Well now, this changes everything! You mean to tell me that Danny Amendola was a pretty mediocre punt and kick returner whom has since been removed from that position? That certainly makes up for, nay, eclipses the fact that he's not as good as a wide receiver as Davone Bess! What really matters isn't the quality, it's the consistency. He certainly lined up out there every time the Rams asked him, and for that he should be lauded.
Amendola was in the top 10 in return yardage, the only reason he isn't doing it today?? He is too important to the Rams offense. Where Bess has been better is durability, but as far as ability? Give me the better player, his name is Amendola.
He was a mediocre returner who got a lot of opportunities to do so on an awful team, and it doesn't even make sense to bring up in the context of who is a better receiver. Most notably because he didn't do a good enough job as a returner to fill the gap in between quality and production between him and Bess.
I could be down with the following FA/draft to build the offense in a hurry: (let's pretend Te'o & Werner are off the board and we have a partner to trade down with and pick up an extra 2nd) WR- Da'Rick Rogers (Mid Round 2), Rishard Matthews...... (Rogers is a near Julio Jones type clone) WR- Tavon Austin (high round 2) WR- Mike Wallace (FA), Ryan Swope (round 4) TE- Jermichael Finley FA, Egnew Hback- Jordan Reed (Round 3a), Charles Clay LT- Long LG- Jonathan Cooper (late Round 1)...... (Cooper is like having Pouncey at guard) C- Pouncey RG- Kraig Urbik (FA) RT- Jon Martin RB- Miller, Thomas, Dennis Johnson (round 4), Michael Dyer (round 6) PR/KR- Tavon Austin **I know this is a complete makeover of the WR corps, but I care infinitely more about building something special for the future than temporary familiarity with Bess & Hartline. Besides, Tanny has familiarity with Swope and some with Matthews, and any unfamiliarity with Wallace, Rodgers, and Austin will quickly be made up by their ridiculous ability. FA Mike Wallace Kraig Urbik Jermichael Finley Aqib Talib, with Marshall moving to FS {I'd prioritize signing Talib over Hartline if cap space is an issue and then use a mid round pick on Swope or Stedman Bailey as Hart's inexpensive replacement. Why would I pay millions for Hartline if I can have one of 2 players at a fraction of his cost but with better upside and playmaking ability? Seriously, Talib & Swope/Bailey vs Hartline/some mid round corner? I like Hitman Hart but there's no way I take the latter. I'd stall Hartline's contract negotiations until after the signing of Talib [if it can happen] and the draft so that I know what my hand looks like.} Draft 1. G, Jonathan Cooper 2. WR, Tavon Austin (and PR/KR) 2. DE, Ziggy Ansah... or..... SOLB/hybrid, Chase Thomas (don't mind trading up if needed) 2. WR, Da'Rick Rogers 3. Hback, Jordan Reed 3. LB, Shayne Skov or Sean Porter (they might make it this far considering the abundance of good LBs) 4. WR, Ryan Swope 4. RB, Dennis Johnson (via Bess trade) 5. ? 6. RB, Michael Dyer 7. ? The above doesn't feature a heavy focus on defense, however the addition of Talib, Ansah (or Thomas), Skov (or Porter), and Marshall moving to FS would significantly improve an already good defense. The offense would be a dream, and we'd have the entire 2014 draft to turn the defense into something special as well.
you expect JEFF ****ING IRELAND to draft all these weapons in ONE draft?! AFTER signing Mike Wallace?! LMAAAAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO we do agree on one thing though, the WR corps needs to be completely revamped.
Do you kiss your mom with that mouth?.... and sister?.... and cousin Mary-Joe.... and other cousin Barney?
I have as much of an excuse as any to dislike some of our drafting from '08-'10 considering how I wanted each draft to go. 2008 I was smitten with 4 guys (Jordy Nelson, Cliff Avril, Carl Nicks, and Curtis Lofton). My '08 draft as it was happening looked like: 1. Jake 2. Jordy Nelson. (Curtis Lofton was a close 2nd. Also wanted DeSean Jackson but liked Jordy more b/c we already had a small speed receiver) 2. Henne 3. Cliff Avril 4. Carl Nicks *I forget the rest after that 2009 1. Connor Barwin 2. Sean Smith 2. RT, Sebastian Vollmer. (wanted to move Carey to guard) 3. Mike Wallace. (had an obvious man crush on Wallace and wanted to trade up as high as our 4th rounder would've taken us) 4. -traded- 5. Hback, James Casey (would've traded up as high as our other 5th would've taken us) 5. -traded- 6. RB, Cedric Peerman. (outstanding special teamer) 7. ILB, Dannell Ellerbe 2010 1. FS, Earl Thomas. (wanted Spiller 1st, Dez 2nd, Thomas 3rd..... no need for Dez or trade for Marshall with Nelson & Wallace on the team) 2. Rob Gronkowski. (enormous man crush on Gronk and wanted him with our #28 pick. would've traded up as far as our 4th rounder would've taken us) 3. Eric Decker. (flip a coin with Mike Williams... Back then I thought they were both borderline 1st round talent, so I couldn't have resisted either in the 3rd) 4. -traded- 5. Reshad Jones. (no brainer pick for me. thought he was 2nd rounder if he stayed his senior year) 5. Nolan Carroll. (if he would've made it this far as Carroll was projected much higher before his injury) 7. LB, Dekoda Watson 7. RB,LeGarrette Blount 2011 1. Pouncey (wanted him as the pick for a while) 2. RB, Mikel LeShoure. (like him more than Ingram) 3. DT, Kendrick Ellis 4. CB, Buster Skrine 5. OLB, Chris Carter 6. QB, Tyrod Taylor 7. DT, Chris Nield 7. Jimmy Wilson (I would've drafted Wilson once I was made aware of him) 2012 1. Tannehill (started pining for him as our 1st round pick as far back as early November) 2. DT/DE, Kendall Reyes 3. TE, Dwayne Allen (would've packaged both 3rds to move up to top of the round) 3. -traded- 4. Lamar Miller (gotta make that happen) 5. RB/KR/PR, Chris Rainey 6. CB, Alfonso Denard 7. OT, Nate Potter 7. Rishard Matthews 7. QB, BJ Coleman **('11 & '12 are based off my previous year's picks, not how the team actually looked. I like to keep tabs on that for kicks and giggles) I thought the above would've made us a pretty damn good team and am frustrated with many picks this team has made, but I don't blame Ireland for a team run by Parcells, coached by Parcells' crappy coaching hires, and with Parcells' outdated blueprint of how to construct & draft a team.... and this is why I don't mind giving Ireland the 2013 draft and FA to continue his vision for the team considering Tannehill & Philbin are a good start, and considering Ireland isn't a Parcellian disciple.
I do think we need wide receiver. Not a superstar, mind you. But one that is consistent YAC and/or Deep threat with hands. Also, we could use another pass rusher. At the moment, Wake is our only one. Even during the days of Jason Taylor in his prime, we had Armstrong, Bowens, and Carter helping him out consistently.
Watching the Pats Dolphins game it is clear that at the end of the day this team is just not talented enough to compete for the AFCE title. When Wake is the only player who can generate a pass rush and we are trotting all-pro players like Nolan Carroll, Jimmy Wilson, and RJ Stanford to slow down Tom Brady, it is just painfully obvious this team is just not good enough.
