An exciting realization

[TheOgre]

This four year franchise has been starving for any semblance of talent. Any time a guy with a modicum of talent hit the free agent market, there would be a thread with us praying this marginal player would join us AND upgrade us. I think those days will be behind us soon.

Kubiak demands more depth and competition than we have ever had in the past. He isn't counting on one mid-round selection to jell into a starter we desperately need. Instead he is taking the incumbent, the rookie with potential, and a newly signed free agent and pitting them against one another. That seems like the path to building a team.

Also, isn't that basically what the Patriots do? They keep adding talent even to areas that are considered deep or strengths. It gives them options and puts less emphasis on any one player.

This offseason we have added several players in certain areas: WR, TE, O-line, D-line, and, to a lessor extent, LB. Let the competition begin!!!

 

[blockhead83]

I completely agree. This thought has me more excited than any one acquisition we've made in the off-season. Kubiak has said that no starting positions will be handed to anybody, you have to beat out the competition first. Some of our past starter's need to watch their *** in camp this year, it's gonna be really interesting.

 

[Double Barrel]

Good point, Ogre. I think we have a lot to learn about Kubiak's perspective and the depth of his knowledge, but it seems like he's making the right decisions to build a solid TEAM.

Hearing that no position will be given to someone because of status is a great way to force players out of ruts and compete for their positions. This, in turn, will help elevate the team concept beyond a "keep doing what we're doing" mentality.

 

[El Tejano]

If you notice, that is pretty much the mentality of the Denver offense. It has to be in order for it to work. We can't have RBs that cry that they arent getting as many carries and WR that complain they never get the ball. This is a respond as you're called upon offense.

 

[kcwilson]

This four year franchise has been starving for any semblance of talent. Any time a guy with a modicum of talent hit the free agent market, there would be a thread with us praying this marginal player would join us AND upgrade us. I think those days will be behind us soon.

Kubiak demands more depth and competition than we have ever had in the past. He isn't counting on one mid-round selection to jell into a starter we desperately need. Instead he is taking the incumbent, the rookie with potential, and a newly signed free agent and pitting them against one another. That seems like the path to building a team.

Also, isn't that basically what the Patriots do? They keep adding talent even to areas that are considered deep or strengths. It gives them options and puts less emphasis on any one player.

This offseason we have added several players in certain areas: WR, TE, O-line, D-line, and, to a lessor extent, LB. Let the competition begin!!!

Great post, with the exception of the decision to use the word "modicum" which I fear many won't know the definition of.

Given the mold that you have laid out in terms of lining up depth, it will be interseting to observe the next 4-6 weeks to see what we do to address concerns in the secondary...

Is there a veteran secondary talent that could be a 1 year stop gap for us and mentor our young secondary... ala Sam Cowart? Something to look out for...

 

[TheOgre]

Great post, with the exception of the decision to use the word "modicum" which I fear many won't know the definition of.

I almost changed that word, but thought the reader could infer (figure out) what it meant.

Given the mold that you have laid out in terms of lining up depth, it will be interseting to observe the next 4-6 weeks to see what we do to address concerns in the secondary...

The secondary is definitely our biggest weakness now. I don't know if they plan on sifting through the June 1 garbage or wait until 2007 to address it.

 

[Porky]

My only disapointment in terms of areas they addressed is the secondary. They have done virtually nothing at Pbuc's spot, or FS. FS is probably going to have the lowest talent than any of the 22 starting positions, yet they take a backup TE instead of 3-4 safety's sitting right there in their lap. Other than the Bush/Mario debate, that was the only really questionable move this past weekend imo. Not addressed in FA, not addressed in the draft, and it will come back to bite us in the *** come Sunday's this fall.

 

[TheOgre]

The way I look at it, a 2-14 team is not likely to fill all of its needs in one offseason. Rather than drafting for need in the 4th, we drafted what we perceived to be the best value (although I am not so certain of that myself).

As for TE, I am not sure Putzier is our long-term answer despite paying him well. He didn't get re-signed by Denver for a couple of reasons. Despite his great YPC, he wasn't effective inside the red zone. Additionally, he is only slightly better at blocking than Billy Miller.

Joppru is a project that has never gotten out of the hanger. He could be the complete TE, but wouldn't we be fool-hearty to expect that from a guy who hasn't played a down in three seasons?

Bruener is nothing more than a blocker that happens to have two hands.

Daniels isn't a starting quality TE, but he is excellent in the red zone. If he plays anything like Chris Cooley of Washington (another H-Back type), then we got a heck of a deal.

As for FS, I know a lot of people wanted KO Simpson. The reason I don't think we took him is that he isn't very smart. The two positions on (a 4-3) defense that you absolutely need someone with a head on their shoulders are: FS and MLB, the captains of the unit.

Perhaps FA or the 2007 draft can get us a RB, CB, and FS.

 

[Double Barrel]

My only disapointment in terms of areas they addressed is the secondary. They have done virtually nothing at Pbuc's spot, or FS.

yeah, this is the area that I've got the most concern for, as well. Hopefully they'll use Buchanan in a man situation, because his zone coverage sucks. And I hope they address FS this year, or it'll be a glaring weakness that will probably cost us dearly in games.

 

[kcwilson]

With the signing of OT Ephraim Salaam, it seems the FO is back at work again and I imagine ought to be finding out a solution to the secondary.

If the FO believes that the DL was as bad as it was, then they no doubt have to understand that the secondary has its share of problems.

I can't say that I am sold on the "Fix the DL and the secondary will improve" theory. From a sheer physics standpoint, I don't understand why adding a few DE will all of a sudden release PBuc's head from the deep nether regions of his *****.