "extra" FS could also compete for the nickel spot presumably.
Those are the big ones for me - but I expect we'll see a TE signing too - and I'm all for that as well.
As far as specific names - I trust Caldwell to find talent where available. He seems to have a green light from the owner and he's already been exponentially better at FA signings and contract structuring than our prior GMs were.
Quote:Assuming the Jags are looking to upgrade the Otto Lb position which player do you like more?
Jason Worilds - Steelers - 54 TT - 6.5 Sacks - 3 PD
or
Derrick Morgan - Titans - 58 TT - 6.5 Sacks - 7 PD
Morgan's more of a defensive end in a 4-3 scheme. Worilds might be, too. The biggest issue I see with the 2015 LB class is that most of these guys come from a 3-4 scheme. While that might not be as big an issue given the Otto's responsibilities, it's still worth noting that the transition from being a 3-4 OLB to a 4-3 OLB is a pretty drastic change in role.
If, by some miracle, Justin Houston hits FA, I'd love to see him come in as a Leo. I'm not a fan of Julius Thomas. I think he's a product of the system in Denver, much like Zane Beadles was, and having Peyton Manning throwing passes to him makes him look better than he actually is. I'd rather see us go after a more modestly-priced option at TE like Jordan Cameron.
Gus Bradley's defense is strange in name only because if you really look at its core it closely resembles a 3-4 Defense.
The Leo is a 3-4 OLB that mostly rushes the passer
The Otto is a 3-4 OLB that also rushes the passer but is responsible for covering the TE
The 5 Tech DE - which Red Bryant / Alualu plays is a hold the point DT
The Nose Tackle is played by Roy Miller and Abry Jones
The 3 Tech DT is the pass rushing DT - which Marks plays
This system is designed to STOP the RUN on 1st and 2nd Down because it loads the box with big guys
Under my dream scenario:
1. Jags sign JPP to play Leo - JPP is strong against the run as well as being a solid pass rusher - he is spelled by Chris Clemons and Andre Branch
2. Jags draft Leonard Williams with Pick 3 in Rd 1 and he mans the 5 Tech DE - that Bryant/Alualu - but more Pass Rush from position
3. Jags sign Jason Worilds to play Otto
so on playing downs there could be 5 Pass Rushers - JPP, Marks, Ryan Davis , Leonard Williams and Worilds and this is what is need to get Luck on his butt and take the divison away from the Colts.
Regarding Julius Thomas - you need to stop thinking of him as a TE and more of a slot WR, because he will be the inside WR along with Allen Robinson as the possession WR and Marquise Lee as the Deep threat to stretch the field.
Then have DeMarco Murray as the RB for the draw plays or the short pass out of the backfield and suddently Bortles has more weapons to win on 3rd downs.
Julius Thomas is a tight end, so he will line up as one if we get him. You are crazy if you think we will convert him to wide receiver.
TEs are supposed to block and help in the run game.
Julius Thomas hates blocking more than Deon Sanders hated tackling.
Simply put, JT does not think that is what he is supposed to do.
JT thinks he is a very big Receiver that lines up in the slot and will be paid to catch footballs over the middle of the field.
You sign JT because he is a mismatch in the middle of the field where few LBers or Safeties or nickel CB can cover him.
Put Revis on him and maybe you shut him down, but otherwise he is a Receiving matchup nightmare for the defense.
That is ALL GOOD when JT is on your team.
If Julius Thomas never blocks, give me the name of a tight end who will.
So far nobody has suggested an alternative to fix that position with a veteran free agent.
Looking for a GREAT Blocking TE?
Look no further than Marcedes Lewis.
Quote:Looking for a GREAT blocking TE?
Look no further than Marcedes Lewis.
We need a tight end who is as good at catching the ball as he is at blocking. Marcedes Lewis does not fit that description.
Any chance Chiefs don't resign Justin Houston?
Quote:Assuming the Jags are looking to upgrade the Otto Lb position which player do you like more?
Jason Worilds - Steelers - 54 TT - 6.5 Sacks - 3 PD
or
Derrick Morgan - Titans - 58 TT - 6.5 Sacks - 7 PD
I'll take Jason Worilds, but Derrick Morgan is trash. 2 of those 6.5 sacks came against our turnstile at RT. No, thanks.
Stigma,
I am with you completely on Jason Pierre-Paul.
He is 25 years old and after a couple of down seasons, he is back to being a double digit sack guy, notching 10.5 sacks this year with one game left.
He seems to have plenty left in the tank, and would be a great fit at LEO.
Now that I know a smaller guy can play Bryant's position in our defense, I am okay with Williams, too.
But I will say my advocacy for JPP is not contingent upon selecting Williams at 3.
I hope we land JPP or McCourty (or both) as well as a RT like Bulaga
The Patriots are a funny team. When they want to keep a player they always find a way to keep that player no matter what their salary cap situation looks like. Case in point is Revis.
From all that I have heard, the Patriots are bound and determined to keep McCourty at FS, so I am not counting on him being available to sign.
Bulaga is another player that I think will not be available to sign.
I think that it will be easier for the Packers to re-sign Bulaga than for them to re-sign Randal Cobb.
Both players reportedly want to stay with the Packers.
JPP on the otherhand has told the world to "SHOW HIM THE MONEY".
The Giants typically don't overpay players not named Manning.
Quote:I hope we land JPP or McCourty (or both) as well as a RT like Bulaga
thats definitely possible. i try to keep my expectations low with 2 big time free agents but that isnt crazy.
Quote:There is no reason for anyone to believe just because someone caught passes from Peyton Manning, he would suck with any other quarterback. If Julius Thomas can catch footballs, it does not matter who his quarterback is.
Eric Decker must have said the same thing to the Jets.
I really want this team to go after Antrell Rolle. Vet and playmaker in our secondary.