Quote:Here are mine:

 

1. OT - Joeckel starts at RT: I think people have written off Joeckel a little too quick. While I think you can book Beachum starting at LT, I don't necessarily think Joeckel being a swing tackle is written in stone. If Joeckel has any sense of pride and manhood what has occurred the past few months since the Houston game should have lit a fire under him. Joeckel is still physically the most impressive tackle on this team by far. I think he will show enough in camp at LT, where he will be taking first team reps until Beachum is healthy, to give the team serious pause at benching him and open up competition at the RT spot. I don't think Parnell was as good as this fanbase is making out last year. He had several back breaking penalties and would get blown up every now and then, maybe more than that. I think a motivated Joeckel beats out Parnell for RT and this would be something the team would want considering Joeckel is still a top 2 pick of our's.

 

2. SS - Cyprien beats out Sample: While the hope is that Sample can prove to be the answer at SS we've been looking for and beat or Cyp, I think Cyp is just a way better and more natural athlete at the position. Cyprien's issues are mental and technique, and it is insane to me that he has not fixed them 3 years in. But it will be interesting to see what he does with better talent around him in the secondary. From a physical and athletic standpoint, Cyprien is way better than Sample and he SHOULD be a really good SS. He had some flashes last year but still was very inconsistent to say the least. But I'm betting Cyp still beats out Sample in camp, much to the chagrin of the fanbase.

 

3. CB2 - Amukamara starts over House: Amukamara is just a more technically sound CB than House. While House made a lot of plays on the ball last year his stats look a lot better than his play. House is a good CB to have in your top 3 rotation for sure but I think Amukamara is a solid CB2 while House is more fringe. A healthy Amukamara doesn't do as much dumb crap as House did last year. I think people forget House would get torched too often as the #1 CB, and while as a 2 it won't be as bad, when teams start throwing away from Ramsey we need a guy who will play smart and not have mental lapses. Amukamara is that guy.

 

4. RB - Yeldon starts and gets most carries: Ivory is a good back but I think going into his second year Yeldon will be better. He is an every down back, he catches out of the backfield better, is faster and more agile, and I think with better run blocking you will really see Yeldon be dynamic. I think the carry split will end up being something like 55-45 Yeldon-Ivory. Maybe 60-40 as the year goes on. 

 

LT Luke Joeckel might get traded before the start of the season, but if he doesn't I expect (like most people do) that Beachum will start (should he be heatlhy), and Jermey Parnell is still considered (when healthy) as one of the top 10 RTs in the NFL.  He has probably zero fear of Luke taking that away from him (IMO).

 

To my understanding both GM & HC already said that Chris Ivory was brought in to help TJ Yeldon with the load not to replace him so Yeldon is the expected starter RB (unless he loses it out in PreSeason).

 

Cyprien's job is definitely at risk provided that Sample doesn't get injured again.. which i think is likely..

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