NFL 2016 Offseason Thread - Fins' Quest to Defend Their Crown

Alex

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Bengals sign Karlos Dansby. I approve even if he is an old guy. I think there's still a quality player there.
 

Tenks

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The old and slow LB core gets older!

But I agree we needed some depth there so I won't moan about a potential contributor getting signed up
 

moontayle

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That's a pretty good pickup. Helps depth and gives them options in the draft to get a good player instead of reaching for a need.
 

Tenks

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That's a pretty good pickup. Helps depth and gives them options in the draft to get a good player instead of reaching for a need.
There isn't really a scenario we don't take WR in the first unless all the first round talent (if you can call these WR first round talent) is snatched up way early. I don't see that happening so we're going WR.
 

Ambiturner

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I would still rather have Kap running Chip Kelly's offense than Gabbert. Plus the 49ers have so much salary cap space, who really cares? Even with him being paid I believe they still have like $40 million or something ridiculous.
It's not use it or lose it anymore. You can push unused cap space into future years.
 

Ameraves

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It's not use it or lose it anymore. You can push unused cap space into future years.
Understood, but it isn't like the 49ers are going to go out and spend a ton on free agency. Unless Baalke gets fired next off-season and they totally change their approach next year.
 

BrutulTM

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Bringing a big money free agent to a crappy team is a bad plan. See the Oakland Raiders for the last 30 years. Bringing a big money free agent or two to a good team that wants to be great is a good plan. See the 2015 Denver Broncos.

I could see Baalke and company building through the draft and then changing their strategy in free agency but with what they have for next year I think it would have been a waste to bring in any big name players this year. There's no way to fix the 49ers with a couple of players no matter who they are. I think rebuilding the defense/OL through the draft this year and looking for a QB and some receivers next year would be a pretty solid strategy. Who knows if that's what they're doing though.
 

moontayle

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First of the NFL dead zones. FA all but over (at least until the June 1st cuts can get designated), Draft still a month away. Ugh.
 

Lenardo

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so the new trial Kickoff touchback to the 25yd line. how many of you think that there will be a significant increase in kickoffs that "force" a run out- ie a kickoff coming down around the 5 yard line- just kicked higher for more air time.

i'm thinking that there will be a good 25-30% more returns this upcoming season compared to last year due to coaches doing the field position game- force a return and opponent has the ball at the ~20 vs no return and the ball is at the 25.

Looking at what has happened so far this offseason- unless injuries riddle the team. the patriots - in my opinion- have a decent schedule, but none of the afc east teams- at least so far- seems to have taken a significant upgrade path, so figure 4-2 for those games then of the other 10 games 8 and 2, so my guess is the patriots will be no WORSE than 12-4 for the season (again barring injuries to key players)- IF the new players mesh with brady, they'll have upgraded significantly there (for those players not gronk edelman and amendola) plus the patriots have made some decent -potential- O-line gains.
pats schedule:
HOME: BUF, MIA., NYJ, BAL, CIN, LA, SEA, HOU
AWAY: BUF, MIA., NYJ, CLE, PIT, ARI, SF, DEN
 

Ambiturner

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They said the same thing when they moved the kickoff up, but it never really happened so I doubt it will be an issue
 

moontayle

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Their thinking is that teams won't run out if the ball is even a yard into the end zone because having a guaranteed 25-yd line start is better than gambling for getting past that. But I agree with you, this will likely have teams specifically shorting their kicks to try and get a return out of the other team and rely on their special teamers to prevent them from getting to the 25.

Feels like they didn't quite think that one through.
 

Merrith

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Their thinking is that teams won't run out if the ball is even a yard into the end zone because having a guaranteed 25-yd line start is better than gambling for getting past that. But I agree with you, this will likely have teams specifically shorting their kicks to try and get a return out of the other team and rely on their special teamers to prevent them from getting to the 25.

Feels like they didn't quite think that one through.
How many times do you see a guy get all pumped up to bring one out last year only to get wrecked by the 15? Smart returners will take the guaranteed 25 yard starting point if the ball lands in the end zone, but I agree you're going to see more kickers try to leave kicks in the air to force a return.
 

moontayle

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It'll be more pronounced towards the end of the season, especially in outdoor games. Even good kickers have a hard time kicking a cold ball out of the end zone.
 

Djay

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WR is the biggest need for the Vikings one pick on front of you guys just FYI.
Probably, but the Vikings GM tends to lean towards best player available. Rumblings I've heard is that we may take one of the D-Line guys even though we're loaded there. I really want to bolster the FS position next to Harrison Smith, but I don't pay enough attention to college to know if anyone is good enough to take in the first. The team has done a good enough job drafting in recent years that I trust whatever happens on draft day.
 

Slaythe

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Probably, but the Vikings GM tends to lean towards best player available. Rumblings I've heard is that we may take one of the D-Line guys even though we're loaded there. I really want to bolster the FS position next to Harrison Smith, but I don't pay enough attention to college to know if anyone is good enough to take in the first. The team has done a good enough job drafting in recent years that I trust whatever happens on draft day.
Same, but I think the real change has been Zimmer. Spielman did pretty well prior (except for trading with the Pats for that 1st to get Patterson), but Zimmer's scouting has really put their drafting over the top.
 

Tenks

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WR is the biggest need for the Vikings one pick on front of you guys just FYI.
I think Treadwell is universally considered the best then there is a handful of WRs in the rung below him. Honestly the WR class this year is pretty horrible.
 

opiate82

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So sounds like 49'ers are stuck with Kaep, his salary would likely be guaranteed even if they cut him since he is still recovering from surgery.
Only problem I see with Kaep and the Niners being stuck with each other is that Kaep doesn't want to be there so you have to be concerned about him buying in, especially buying in on a system like Chip runs. But his salary is a non-issue, the Niners both have the cap space and his salary is now in the bottom half of the league for QBs. Yes, you can roll-over unused cap space, but only for so long.

I think it is easily worth holding out for the right trade offer, and if that doesn't materialize, the expense of trying to put him in a system best suited for his tools and seeing what happens. The worst-case scenario is the Niners are down what, like $2-4 million in cap space per year over a 4 year stretch that they would have saved by dumping him? Not exactly detrimental, especially considering that they basically have almost nobody worth spending any money on otherwise. There is enough upside to holding onto Kaep and seeing how this year plays out to make an acceptable gamble.
 

jooka

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rewatching denver vs steelers right now. Can't believe 'boys let Ware go.