Time for Team Needs: 2009 NFL Draft

Obviously I’d say a lot of their needs depends on free agency but at this point here’s how I’d state their needs:

1. Offensive Linemen (Guard or Tackle) or Cornerback: whichever is available in the 1st
2. Linebacker: It’s possible that they could lose two out of four starters with Dansby and Okeafor
3. Runningback: I’d put this higher but they found a guy that they loved in the fifth round last year.
4. Punter and Kicker: Unless Neil Rackers and Dirk Johnson surprise quite a few Cardinal fans, I hope they draft both positions in the next draft.

They still have plenty of needs. Some of them (in no particular order) include:

Wide Receiver - This is a team that totally lacks play-makers on the outside. Ginn could develop into a nice #2 receiver in time, but that’s clearly not going to be enough.
Cornerback – Will Allen is a nice corner to have, but he’s the only one that should be a starting CB in this league. Michael Lehan and Andre Goodman will not cut it.
Inside Linebacker – Channing Crowder needs to step up. And Akin Ayodele is not a long-term answer next to Crowder. A play maker is needed.
Outside Linebacker - A 3-4 defense doesn’t work without playmakers on the outside. Joey Porter is ok, but isn’t what he used to be.

but even if Ed gets back on track they don’t have another big DT to play the over-tackle besides special team star Darrell Reid

1. Over-tackle (~300lb penetrating DT)

Kelvin Hayden is a free agent after the season and it’s unknown whether the Colts will even make an effort to re-sign him. They let their starting CBs go with little resistance after 2006, but they have invested a 1st and 2nd round pick in the current starters and Bill Polian praised Hayden as the player who improved the most in the whole of Polian’s time with the Colts. Backup Tim Jennings is a second round pick who struggled in the nickelback role (though nickelback implies he played on a 3rd WR, the Colts put him on the outside often against a teams #1 receiver, moving hard hitting but less rangey starter Marlin Jackson to the slot) Dante Hughes barely made the roster (5th and last CB on depth chart) after pushing for the nickelback spot last year.

2 Cornerback (hard hitting, great speed optional, zone coverage ability a must)

A team starts a game with a O line composed of a 2nd year LT, two young tackles who had been converted to guard making their first start at guard, a rookie 7th round pick center starting his first game and a 7 year veteran who has started the last 5 seasons at right tackle, who do you expect to step up and anchor the line?

The guy who did step up wasn’t Ryan Diem. Diem is a pretty good right tackle who will have an awful night every once and a while. Diem was bad against the Bears. With the exception of Ugoh who played pretty well the line couldn’t get a push in the run game (the safety was caused by Diem getting beat badly) and in pass protection they rarely held their blocks long enough for Manning to throw anything besides dinks, dunks and dumpoffs. Diem will hit 30 next summer and when starters that are simply above average decline it becomes a problem quickly. Diem started his career at guard and should probably end it there. He is still a solid starter and will probably stay that way for another year or two, but he’s getting old and doesn’t have nearly as far to fall or replacements ready behind him as the old man on the line Jeff Saturday. The more immediate issue is a backup for Ugoh and Diem. Charlie Johnson was awful there last year and Micheal Toudouze the other player to play tackle for the Colts returned to the practice squad as soon as the starters got healthy, to give an idea of his current value. Dan Federkiel is a project player with the potential to play either tackle spot, but he missed his chance to play last year going on IR with a concussion just as the starting tackles got hurt. He’s currently starting at guard.

3. OT (doesn’t need to start immediately)

Gotta keep feeding middle round LBs into the Colts “undersized LB prospect into solid starter” machine
4. OLB

Without having time to explain them, I’d list WLB, C, TE and depth along both lines as needs for the Buffalo Bills.

Actually, several of our needs have been met through training camp and it’s difficult to pinpoint where our really weak spots will be. I legitimately like every starter and backup except for T Adam Terry, C Chris Chester, and all of our CBs other than C-Mac, Samari Rolle and Fabian Washington. Clearly, the injury to Ed Reed is a concern, but he played every snap Sunday, so that leads me to believe he might keep playing.

We have five starters up for free agency next year – T Adam Terry, C Jason Brown, LBs Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs and Bart Scott. We have Tavares Gooden who is being groomed as an eventual starter at MLB, so our team needs are largely dependent of who gets re-signed and who doesn’t. Antwaan Barnes is a legitamate possibility to replace Suggs at ROLB if he leaves as well. Willie Anderson could start at T if Adam Terry leaves, otherwise Oniel Cousins might be ready to start in 2009. However, Chris Chester simply has not shown the ability to be a starter in the NFL, and I think he simply lacks the strength necessary to be a good lineman for the Ravens. Maybe he’d be better in a zone blocking scheme. If Jason Brown leaves, we would need to replace him.

I’d say we still want a Big 3-4 DE that can rush the passer (a Mario Williams/Trevor Pryce type would be ideal), as Trevor Pryce will not be around much longer and you can always use more D-Lineman.
CB and WR are also needs for us. A Ravens Corner needs to be comfortable on an island in man-to-man coverage, as well as physical on the line of scrimmage and in the run game. The Ravens have several smaller possession receivers but would love a vertical threat, as that is a key element in Cam Cameron’s offense.

So for future starters, 3-4 DE, CB, and WR would be ideal.
For possible replacements due to departed free agents, 3-4 ILB and C would be the biggest concerns if both Scott and Lewis leave, or Jason Brown leaves, respectively. Neither of these situations is particularly likely however.

Offensive tackle – First and foremost. There are some young guys on the team that could fill the role(Winston Justice/King Dunlap), plus both guards Shawn Andrews and Todd Herremans were tackles in college and could do the job(and have at times)… but I’m guessing the Eagles will be shopping for a big time OT(specifically left tackle) with one of their two first round picks.

Tight End – LJ Smith is currently playing under the franchise tag, so if he leaves they could probably use a TE.

Safety – This is a maybe. With Dawkins probably in his final year the Eagles will need to fill a safety spot. They’ve got former 3rd round pick Sean Considine and last year’s 4th(and starting KR) Quintin Demps already here to maybe fill that job… but it’s certainly a position that will be open for competition next year so I could see them bringing in a draft pick to compete.

1. QB-Is there any question on this? There is a lot of love for Caleb Hanie and Orton has been serviceable in the past but the Bears need a franchise QB to revive them much like Big Ben did in Pitt.
2. OL-The entire offensive line needs to become younger and better.
3. WR-Possibly need #2 Chicago has 6 #3 receivers on there roster now. Hester and Bennett have potential but still a big need offensively.

QUARTERBACK!!!

1. RG – Mike Goff will be a free agent. There is no one on the Chargers roster that it looks they are developing into an heir apparent. Goff is still a useful player and could be re-signed, but until that happens there is no clear cut RG for 2009.
2. NT – Jamal Williams can’t last forever. This is a festering need that seems like it should have been addressed years ago. The defense can ill afford not having a playmaking NT.
3. OT – L.J. Shelton looks like a competent backup for the time being, but the Chargers need someone who could step up if a serious injury happens to McNeil or Clary. Plus Clary is relatively inexperienced, does not have a contract past 2008 (he’s a restricted free agent) and may be replaceable if the right prospect comes along.
4. ILB – Cooper and Wilhelm are cheap, effective ILBs. Smith, Dobbins and Waters make for decent backups. However, Smith is getting old (the 49ers released him!) and while the jury on Waters is still out, Dobbins is probably not going to develop into a playmaker. So there is room to stash some backups that have the potential to be playmakers and replace the Cooper or Wilhelm either immediately or down the line.
5. DE – Olshansky will be a free agent after 2009 and unless they sign him long term the team will need a replacement. Also, only Jacques Cesaire is capable of being an effective backup and he’s already 28 and it might be time he’s replaced with someone younger who has more potential.
6. QB – This preseason Charlie Whitehurst did not look like the effective #2 QB that most thought he would turn into. The Chargers need a new developmental QB.
7. WR – Buster Davis can’t stay healthy, Kassim Osgood wants out, and Chambers is getting older and dropping passes left and right. The only guy receiver I see that will still be with the Chargers in 2-3 years is Vincent Jackson.

1) A coach that gets his team to play with heart.
2) A run defense
3) A stable, less injury-prone offensive line

Defensive Line help – Despite moderate success last season (three guys with 6+ sacks), thats still only moderate success. We need a push from the line to help the LB’s and DB’s do what they do

Offensive Line help – A rash of injuries have made the defensive line a position in desperate need of depth. Donald Penn had regressed from last season, Davin Joseph is injured, and Jeremy Trueblood got worked in week 1

Wide Receiver – This is probably need NUMBER 1 for the Buccaneers. Galloway’s looked old and Ike Hilliard is our most reliable receiver… Simply put, its our weakest unit on the team

Quarterback – If Tebow were to jump to the NFL this would be the one Quarterback the Bucs would forget Josh Johnson for. Garcia is gone after this year, Griese is right behind him, McCown has yet to make the adjustments, and Josh Johnson is a few years away

That;s all I’ve got at this point, should be interesting to see how the course of the season changes the Drafting landscape for the Bucs…

Primary Needs: Nose tackle, Jamal is great but fading with bad knees after so many years. OT, it would be nice if the Chargers ran as well to the right as they do to the left.

Secondary needs: ILB, Cooper looks good to me, I have doubts on Wilhelm. Waters may develop, but has not lived up to his promise yet. A Defensive End too, if they don’t end up re-signing Olshansky.

One area I differ slightly with Wonko above is WRs. I still have hope that Buster Davis will get healthy and deliver, Naanee and Malcolm Floyd show promise too.