New and Improved Free Agency Discussion and News Mega-Thread

[Complex]

Originally Posted by BeerBaron

The SHOULD stop running that stupid scheme in the first place. Hey, I have an idea, let's spread our defensive lineman waaaaaay out wide! No way that will hurt our run defense and expose our linebackers!

We were top 5 against the run a couple using the wide 9 IIRC.

[BeerBaron]

Originally Posted by Complex

We were top 5 against the run a couple using the wide 9 IIRC.

Well the Eagles definitely were not. I get not changing horses midstream but what they were doing wasn't working...in fact it was failing pathetically. Without that late season charge, it may have gotten everyone fired. It was DAMN close to happening.

[VernonLawson89]

Eric Branch ‏ @Eric_Branch
Details OL Geoff Schwartz's positive visit with the #49ers has inspired contract talks, per his agent.

[bigbluedefense]

There's nothing wrong with the wide 9. It's a very good scheme, I love it particularly against passing situations/formations.

But as a base defense, it's still good. You just need the right players for it. Draft Poe and sign Curtis Lofton and that Eagle defense would be sick.

The problem for Philly is they lack the NT and LBs needed to run the scheme.

[Lil Quip]

Originally Posted by 703SKINS202

This is probably just recency effect but I can't remember a crazier or more eventful offseason.

I would attribute a bunch of that to not having one last year.

I am not too blown away by the offseason so far, although that may be because I am an AFC guy and most of the big stuff is in the NFC.

Of course as I have seen here in NOVA, Skins fans have a bunch to be excited about.

I think the Luck 1 RG3 2 draft thing was already pretty much done while the season was still going.

My big story lines are:

Manning to Broncos (still not that scared of that team) and the fallout

The Skins trade

The Bounty punishment.

[b316]

Tebow on Jets

Williams on the Bills.

[BeerBaron]

Originally Posted by Lil Quip

I would attribute a bunch of that to not having one last year.

I am not too blown away by the offseason so far, although that may be because I am an AFC guy and most of the big stuff is in the NFC.

Of course as I have seen here in NOVA, Skins fans have a bunch to be excited about.

I think the Luck 1 RG3 2 draft thing was already pretty much done while the season was still going.

My big story lines are:

Manning to Broncos (still not that scared of that team) and the fallout

The Skins trade

The Bounty punishment.

???
Three of the biggest moves happened in the AFC. Peyton to Denver, Mario to Buffalo and Tebow to the Jets. AFC, AFC, AFC.

[vidae]

Don't forget Eric Winston to the Chiefs! AFC! \o/

[TACKLE]

Originally Posted by BeerBaron

Effective for a .500 record if that floats your boat.

Good point. I think it's safe to assume that making their LB's shed more blocks is the sole reason they lost all 8 of those games....


Like BBD said, for any system or scheme it's about getting the right personnel. Teams that switch to a 34/43 don't just abandon their new defense after year one because they don't have ideal personnel at all 7 spots in the front seven.

[redbills]

Mario and Scott said via twitter it looks good that Mark Anderson will be a Bill.

[Pit Bull #53]

Originally Posted by bigbluedefense

There's nothing wrong with the wide 9. It's a very good scheme, I love it particularly against passing situations/formations.

But as a base defense, it's still good. You just need the right players for it. Draft Poe and sign Curtis Lofton and that Eagle defense would be sick.

The problem for Philly is they lack the NT and LBs needed to run the scheme.

Exactly. Just like any scheme, you've gotta have the players for it. When it worked so well for us (2007), we had Haynesworth at the peak of his dominance, Keith Bulluck before he started his decline, chasing down plays from behind, and the criminally underrated (for that year at least, definately the best of his career) David Thornton, who was making a ton of plays against the run at the LOS. Plus Tony Brown was a damn good DT before injuries wore him down. Even our MLB Ryan Fowler, who wasn't a good player by any stretch of the imagination, at least fit in because he was a big, downhill MIKE.

[Lil Quip]

Originally Posted by BeerBaron

???
Three of the biggest moves happened in the AFC. Peyton to Denver, Mario to Buffalo and Tebow to the Jets. AFC, AFC, AFC.

In all reality, Tebow the Jets was part of the Manning signing. The Jets are in our division and I don't really care that much. That team keeps imploding and I look at that trade with a smirk as I think it will just add fire. The Jets have done an awful job teaching up Sanchez and somehow they can do it with Tebow?

Maybe I am just inured. I was desensitized to the Manning stuff as it was very drawn out. I was kind of surprised at the teams going for him, but still not a big reaction.

As for Williams, he was a top FA and got a bunch of bucks. He goes into division, and makes a pretty sick Buffalo line, but I just don't see anything wild and crazy about it. I think Megatron getting QB money is just as important.

[b316]

Williams was quite because its Buffalo and because of Manning or else ESPN would have been all over it.

[redbills]

Alex Marvez ‏ @alexmarvez Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
BTW - #Bills close to signing DE Mark Anderson and should be done soon, @FOXSports.com has learned. Story coming asap

[Steady Lurkin]

Originally Posted by bigbluedefense

There's nothing wrong with the wide 9. It's a very good scheme, I love it particularly against passing situations/formations.

But as a base defense, it's still good. You just need the right players for it. Draft Poe and sign Curtis Lofton and that Eagle defense would be sick.

The problem for Philly is they lack the NT and LBs needed to run the scheme.

Originally Posted by Pit Bull #53

Exactly. Just like any scheme, you've gotta have the players for it. When it worked so well for us (2007), we had Haynesworth at the peak of his dominance, Keith Bulluck before he started his decline, chasing down plays from behind, and the criminally underrated (for that year at least, definately the best of his career) David Thornton, who was making a ton of plays against the run at the LOS. Plus Tony Brown was a damn good DT before injuries wore him down. Even our MLB Ryan Fowler, who wasn't a good player by any stretch of the imagination, at least fit in because he was a big, downhill MIKE.

Yup, it's all about fit.

PHI was trying to make the wide-9 work with Cullen Jenkins as their NT, Patterson as their 3-tech and Casey Matthews as their ******* MLB.

Patterson is a rotational pass rusher at best. Jenkins should ONLY be getting NT snaps in pass situations - he's a 3. Casey Matthews is a sub-package nickel LB at best.

[Matthew Jones]

Originally Posted by redbills

Alex Marvez ‏ @alexmarvez Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
BTW - #Bills close to signing DE Mark Anderson and should be done soon, @FOXSports.com has learned. Story coming asap

The final value of this contract will be interesting considering Anderson picked up a lot of garbage/coverage sacks at the beginning of the year which really inflated his sack totals. Very hard to tell if he's closer to a Robert Mathis or a Tully Banta-Cain.

[Matthew Jones]

Someone else may have already posted this but the Saints have signed DT Brodrick Bunkley to a five year, $25 million deal with $9 million guaranteed.

[Matthew Jones]

The Bills' deal with Anderson is reportedly for four years.

The Patriots have signed CB Will Allen and visited with FB Spencer Larsen and DT Trevor Laws.

[BeerBaron]

Should be plenty of garbage sacks to be had for Anderson with that d-line group in place. Hell, he might even get a legitimate one here or there if he's one on one a lot.

[jrdrylie]

Originally Posted by Matthew Jones

Someone else may have already posted this but the Saints have signed DT Brodrick Bunkley to a five year, $25 million deal with $9 million guaranteed.

$9 million guaranteed for Bunkley. That sounds a bit absurd.

[Matthew Jones]

Will Allen in 2011: 36/59, 340 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 3 PD, 88.2 rating against

Not nearly as washed up as expected. Still appears to be a long shot to make the roster but could help out as a veteran mentor in camp/preseason. Similar to signing Shawn Springs, etc.

[Unbiased]

Originally Posted by jrdrylie

$9 million guaranteed for Bunkley. That sounds a bit absurd.

Why is that absurd? He's a good player.

[redbills]

Originally Posted by Matthew Jones

The final value of this contract will be interesting considering Anderson picked up a lot of garbage/coverage sacks at the beginning of the year which really inflated his sack totals. Very hard to tell if he's closer to a Robert Mathis or a Tully Banta-Cain.

Most I see him getting around 4 mill per yr.

[jrdrylie]

Originally Posted by Unbiased

Why is that absurd? He's a good player.

I'd say he is more of an average player. It's not a horrible contract, but I just think it is a bit high for him.

[mightytitan9]

Originally Posted by Complex

We were top 5 against the run a couple using the wide 9 IIRC.

We were also good against the run except for the one or two years our defense as a whole sucked unbelievably, then we were average