Eck (Linkin Park isa Rollah Coasta)Mar 24, 2006 5:26:43 pm
they have done a good job filling holes vacated by FAs going elsewhere:
Randel El - they still have cedric wilson, who showed positive signs of being an effective #2 when ARE missed a little time... plus there's no way in hell they would have matched what WASH gave ARE... imho, WR is the only need they might want to hit with the 32nd pick. There's also some young guys on the team already that have shown flashes.
Kimo VO (DE) - they kept Keisel (27) to replace Kimo (35), who is nearing the end of his career. Keisel also showed talent in the time he played last year (had 2 sacks in the AFC champ game)... much better speed than Kimo.
Chris Hope (S) - probably the weakest part of the defense last year, he's been replaced with Ryan Clark from wash, who would have to work hard to underachieve like Hope. Also re-signed Logan.
So, just like other years, Pitt is in a great spot to promote from within and thru the draft instead of having to rely on free agent players (and their escalated contracts) to field a good team next year. This means they can take the "best player available" with that 32nd pick... which is a good situation because that late in the first, you don't want to be stuck reaching to fill an area of need and not get good value on the pick.
My prediction would be possibly going after one of the top 3 WRs if they are not taken by then: Holmes, Jackson, Moss. Any of those guys would be able to fill the hole left by ARE quite easily and quickly.
another possibilty would be RB... if one of the "bigger" guys is still around - White will no doubt be gone by then... but maybe Maroney... or Humes in a later round... or De’Arrius Howard
or they could go with the tried and true best OL on the board strategy that's worked well for them before
all in all... I like where we are!
Randel El - they still have cedric wilson, who showed positive signs of being an effective #2 when ARE missed a little time... plus there's no way in hell they would have matched what WASH gave ARE... imho, WR is the only need they might want to hit with the 32nd pick. There's also some young guys on the team already that have shown flashes.
Kimo VO (DE) - they kept Keisel (27) to replace Kimo (35), who is nearing the end of his career. Keisel also showed talent in the time he played last year (had 2 sacks in the AFC champ game)... much better speed than Kimo.
Chris Hope (S) - probably the weakest part of the defense last year, he's been replaced with Ryan Clark from wash, who would have to work hard to underachieve like Hope. Also re-signed Logan.
So, just like other years, Pitt is in a great spot to promote from within and thru the draft instead of having to rely on free agent players (and their escalated contracts) to field a good team next year. This means they can take the "best player available" with that 32nd pick... which is a good situation because that late in the first, you don't want to be stuck reaching to fill an area of need and not get good value on the pick.
My prediction would be possibly going after one of the top 3 WRs if they are not taken by then: Holmes, Jackson, Moss. Any of those guys would be able to fill the hole left by ARE quite easily and quickly.
another possibilty would be RB... if one of the "bigger" guys is still around - White will no doubt be gone by then... but maybe Maroney... or Humes in a later round... or De’Arrius Howard
or they could go with the tried and true best OL on the board strategy that's worked well for them before
all in all... I like where we are!