Offseason Options 2013

He's def an upgrade to the joker we have now at FS, but he's somewhat limited in what he does since he's sorta slow.

He reminds me of Verner.

He might be sorta slow, but he makes plays and doesnt miss tackles. I don't care if you can run a 4.45 (Griffin), if you can't tackle or cover..

We might as well keep Velasco at C if that is what we have to choose from at that position. Those guys are either dead or close to it. Two of the top Cs in last years draft are playing OG this year so maybe we should finally see if we can find a guy like that and then decide were to play him. IMO Velasco is a keeper. Hutch might be on the cutting block as well.
IMO Velasco and Lutui are servicable at OG if we can find an anchor at C.

There really isn't any reason to cut Griffin right now but instead need to look at an upgrade at SS real bad. If a guy like Martin or some other late rounder shows some promise as a FS we can dump Griff later. It is going to be hard enough to replace one S with a real good one than it is to replace two.

Not sure why we need a TE. We need to sign Cook and we still have Stevens and Thompson. We also carry a fullback. Now if we could replace our FB with another guy like Stevens who can play inline or FB that might be nice.

We do desperately need a RB as at minimal a backup to CJ. IMO we don't need to use an early pick but early enough to get a guy who can play. Then keep CJ one more year and let that guy replace him.

I actually believe Ayers could be a real good weak side DE for us and much better than Wimbeley. Ayers also gives us the versatility to drop him in coverage while Brown or a S blitzes without losing much in coverage. Wimbeley has been a stiff and simply doesn't have the ability Ayers has to get around the edge or to leveage the OT. So we might look to find anotehr LB if a stud DE isn't there in the draft. If we transition to a 3-4 as a base (which will still only be 50% of the snaps) we can use Ayers and Wimbeley as the OLBs.

On my wish list more than anything is a stud SS. If we can upgrade our weakest spot with a stud, a true player, our defense jumps a notch real quick. Everything changes for the better.

I don't think Babineaux is worse than Griffin, Babs may be limited athletically, but at least he's around the football. Griffin is consistently out of position, and when he's actually there he fails to make a play OR the tackle. Griffin is terrible.

Nah man, theyre both awful now. Babs misses 3-4 tackles a game.

I think it will be easy to upgrade both S positions. Both of our guys SUCK so its not like we will get worse there.

Stud SS:

- Dump Griffin, Hass, Amano, Babs

- Resign Cook, Bironas

- Go out and sign Ed Reed and Casey Hampton. These guys have played on some of the best D's in the league and should bring some of that hard nosed football mentality to our D that can rub off on our young guys.

- sign best available interior OL FA

- sign Chris Ivory to be a 'bigger back' and can rotate with CJ. I still think this will make CJ more effective, and I just don't think harper will ever cut it. I like the way Ivory runs.

- Trade down in the 1st round and grab the top S while picking up additional 2nd rd pick. Reed + draft pick will be our starting safeties

- take best available interior OL or DL with 1st 2nd round pick, and best of the other (OL/DL) with 2nd 2nd round pick, go BPA rest of draft

- switch to a base 3-4 D. DL will consist of Hampton - Martin/Casey - Morgan. Wimbley moves to OLB. We go Ayers-McCarthy-Brown-Wimbley at LB

- OL will consist of Roos/FA/Velasco/draft pick/Stewart (Velasco could play G depending on who we sign/draft) This will completely revamp the OL

- skill positions stay about the same. Hopefully with some playing time together this year and going into TC next Jake/Cook/Wright/Britt really start to develop some chemistry. Main change will be adding Ivory as 'bigger' back in short yardage/redzone type situations.

I think this will make us competitve instantly and is pretty doable in our current situation.

Also Bud opens up the wallet to bring in any OC/DC that we want.

annnnnnnnnnnnd I stopped reading.

Yea... Ed Reed is obviously retiring as a Raven... probably after this season. He's been contemplating retirement for a while.

Where is Elam supposed to go in the draft, Pedro?