Alpha's updated offseason plan:

Alphaman · 12-09-2004, 07:44 AM

In my mind, we must overhaul the defense and the starting WRs. Our LBs are soft, poor tacklers and don't display good football instincts. Our WRs are aging and project to provide less production next year. I think you have to move them before the decline, not after. I think there are some 2nd tier FAs that can be signed this year along with a strong draft to overhaul the defense as well as the WR corp.

As I see it, the following guys need to be cut: Barber, McCleon, Holliday, Kennison, Morton. I'd add Hicks and Woods to that list, but since they just signed new deals last year, I'd try and do it after June 1st.

I'd move Fujita and Mitchell to back up roles.

Free agents: Gary Baxter, Ed Hartwell, Kendrell Bell, Darren Howard, Jerry Porter and David Terrell. These guys will get good contracts but not cap busting deals (Baxter, Porter and Howard will be the biggest).

Draft: I'm assuming we get to keep the 3rd and send Philly the 4th. I'm also assuming we a 4th round comp pick for Tait. Finally, I'm assuming we draft 9th. We have 2 extra 5th round picks, 1 from Detroit (moved up in the draft last year) and 1 from GB (Truluck). I've only done through the 5th round. After that, you are talking about long shots.

*Round 1) Ahmad Brooks - LB - Virginia
*Round 2) Carlos Rogers - CB - Auburn
*Round 3) Andrew Walters - QB - Arizona State - Good draft to get a potential QBOTF. Trent and Collins are both getting older.
*Round 4) Chris Canty - DE - Virginia - 2nd round talent falls in the draft due to season ending injury
*Round 5) Ciatric Fason - RB - Florida - Need a 3rd RB, Blaylock is not resigned due to LJs performance/contract and the cap
*Round 5) Ronald Bartell - CB - Howard - Raw with tons of potential
*Round 5) Manuel White - FB - UCLA - Need a backup to T-Rich to sit on the practice squad. Kris Wilson will be the backup FB and 3rd TE, allowing us to carry 6 WRs.

Finally, I would move Julian Battle to Free Safety. While he struggles as a CB is he is a very good athlete. Jerome Woods started off as a CB and became a very good free safety. Unfortunately he's not performing at that level anymore. Pile has shown good tackling skills, so I'd have Battle and Pile compete for the starting spot.

Many will say we can't sign 6 guys with the cap. We are currently $3M to $5M below this years cap. I can't see next year being much different, but let's say we are right at next season's cap. Cutting Holliday saves $5M against the cap. McCleon, Barber, Kennison and Morton's salaries next year that are counting against the cap are large enough to offset the accelerated signing bonus. But to be conservative let's say they cost us $2M of dead cap space. We are still $3M ahead. Holmes, Green, Warfield, and Gonzo all have contracts that can easily be restructured. I think we could easily get $1.5M in cap room from each of them. Note, restructuring is not a pay cut, it's a signing bonus and an extension. Hurts the cap later, but helps it now. That's an additional $6M. So conservatively we'd have $9M in cap space. If those 6 guys total $35M in signing bonuses averaging 7 year contracts, thats a $5M hit. First year salaries on those deals will be in the $500K range, so that's $3M more. We'd still have $1M under the cap. We'd likely have to restructure a couple of more deals (Shields, Roaf, Hall) to sign the rookies, but that's not difficult. I've tried to be conservative with the numbers.

OK...blast away, but be gentle.

12-09-2004, 07:44 AM	Topic Starter
Alphaman Veteran Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Austin, TX, USA Casino cash: $10004900	Alpha's updated offseason plan: In my mind, we must overhaul the defense and the starting WRs. Our LBs are soft, poor tacklers and don't display good football instincts. Our WRs are aging and project to provide less production next year. I think you have to move them before the decline, not after. I think there are some 2nd tier FAs that can be signed this year along with a strong draft to overhaul the defense as well as the WR corp. As I see it, the following guys need to be cut: Barber, McCleon, Holliday, Kennison, Morton. I'd add Hicks and Woods to that list, but since they just signed new deals last year, I'd try and do it after June 1st. I'd move Fujita and Mitchell to back up roles. Free agents: Gary Baxter, Ed Hartwell, Kendrell Bell, Darren Howard, Jerry Porter and David Terrell. These guys will get good contracts but not cap busting deals (Baxter, Porter and Howard will be the biggest). Draft: I'm assuming we get to keep the 3rd and send Philly the 4th. I'm also assuming we a 4th round comp pick for Tait. Finally, I'm assuming we draft 9th. We have 2 extra 5th round picks, 1 from Detroit (moved up in the draft last year) and 1 from GB (Truluck). I've only done through the 5th round. After that, you are talking about long shots. Round 1) Ahmad Brooks - LB - Virginia Round 2) Carlos Rogers - CB - Auburn Round 3) Andrew Walters - QB - Arizona State - Good draft to get a potential QBOTF. Trent and Collins are both getting older. Round 4) Chris Canty - DE - Virginia - 2nd round talent falls in the draft due to season ending injury Round 5) Ciatric Fason - RB - Florida - Need a 3rd RB, Blaylock is not resigned due to LJs performance/contract and the cap Round 5) Ronald Bartell - CB - Howard - Raw with tons of potential *Round 5) Manuel White - FB - UCLA - Need a backup to T-Rich to sit on the practice squad. Kris Wilson will be the backup FB and 3rd TE, allowing us to carry 6 WRs. Finally, I would move Julian Battle to Free Safety. While he struggles as a CB is he is a very good athlete. Jerome Woods started off as a CB and became a very good free safety. Unfortunately he's not performing at that level anymore. Pile has shown good tackling skills, so I'd have Battle and Pile compete for the starting spot. Many will say we can't sign 6 guys with the cap. We are currently $3M to $5M below this years cap. I can't see next year being much different, but let's say we are right at next season's cap. Cutting Holliday saves $5M against the cap. McCleon, Barber, Kennison and Morton's salaries next year that are counting against the cap are large enough to offset the accelerated signing bonus. But to be conservative let's say they cost us $2M of dead cap space. We are still $3M ahead. Holmes, Green, Warfield, and Gonzo all have contracts that can easily be restructured. I think we could easily get $1.5M in cap room from each of them. Note, restructuring is not a pay cut, it's a signing bonus and an extension. Hurts the cap later, but helps it now. That's an additional $6M. So conservatively we'd have $9M in cap space. If those 6 guys total $35M in signing bonuses averaging 7 year contracts, thats a $5M hit. First year salaries on those deals will be in the $500K range, so that's $3M more. We'd still have $1M under the cap. We'd likely have to restructure a couple of more deals (Shields, Roaf, Hall) to sign the rookies, but that's not difficult. I've tried to be conservative with the numbers. OK...blast away, but be gentle.
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