[Ben E Lou]

Bump for 2012....I'm going to try to keep this updated this year. I wrote this up over the last few days. I wanted to get more done on it, but didn't have time. I'm posting to coincide with the first game, which is being run right about now.


QUARTERBACKS

Player	No.	Pos	Start	Exp	Cur	Fut	Cntrct
Duncan, Shaun	5	QB	QB	3	75	78	3 yrs
Doyle, Stephen	2	QB		6	36	52	2 yrs
Nagi, Ron	9	QB		2	23	49	3 yrs

Duncan, a former 1(1) pick, is one of the league's most controversial players, yet one of its brightest new stars in the making. This kid put up an 87.2 passer rating and threw for 30 TD's in only his second year in the league, and is now nearly fully developed. Shaun “The Solution” Duncan is best at Long Passes, Short Passes, Accuracy, Two-Minute Offense, and Shooting Off His Mouth. Doyle has only thrown 93 passes in the regular season, but put up a 100+ rating one preseason, if you're inclined to put any stock in that.

THIS YEAR: I hope for Shaun Duncan to prove that he is The Solution to Tucker's past woes. Now that he's nearly fully developed, this is the year I'd like to see him step up and move from being a good QB to a top-tier QB.
LONG-TERM: The ever-egocentric one isn't exactly loyal to Tucker. He has a big, fat 9 rating there. I can't help but doubt if he'll finish his career as a Tiger.

RUNNING BACKS/FULLBACKS

Ellard, R.J.	31	RB	RB	6	72	72	2 yrs
Trantham, Archie	41	RB		8	44	44	2 yrs
Molloy, Jared	46	FB		10	59	61	3 yrs
Nixon, Ernest	21	FB	FB	7	38	39	4 yrs

R.J. Ellard was a 4(2) pick in 2007. After spending four years as a backup, he had a huge ratings breakout prior to last season, and threw off the shackles to become a very good feature back, putting up 1355 yards and 5.19 ypc in 13 games. Unfortunately, his breakout included a high endurance rating, assuring that I can't get him as many carries as I'd like, so he needs a backup. Jared Molloy was our feature guy in 2010, and averaged 4.23 ypc. He dropped to 2.94 last year as the short-yardage guy, but he'll get a shot as the #2 back to start this year. Nixon is a good blocking fullback. He started 12 game last year, never got to tote the rock, but had a 44.0 KRB Pct.

THIS YEAR: No More Shackles for R.J. With his running and Shaun “The Solution” Duncan's passing, we should be a threat to score from anywhere on offense. He's maxed out in breakaway running.
LONG-TERM: My biggest concern here is that Ellard has a very cheap contract. If he has another year this year like last year, I wouldn't be surprised to see him hold out next year, and his demands will be high, I'm sure. He wants a $9M bonus to extend his contract right now. There's no youngster in the fold, either. Trantham is a mentor, though, so any young back we bring in soon will get that benefit.


TIGHT ENDS/WIDE RECEIVERS

Pruett, Frank	87	TE	TE	7	89	89	4 yrs
Villagomez, Jackie	80	TE		8	36	36	1 yr.
Shaye, Tyrus	82	FL	SE	8	70	74	3 yrs
Douglas, Harris	84	FL	FL	3	58	58	3 yrs
Doyle, Darron	86	FL		11	41	47	1 yr.
Truett, Forrest	85	SE		10	57	57	3 yrs
##Vanpelt, Efren	83	SE		10	31	36	2 yrs
Youssef, Jimmie	81	SE		5	24	31	1 yr.

Pruett had a big ratings breakout this training camp. He had been our starter for five years, and caught 7 TD's last year. Villagomez is a good blocker for our 2-TE sets, but isn't going to impress anyone with his pass-catching skills. I feel great about our WR quality and depth. Douglas was one of those combine stars whose ratings have gone up at every juncture. He gets his first shot at starting this year, as the aging Forrest Truett, former first-team All-Pro, goes to WR3. Doyle was acquired as a FA. He caught 47 passes for 1018 yards last year for a 21.6 ypc average. He'll help us stretch defenses in 4-WR sets, and provide some quality depth. Vanpelt is also a deep threat. Youssef is only on the roster because he is rated decently for kick returns.

THIS YEAR: No matter what formation we're in, we'll have four or five very good eligible receivers on the field. (Molloy and Ellard are both fine pass-catchers, too.) We should be good, and deep.
LONG-TERM: Truett ought to be a capable WR3 for the duration of his current contract, and Douglas, Pruett and Shaye all look to be set in their positions as starters. Barring major injuries, all I should need to be concerned about here is depth for a while.


OFFENSIVE LINEMEN

Prescott, Harold	53	C	C	6	54	54	2 yrs
Bell, Damon	57	C		1	28	56	3 yrs
Edwards, Brady	69	LG		7	46	47	4 yrs
##Lee, Sean	62	LG		2	20	33	2 yrs
Lavender, Stephen	75	RG	RG	12	56	62	3 yrs
Jiles, Edward	79	RG	LG	11	49	49	2 yrs
##Pardee, K.C.	71	RG		1	18	44	3 yrs
Koehler, Dan	64	LT	LT	16	61	65	1 yr.
Browning, Ernest	65	LT	RT	8	47	47	2 yrs
Lesser, Wilbur	60	LT		13	42	44	3 yrs
Stoner, Patrick	63	LT		2	21	31	1 yr.
Robbins, Hank	76	RT		3	41	52	3 yrs

This is basically the same squad that finished in the middle of the pack in sacks allowed last year, and put up top ten numbers in yards per carry. They're nothing to write home about, but are good enough, with good depth.

LONG-TERM: Bell, Pardee and Robbins look like they could be long-termers. Also, Sean Lee showed some ratings improvement despite being on IR last year. That's always a good sign. I probably need to get a stud or two soon, though.


SPECIAL TEAMS

Horne, Keith	18	P		7	79	84	3 yrs
Housley, A.J.	12	K		1	28	31	2 yrs

Horne will handle both the punting and placekicking duties for several years to come. As far as returns go, we're in great shape for punts, with FS Louis Farr (86 PR rating) and SE Forrest Truett (80). Kickoffs aren't as good, with SE Jimmie Youssef (52) being the only rated player.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

Mier, Ellis	78	LDE	LDE	12	63	63	1 yr.
**Ruano, Bennett	98	LDE		13	47	50	1 yr.
##Hudson, Robbie	72	LDE		2	36	44	2 yrs
Doney, Cecil	73	RDE	RDE	10	56	60	3 yrs
Bailey, Big Butt	55	RDE		3	43	58	2 yrs
Stoffel, Curtis	96	RDE		1	26	49	3 yrs
Varney, Joseph	77	LDT	LDT	3	54	59	4 yrs
Johnson, Marshall	97	LDT		11	36	40	1 yr.
Doyle, Jumbo	93	LDT		9	34	36	1 yr.
Schafer, B.J.	94	RDT	RDT	4	72	72	4 yrs

We look to be in pretty good shape here for both the present and the future. Ruano and Doyle are around to mentor all those youngsters.

LONG TERM: Due to the structure of Doney's contract, it is unlikely that Mier is a Tiger after this year. Big Butt Bailey should start next year. Hudson improved around 8 points future, despite zero playing time last year. He looks like he'll eventually show up pretty good for us. Schafer was First Team All-Pro last year, and gained a few points this year, too.

LINEBACKERS

Moorehead, Leland	91	MLB	MLB	13	59	63	2 yrs
Martyn, Van	99	MLB		5	47	52	3 yrs
**Walker, Stanley	56	MLB		1	16	31	2 yrs
Donato, Thurman	58	SLB	SLB	4	56	56	4 yrs
**Kramer, Dwayne	50	SLB		1	15	29	2 yrs
Crabb, Leland	59	WLB	WLB	4	44	58	3 yrs
Arnett, Tony	92	WLB		9	40	42	3 yrs

I really like our young OLB's, and Moorehead has been solid.

LONG-TERM: I'm not sure if I want Van Martyn starting at MLB, but he may get a shot for a year after Moorehead is gone. The plan is definitely to stick with Donato and Crabb, though.


DEFENSIVE BACKS

Strawn, Jimmie	37	LCB	LCB	11	82	87	3 yrs
Nason, Kenneth	27	LCB	RCB	14	40	48	1 yr.
Harvey, Mack	24	RCB		9	40	45	3 yrs
Faumuina, Travis	44	RCB		1	34	47	3 yrs
Goodman, Loren	35	SS	SS	11	49	53	2 yrs
Alcott, Will	30	SS		3	34	43	3 yrs
##Reeder, Fred	26	SS		1	27	50	3 yrs
Ozment, Eddie	36	FS	FS	8	55	60	3 yrs
Farr, Louis	38	FS		5	30	35	1 yr.

Other than Fuamuina and Reeder, this is basically the same secondary that has been in place for the two seasons previous to this one. Fuamuina becomes the nickel back in this squad that has been in the middle of the pack in passing yards allowed for each of the past two years.