Position by position breakdown. What to expect for the 2009 season.
Published: June 25th, 2009By Buc 'Em
I thought I would do a position breakdown of the team for this season. This is all off the top of my head, because frankly I don't feel like looking anything up. Feel free to correct me if I get something wrong. I am also going to include a grade for each position, and comment about how I feel they will perform this season.
Let's start with our new and "improved" offense...
QB:
Grade: C-
Let's go ahead and address the elephant in the room. Our QB situation is far from ideal heading into the 2009 season. The controversial drafting of a project QB out of Kansas State has left a bad taste in a lot of fan's mouths. We are left to ponder whether our familiar back-up Luke McCown, the newly acquired Byron Leftwich, or our highly paid young gun Josh Freeman will be starting Game 1 vs. Dallas. The situation also begs the question of what is to become of our previous project QB Josh Johnson. It is never a good thing when you have a question mark at QB heading into the season, but hopefully a quality starter will emerge to lead us into a unexpected playoff run.
Continue on after the jump
RB:
Grade: B-
This position seems to have improved in the offseason with the free agent acquisition of Giant's running back Derrick Ward. We will most likely see a running back by committee approach with the resilient Earnest Graham, and electrifying return man Clifton Smith. Our Caddy is, yet again, back in the garage this season after perhaps being rushed back onto the field too soon last season. Despite the fact that our "franchise" back is out I am very optimistic about our running game this year. The only reason I gave the position a B- is because of lingering issues at the fullback position.
WR:
Grade: C+
You would think with the dozen receivers we have on the roster that this would be a little better position for us. Our #1 receiver spot will be held by Antonio "I'm not happy with 9 million for one year" Bryant. Bryant displayed brilliant hands and a uncanny ability to get open down the sideline last season. Let's just hope it carries over to this year. I think the incentive of earning a long term contract will lend itself to the "Real Antonio Bryant" showing up again this year. Our #2 spot is going to be given to Michael Clayton (I'm assuming this because of the idiotic exorbitant contract that was given to him during the off-season). It is officially time for Mr. Clayton to put up or shut up. He has nothing else to blame his failures upon now that Mr. Gruden has left the building. Our third receiver spot should be up for grabs and there are plenty of guys that I feel have the talent to contribute. I would like to see Stovall, Campbell, or Stroughter step up and make some big plays this season. I hope Dexter Jackson does the right thing and gives the team back all of their money he has been paid thus far in the understanding that we was drafted under the pretense that he was a football player.
TE:
Grade: A
We improved on a already very talented group of tight ends by adding the highly skilled, but much maligned Kellen Winslow Jr. in the off-season. He will join the 6'7 Jerramy Stevens (everyone's favorite player from a personality standpoint) along with Gilmore to create a very solid unit that can be effective in any situation. These guys should be a great help to whomever wins out at the QB battle during camp.
O-Line
Grade: A-
I'm not going to do a position breakdown on the O-Line because I don't feel like it. The only weaknesses I can really see are Penn's conviction that he is better than he really is, and Trueblood's penchant for drawing stupid penalties. Joseph, Zuttah, and Faine played pretty well last year, and I expect more of the same this year.
And now for our Defense.......
D-Line
Grade: D
Our D-Line is in need of some serious help this season. I'm really looking forward to seeing how our rookies pan out and if they can make an impact on a very weak defensive front. Miller looks to be a great run stopper, and hopefully Moore can complement Gaines at the DE position. I don't think it will be long until he starts pushing Stylez (seriously dude wtf were you thinking, I like Teen Wolf too but you have just taken it way too far) for playing time. Gaines needs to have a great year or he will officially be considered a bust in my opinion. He has just never managed to put everything together to become that great player that he was projected to be. If anyone can get something out of a DE it's Bates though, so I remain hopeful on this point. I'm also hoping Miller can beat Sims out of his job by the start of the season so that our front four will be a little more respected than it would be otherwise.
WLB
Grade: ?
Jermaine Phillips has moved from the safety position to play the weak side LB spot. I never really understood this move, as I still think Phillips is a much better safety than Piscitelli, but then again I'm not a coach, just a genius. If the Phillips experiment doesn't work out then hopefully one of our young guns (Hayward, Black, Hayes) will be able to capably fill this spot. I honestly think that there is so much quality at the OLB spots that we should be just fine. I still don't understand why we released Cato June because he was supposedly too small and then decided to move a safety to LB to fill his position. At least we will be in for some thundering hits this season as Phillips always lays it on the line.
SLB
Grade: B+
I'm assuming that Angelo Crowell is going to win the starting spot in camp because he is the most accomplished of the candidates for this job. Crowell did miss all of last season though and it is still unclear on whether or not he can regain his former form. When Brooks and June were released we were told that the young LB's on the roster were ready to start and deserved to be on the field. That's why I was a little perplexed when they brought in Crowell.
MLB
Grade: B+
Hopefully by the time the season starts the morons in the front office will have given Ruud the contract he deserves. The guy has literally done everything they have asked of him since we drafted him in the 2nd round a few years back. He sat back and diligently learned the position from Shelton Quarles, and then took over the job in a very efficient manner. He is considered one of the most solid MLB's in the NFL and yet we won't pay the guy. I just don't understand how we can give huge contracts to Kellen Winslow and Michael Clayton, but we can't pay the backbone of our defense. Ruud seemed to wear down a little last season and I don't even know who his back up is so lets hope he doesn't get hurt.
CB:
Grade: C
I'm looking forward to seeing Aqib Talib on the field full time this season. I thought he showed some great instincts and ability last year by snagging four picks despite seeing limited playing time. I'm not looking forward to seeing Ronde getting embarrassed by guys ten years younger than him. I was really hoping we would land a free agent corner and we could just have Ronde play the nickel. Obviously this didn't happen so I'm thinking that it's going to be a long, long season for Mr. Barber. Our alternatives are that Biggers kid we drafted late (WTF? Why didn't we draft a CB higher than the 6th round?) or Elbert Mack, who is small like Ronde, but can really bring the pain, as evidenced by the hit last season that earned him a fine by the NFL. Other than that, there isn't much hope. I think that Torrie Cox is still lurking around but he is, when all is said and done, Torrie Cox.
FS:
Grade: A-
I think that this position is very solid with Tanard Jackson coming back after a great season last year. He is also backed up by the very capable Will Allen. Jackson seems to have great instincts and I'm hoping that he will continue to be productive for years to come. I'm going to miss the Bash Brothers combo of Jackson and Phillips though.
SS:
Grade: D
As I've said previously I'm not a big fan of Sabby. I don't think they should have given him the SS spot or moved Phillips. No sense crying over spilled milk though. I'm excited by the splash play ability that Piscitelli brings to the game, but he is ALWAYS out of position. Maybe it will be better in Bates Defense but I don't know. I'm really weary on this one, and I'm not sure who his backup is either.
K
Grade: B
Nugent or Bryant. Seriously who cares? Both are adequate, and whichever one wins the job in camp is the better kicker. Period.
Punter
Grade A+
Bidwell is the man! Haha is it bad that the punter gets the highest grade in my whole evaluation.
Well, there is my evaluation of this year's team going into the season. I'm sure that we're in store for some surprises along the way. Feel free to correct me or to disagree with any of my grades. I welcome the debate.