We Are Allowed To Sign Other Players And Draft New Ones

[Guest King Shot]

I felt like this needed it's own thread since there seems to be a massive amount of confusion over how something as arcane and mind-blowing as switching to a 3-4 would actually work. Judging by tons of comments made here by many different people, nobody really understands that we're able to sign free agents and draft rookie players coming out of college.

I keep seeing "WE DON'T HAVE THE STRENGTH AT NOSE TACKLE OMG!" and "DUDE WE DON'T HAVE THE OUTSIDE LINEBACKER OMG!"

Just to let you all in on what I never really considered to be that big of a secret but it apparently is...we aren't forced to only use the guys that are currently on the roster, we are allowed to sign guys who would be better for the 3-4 than what we currently have.

Thank you, and let me know if you have any more questions, I'm here to help.

[vabchbirdlover]

With the abundance of draft picks available and massive cap room, don't see how this not feasible

[vel]

Or the mention of Spoon being a 3-4 OLB lmao. Just because Spoon is our best LB doesn't mean he is a rush LB in a 3-4. That would just waste Spoon's career.

[Guest King Shot]

With the abundance of draft picks available and massive cap room, don't see how this not feasible

You don't need an abundance of draft picks to get a NT and an OLB in Free Agency.

And yes, we do have a lot of cap room to be aggressive with, Arthur Blank has made that very clear.

[vabchbirdlover]

You don't need an abundance of draft picks to get a NT and an OLB in Free Agency.

And yes, we do have a lot of cap room to be aggressive with, Arthur Blank has made that very clear.

Please break it down for me, the way I see it, after signing some of our FA's, Abe, Grimes, Lofton, etc., Doesn't seem like a lot left over, educate me.

[Magic Man]

This is what makes the decision making between Spags and Nolan interesting. Nolan has run a hybrid 4-3/3-4 in a couple places, so I am perfectly ok with getting him. Running the 4-3 this year, then next year, drafting and grabbing FA's for a 3-4. JMO

[lasher1116]

We currently have 23 million in cap room...not sure how that is considered ALOT of cap room.

IF we let anyone go, cut them, we lose even more cap room. So again, we do not have any cap room to bring in

big names with, unless we decide not to sign back our FA. If we let a large number of our FA go, we may have more Cap room after that. But considering who are our FA, i doubt we will let many go, maybe 2 or 3.

[Magic Man]

Please break it down for me, the way I see it, after signing some of our FA's, Abe, Grimes, Lofton, etc., Doesn't seem like a lot left over, educate me.

Blanks seemed to speak with clarity that the cap would indeed be going up this year. With the addition of a new coordinator who plays a more aggressive style of D, Grimes may tumble down the "Needs" list when it comes to FA's. Lofton obviously needs to be retained, but I am not so sure Grimes gets his big payday here. Hate to say it cuz I love the guy.

[Guest King Shot]

Please break it down for me, the way I see it, after signing some of our FA's, Abe, Grimes, Lofton, etc., Doesn't seem like a lot left over, educate me.

Why are you assuming that we're just going to re-sign every one of our FA's?

I personally would not re-sign Abraham and I'd have to spend a LONG time trying to decide whether or not I wanted to re-sign Grimes too.

Edited January 13, 2012 by King Shot

[falconidae]

I felt like this needed it's own thread since there seems to be a massive amount of confusion over how something as arcane and mind-blowing as switching to a 3-4 would actually work. Judging by tons of comments made here by many different people, nobody really understands that we're able to sign free agents and draft rookie players coming out of college.

I keep seeing "WE DON'T HAVE THE STRENGTH AT NOSE TACKLE OMG!" and "DUDE WE DON'T HAVE THE OUTSIDE LINEBACKER OMG!"

Just to let you all in on what I never really considered to be that big of a secret but it apparently is...we aren't forced to only use the guys that are currently on the roster, we are allowed to sign guys who would be better for the 3-4 than what we currently have.

Thank you, and let me know if you have any more questions, I'm here to help.

Thank you, despite the bets efforts of my fellow posters, I was running low on my condescension quota today.

[vel]

My question about not resigning Grimes:

How do you get to replace him? We have struggled in the secondary for how long and you let your best corner walk? Really?

Grimes single handedly makes our secondary respectable. I think Lofton and Grimes get paid here. Abe can walk and I wouldn't be mad. But it's not like we can draft one as good right now. Grimes is a top 5 corner according to PFF.

[Knight of God]

Who would you say is available for NT and OLB? I don't see it with other needs such as OT, OG, FS, and CB...that alone will take up mounds of cap space and this draft will be average so, elaborate further if you please.

[Guest King Shot]

Who would you say is available for NT and OLB? I don't see it with other needs such as OT, OG, FS, and CB...that alone will take up mounds of cap space and this draft will be average so, elaborate further if you please.

Relatively inexpensive:

Nose Tackles

Antonio Garay - San Diego Chargers, 6-4 320 lbs.

Has been a phenomenal story and has made the transition from Jamaal Williams seemlessly for the Chargers. He's 32 but has only been in the league for 5 years. Had 5.5 sacks from the 3-4 NT position in 2010, and 2.5 in 2011. Big plugger in the middle.

Paul Soliai - Miami Dolphins, 6-4 355 lbs.

Mountain of a man who has been a great 3-4 NT for the Dolphins. He's just a space eater, allowing the guys behind him to play in open space. Not gonna get sacks from him as he only has 2 in his career, but that's not what you're signing him for. He's also proven very durable starting every game since he took over as the starting NT.

Sione Pouha - New York Jets, 6-3 325 lbs.

Possibly the #1 NT available, and one of the top 3 talent wise in the NFL. He'll be decently expensive but I don't know if you'd have to break the bank for him. More than likely he's the #1 offseason priority for the Jets, but who knows, maybe we could lure him.

Outside Linebackers

Anthony Spencer - Dallas Cowboys

Manny Lawson - Cincinnati Bengals

Philip Wheeler - Indianapolis Colts

Those are 3 from each position that I REALLY like and really think could help with the transition, and none of those guys are going to break the bank and I think we could get one guy from each of those lists.

We would have to just experiment with Babs and Peters at the DE spots and if it doesn't work then it doesn't work and we try to address it next year. This defense is going to be mediocre regardless of what scheme we run and who we sign, but I'd rather be mediocre and have the ability to generate A LOT more pressure than have to watch what we've watched for the past 4 years.

Those are just free agents, I haven't even payed much attention to the draft, but I'm sure there's some good OLB talent in later rounds, there always is.

Despite what so many of you guys happen to think, we do not need to sign a new guy at every position. The Packers drafted TWO players and it made their transition a homerun. It can work.

[Knight of God]

IDK man. I just don't think I like it.

[vel]

Josh Chapman. He is the NT for the best defense in the country and will be available in the draft.

[Guest King Shot]

Josh Chapman. He is the NT for the best defense in the country and will be available in the draft.

He's the only guy I know that plays in a prominent 34 defense but I just don't think he'd be available by the time our pick came around.

[Knight of God]

Josh Chapman. He is the NT for the best defense in the country and will be available in the draft.

Heck, I want him anyways. 3-4, 4-3, 4-6. You get THAT guy and I don't care what we run.