Since the last time we saw them:
2008 Record: 2-14
Key Additions: C Jason Brown, S James Butler, WR Laurent Robinson, FB Mike Karney, QB Kyle Boller, DT Gary Gibson, WR Tim Carter, WR Ronald Curry, TE Billy Bajema, HC Steve Spagnuolo, OC Pat Shurmur, DC Ken Flajole
Key Losses: WR Torry Holt, OLB Pisa Tinoisamoa, LT Orlando Pace, C Nick Leckey, DT La'Roi Glover, S Corey Chavous, CB Fakhir Brown, CB Jason Craft, TE Anthony Becht, QB Trent Green, WR Dante Hall, WR Drew Bennett, FB Brian Leonard, WR Dane Looker, CB Ricky Manning, Rb Travis Minor, C Brett Romberg, LB Gary Stills
Top Draft Picks: OT Jason Smith, LB James Laurinaitis, CB Bradley Fletcher
What we now know:
Best Player: S O.J. Atogwe
Most Underrated: CB Ron Bartell
Looking Forward:
Breakout Candidates: DE Chris Long, DT Clifton Ryan, WR Laurent Robinson, WR Donnie Avery
Looking to bounce back: QB Marc Bulger, RB Steven Jackson, LG Jacob Bell, DE Leonard Little
Time to step up: WR Keenan Burton, OT Alex Barron, DT Adam Carriker, CB Tye Hill, CB Jonathan Wade
Strengths:
- RB Steven Jackson can do it all, including catch, a big bonus for new OC Shurmur's West Coast Offense
- C Jason Brown is a stud and will help lead an underachieving O-Line
- Second-year WR Avery should improve on solid rookie season
- LB Will Witherspoon has been a very nice MLB for three years and now moves back to natural WLB spot
- HC Spagnuolo has a deep group of big DEs, and should have a nice Nickel pass rush
- Secondary features NFL's top ball-hawking FS Atogwe, while SS Butler is an improvement over departed Corey Chavous
- CB Bartell is a solid player who broke up 19 passes in '08
- P Donnie Jones averaged over 50 yards per punt and coverage units allowed no TDs
- QB Bulger has been really mediocre the past two seasons, posting 6 more INTs than TDs since career year in '06
- RB Jackson, while productive, has missed equivalent of 10 games the past two seasons and has no quality backup
- WR position a complete unknown, especially with Avery very possibly missing start of season with foot stress fracture
- O-Line allowed 45 sacks last year while OT Barron and RG Richie Incognito take tons of bad penalties
- LG Bell, a terrible free agent bust last season and earns 6 mill/year
- DT position completely reliant on emergence of disappointing Carriker and incumbent Ryan
- LB Laurinaitas being thrown into lineup as rookie next to SLB Chris Draft, who is aging and declining athletically
- CB opposite Bartell, most likely to be manned by underachieving former first rounder Hill
No comments:
Post a Comment