Simple Question

I don't post here very often but have been reading the boards back when the other board was still up . I was wondering for the math guys here is it possible to sign Justin Houston and maybe Byron maxwell ? I feel like we are 1 good pass rusher and 1good cb away from the Superbowl. Maybe if Ben takes just a little less money is this possible ? We can feel the rest of needs with draft picks . Thanks .

 

I agree that if we can get that stud pass rusher and cover corner, our chance at the Super Bowl increases exponentially. The question is do we draft them or sign them in free agency? Logic would say it would make more sense to get immediate results by signing a seasoned veteran. But I'm hopeful that Keith Butler will get our young draft picks involved in the action much sooner than DL did. We can't afford to wait 3 or 4 years for our defensive draft picks to pay dividends!

 

Encouraging developments. One of the criticisms leveled at DL in the past has been that the complexity of his schemes make it nearly impossible for young players to contribute early. I just hope Butler finds an effective, yet simple, scheme that allows his playmakers to react and respond intuitively and make plays.

 

McCourty is the guy I would like to have but Maxwell would be awesome too. My buddy told me the other day though that he read an article that said there are only 3 guys the Pats would get in a bidding war for and it was Brady, Gronk, and McCourty, and MAYBE Revis. I think Maxwell is gonna get a big payday wherever he lands. I doubt we would do it. I agree though that if we can shore up the d we are gonna be serious contenders again.

 

not to mention we used to be able to stockpile backups that could start when the starter left. we don't have that luxury anymore because of the cba.

 

Contributed, but didn't do nearly enough, especially Shazier and Jarvis. Those two were high can't miss draft picks. We have to start getting more out of our defensive picks. I think we need to focus more on the DL and DB's and less on LB's. Is it just me or does it seem that drafting pass rushers is more of a crap shoot than other defensive positions? Hell, even Clowney was a disappointment.

I still have faith in Shazier, but I don't think Jarvis ever lives up to his draft position, not even close

 

The CBA was in full effect under Cowher and anytime we lost a good player, the next guy up would be just as good, especially LB'ers.

 

Agreed. And don't forget that Art Rooney essentially gave the team a directive a couple of years back to start getting our young draft picks involved much sooner. I'm sure that's another reason we've seen more of them on the field of late.

 

Maybe, I really don't remember. What I do remember is we were basically a LB'er factory under Cowher. We always had guys ready to step in and contribute at a high level. We're still trying to replace Farrior and Harrison. We're really incompetent at drafting defensive players these days

 

as BF said it was more of a transition period of the cba then. we could and did hold players longer and were able to sign draft picks for a longer period of time. I remember when we had tons of backups good enough to probably start for most teams. that luxury has gone by the wayside for the most part. it's much tougher to develop guys now and keep them by the time they are ready or we have an opening for them. I would love to see the rules changed for the practice squad poaching. I think it could be a nice tool for teams to develop players for down the road.

 

I dont see any thing special about maxwell, he had 35 solo tackles and two picks in 2014, he was a 6th round pick and has two years as a starter, in 2013 he only had 23 solo tackles but did get 4 picks, but only had 2 picks this year, so forking over big money to this guy in free agency doesnt make sense to me when we can draft a good corner who can breakout and have a better season than Maxwell has had, and get him for rookie money...

 

Which should mean that it would be easier to find quality 4-3 talent than it used to be. But we don't want to switch for some reason.

 

I think they would have a better chance at signing Maxwell than Houston, but I don't see it happening though.

 

When I posted this thread I was just thinking , Ben probably has about 4 more good years left hopefully more . we all know how hard it is to find a good QB these days , we have young studs on offense maybe now is the time to go big and get that proven pass rusher and Cb . If Jarvis don't pan out and we miss in the draft we could be hurting for a while .

 

Signing top free agents usually means overpaying. Signing free agents off a Super bowl team always means overpaying.

btw I fully expect Houston to get tagged if he won't sign a longer term deal before the tag deadline.

 

The problem is that proven pass rusher in their prime don't hit the open market very often. Neither do top CBs for that matter.

Usually you end up overpaying for 2nd tier talent or aging stars.

 

I believe this was because of Tomlin's input. He will also have more say with Butler at the helm of the Defense.

They will NOT be in the running for Justin Houston. He will get close to Watt money.

 

So does every other team. The point is to develop and get younger players on the field sooner. This was not a LeBeau strength.

 

I'm with you Jack. I remember all of us screaming on the old board to get Washington out of town and put Desheah Townsend in. As soon as they did we started getting INT's again. I would bet good money Shamarko will play this year and play good. IF we don't try to hang on to Troy