Let's talk players

[Puck]

Originally Posted by omahacolt

pierce I think you need to bring back.


Franklin has to go


I think Buck comes back if he can get healthy


I would like to have cross back but paying 2 safeties may be tough. not sure I would do it. depends on the contract


can we trade Pittman? maybe. I would probably keep him

let Smith walk


I think Jones has to come back and I imagine we can do that on a reasonable contract.

not a lot of money to work with and we have to fix the pass rush. not sure how that is going to happen.

There are a lot of teams that get far less sacks than the Colts. 49ers being the lowest with 19. We are middle of the pack at 39


https://www.nfl.com/stats/team-stats...s/2025/reg/all

[Oldcolt]

Originally Posted by Puck

There are a lot of teams that get far less sacks than the Colts. 49ers being the lowest with 19. We are middle of the pack at 39


https://www.nfl.com/stats/team-stats...s/2025/reg/all

Puck, it is the inability to get pressure or sacks at critical times in the game. We scheme sacs because we have no alpha rusher. That is harder to do against good focused offensive lines. And yes, like everything else, we are middling at this.

[Hoopsdoc]

Originally Posted by Oldcolt

Puck, it is the inability to get pressure or sacks at critical times in the game. We scheme sacs because we have no alpha rusher. That is harder to do against good focused offensive lines. And yes, like everything else, we are middling at this.

By the by, Al Quadin Muhammad has 11 sacks for Detroit this season.

Never thought I’d see the day I’d be pining for the return of Al Quadin Muhammad.

[ukcolt]

I am moving on from Jones, and going with Richardson, both injury prone, but one is a hell of a lot cheaper than the other. Time for the alleged genius that is Steichen to actually prove how good he is and scheme up an offense that fits Richardson's skill set.

Pierce fits the skill set perfectly with what Richardson can do, and is a must resign, but then needs to be our true No. 1 receiver, who is targeted 8-10 times a game. The 2nd receiver on this team next year needs to be Warren, he needs to be nearing a 100 receptions. I am also fine with cutting Pittman in this scenario and allowing Downs to also flourish. We have the weapons in the pass catching department already. I like Dulin as well, Coleman Owen could also turn into something given a chance.

JT is absolutely a stud, no issues from me, is he a perfect 3 down back, nah, but he is still effing great. Giddens was a huge disappointment, Goodson i don't care one way or the other, same with Abdullah, he played well enough in spot duty, but no huge loss if he wasn't on the roster.

TE's, Warren will improve, and i am happy enough with the depth, not sure i want to mess too much with this.

Offensive line, has actually held up pretty well even with all of the injuries. The starting 5 were one of the top units in the NFL. Having seen Travis play the last few weeks, i am ok with Braden Smith moving on, or signing a low team friendly deal. We need to invest in the draft for a backup interior guy, Tucker isn't good enough.

I am surprised at the love shown here for Ebukam, he has done very little this year. I would clear the decks regards the DE's, Paye, Ebukam and Lewis are all massively overpaid for what they produced this year and i would be moving on from all of them. Latu and JT are good young guys to work with.

The backup interior guys I have been pleasantly surprised with and have no problem with standing pat here. Stewart and Buck have been their usual selves, hopefully they are both back, but we can help them by reducing the number of snaps they have to play next year.

Our LB's are garbage as every down backs. Pratt is worth his money this year as an early down guy, but Franklin makes some splash plays and then whiffs on the next tackle to allow the 3rd and 13 play to be a success for the offense! Everyone else are just scrubs, maybe Carlies has something to work with, but i am not sure Lou agrees.

The defense backs if they are healthy are some of the best in the NFL. Gardner, Ward, Bynum and Cross played well this year. Cross is a player i would like to resign, but i am not sure if he hasn't priced himself out of a contract with the Colts.

[ukcolt]

What i would do with each player for next year.

QB's
Jones, move on
Richardson, keep
Leonard, keep
Rivers, move on

RB's
Taylor, keep
Giddens, keep
Abdullah, move on
Goodson, move on

TE's
Warren, keep
Alie-Cox, move on
Ogletree, keep
Mallory, keep

WR's
Pittman, move on
Pierce, keep
Downs, keep
Dulin, keep,
Gould, keep
Treadwell, move on
Owen, keep

OLine
Smith, move on
Raimann, keep
Freeland, keep
Travis, keep
Tenuta, keep
Nelson, keep
Goncalves, keep
Bortolini, keep
Pinter, keep

DE's
Latu, keep
Ebukam, move on
Lewis, move on
Paye, move on
Tuimoloau, keep
Nchami, keep

DT's
Stewart, keep
Bucknor, keep
Gallimore, keep
Adebawore, keep
Johnson, move on
Wormley, move on
Smith, keep

LB's
Pratt, keep
Franklin, move on
Olubi, move on
Ajiake, keep
Carlies, keep
Johnson, move on

CB's
Gardner, keep
Ward, keep
Moore, keep
Hilton, keep
Blackmon, keep
Edwards, keep
Jones, move on
Mitchell, move on
Lammons, keep
Walley, keep

Safety
Wohler, keep
Scott, keep
Bynum, keep
Cross, keep
Lowery, keep
Odum, move on
Thomas, move on

Special Teams
Rhodes, keep
Sanchez, keep
Grupe, keep
Shrader, keep


So from that list i only have 48 guys left. I have too many CB's for the final cutdown, same with both kickers at the moment.

Based on my list, we need a coverage LBer or two as an absolute priority, maybe Hunter Woehler is one of those guys? And at least a couple of DE's, ideally a splash starter, but that is unlikely with the lack of money/draft capital we don't have! An interior offensive lineman, and a tackle to add depth alongside Freeland and Tenuta, depth at RB, and also a veteran backup QB. No idea what Kyler Murray might be expecting if he is cut, he is probably too expensive anyway.

I do think that there is quite a lot of young talent on this roster. A true pass rusher, alongside both Ward and Gardner would make the defense something to be frightened of.

[Puck]

Originally Posted by Oldcolt

Puck, it is the inability to get pressure or sacks at critical times in the game. We scheme sacs because we have no alpha rusher. That is harder to do against good focused offensive lines. And yes, like everything else, we are middling at this.

Sure. I agree. But look at the 49ers with 20 less sacks than us and they are looking at the #1 seed. So while it is important. It's not life or death

Obviously I would liek to find another DE but the #1 concern on this team is LB. and not just one

[apballin]

Originally Posted by Puck

Sure. I agree. But look at the 49ers with 20 less sacks than us and they are looking at the #1 seed. So while it is important. It's not life or death

Obviously I would liek to find another DE but the #1 concern on this team is LB. and not just one

49ers are on another level offensively though, 4 years with the same QB and arguably the best offensive coach in the NFL

[Puck]

Originally Posted by apballin

49ers are on another level offensively though, 4 years with the same QB and arguably the best offensive coach in the NFL

Yes they have the QB position figured out. Hell we have a new starting QB and back up QB every freakin yr. Hopefully Jones heals up and can get back to work. Once that happens and AR can keep from setting himself on fire we may be heading in the right direction.

We have a pretty good roster. I give credit to Ballard for going for it this yr. Maybe Jim was holding him back and now the girls say go get what you need


JMO. Pete

[Hoopsdoc]

Originally Posted by Puck

Yes they have the QB position figured out. Hell we have a new starting QB and back up QB every freakin yr. Hopefully Jones heals up and can get back to work. Once that happens and AR can keep from setting himself on fire we may be heading in the right direction.

We have a pretty good roster. I give credit to Ballard for going for it this yr. Maybe Jim was holding him back and now the girls say go get what you need


JMO. Pete

Make you wonder how a guy with Purdys talent lasted until the last pick.

Purdy doesn’t have the strongest arm but he has every other trait that makes a quarterback great.

I think scouts in the NFL put way too much emphasis on arm strength.

Now, you can’t have a noodle arm like Ehlinger or 44 year old Rivers, but elite arm strength isn’t the be all end all.

[Puck]

Originally Posted by Hoopsdoc

Make you wonder how a guy with Purdys talent lasted until the last pick.

Purdy doesn’t have the strongest arm but he has every other trait that makes a quarterback great.

I think scouts in the NFL put way too much emphasis on arm strength.

Now, you can’t have a noodle arm like Ehlinger or 44 year old Rivers, but elite arm strength isn’t the be all end all.

Agree. and I HOPE given time Riley can get close to that. I just don't think he's ready right now. But I will be glad to be wrong.

Sure would solve some problems