The Random Thought Thread

[rossihunter2]

I agree on this. They aren't rocking with AV and Andre Smith as the top two Ts if they had any questions about Stanley. I mean, Mekari and Phillips have literally both moved out there solely out of necessity. I know sometimes you can't fill every hole but I'd be hard pressed to believe that they had concerns about his commitment and did absolutely nothing about it.

also because it would mean the Orlando issue would never arise because if the rehab wasnt going great (and he wasnt putting the effort in) then they'd have given orlando assurances that he'd be staying at LT and he wouldnt have asked for a trade...

the offseason manoeuvres suggest this is completely unfounded - either that or this front office is awful (and we've got 20+ years of evidence that they're not)

 

[rossihunter2]

Imo we are gonna have atleast 2 new starters on our oline next season. Now on the defense, we need every position

what counts as a new starter? like would you count stanley returning as a new starter?

best case in terms of stability is that Stanley returns, someone solidifies LG down the stretch this year and goes into 2022 as the undisputed presumptive starter, Bozeman is re-signed, Zeitler's still here and then there's a straight fight at RT between James and Villanueva (or we just cut Villanueva before his 2022 roster bonus hits)

but you're right - id expect some changes

only Zeitler is guaranteed to be back at his spot next year...

Stanley's injury
who plays LG
Bozeman's a free-agent
Villanueva vs James - do we draft a rookie tackle?

potentially 4 spots up in the air next year

 

[Simba]

also because it would mean the Orlando issue would never arise because if the rehab wasnt going great (and he wasnt putting the effort in) then they'd have given orlando assurances that he'd be staying at LT and he wouldnt have asked for a trade...

the offseason manoeuvres suggest this is completely unfounded - either that or this front office is awful (and we've got 20+ years of evidence that they're not)

Exactly. And even beyond that… that’s something you put in print. You don’t just say that on the radio. Would indicate it’s more of a belief than anything with actual, concrete sources.

 

[rossihunter2]

Exactly. And even beyond that… that’s something you put in print. You don’t just say that on the radio. Would indicate it’s more of a belief than anything with actual, concrete sources.

the kind of thing as well that you know zrebiec would comment on too based on whatever he's heard/hearing (because someone would inevitably ask him on twitter and he often replies)

so often you see stuff reported from other sources and zrebiec will have some affirming or refuting comment and add some context

 

[Corvus Purpura]

there's a straight fight at RT between James and Villanueva (or we just cut Villanueva before his 2022 roster bonus hits)

Villanueva vs James - do we draft a rookie tackle?

Do you not see Mekari as potential competition for RT next year?

 

[rossihunter2]

Do you not see Mekari as potential competition for RT next year?

not really - but we know now that he's a great option as a swing tackle
i think you could certainly make an argument that he's the incumbent and someone has to beat him out... but it's also a case where you'd hope someone beats him out

somewhat james hurst-ian in that you'd rather he not be the starter but it's fine if he is

but he's just about the best possible backup you could have because he offers genuine backup at all 5 spots on the OL (if used in that capacity)

he's been a delightfully dependable solution to a seemingly desperate situation

 

[Deebo813]

what counts as a new starter? like would you count stanley returning as a new starter?

best case in terms of stability is that Stanley returns, someone solidifies LG down the stretch this year and goes into 2022 as the undisputed presumptive starter, Bozeman is re-signed, Zeitler's still here and then there's a straight fight at RT between James and Villanueva (or we just cut Villanueva before his 2022 roster bonus hits)

but you're right - id expect some changes

only Zeitler is guaranteed to be back at his spot next year...

Stanley's injury
who plays LG
Bozeman's a free-agent
Villanueva vs James - do we draft a rookie tackle?

potentially 4 spots up in the air next year

Yea if stanley comes back i feel him and Zietler are our only locks.. AV is bad and james has played like 5 games in 3 seasons so who knows how he will look and i feel there is no way we depend on that during offseason without drafting or picking up a new RT.. bozeman, i really dnt know. Is he even worth keeping?

 

[RL52TheGreatest]

Yea if stanley comes back i feel him and Zietler are our only locks.. AV is bad and james has played like 5 games in 3 seasons so who knows how he will look and i feel there is no way we depend on that during offseason without drafting or picking up a new RT.. bozeman, i really dnt know. Is he even worth keeping?

I'd say Bozeman is worth keeping, at the very least. Not sure if he's the long-term solution at C, but he's already proven to be effective at G and he could definitely be a reliable backup for C if we decide to draft and/or sign a replacement.

 

[rmcjacket23]

I'd say Bozeman is worth keeping, at the very least. Not sure if he's the long-term solution at C, but he's already proven to be effective at G and he could definitely be a reliable backup for C if we decide to draft and/or sign a replacement.

Yeah that's not happening. If we're keeping Bozeman, it's as a starter, meaning good $. He'll easily get $8-10M a year, or more, on the open market, to start at G or C. So if we're paying him that, then he's a starter, or its really, really wasting cap money to spend that kind of money on a reserve lineman.
Either he's back for us at close to market value as a Starter, or he's starting somewhere else.

 

[rmcjacket23]

Yea if stanley comes back i feel him and Zietler are our only locks.. AV is bad and james has played like 5 games in 3 seasons so who knows how he will look and i feel there is no way we depend on that during offseason without drafting or picking up a new RT.. bozeman, i really dnt know. Is he even worth keeping?

In terms of the Oline, the only two things that matter are a) will Stanley come back and b) do we re-sign Bozeman to play either G or C.

If they're both back, you won't see much turnover on the Oline. I think they're more than happy letting Powers, Phillips and Cleveland compete at LG, and I think they'll probably use a day 2 or day 3 pick to add depth at Tackle to compete with James and maybe Villanueva at that spot.

We're going to need to add at least a half dozen quality players on the defensive side of the ball this offseason, so I expect that is where most of our draft capital is coming from. If we're focused on adding top tier starters on the Oline, it'll be either because Stanley can't come back, or because we're in the market for a new Center.

 

[RL52TheGreatest]

Yeah that's not happening. If we're keeping Bozeman, it's as a starter, meaning good $. He'll easily get $8-10M a year, or more, on the open market, to start at G or C. So if we're paying him that, then he's a starter, or its really, really wasting cap money to spend that kind of money on a reserve lineman.
Either he's back for us at close to market value as a Starter, or he's starting somewhere else.

Never stated in my post that we would only keep him as a backup. I was implying that he would also be our backup Center, should that player get hurt during the season. He would obviously be starting at the other Guard spot if he's not starting at C.

 

[Michael M.]

Never stated in my post that we would only keep him as a backup. I was implying that he would also be our backup Center, should that player get hurt during the season. He would obviously be starting at the other Guard spot if he's not starting at C.

I think he's better at guard. I think they need multiple changes to the O-line, not just shuffling what they currently have. Powers, Phillips and apparently Cleveland are mediocre at best. I hope they draft at least 1 tackle and a center/guard

 

[RL52TheGreatest]

I think he's better at guard. I think they need multiple changes to the O-line, not just shuffling what they currently have. Powers, Phillips and apparently Cleveland are mediocre at best. I hope they draft at least 1 tackle and a center/guard

We'll definitely be drafting OL this year. Also, I don't think you can judge Cleveland yet as he's still a rookie and has been dealing with injuries. He needs to get healthy and then he needs time to develop before we can really say what type of player he is.

 

[rmcjacket23]

Never stated in my post that we would only keep him as a backup. I was implying that he would also be our backup Center, should that player get hurt during the season. He would obviously be starting at the other Guard spot if he's not starting at C.

Right but we typically have tried to avoid taking a Starter from one spot and moving him to another when an injury occurs, unless we lacked sufficient depth to do so.

Because in that situation you're essentially downgrading two Oline spots instead of one.

My opinion is we're likely done with the Bozeman at LG process. He's either the Starting Center, or he's gone. And I'm sure he knows that also.

 

[rmcjacket23]

I think he's better at guard. I think they need multiple changes to the O-line, not just shuffling what they currently have. Powers, Phillips and apparently Cleveland are mediocre at best. I hope they draft at least 1 tackle and a center/guard

I mean I doubt they're going to spend a high draft pick on a Guard. It would almost certainly be a day 2 or day 3 pick. We've already used multiple day 2 picks on the players you just listed, so I don't think they're going to go down a path of repeating the same process.
A high round Center is a possibility, and a depth Tackle is a possibility. I don't think Guard is really going to be a priority at all.

 

[rossihunter2]

Yea if stanley comes back i feel him and Zietler are our only locks.. AV is bad and james has played like 5 games in 3 seasons so who knows how he will look and i feel there is no way we depend on that during offseason without drafting or picking up a new RT.. bozeman, i really dnt know. Is he even worth keeping?

I’m not sure with Bozeman - he’s been solid and that’s been valuable this year but idk if he’s good enough for us to spend money to keep him

like obviously he’s better than Colon but is he so much better than Colon that we pay him 10m/yr to keep him instead of going with Colon as the incumbent (and adding low price competition either via draft pick or cheap vet)

Through the first 3-4 games I was very much on the “Bozeman’s the answer” train but not sure anymore

 

[rossihunter2]

In terms of the Oline, the only two things that matter are a) will Stanley come back and b) do we re-sign Bozeman to play either G or C.

If they're both back, you won't see much turnover on the Oline. I think they're more than happy letting Powers, Phillips and Cleveland compete at LG, and I think they'll probably use a day 2 or day 3 pick to add depth at Tackle to compete with James and maybe Villanueva at that spot.

We're going to need to add at least a half dozen quality players on the defensive side of the ball this offseason, so I expect that is where most of our draft capital is coming from. If we're focused on adding top tier starters on the Oline, it'll be either because Stanley can't come back, or because we're in the market for a new Center.

It’s unfortunate that our 2 biggest questions on the OL for 2022 are at the 2 most important positions on the line

 

[rossihunter2]

I think he's better at guard. I think they need multiple changes to the O-line, not just shuffling what they currently have. Powers, Phillips and apparently Cleveland are mediocre at best. I hope they draft at least 1 tackle and a center/guard

we definitely don’t need another guard - Phillips and Cleveland have the potential to become dependable and exciting players at guard if we can get them both healthy for any concerted period of time

guard is the one position on the OL we for sure aren’t drafting unless an amazing can’t miss game-changing prospect is available - we’ve got 4 guards we somewhat like who are all under contract for 2022 and that’s not even including Colon who can also backup at guard - we aren’t acquiring more

 

[Simba]

I’m still team draft the best OL available. If it’s a G, so be it. Ideally it’s a T or C (if Bozeman doesn’t stay) but I’m not saying no to anybody because of Phillips, Cleveland, or Powers.

 

[rossihunter2]

I’m still team draft the best OL available. If it’s a G, so be it. Ideally it’s a T or C (if Bozeman doesn’t stay) but I’m not saying no to anybody because of Phillips, Cleveland, or Powers.

I think the only way we’re drafting a guard is if they are a slam-dunk game-changing starter... guard depth at this point is completely and utterly irrelevant given those 3 players you mention