Free Agents

[papasmurfbell]

I dont.  He has never had to go that far so he doesnt do it well.  By this age you are what you are.

[tsylvester]

I think this year will tell the tale, he will be well set in Todd's system, study film to see what defenses are doing. With Henry, the backers will have to step up, or freeze in place for a beat which should open the middle up more, a place Lamar is most accurate and where Bateman & Flowers flourish

[oldno82]

As long as the offensive line holds up, everything should work to Lamar's advantage.

[papasmurfbell]

I think Henry is a bad investment.  When is that timebomb on those legs going off?

Lamar can spend a lifetime in Monks system.  The issue is he was not taught a skill when he was young to be patient and go through  the progressions.  Its 1 2 run.  Last yr he even tried to go past that and he just couldn't.

[tsylvester]

I'm fine with his running for the most part. He just got caught trying to do too much and either would not run when he should have, holding the ball too long, getting sacked.

Or

He would just focus in the pocket on one side of the field for so long, he would get sacked.

The part I agree with you on is his pocket awareness, which sucks. It has led to him being sacked, fumbling, quite often. Just a slight move up or over would not only give his linemen a chance to move their men past him, or keep the strip sack from happening.

[papasmurfbell]

The only focusing on a half of the field comes from what he was taught.  It’s hard to unlearn that at 27.

[tsylvester]

There were signs last year that he was slowing down his reads and going through them in a timely manner. Sure, they were few and far between but I believe he will get better this year

[oldno82]

27 is young enough to still improve, but as each year goes by it is more and more difficult to change. He did show strides of improvement last year as well as some foot-dragging at other times. IF he gets adequate protection this year, I think then we'll know if he is going to progress as a passer to the next level. 

My biggest concern though with Lamar is can he get his timing down on the deep ball to open receivers? We left some deep gains on the field last year because he had trouble timing his throws to receivers who had a full stride on the defender, but the ball was overthrown.

I think the ability is there for him to do that physically, but has this become a psychological roadblock for him?

[papasmurfbell]

59 minutes ago, tsylvester said:

There were signs last year that he was slowing down his reads and going through them in a timely manner. Sure, they were few and far between but I believe he will get better this year

How much of it was teams not having tape on the new offense?  As is a player who is 6 yrs in he reverted back to bad habits.  
 

12 minutes ago, oldno82 said:

27 is young enough to still improve, but as each year goes by it is more and more difficult to change. He did show strides of improvement last year as well as some foot-dragging at other times. IF he gets adequate protection this year, I think then we'll know if he is going to progress as a passer to the next level. 

My biggest concern though with Lamar is can he get his timing down on the deep ball to open receivers? We left some deep gains on the field last year because he had trouble timing his throws to receivers who had a full stride on the defender, but the ball was overthrown.

I think the ability is there for him to do that physically, but has this become a psychological roadblock for him?  As for accuracy you have it or don’t.  Also Lamar has Joe in him.  Unless he sees you open you aren’t so the ball comes out late and he really has to fling it to get it there.

At that age you are usually set in your ways.  

[tsylvester]

Teams only need a few games, tapes, to adjust to the nee offenses they face.

As for as facing Lamar, they played him the same way, 0 blitz on key downs, tight man coverage sprinkled with match up zones, flood the middle of the field with deep lineback drops on key downs. They play Lamar, not so much the offense, limit his running force him to pass.

How did that work this past year? He won another MVP.

The only thing to really stop him, in the playoffs, was him; he got too stuck in trying to do too much in the passing game.

[oldno82]

1 hour ago, tsylvester said:

The only thing to really stop him, in the playoffs, was him; he got too stuck in trying to do too much in the passing game.

Succinctly put and spot on.

[tsylvester]

Ravens have moved Cunningham to wide receiver, not sure why they are using this roster spot for training, it is not as if they are set at every other position...

[oldno82]

I don't think they're happy with him as a QB and they've both signed Johnson and drafted another.

[tsylvester]

Jeepers did ya see what Waddle signed for? 3 years, 84.7 mil, $76 guaranteed, $28.25 average, the later two most important.

They still have Tua to sign, so he and the 2 receivers may, may take up almost half of the yearly cap....

[papasmurfbell]

Yep

[oldno82]

Livin' large down in Miami. I think they're crazy. One injury away from cap catastrophe.

[tsylvester]

Vikes signed Jefferson, imagine that money, Lamar's  and Agent 0's on the books

The Minnesota Vikings and star wide receiver Justin Jefferson have agreed to a four-year, $140 million contract extension that includes $110 million guaranteed, sources told ESPN. The deal makes him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.  The deal, which was negotiated by WME Football, includes $88.743 million due at signing.

[papasmurfbell]

But Lamar has left probably 150 mil on the table by not maximizing endorsements and waiting so long to ink.  3% would have been worth getting those dollars.

[oldno82]

Though I think you're right that Lamar would have done somewhat better if he had an agent, the Jefferson price is just plain crazy for a WR.

If Lamar had had an agent, I think there's a good chance he wouldn't still be with us. The negotiations were tough enough as they were.

[papasmurfbell]

So we would be at a her positive if he had an agent.

[tsylvester]

Jefferson's best attribute is deep sideline and deep post routes. The two biggest weaknesses that Lamar has right now in the passing game.

It would be one thing if a receiver just had to adjust to his deep throws, Jefferson could, but the passes are not even close, they are out of bounds along the sideline

No sense brining in someone, especially for that type of money, until or unless Lamar gets more accurate on those routes. Until then, if it happens, keep using rookies, cheap, fast, hope the blind squirrel finds a nut.

[tsylvester]

Niners taking advantage of having a well performing quarterback on a rookie salary,

Reigning Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey once again has reset the running back market, signing a two-year extension with the San Francisco 49ers averaging $19 million per year, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Tuesday.

McCaffrey will receive an additional $8 million over what he was scheduled to make in 2024 and 2025 while adding $24 million in guarantees. The deal was negotiated by WME Football.

[oldno82]

Still, a lot of guaranteed money for a running back. They are so fragile.

[tsylvester]

Not sure how or if he can help, but maybe.. worth a try

 

For the past two seasons, Fisher’s dominated for the D.C. Defenders in the United Football League. In their 10-game season, Fisher finished with 33 tackles, seven tackles for loss and seven sacks, including a strip-sack recovered by Fisher. His seven sacks were tied for second-most in the UFL

[papasmurfbell]

No harm in a flier.