Click on the picture or the title to check out the latest publication from our Irish Greg.
It's a MUST read!
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
IT IS ALIVE!
Click on the picture or the title to check out the latest publication from our Irish Greg.
It's a MUST read!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Best one he has done yet. And that's saying something!
ReplyDeleteGood read. Congrats IG
ReplyDeletePosted by o-meezy
A gem as usual.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to offer up a thought I've been stewing on the last couple weeks along similar lines. You might call it...Son of Frankenstein.
However this year turns out, think about next year. What will Ruskill do? What will he have to fix?
Hack has been making at least one big grab a game, sprinkled in with shorter drive sustaining catches. What's the WR training camp going to be like next year? Could Hack depose DJ or Bobby? Will Joe be the 4th? Hack is a down field threat the others aren't. And let's not forget everyone's favorite underdog, Urban. I don't think Ruskill will spend much time fixing the WRs.
Mack is getting up there, but could someone have scripted a better replacement than Weaver? Big, blocks well, can catch, and runs even better. Ruskill probably won't worry about FB.
QB is locked up, and the TE spot looks solid. Most of the best line in the league is locked up, and in a worse case scenario, Hutch can be franchised. Spencer looks like the real deal. Womack can back up either tackle and be good, or replace Gray is the magic runs out on him next year. So maybe Ruskill looks for some mid-rounders to backfill and groom, but nothing is urgent. Assuming they sign SA.
On the defensive side, the big need this year was LB. It's safe to say that Lofa and Hill have put a major dent in that need. As a group, the LB corp is young and will only get better. Tim will probably look for upgrades, but like the O-line, nothing urgent. Remember when Kaz was a starter.
The other defensive hole at the start was the D-line. The line that couldn't get a sack at the grocery store is now breaking the huddle with, "Paper or plastic". Rocky seems to have found consistency, and is challenging Tubbs--something the Texas papers hinted he needed. Darby is just chaos. Fisher is everything we hoped, and Winstrom seems to be benefiting for the inside play. Again, it's a case of looking for more depth and upgrades when you can find them.
The D backfield is solid, even without Hamlin. Dyson's been a good replacement for Lucas. The other backups are stepping in and making plays. Ruskill likes working from the line back, so considering everything else, Ruskill might focus on the DBs. Maybe try to find a shut down corner or better nickel back. Again it's another area where there is no glaring need. Remember when Willie Williams was a starter.
All that's left is special teams, but since most of it is backups, there's only so much you can do. Josh made his statement in the Dallas game. Whatever questions Holmy may have had were answered. The punter is a bit long in the tooth, so Ruskill will probably work that pretty hard, along with the PR and KR specialists.
They HAVE to sign Hutch and Shaun, but after those priorities are filled, it's all about signing and drafting for depth. There's no desparate need. When was the last time the Hawks went into the off-season without a major talent hole somewhere?
The monster is alive, but it's only getting going.
Posted by Anonymous
That last one was me.
ReplyDeletePosted by bokonon
Awesome that the draft talk has started! I think a solid finish and a solid training camp and Hackett replaces Bobby as the #2, really the 1b with D-Jack. Hell, possibly the 1a! Joe J stays on as the 4th, P-Dub, assuming he finally gets over his injury, stays on as a backup to everyone but Hackett, and he could easily take the #3 from Engram based on talent. He was the best WR in college his last year. Urban probably won't be back... but he'll play in the league somewhere. I can't think of any FA WR that they could/would bring in that would have a shot at any of the top 4 spots, unless it was a really great player, which I don't think any will even be invited. Any WR drafted will be practice squad. I could go on and on.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't it be funny if during the draft Ruskell just said "No thanks, we're good."
Agree, DBs are probably the biggest D need, although I doubt we'd get a FA, unless it was John Lynch.
Posted by JoSCh
What I'm really looking forward to is the OL in the next couple of years. Not only are we good, but we are set for the future, assuming we re-sign Hutch. Imagine a line with Jones, Hutch, a seasoned Spencer, Pork Chop, & Locklear. It's enought to stain the underwear of DL's everywhere.
ReplyDeleteI don't mean to slight Tobeck and Gray. I really respect their accomplishments, tenacity, discipline and technique. But they do get overpowered against physically dominating DT's. Holmgren can scheme his way around it, bootleg Matt, Alexander can always cut back, but it is a weakness in some matchups. They just flat get beat.
I guess I just really look forward to what this line will become.
Posted by Bluefoot
Blue,
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree with you more. If not next year, then the following season the O-line will be sick.
Nice snow flakes.
Posted by bokonon