2014 Free Agency Rumors and or Speculation

[wist43]

I'd be happy with only every 3rd play right now. It seems there's always someone running free somewhere. Not like bad coverage, but just no coverage at all. There's too little pass rush to compensate for the terrible secondary play.

Which brings us back to that static 2-4 look Capers uses up front - pass rush, and the personnel we do have, are why I want more 3-3 fronts in which you can offer infinitely more pass rush scenerios for the offense to be wary of. As it is, that static 2-4 is so predictable, combined with our pedestrian ILB's, that we ususally don't generate much pass rush out of that alignment.

No pass rush, everyone will agree, makes the secondary easy pickins.

It's just another reason not to run Capers version of the 2-4.

[3irty1]

Pretty sure a 3-3 from us would look something like a 2-4 with Perry's hand on the ground. I don't think that's going to get you the infinite pass rushing scenarios you're talking about.

[wist43]

It has been your main complaint about the alignment.

If there is a risk of pass, such as the San Fran game, you have to have Hawk and Jones in there instead of another lineman and trusting Matthews or Perry to cover. Not to say you could not mix it up, play zone or zone blitz, but putting Matthews regularly in coverage is only using his third best skill.

The problem is that the Packer have more 3 down LBs than 3 down lineman.

I don't want Hawk and/or Jones on the field - ever, lol... to be sure, we don't have any 3-down linemen, they're all suited to either base or subpackages - to wit, Capers misuses everyone.

Having such pedestrian ILB's like Hawk and Jones really makes for problems in our defensive front - regardless of whether we are in base or some subpackage. Yet, the Packers like both of those guys, have overpaid them a lot of money, yet they produce no results. When it comes to our ILB's, I readily admit I don't get it at all... they seriously compromise the whole defense regardless what alignment is on the field.

[wist43]

Pretty sure a 3-3 from us would look something like a 2-4 with Perry's hand on the ground. I don't think that's going to get you the infinite pass rushing scenarios you're talking about.

Perry with his hand on the ground is okay... why wouldn't it be?? That's what he does best.

As I've said before, I would look at 3-3 packages that interchange Raji, Daniels, Jones, Perry, and Worthy on the DL; with Matthews, Neal, and Mulumba (Mulumba over either Hawk or Jones) at LB.

Granted that Mulumba couldn't be used much early last season b/c he was so raw, but he's a damn sight more impactful than either Hawk or Jones... the guy actually has upside, as opposed to Hawk and Jones, who are the very definition of pedestrian.

If I'm going to go nickel, I'd much rather have those players on the field together, than the mess that is Capers 2-4 with Hawk and Jones on the field.

As I've said, I missed a lot of last season, so I don't know what potential Barrington has - but one thing is for sure, the Packers should have long since been looking to upgrade at ILB, but TT went the other way and overpaid Jones, and keeps Hawk around. There's no doubt that those 2 guys are weak links and seriously hurt the defense.

[Tony Oday]

Hawk had 118 tackles, 5 sacks, FF and a pick last year. He was good in coverage earlier in the year when the team was healthy and struggled toward the end. Those are good numbers for an ILB in the 3-4.

I know you HAVE to hate Capers and Hawks because if you dont your meds wont work.

[mraynrand]

^^^ Even I have to grudgingly admit Hawk had a pretty good year. I have to give the guy some props for not getting injured as well....

[mraynrand]

Granted that Mulumba couldn't be used much early last season b/c he was so raw, but he's a damn sight more impactful than either Hawk or Jones... the guy actually has upside, as opposed to Hawk and Jones, who are the very definition of pedestrian.

They play different positions. Mulumba takes away snaps from Perry, Matthews and Neal. He only played significant snaps last year out of desperation.

[Tony Oday]

I like Hawk but man that guy has to play balls to the wall and get out of his head, when he reacts he does fine, when he thinks he is less effective than a saran wrap condom.

[mraynrand]

I like Hawk but man that guy has to play balls to the wall and get out of his head, when he reacts he does fine, when he thinks he is less effective than a saran wrap condom.

take it to FYI!! http://packerrats.com/showthread.php...gh-Anal-Condom

[wist43]

They play different positions. Mulumba takes away snaps from Perry, Matthews and Neal. He only played significant snaps last year out of desperation.

I know how they used him last year... I would use him as a rover in a 3-3 front, with the other LB's being Matthews and Neal, and the down linemen inside the T's. Of course not exclusively inside the T's, but I would make sure the OL and QB know I'm going to be threatening them up the middle.

Suppose you have a front 6 of: Matthews, D. Jones, Raji/Daniels, Perry/Worthy, Neal and Mulumba/Brad Jones.

With the exception of B. Jones, every one of those guys, their strength is rushing the passer - turn 'em loose. They had Mulumba dropping into zone coverage; Matthews can drop; and you can sprinkle in packages with B.Jones - whose strength is coverage.

It's a much better look than Jones and Hawk both being on the field, and Pickett and Raji on the line. In Capers 2-4, everyone knows that Neal and Matthews are coming upfield; everyone knows that Pickett and Raji won't get any push in the middle; and everyone knows that Hawk and Jones are as pedestrian as they come. Using these guys in this way is complete misuse of personnel.

[Tony Oday]

Hawk and Neal had 5 sacks tied for 3rd on the team. Hawk can get to the QB.

[Fritz]

I like Hawk but man that guy has to play balls to the wall and get out of his head, when he reacts he does fine, when he thinks he is less effective than a saran wrap condom.

You mean . . . Saran Wrap condoms don't work?

Shit.

[Tony Oday]

You mean . . . Saran Wrap condoms don't work?

Shit.

I did say the DONT WORK, they just dont work very well

[mraynrand]

It's a much better look than Jones and Hawk both being on the field, and Pickett and Raji on the line. In Capers 2-4, everyone knows that Neal and Matthews are coming upfield; everyone knows that Pickett and Raji won't get any push in the middle; and everyone knows that Hawk and Jones are as pedestrian as they come. Using these guys in this way is complete misuse of personnel.

I'll say it again: Capers does not run the 2-4 with Raji and Pickett - unless forced to by injury. He started out with D. Jones and Neal, and stayed with that as much as possible. I'll see how it changes due to injury in the 2-4 analysis. Stay tuned.

[Fritz]

If you disagree with a loud shouting guy, you're a homer. I've said this many times. You don't even have to have a counter argument, just call someone out on something stupid they've said and you're instantly a know-nothing homer while the shouting guy is Bellichick 2.0

And now back to the thread. The Lions have signed Daryl Tapp, Vaughn Martin, and have re-signed Brandon Pettigrew for 4 years, 16 mill. Here's a breakdown of the Pettigrew deal:

"According to a report by Aaron Wilson of Ravens Insider, Pettigrew got $8 million in guaranteed salary, including a $4 million signing bonus. His base salary for 2014 will be $1.25 million. His salary cap hit is $2.25 million."

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2...#ixzz2vxSh85YU

He can block pretty well, and sometimes makes some nice catches, but seems to drop the ball a lot, especially on third down throws.

Idhegibo, or whatever his name is, seems to be mulling a Lions offer.

They've signed Golden Tate, too, of course. Quite a haul for a cash-strapped team. We'll see if it works out for them.