2006 preseason
Transitions and League Observations
TE Will Roebuck has retired. Oh, we’ll each live long to sing songs and tell tales about ... wait, who was he again?
Front Office Decisions
We bring in a new defensive coordinator – landing the guy I think was the best available, though he costs an awful lot:
Def Coord: Vincent Compton, 60
Salary: $3,300,000
EX: PK, LB, YT
GD: DB
AV: DL
We again raked in the cash this season – no surprise there.
Roster Review
Maybe after this season we’ll go through this piece by piece. This season is just weird, with tons of players without a contract. Only 26 players currently are signed.
Free Agency
We finally have at least a few players worth bringing in as free agents. Looking at guys up to third year, we will find at least a few castoffs who are worth an approach.
CB Wes Mace – decent-enough corner, solid kick returner, good pursuit for us. Might even get a job as a “gunner” for us on special teams.
FB Mickey Woodson – just what I like in a fullback – great run blocker, and can’t run patterns worth a damn.
WR Randall Sanders – another big-hitter type receiver, more of what we already have, but decent enough to merit a bid.
C Kurt Nichols – decent-enough, but not really the answer here
LB Kim Jervey – pass-rushing specialist, might be useful in limited DE role
We have all five pursuits wrapped up by week eight. I make a later offer to LB Julio Wiggs, who is a better run-stopper than my current crop, and might even battle for a starting job as the WLB.
I also get TE Rich Metzger, who would be a nice upgrade for us at TE, where we have basically been voided out. He’s had over 300 yards receiving in each of his two seasons – not too bad at all.
We ink a new four year deal with MLB Cedric Goodwin, and it’s clear that he is creeping upward in his skills. He’s always been good against the run, but his coverage skills are improving gradually, and he’s getting better overall – certainly better than his original projections indicated was possible for him. Even though the LBs I have drafted have yet to pan out for much, this guy (a URFA pickup) has been outstanding – our first breakout player.
I also work out a new deal with RBs Dixon Hoffman and Daniel Newman, who will be the two to escape from our initial flood of backs. I’ll still dabble with rookies, but these guys didn’t demand huge raises, so I kept them on.
Rookie Draft
I just need to add another star player – it almost doesn’t matter where. DT would be ideal, but CB would be great, WR would be fine, I can be very flexible. I’d rather not fill an “easy” position (like C) but we’ll take what comes our way, I suspect.
Three defensive tackles go in the six picks ahead of us, which basically wipes out that notion. Here is the short list for our consideration:
WR Ed McDonald from Clemson is the fastest player in the draft, and looks excellent. Not a big physical receiver, but he should be a major flyaway talent, who comes in very ready to play (highly developed already). Intriguing.
G Casey Palmer looks to be a prototypical topped-out lineman. Guard isn’t usually that tough to fill, but I’ve got nothing there at all right now – so it is a real need. Very high volatility is a concern.
CB Deon Richmond looks like the best cover man out there, and has great upside. Solid tackler, even at his size – also very quick, running 4.40 and 7.03 drills.
My thinking is that I will be able to land either a starting receiver or a top-grade offensive lineman (probably not quite like Palmer, but still very good) at the top of round two, so I decide to grab the cornerback Richmond here. We’ll see how that pans out.
McDonald and Palmer go at #9 and #11, by the way – a nice indication that my rivals are evaluating talent in a fashion very similar to the way that I am.
Code:
Amateur Draft Report:
Rnd 1 - Deon Richmond, CB, Arizona State
Rnd 2 - Kris Gibson, DT, Washington
Rnd 3 - Bill Baker, WR, Wake Forest
Rnd 4 - Dale Blum, DE, Arizona State
Rnd 5 - Herman Stewart, G, Arkansas
Rnd 6 - Dan Sneller, T, Utah
Rnd 6 - Tim Ligeski, G, Nebraska
Rnd 7 - Kendrick Ramsey, RB, Louisiana State
DT Gibson was a bit of a reach, but if he stays in the “blue band” for run defense, he could be a real improvement for us, despite being pretty one-dimensional. DT has been a gaping hole on our defense – any improvement is needed.
WR Baker might be a steal – he could be very solid, if he can reach my scout’s indication of his potential. We bulked up with a few OL picks, and got a versatile back in the late rounds, with a good college performance pedigree.
I’ve been disappointed before – but I will again hold out hope that this draft turns into a really good one.
Late Free Agency
I make a few more moves, picking up rookie I passed over late in the draft (as it should be) and grabbing a few more “profile” type guys (fairly high current ratings, fairly high volatility – seems like it ought to generate something, though no dice thus far).
Training Camp
Here’s how things panned out after yet another training camp – only 61 players signed this year, though:
Code:
Player # Pos Start Exp CEst FEst CEst FEst Chg C Chg F
Silvers, Bobby 16 QB 3 43 56 46 56 3 0
Branch, Jonathan 15 QB 3 22 41 24 41 2 0
Bunting, Tyrell 3 QB 1 12 40 14 28 2 -12
Hoffman, Dixon 25 RB 3 41 47 43 47 2 0
Shea, Ian 44 RB 3 38 41 39 41 1 0
Newman, Daniel 40 RB 3 37 50 38 50 1 0
Ramsey, Kendrick 32 RB 1 30 39 31 41 1 2
McKnight, Timothy 42 RB 1 28 35 28 34 0 -1
Woodson, Mickey 36 FB 3 35 51 37 51 2 0
Giefeke, Walter 49 FB 2 24 35 25 35 1 0
Metzger, Rich 82 TE 3 35 43 38 43 3 0
Gaylord, Albert 84 TE 3 34 37 36 37 2 0
O'Rourke, Nathan 88 FL 3 41 44 43 44 2 0
Ivory, Nick 81 FL 3 29 40 30 40 1 0
Magnuson, Fred 21 FL 2 13 29 14 29 1 0
Sanders, Randall 83 SE 3 34 48 36 48 2 0
Horner, Jerome 80 SE 3 29 37 30 37 1 0
Johns, Pat 85 SE 1 23 43 26 43 3 0
Covington, Brandon 24 SE 2 22 37 24 37 2 0
Baker, Bill 86 SE 1 21 51 21 43 0 -8
Nichols, Kurt 56 C 3 24 46 26 46 2 0
Garcia, Zack 58 C 3 24 28 25 28 1 0
Burnett, Horace 57 C 1 16 34 18 28 2 -6
Morgan, Jim 63 LG 2 25 34 26 34 1 0
Ligeski, Tim 66 LG 1 16 34 17 33 1 -1
Stewart, Herman 65 RG 1 23 41 25 41 2 0
Parrish, Desmond 61 RG 2 22 30 24 30 2 0
Moss, Corey 76 RG 2 15 31 15 31 0 0
Heinlein, Bennie 71 LT 2 38 54 40 54 2 0
Sneller, Dan 67 LT 1 15 39 17 34 2 -5
Daniels, Victor 75 RT 3 20 27 21 27 1 0
Durham, Graham 60 RT 2 9 34 11 34 2 0
Cochrane, Paul 9 P 3 42 42 42 42 0 0
Haldar, Lance 18 P 1 35 35 35 35 0 0
Wingard, Dennis 5 K 1 52 78 54 76 2 -2
Ellard, Hugh 2 K 2 31 47 32 47 1 0
Schulz, Deion 70 LDE 2 25 31 27 38 2 7
Schwirzke, Lee 59 LDE 1 23 31 24 34 1 3
Gunn, Mickey 64 LDE 1 16 38 17 33 1 -5
Huffman, Rodney 78 RDE 2 60 76 65 76 5 0
Blum, Dale 94 RDE 1 28 41 30 42 2 1
Joseph, Riddick 93 RDE 2 19 28 20 28 1 0
Lang, Kelly 79 RDE 1 16 23 17 23 1 0
Walker, Ben 62 RDE 1 13 27 15 27 2 0
Gibson, Kris 95 LDT 1 24 56 27 56 3 0
Dawson, Marvin 69 LDT 1 16 23 17 24 1 1
Carr, Preston 77 RDT 1 12 15 12 17 0 2
Goodwin, Cedric 92 MLB 3 53 56 57 57 4 1
Westbrook, Barry 97 MLB 3 22 37 25 37 3 0
Kramer, Mark 50 MLB 2 21 35 22 35 1 0
Jervey, Kim 51 SLB 3 39 46 41 46 2 0
Tyler, Howie 99 SLB 2 34 56 36 56 2 0
Huffman, Kenny 55 SLB 2 20 38 22 38 2 0
Wiggs, Julio 52 WLB 3 38 38 39 39 1 1
Walker, Richard 96 WLB 3 29 31 31 31 2 0
Mace, Wes 23 LCB 3 30 50 32 50 2 0
Sims, T.J. 35 LCB 3 31 31 31 31 0 0
Richmond, Deon 43 LCB 1 27 72 26 68 -1 -4
Gomez, Craig 27 LCB 2 20 48 22 48 2 0
Dole, Sam 29 LCB 1 14 31 15 29 1 -2
Dotson, Johnny 37 RCB 3 31 42 32 42 1 0
Richard, Frankie 20 RCB 2 28 40 30 40 2 0
Bolyn, B.J. 39 RCB 1 15 30 16 32 1 2
Richmond, Paul 34 SS 3 30 36 32 36 2 0
Grayvil, Max 48 SS 2 26 43 29 43 3 0
Gonzalez, Nicky 33 FS 3 31 39 34 39 3 0
Jacobs, Thurman 41 FS 2 19 59 21 59 2 0
We have to take seriously any player who shows a positive movement in his potential ratings – and this year we have two of them.
Rookie RB Kendrick Ramsey (7th round pick) had a little jump – he looks like a typical mixed-bag guy (the FOF dime-a-dozen type), but if he develops, he might have potential to contribute in the running game. If he can develop beyond his current apparent potential, then we might really have something here.
Second year DE Deion Schultz started 15 games last season (logging nearly 700 plays), and posted 6 sacks for us. Now, he seems to be on the improve – his potential now looks pretty respectable, and he might hold off our efforts to replace him (with rookie Dale Blum, who looks pretty decent, but had a bad camp) after all.
Bad news, though, for top pick CB Deon Richmond. He’s still holding out – but the –4 beside his potential might bode poorly for that top pick. We really need him to excel, but that’s not a great start. Since he’s unsigned, we don’t have a great read on him quite yet.
DT Kris Gibson is all potential at stopping the run (15/79) but if he can put it together and approach that lofty total, he’ll be exactly the kind of guy I like on the inside (great run stopper, great endurance). So – he is basically the kind of guy we were hoping for, but it still looks like a reach pick.
WR Bill Baker is all kinds of bust – nothing like my scout’s initial impression. Third round pick will be lucky to make the team.
(I keep forgetting about this) My draft grades out at a C-, which is the lowest grade on the board. I know that I took mostly players who were not at the top of the consensus list, so I’m not that worried – at least not quite yet.
Season Analysis
I accept a trade offer from Philadephia for CB Dotson, who was probably going to be released anyway – jut a 7th rounder. I had to turn down an offer for WR Nathan O’Rourke – he is our most dependable wideout at the moment.
And we bring the total down to 53 – not a terribly easy task. I end up cutting both of my sixth round draft picks (offensive linemen, neither one worth a damn) in the process. For record-keeping purposes – here’s what we’ve got on hand as we head into the season:
Code:
Player # Pos Start HT WT Exp Birthdate College
Silvers, Bobby 16 QB 6-1 200 3 01/19/1980 Oregon State
Branch, Jonathan 15 QB 5-10 198 3 10/18/1981 Oklahoma
Bunting, Tyrell 3 QB 6-3 206 1 09/16/1981 Oklahoma State
Newman, Daniel 40 RB 5-11 217 3 08/31/1981 Miami, Florida
Hoffman, Dixon 25 RB 5-11 216 3 09/29/1981 Virginia
Shea, Ian 44 RB 6-0 207 3 11/14/1981 Iowa
Ramsey, Kendrick 32 RB 6-0 206 1 04/18/1982 Louisiana State
Woodson, Mickey 36 FB 5-10 220 3 11/14/1981 North Carolina Stat
Giefeke, Walter 49 FB 5-11 214 2 08/28/1981 Ohio State
Metzger, Rich 82 TE 6-4 262 3 12/15/1981 Miami, Florida
Gaylord, Albert 84 TE 6-5 267 3 01/24/1981 Texas Tech
O'Rourke, Nathan 88 FL 5-11 187 3 05/30/1981 Pittsburgh
Ivory, Nick 81 FL 6-1 202 3 01/19/1979 Florida State
Horner, Jerome 80 SE 6-0 196 3 06/05/1980 Purdue
Sanders, Randall 83 SE 5-8 179 3 02/17/1981 Notre Dame
Johns, Pat 85 SE 6-2 203 1 05/01/1981 Florida
##Baker, Bill 86 SE 6-1 199 1 05/04/1982 Wake Forest
Nichols, Kurt 56 C 6-1 285 3 08/29/1980 Oregon
Garcia, Zack 58 C 6-3 276 3 12/05/1981 Louisville
Morgan, Jim 63 LG 6-3 276 2 09/28/1981 Miami, Florida
Parrish, Desmond 61 RG 6-4 299 2 09/13/1981 Boston College
Stewart, Herman 65 RG 6-4 290 1 02/17/1980 Arkansas
Heinlein, Bennie 71 LT 6-5 297 2 08/30/1980 Tennessee
Daniels, Victor 75 RT 6-4 289 3 03/24/1981 Oklahoma State
Durham, Graham 60 RT 6-4 309 2 09/20/1982 Rice
Cochrane, Paul 9 P 5-10 181 3 01/03/1980 Purdue
Wingard, Dennis 5 K 6-1 189 1 03/02/1982 Florida State
Schulz, Deion 70 LDE 6-3 257 2 06/14/1980 Texas A&M
Schwirzke, Lee 59 LDE 6-5 272 1 02/13/1982 Nebraska
Huffman, Rodney 78 RDE 6-4 257 2 12/07/1981 Utah
Blum, Dale 94 RDE 6-3 253 1 06/15/1982 Arizona State
##Walker, Ben 62 RDE 6-0 245 1 05/04/1983 Auburn
Gibson, Kris 95 LDT 6-4 295 1 04/11/1982 Washington
Dawson, Marvin 69 LDT 6-3 265 1 12/30/1981 Wake Forest
Carr, Preston 77 RDT 6-1 261 1 12/04/1981 Auburn
Goodwin, Cedric 92 MLB 6-0 226 3 06/26/1980 Miami, Florida
Westbrook, Barry 97 MLB 6-1 239 3 06/05/1981 Clemson
##Kramer, Mark 50 MLB 6-0 224 2 12/04/1980 Washington
Jervey, Kim 51 SLB 6-1 215 3 09/23/1981 Arkansas
Tyler, Howie 99 SLB 6-4 244 2 01/16/1981 Michigan
##Huffman, Kenny 55 SLB 6-1 233 2 05/17/1981 Auburn
Wiggs, Julio 52 WLB 6-2 232 3 09/01/1980 Syracuse
Walker, Richard 96 WLB 6-0 212 3 09/27/1981 Clemson
Mace, Wes 23 LCB 6-1 195 3 01/04/1981 Wake Forest
Sims, T.J. 35 LCB 5-11 189 3 04/03/1978 Iowa
##Gomez, Craig 27 LCB 5-11 178 2 02/23/1986 Texas A&M
Richard, Frankie 20 RCB 5-10 193 2 10/03/1981 Florida State
Richmond, Deon 43 RCB 5-9 175 1 01/23/1982 Arizona State
##Bolyn, B.J. 39 RCB 5-11 170 1 01/01/1982 Clemson
Richmond, Paul 34 SS 5-11 198 3 08/06/1981 Nebraska
Grayvil, Max 48 SS 6-0 202 2 09/27/1982 Michigan
##Gonzalez, Nicky 33 FS 6-4 210 3 11/03/1981 Ohio State
Jacobs, Thurman 41 FS 5-11 185 2 10/30/1982 Nebraska
I can’t help but notice that probably 2/3 of my defensive roster is under-sized for their position. I have plenty of guys who are unable to switch within their position groups—DE who are too light to switch to another DE position, LB who are too light to be a LB, that sort of thing. It isn’t a real problem – but it does seem to be somewhat troubling, especially if you do like to move guys around (or if you let the scout do it for you during training camp – which I HATE).
Still rated 1 in our roster rating (next lowest is a 28) so we clearly have a long way to keep building. I think we’ll be okay with our group on hand – I’m just trying to build as much talent as possible, and am not even focusing on chemistry issues at all yet. (Maybe that’s unwise, considering the level of talent I have even when paying attention to that)
We’re set to go… but what kind of season do we have ahead? I won’t just hand things over to the staff, but I still don’t expect much. We might be good enough to improve another game or two, but a .500 season would really surprise me.