Bell played pretty well last year but dropped off a bit and is 33. H e is also due salaries of $3.7 and $4.3M, this and next season. Clemons showed promise as a first time starter, while playing injured in the second half. I like Jones and Amaya but, nothing is proven. I think we will be OK with what we have but, it is the weakest part of our D. The safety position appears loaded in FA. The top four overall, as rated by PFF, should all be available. #1 Mickell, from Philly, is a Pro Bowler and VG vs run and in coverage but, he is 31. #2 Huff, from Oak, is a FS who is VG in coverage and good in run support. He is 28. #3 Weddle, SS from SD, is VG in run support and good in coverage. He is 26. #4 SS Landry is also VG in run support and Good in coverage. He is 28. For me, I would like to see us sign one to make our D even better while the position is available to be filled.
We have more than enough to sign who we want, with a little reason. I bring up safety because of how many VG ones are out there. Signing one is behind RB, QB, and then it becomes debatable.
Yeremiah Bell had a rough start to the season, but rebounded pretty well. He's a not in danger of an immediate need for replacement, and it looks like they put together a long-term replacement plan for him. AJ Edds was drafted to replace him as a Nickel linebacker, and Reshad Jones looks like he's got starting potential. Eric Weddle is going to be hard for them to pass up, I think. They probably will, but he's about picture perfect for what they've wanted at FS.
Making a move now is maybe a year early, and maybe the young guys will be great. However, I look at what is available now, and Weddle (as you say) is a great fit at 26. I would also consider Huff at 28. Why not make the D that much better, as it may have to be our ticket to the playoffs?
We were hard pressed last year to find anyone who was backing Sparano's plan to use Clemons as a starter yet still fans want to bring in an overpaid veteran to replace him this season. Develop the young guy there and then develop Jones to replace Bell. How hard is this to understand. Were you asleep last season during the Clark circus or the fact that we weren't going to over pay Rolle. Why do fans always want to immediately want run and spend in free agency instead of developing their youth. It's ridiculous.
I really like Huff's skill set and think that it might just take the right coach to make him a great player. He wasn't a great player in Oakland so I can't imagine that he will be a high priced FA. He seems like the kind of low risk/high reward FA that Ireland likes to target. And with Bell's age and salary rising I could easily see that being something they would think about. It may depend on how confident they are about Jones. I could easily see them paying Bell's high salary one year while they wait and see if Jones develops.
I don't want anyone replacing clemons, and I believe if your a good GM, you trust your eye on Jones, and go in another direction which would be pass rusher in this case. I think the majority of our spending needs to go to the offense and special teams..
The reason to look at replacing Clemons is because he struggles in the TO department. It was a knock in college and remains in the pros. You want your safeties getting their hands on the ball. "Development" is hardly an automatic process guaranteed to produce a polished pro. While it is certainly worth investing in youth, that does not mean you should ignore the chance to bring in a ready to play impact guy.
So who do you bring in to replace Clemons? Baldinger talked about about the safety position being the weak link. I'm not buying it...
Young player, basically a rookie in terms of starting you can't just toss them overboard when the defense overall played well, and he was not alone in the dropped TO dept plus he plays injured so I cut him some slack.
Cap reality though, unless the player is just over the hill or unskilled you really have to think twice about moving a younger, cheaper, player off of a job.
I didn't specifically say I was looking to replace Clemons. I would have preferred taking Earl Thomas in the draft last year, but well yeah that didn't happen so whatever there. You asked why we would look to replace Clemons, I provided a possible reason. You asked why people pursue free agents, and I mentioned why they likely do. I think overpaying for vets on the downside of a career is a poor proposition (unless you are on the cusp of it all and NEED to make a move), but if you have a chance to acquire a good talent in their prime sometimes it behooves you to take that chance, like with Dansby. If the FO feels a FA safety out there will make us better then I will not argue. Clemons wasn't abysmal, but he doesn't produce TOs and wasn't amazing either. I'm neutral on him.
No one can dispute that safety was the weakest link on our D, or that the safeties mentioned were better last year than what we had. I am not saying that we are in dire need to replace them or giving up on the young guys. However, you have to look to upgrade a position when the opportunity presents itself. I would rather move Bell now instead of waiting, as we did with Porter. If there were not clear cut better options out there, I would stand pat but that is not the case. It's a bit like the guard position. Jerry or Garner may be very good but, there are 4-5 guys available who are better and available. I'm looking to improve our team with the positions available this year.
The people who want to replace a 2nd year starter who is one of the reasons this defense was so good are hilarious. I'm sure we can just plug in any safety to this system like any system. Remind me of the Courtney Lee trade in the NBA. Why replace a young player who has shown promise just to "maybe' get better, if only marginally at that position and as a whole.
IF you read the posts, you would find that I am talking about Clemons but, mostly Bell. Does that change your opinion?
Clark and Rolle have nothing whatsoever to do with this thread. I am talking about adding a safety who is better than what we have. Here's a News Flash- there are two safeties on a defensive football team. JK/LOL
You are bringing up the same argument that was here last off season. Clemons was not supposed to be an option. His range was questioned and his youth. He played well and is a young player we can develop. To say Clark and Rolle aren't in this discussion when talking about the safety position is ridiculous. I feel like I'm living it all over again. Safety is not a concern really at this point. Especially with a guy who has a season under his belt as a starter at FS. Jones will replace Bell at some point. There are YOUR TWO safeties for the future!
Drop Bells salary, sign Weddle, or Huff, or Mickell, let R jones continue to develop, and lead the special teams. Its a cutthroat ballsy move, but there are limited positions that can be upgraded on this defense..Situational pass rusher..Inside linebacker..Strong safety..Lets say we can't get the guy we want at the situational pass rush positioin, and Nolan doesn't want to get rid of Crowder, this is a scenario where I can kind of see it happening.. Letting go of the bullfrog...insert sadface here.. Just looking at all scenarios ya know..
I've said nothing against Clemons or Bell, and Clark and Rolle are history. I've also said that I like Jones and Amaya. My point is that there is some VG talent out there at safety, and because of so many FAs and 4-5 at S, chances are it will cost less than in a normal year. After one good game, I can't count on Jones to be the answer, and neither can anyone. The same can be said of Jerry at G in a different sense. This FA is a novel situation. I can't believe that you don't even want to consider better players based on meaningless events from a year ago.
I'm just doing the same DJ. Would adding one of these S's make the team better is all I'm asking? I believe the answer to be yes.
I'm pretty skeptical of this cap reality. You're probably not going to release Bell and sign a comparable player for cheaper.
I like the thought process and I'll tell you why..This is the year to spend the money, so if some things fall through at other positions, we'll need to make a move..Its time this year to have that mentality.. We'll see how free agency falls..
I'd be in the market to trade or cut Bell. Great teams know when to cut ties with vets. Look at the Eagles with Dawkins. Patriots with Seymour. Sometimes you just have to do it for the team. Sometimes you end up like the Colts who have held on to Bob Sanders way too long.
I agree with the premise, but the examples are shoddy. Dawkins and Seymour are both players that are on a whole separate level than Bell. Further, Dawkins walked as a free agent... there was no compensation. When did Bob Sanders have a high trade value? You could argue that it may be time to move on from Bell, but we can't reasonably expect more than a 5th rounder in return. The front office needs to ask themselves: is it worth losing one of the team's leaders and best tackler? Are we that confident in the internal options? If not, are we confident we can sign a guy who can step in and perform? Too high a risk for to little a reward. I say we keep Bell and continue to develop the internal options. We can reevaluate next April and draft accordingly. It's not like Bell is performing at a low level...
Weddle and Landry aren't going anywhere. They'll be re-signed by their respective teams and even AJ Smith knows that... Huff might be moving on...he's likely to be a FA, but could he be tagged ?? I don't know. I liked Huff coming out of college several years ago...Mickell is intriguing but I don't see Reid letting him go...he might be one of the necessary players to keep there given their propensity to give up big plays last year. But do you go after a 31 yr old S who is 31 ?? At what cost ?? I agree that we need some help at the safety position, but this FA period is likely to be shortened and have some special rules attached that may allow teams to keep some of these players...afterall, if it goes down like we think it may, teams will have 3 yrs worth of guys as UFA (4th, 5th and 6th yr guys). It seems to me there's going to be some sort of extra tags just to keep the FA period from being a mass free-for-all for this year...The complexion of some teams could be altered dramatically if not and then add in the shortened period of time, the lost work in this offseason....too much for a league that prides itself on parody.
I can see why they'd want to upgrade the position. Trading Bell likely won't happen either... He's always been a steady influence but he's also not performing at a PB level either...if the opportunity presents itself, his leadership and tackling ability will be reasons to trade him, not reasons to keep him...
This tag situation is confusing. The players do not want franchise tags, saying that forcing a player to take a one year deal, even at a very high price, is not fair to a player who should be able to get 4-5 years, and the compensation is not realistic. I have to agree. I think they should change that but, with so many other issues, it could stay the same. They say some tags will remain but, it is still being discussed. They also say that owners are asking for 3-5 rights of first refusal on FA contracts offered. I can't see how that would work. In the past, teams were given seven days to match. In this market, that will create mass confusion. The last thing mentioned is giving teams around a week to sign their own players before FA starts. That makes perfect sense. I haven't a clue on how they will work this out.
I would not be upset if we kept the safeties we now have. My concern with Bell is mostly age. His contract makes it easier to possibly sign a safety who is as good or better, and is 5 years younger. This option is there now, and likely will not be in another year. If we are sold on Clemons and Jones or Amaya being our future, then we don't have any reason to go shopping. Otherwise, it would be a good idea.
I never said you have to believe in Jones. I've been saying you have to believe in your young talent which is the way the Dolphins are more than likely looking at the S position. Last season we had a FS that before the season had not played full time yet we didn't bend over backwards or cough up big bucks to chase a FA. Now Clemons has a year under his belt and I would guess they would be even less apt to go after a starting FS. They believe they have one IMO. As far as Jones the approach is the same I believe. Develop what you have. Bell is nearly done and Jones will take over. Safety is not a huge need for this team. Those events from a year ago weren't meaningless. They tell the story of their approach on the secondary. As for Jerry I think Garner is just better when he is healthy. Did you forget he is on this team. I'll always welcome an upgrade but I'm in favor of building through the draft and developing your own talent. Not spending meaningless dollars on an over rated over paid FA. We have two guys to develop.
