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LJ Fort Free Agency?

Discussion in 'Steelers Talk' started by mcam, Feb 10, 2019.

  1. mcam

    mcam Well-Known Member

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  2. Thigpen82

    Thigpen82 Bitter optimist

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    If I was Fort, I’d be testing the market. No guarantee of a starting job at Pittsburgh, and coming out of a decent season when Butler finally gave him the chance.

    It’s been frustrating to watch as he clearly brings something to the field neither Williams or Bostic do. But given the chances of us drafting an ILB early on, you can understand if Fort wants to look elsewhere.
     
  3. mac daddyo

    mac daddyo Well-Known Member

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    He should be the one kept as I have been saying. Vince should test the market along with bostic. Put the new guy on the field with fort.:cool:
     
  4. Lambert

    Lambert Well-Known Member

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    Let him test the market. If someone else wants to overpay that's fine. If he can't find work and wants to stay here for a reasonable price I can live with that. Guy is okay but overrated by many around here. Of course, I hate our coaching staff and scheme so that's fair to mention when evaluating our players.
     
  5. mac daddyo

    mac daddyo Well-Known Member

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    he's the best we have currently. paying vince last year was overpaying as far as i'm concerned. most of the misuse and evaluation goes on butler. i have never thought he was good at it nor have our LB'ers been that great since he's been here. now he's back doing both jobs and i only see it getting worse before it gets better with him. just a mess right now and to let a good one get away is par for the course. :cool:
     
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  6. Formerscribe

    Formerscribe Well-Known Member

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    Butler has been with the Steelers since 2003, so he has coached some great linebackers. I'd certainly love to see a unit like Harrison, Woodley, Farrior and Foote again.

    I actually thought he was fine as a linebackers coach, but as a defensive coordinator, he should have been fired two years ago.
     
  7. Disco1981

    Disco1981 Well-Known Member

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    They can't test the market...They're not FA's
     
  8. Disco1981

    Disco1981 Well-Known Member

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    Never understood giving Williams the money and the years...They lost Shazier, and I think they panicked...Williams was a " decent " backup, But to give him all that money and years was beyond stupid...
     
  9. mac daddyo

    mac daddyo Well-Known Member

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    Foote wasn't great but had a ton around him and so did those backers. We also played a very strait up 3-4 most of the time. Fitting and executing a different style with backers built for that style hasn't been real successful under him. heck he didn't want to get rid of foote when it was clear he wasn't that good. He didn't want harrison as the starter and he ended up dpoy. He was hesitant in getting fort on the field this year when it was clear the others were not getting it done. That's his MO in staying with players that are not of the proper skillset. We have also had the williams, dupree, Jones and bostics under him. I just don't think he has been all that great as a coach in either aspect. That's jmo.:cool:
     
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  10. mac daddyo

    mac daddyo Well-Known Member

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    after they are cut they can.:cool:
     
    • Hilarious Hilarious x 1
  11. mac daddyo

    mac daddyo Well-Known Member

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    it can be hilarious as we watch the same thing going on next season too. You countered my views about fort in another thread of how average he was but when the numbers came out they told a different story. Why keep guys that can't do what we need them to do.:cool:
     
  12. groutbrook

    groutbrook

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    Why doesn't Fort get more action. It seems he's only on the field about 25% of the time.
     
  13. DukeDukeDaDaDa

    DukeDukeDaDaDa Well-Known Member

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    I feel like there is an opportunity being missed between LJ Fort and Long John Silver's.
     
  14. Steel_Elvis

    Steel_Elvis Staff Member Mod Team

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    I think by the end of the season he was getting the 2nd most snaps of our LBs, ahead of Bostic.
     
  15. 86WardsWay

    86WardsWay Well-Known Member

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    That was also baffling to me as he was lighting it up in preseason. Maybe they just didn't like his size but he definitely earned more playing time than he was given during the season.
     
  16. steelersrule6

    steelersrule6 Well-Known Member

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    The Steelers don't see Fort as a starting ILB :shrug:.
     
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  17. jeh1856

    jeh1856 Beer is good

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    Are you arguing with yourself? You quoted your own post.

    If you are arqueing with yourself, which one of you is winning? :huh:
     
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  18. mcam

    mcam Well-Known Member

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    I don't know. I couldn't figure out why they took him out in place of Bostic. I wasn't incredibly impressed last year. Definitely ILB needs a revamp IMO.

    Fort was pretty good, but like others stated I think he's going to end up getting overpaid in free agency.

    Good for him though.
     
  19. MojaveDesertPghFan

    MojaveDesertPghFan

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    Here's Mac's mantra: "Roses are red, violets are blue, I'm schizophrenic, and so am I". We're just funning with ya Mac. :lolol:
     
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  20. Steel_Elvis

    Steel_Elvis Staff Member Mod Team

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    I don’t think Fort will be overpaid. He’ll be 29 next season and has been a journeyman who primarily plays special teams until last season. Last year was his only season with extensive quality snaps at inside linebacker, and it was in a part time role for much of the year. I don’t think anyone will target him for a high value contract. I think we’ll be able to resign him for about what we gave Bostic last season.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  21. mcam

    mcam Well-Known Member

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    I have him graded over Bostic. << wasn't all that impressed by that pick up. Showed some flashes here and there but seemed to get exploited more than anything.
     
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  22. Steel_Elvis

    Steel_Elvis Staff Member Mod Team

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    I agree that Fort outplayed Bostic last year. However, Bostic was coming off a season as a fairly productive full time starter and had the pedigree of having been a 2nd round draft pick that teams were familiar with from the draft evaluation process. Fort is a journeyman special teamer who had 1/2 season of good play getting a lot of snaps. I think that’s going to temper how other teams see him. Anyone needing a starting LB is going to be looking elsewhere. He’ll be viewed as what he is: a capable backup and part time starter. That’s what I think anyway.
     
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  23. groutbrook

    groutbrook

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    From the original post:
    "PFF graded Fort as the NFL’s 19th-best inside linebacker, 10th best against the run"
    Considering his playing time, something isn't adding up here.
     
  24. mac daddyo

    mac daddyo Well-Known Member

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    I hope they do sign him to a recent contract. I could see a poetic type of even a little more. Still less than Vince 5 to 6 mil. I could see lj at 2 to 3 mil. He began starting against one of the toughest parts of our schedule and our defense was playing better. Fix the 2nd corner spot, add to Dupree s spot, decide what to do with Burnett, add a good draft pick to the inside backed spot and we are not that far off on defense. Our rookies from last year will have more experience, the safety spot will have a year together heading towards two, which I think will make a difference and we could be pretty solid.:cool:
     
  25. SteelerGlenn

    SteelerGlenn

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    Yeah a recent poetic contract would be the way to go. Lol!!!
    Seriously though I’d like to se fort back next year. His snap count for me depends on how they address the ILB position in the draft and FA.
    Ultimately I’d love to see a top draft pick and a good FA starting with V. Williams and Fort as the backups. Bostich and Matakevich gone.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1

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