Top 3 causes for hand wringing

[Murphy37]

The offensive line is going to be a lot better this year barring injury.

Tauscher and Clifton return at the tackles, experience makes them better than they were last year.

Colledge is penciled in at left guard, but he is still better than Whitticker who started at right guard last year. A rookie for a rookie, but Colledge is a much better fit for this offensive line.

Klemm didn't work at offensive guard, but he is a decent back up. Coston is young, and everyone knew that he would need a year to pick up the NFL game. Coston has way more upside than Klemm. Klemm was so bad that he was benched for the last 6 games of the year.

Having Wells or even Spitz at center will offer more consistency than an injured Mike Flanigan, Grey Rugemer, and Scott Wells all rotating in and out. Wells may not be able to make all the reads right away, but who ever is starting there is going to stay, and improve with each game. I think Scott Wells is the answer, he is in his third year, and he should be a custom to the speed of the NFL, and most schemes that NFL defenses run.

Klemm and Whitticker are going to be your back ups at tackle, and Whitticker should be thrilled about making this team.

Spitz is going to be a helpful back up, and hopefully they have him ready to fill in at both guard positions, and center.

I am less concerned about the line this year than I was last year at this time. It does suck to lose Barry for the year, but in reality he was a back up at tackle that just could cowboy up and lose that 50lbs. In time, Whitticker can play as well as Barry.

Ok Nutz, lets say your right and they are an upgrade over last years unit. That isn't saying much. I can agree that they may be better than the 05 line, but how much better is the key. They will need to be a lot better. I'm glad your not as concerned though. Every glimmer of hope helps me sleep better at night. That and thinking about that time when me and your wife.......well nevermind.

[woodbuck27]

My attitude is handwringing, what for?

I see alot to be hopeful for, in this re-building year. More now than I did before Favre committed, and the draft.

That was a pretty decent draft for TT from the standpoint of establishing some depth on OUR team at three positions where we had huge need.

OL/LBer/WR

On the OL:

The draft gave us the depth we needed on the OL.

T/G Daryn Colledge and G/C Jason Spitz will fit right in. I especially believe that Colledge will be the starter at LG with Spitz available to back-up both Guard and the Center positions.

Tough for us to loose Kevin Barry for the Season (it seems) but we are OK and G William Whitticker as a result of that, may be very lucky and make OUR 53-man.

Our OL will look (something) like this, barring nomore injuries:

LT Chad Clifton backed up by T/G Adrian Klemm.
LG will be Daryn Colledge
Center will be Scott Wells backed up by Chris White
RG will be G Junius Costos backed up by G William Whitticker
RT will be T Mark Tauscher (Adrian Klemm)

note: All three middle positions backed up by Jason Spitz.

We need the services of one more solid player. TT needs to try to find this experienced man, to shore up OUR OL , as we certainly lack experience with what we presently have in the middle.That's 'a BIG TIME' on that one.


At LBer:

AJ Hawk will give us an immediate starter on 'the Will' and Abdul Hodge will be a capable back-up for all three positions. I think that Ben Taylor will be the man to grab 'the Sam' position and that's because he's been there working the outside of the field in the Browns 3-4 system. For now we'll retain Nick Barnett in the middle. Roy Manning and Brady Poppinga will also back-up these four. That leaves Kurt Campbell and the rest as underdogs.

At WR:

The draft gave us three players in WR Greg Jennings , WR/KR Cory Rodgers and CB/WR/KR Will Blackmon. With these three we find a starter at WR and ample help to handle OUR BIG needs for returning Kick off's and punts. Let's hope that Rodgers 'little problem' goes away, and he lands a spot for OUR ST needs and as a deep threat at WR. I see G. Jennings being OUR #4 WR and W. Blackmon at least, lands on OUR PS.

We are stronger all over the "D", than last season and most players know the Bates/Saunders Defensive System. Saunders seems to be handling his duties v.well. Additions . . . CB C.Woodson, DT Ryan Pickett (if he gets on track )and S Marquand Manuel are going to help Our "D". S Nick Collins will be a second year player and Hawk will really assist Nick Barnett at LBer.

We have Green and Davenport coming off serious injuries, but we have that man Gado as well. and I understand Noah Herron is looking good. Bubba is in there pitching when we needed him to be in there last season.

Favre is back and he'll be ready of course, and his leadership and status will really help.

Absolutely . . . noooo . . . handwringing. We are re-building, and if we get 8 wins I will be estatic.

[Harlan Huckleby]

At WR: The draft gave us three players in WR Greg Jennings , WR/KR Cory Rodgers and CB/WR/KR Will Blackmon. With these three we find a starter at WR and ample help to handle OUR Big needs for returning Kick off's and punts.

Here's the deal with the WRs: they got a whole bunch of guys that look like they might be able to play pro ball. But when the guys from #2 to #6 are of similar ability, it makes you wonder how good they will be against top competition.
It is way, way early. Perhaps the cream will rise.

[woodbuck27]

At WR: The draft gave us three players in WR Greg Jennings , WR/KR Cory Rodgers and CB/WR/KR Will Blackmon. With these three we find a starter at WR and ample help to handle OUR Big needs for returning Kick off's and punts.

Here's the deal with the WRs: they got a whole bunch of guys that look like they might be able to play pro ball. But when the guys from #2 to #6 are of similar ability, it makes you wonder how good they will be against top competition.
It is way, way early. Perhaps the cream will rise.

Really what I see from that draft for WR's, is possibly a #4 WR in Greg Jennings and amongst the three, Jennings,C. Rodgers and W. Blackmon, the depth to handle the KO's and punt returns, HH.

I'm certainly not 'all jacked up' over this trio as dominant forces in 2006, but see them as good candidates as role players. In fact, likely the most we can hope for for CB/WR Will Blackmon is a PS assignment.

[red]

its sad that people don't consider a guy to be anygood because they come from a mid major and they have never seen them play

jennings has played against big ten and Acc teams, and did very well against them even though those teams doubled and triple teamed him knowing he was the only weapon.

the guy has a sh'tload of talent and ability, maybe more then any other WR on the team, and theres no reason at this point to say he'll only be as good as a #4 wr

[woodbuck27]

its sad that people don't consider a guy to be anygood because they come from a mid major and they have never seen them play

jennings has played against big ten and Acc teams, and did very well against them even though those teams doubled and triple teamed him knowing he was the only weapon.

the guy has a sh'tload of talent and ability, maybe more then any other WR on the team, and theres no reason at this point to say he'll only be as good as a #4 wr

red - besides QB one of if not the toughest positions to play in the NFL is WR.

It sounds to me that among Donald Driver, Robert Ferguson ,Rod Gardner and Marc Boerigter you'd toss in Greg Jennings and feel strongly that Jennings would be the go to guy.

I hope that your right - red.

I never said that Jennings 'only has hope' of landing the #3 WR or #4 WR spot. He's in an open competition with all the vet WR's to secure a roster spot, and he won't just practise to impress as a #3 or #4 WR. He'll shoot to be the #1 WR I would expect, and with all OUR blessings.

I have read elsewhere that Greg Jennings is so gifted /polished/NFL ready that he could very well line up as a starting WR on OUR team.

Man, I am pulling for that.

[the_idle_threat]

With regard to offensive line, look on the bright side: We have Tausher and Clifton, who are excellent tackles ... for a different blocking scheme. We assume that they are both fleet enough to run the zone-blocking scheme, even though they both veterans with a history of knee injuries.

[Fritz]

Well, after a 4-12 season you could make a mighty long list, but I'll say that the offensive line is the biggest worry. I think they'll be really good - next year. But this year, they're very, very inexperienced in the middle of that line.

I'm hoping for a pleasant surprise from Jon Ryan, the Canadian Cannonball. And besides, can it be much worse than BJ "Third Round" Sander?

[Harlan Huckleby]

its sad that people don't consider a guy to be anygood because they come from a mid major and they have never seen them play

Oh, Jennings looks good. It just is so uncommon for WR's to do well as rookies. I think there are a lot of tricks to getting open, subtle ways to deceive the DBs that players pick up.