FlyingGreg
Active member
It's been awhile, been following the board here and there but not much free time these days.
I've been re-watching the 2013 season piece by piece, and I think one of the biggest questions this team will have to answer this season is who steps up to replace Golden Tate, Red Bryant and Clinton McDonald.
Tate, while obviously marginalized by good CBs far too often, made TONS of huge plays for us, not just in the passing game but as a punt returner. His shiftiness and low center of gravity made him very really hard to tackle. Who steps up to fill his role as a receiver and probably more importantly, a returner, will be very important.
I do like entering the season with Rice, Harvin, Baldwin and Kearse as the four primary targets at WR plus I'm excited about the possibility of Chris Matthews and I expect we will draft a big body WR as well. Ricardo Lockette is getting better and better, and perhaps Phil Bates will finally emerge.
But Tate was almost a guarantee for several big plays every game. I've lost track of the great catches, runs after the catch and returns he had.
Bryant, while he has never racked up the stats, was a HUGE (literally) component in our run defense. I am not sure who they plan on replacing him with (Scruggs? McDaniel? Draft pick?), but we need someone who can anchor and absorb bodies. Being able to concentrate on the individual plays when re-watching games has shown me how important Bryant really was.
McDonald...wow, underrated. He was very disruptive at the point of attack, and he had a knack for making plays (sacks, fumble recoveries, even a pick vs Minnesota). I am guessing they are hoping that Jordan Hill becomes that kind of player.
I'm more concerned with replacing these three than I am with Browner, Clemons, Thurmond, Giacomini, Robinson and McQuistan.
I've been re-watching the 2013 season piece by piece, and I think one of the biggest questions this team will have to answer this season is who steps up to replace Golden Tate, Red Bryant and Clinton McDonald.
Tate, while obviously marginalized by good CBs far too often, made TONS of huge plays for us, not just in the passing game but as a punt returner. His shiftiness and low center of gravity made him very really hard to tackle. Who steps up to fill his role as a receiver and probably more importantly, a returner, will be very important.
I do like entering the season with Rice, Harvin, Baldwin and Kearse as the four primary targets at WR plus I'm excited about the possibility of Chris Matthews and I expect we will draft a big body WR as well. Ricardo Lockette is getting better and better, and perhaps Phil Bates will finally emerge.
But Tate was almost a guarantee for several big plays every game. I've lost track of the great catches, runs after the catch and returns he had.
Bryant, while he has never racked up the stats, was a HUGE (literally) component in our run defense. I am not sure who they plan on replacing him with (Scruggs? McDaniel? Draft pick?), but we need someone who can anchor and absorb bodies. Being able to concentrate on the individual plays when re-watching games has shown me how important Bryant really was.
McDonald...wow, underrated. He was very disruptive at the point of attack, and he had a knack for making plays (sacks, fumble recoveries, even a pick vs Minnesota). I am guessing they are hoping that Jordan Hill becomes that kind of player.
I'm more concerned with replacing these three than I am with Browner, Clemons, Thurmond, Giacomini, Robinson and McQuistan.