Thread: Preparing for Free Agent Disappointment

Originally Posted by lklrlolnlilklsox

Everyone was overly hyped about our FA prospects last year, while I found myself much less tempered in my expectations. Now I kind of feel the exact opposite, everyone is seemingly down on our prospects and I feel like Emery is going to leave his mark on this one.

But you can't sign them with just a shoeshine and a smile. Gotta free up some cap space to do it. You may be right but until we see that happen all we can go on is the knowledge that the cap account is close to being overdrawn and that's a no no.

Originally Posted by MPBears68

I'd be shocked if he reached the 3rd round with his résumé and versatility UNLESS there was a bigger medical issue than we know about at this point. I agree, Soul, he looks be a 2nd round pick and if he's there at 50 I hope Emery thinks hard about taking him (over say a LB who won't see the field on D this year). If Frederick or Schwencke are considered equivalent OC prospects, they could be considerations in the 2nd as well. Doubt they'll reach the mid-4th.

Frederick didn't have a great combine so I don't know why anyone would have him ranked as high as the 2nd round. If he makes it in the NFL at OC he's gonna have to play at far less than 335lbs.

The Pouncey brothers were the only OCs we've seen go in round one for a while. Usually that position gets shoved down into the 2nd and 3rd rounds. I think the lack of vet options in FA may help a guy like Jones but I can't see the others going before round three. Of course that creates a problem since we don't currently have one.

If Jones is healthy enough to play this year and he's on the board at #50 you have to think about taking him but if there a fast LB who may be your next Lance Briggs you don't want to pass up that opportunity either. We need impact players out of rounds one and two but where they'll have an impact is still up for grabs.

After FA and the Pro Days we'll have a better angle on what Emery might do.

Originally Posted by WindyCity

He is not and he ranked out as being a solid starter by someone who watch every snap he played this season.

His media reputation is far worse than his play a lot like our starting LT.

I'm assuming you're talking about PFF? I'm not sure how anyone can honestly give a full grade to an offensive lineman (or many other positions for that matter) without being privy to a play call. So me personally, I take what they say with a grain of salt. It's nice that they try to form some metrics around this, but there's too many variables involved to give a definitive assessment without being knowing the playbook or being in the room. This isn't baseball, no matter how they try to make it be like sabermetrics.

I don't judge guys based on media rep. To be honest, I didn't know he even had a rep one way or another. I watched the guy play, I thought he was not very good. I thought he lacked quickness and didn't play low enough (easy to play high when you're 6'8). His knee bend and flexibility weren't great from what I saw. I wouldn't be throwing much money at him.

As far as Webb, I agree, I do think people are overly critical with his play. The one thing that drives me crazy is that the guy is unfulfilled potential. I firmly believe his problems lie with the fact that he's lazy (likely out of shape) and unfocused. His technique breaks down quickly. It's not a lack of ability. The physical tools are there. He's really frustrating to watch.