Upgrades, Downgrades, and work left to do

[burgold]

Now, that the first wave of free agency is over let's assess where we stand. Where have we gotten better, stayed the same or declined.

QB: The same. We're bringing back Mariotta, Daniels is the starter, and as far as we know Hartman is the towel boy not to be allowed on the field.
RB: Worse. I was thinking of saying the same but I think that Eckeler, Bill, Rodriguez, and McNichols is superior to Bill and White. We still have work to do.
WR: Worse. We haven't signed anyone and we didn't sign our second best receiver.
TE: Better: Ertz was on his last legs. Chiggy is an upgrade on paper. The others are the same.
OL: Worse: We've lost two and haven't inked anyone to replace them or fill out the depth (I thought I saw something about us signing Michael Dieter but did we?)
DL: Better. Miles better on paper
LB: Better: Wagner's loss may be felt but we replaced him with youth, speed, and tackling.
DB: Same? Ending the Lattimore saga helps. Cross is a good addition. Not sure how much better the new nickel is.
P: Same. It's sacriledge but I wouldn't mind seeing competition for Tress.
K: Same. Re-signed Moody. Again, wouldn't mind seeing competition. Would love if we signed Aubrey. Is he still out there?

Coaches:

HC: Same.
OC: Worse? TBD. Blough is all potential. He may wind up great and he may bust. He likely will experience some growing pains. Having an emptyish pantry when it comes to weapons won't help him much.
DC: Better? TBD Jones has the pedigree but hasn't been a DC except for a short stint in college. He should be good. May also experience growing pains.
ST: Same.

Agree? Disagree? Argue?

Peters did an admirable job of attacking the defensive holes in the first wave of free agency. I think the pickings were worse at wide receiver and so he's holding his water (also, he lost two bidding wars.) I'd like to see us address the O-Line and WR before the season starts. We need to fill out the running back room, but we can get McNichols back who is a great effort guy or just get some competent JAGS and we'll be fine in my book. We could also draft Love if he falls to us. WR needs either some serious 1 year place holders or some draft help. I don't have confidence that all three of Burks, McCaffrey, and Lane are ready to go. It'd be great, but we haven't seen enough to have confidence. So, I think we need at least two. Tate is a possibility, but rookie WR often don't get rolling until their second year so no matter what we need more help at WR. I'm hoping for a Henry Ellard type signing if nothing else.

 

[prodigy]

RB: i'm pretty sure we are going to sign mcnichols again...so I consider us mostly the same at this position with this assumption before the draft
WR: I know I'm projecting here...but I think, after aiyuk and whoever else we sign or draft, we'll be marginally better due to addition from subtraction by not having Moore, chosen, and Jacoby Jones (knocks on wood). this will be year 3, albeit after a shortened year 2, for luke. this will be the make or break year on luke.
DB: better because we are starting off by putting Mikey as a boundary corner which he seems better suited for + the expectation of a much better pass rush

 

[Bulldog]

I don't know about that. Peters hasn't brought back many of the 30 year old players we had last season.

White does the exact same things that McNichols does in the passing game and in pass pro but is 3 years younger.

My guess is Washington is still looking for 2 backs, one late in the draft as a cheap contract and another a veteran but one that has demonstrable body of work in terms of production over 16 games, not merely a plug and play guy.

We may be 30 days away from seeing how the RB position shakes out.

 

[prodigy]

I don't know about that. Peters hasn't brought back many of the 30 year old players we had last season.

White does the exact same things that McNichols does in the passing game and in pass pro but is 3 years younger.

My guess is Washington is still looking for 2 backs, one late in the draft as a cheap contract and another a veteran but one that has demonstrable body of work in terms of production over 16 games, not merely a plug and play guy.

We may be 30 days away from seeing how the RB position shakes out.

fair point, I forgot mcnichols's age but I figured he's a known quantity with good pass pro skills and special teams value.

 

[method man]

In FA, with Paul back, I don't know if we have the space left on the OL but I'd love to bring a former starter like Hennessey in to compete with Allegretti at center. I think we also need a true outside corner backup and I'm guessing AP is looking for one. He's now 33 but Antonio Hamilton impressed me last year. I would try to bring in one more to legitimately compete with Mikey and there are a lot of guys who may be worth looking at like Sneed, Rasul Douglas, Trevon Diggs, Cam Taylor-Britt, Martin Emerson,

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I think we’re better at RB. I never really understood the over the top love for CRod. He was fine. I think he got overpaid in Jax. I think White is better.

At WR, I think it’s just incomplete. They signed a few depth guys. Having DBrown back is nice. Clearly they know they need to upgrade the Warriors room. They took 2 big swings. They just didn’t connect. There most likely going to sign Aiyuk when he becomes available. Again, most likely because you can’t predict crazy. Did they don’t, I think there going to resign Deebo. They might end up doing both. And I think it’s looking more and more likely they will draft a WR at 7. It might be worse right now, but I’d say it’s just incomplete.

I think OL, the only change so far is Biadasz. It’s very clear the team felt differently about him than the fans or media. The might not see it as a minus. They might think Allegretti is a total swap. And there is a chance Coleman steps in somewhere and is an upgrade.

CB, I think is probably improved by addition by subtraction. However, I think Robertson was brought in to start at nickel and that pushes Sainrostil outside and that could be an overall upgrade. I don’t think they’re done here either.

 

[Riggo44]

I don't see how we're worse at RB. Ekeler gave us nothing last year, JKM and CRod were nothings in the pass game. Adding White and Ford gives us more options out of the backfield. I am also banking on improvement from Bill, especially in the passing game.

Receiver is a wash, just younger and healthier. I am betting dollars to donuts we draft Tate. If we do, that makes that room better. I'm still scratching my head at Jauan Jennings...

The OL is concerning. Coleman failed at guard last year. Allegretti is a serviceable back up. Paul can't run block to save his life.

 

[Chris]

Who is JKM? I’ve seen this twice this morning. Was there a signing I missed?

 

[Riggo44]

Who is JKM? I’ve seen this twice this morning. Was there a signing I missed?

JCM*

 

[heisenberg]

I don't see how we're worse at RB. Ekeler gave us nothing last year,

I think the comparisons are intended to be where we were going into last year versus where we are this year.

For all we know white and or Ford could blow out their knees in training camp and we'll be totally screwed but for now we have them and are we better off than last year?

Personally I think we are better off, Bill with a year under his belt is huge and I think white and Ford are equivalent to ekeler in skill set which gives us another option if one of them gets hurt, a fallback plan we didnt have last year.

And they're both younger than Ekeler.

 

[Bulldog]

Ekeler needs to retire. Concussion syndrome is nothing to joke about.

I would also think anyone who has had as many injuries as Ekeler at 30 is simply not the player he was 3-4 years ago.

 

[DWinzit]