Quote:The Cyprien and Sample battle is going to be an interesting one to watch.  It would not shock me to see Sample outplay Cyprien, and win the spot long-term.  Cyprien has just lacked consistency needed to really stick at the spot, and he has had plenty of experience now that should have developed better consistency.  I think Cyprien goes.

 

I don't envision Beachum will be 100% to start the regular season, so Joeckel will get his opportunity to start and show hopeful improvement.  However, my gut says Beachum beats him out by mid-season and Joeckel just not being a fit in another starting spot.  I think Joeckel goes.

 

With Cyp, I think this will be the year we can get a very clear picture on whether it was his lack of skill or the lack of a ball-hawking free safety that has held him back. My gut says even if sample plays well, unless Cyp stinks it up we will try to resign him. Other than Cyp and Sample I am not sure we have a great deal of depth at SS, so we could use both of them. 

 

With Joeckel, I guess we will know by May 3 what the plans are. If they don't exercise the option, he is most probably gone. I suppose it is possible they give him the option as insurance, but that seems like a pretty hefty hunk of insurance to me. Unless they feel like they could recoup the value of the option in a trade, if he is optioned I imagine he will stick around.

---