Position Primer 2013 - Guard/Center

Discussion in 'Tennessee Titans and NFL Talk' started by Carpy, Jan 3, 2013.

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  1. Carpy

    Carpy Disgruntled foreign veteran

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    2013 Cap hit for all G/Cs on roster ($12.515m) – 11.7% of team spend

    Players under contract:
    Steve Hutchinson (6’5”, 313) – 35 years old
    2013 Cap Number - $6.75m ($4.75m salary + $1.5m SB pro-rata + $0.5m Roster bonus)
    2014 Cap Number – $6.5m ($5m salary + $1.5m SB pro-rata)
    2015 Cap Number - UFA

    Eugene Amano (6,3”, 300) – 30 years old
    2013 Cap Number - $5.753m ($3.685m salary + $0.618m roster bonus + $1.45m SB pro-rata)
    2014 Cap Number – $6.255m ($4.187m salary + $0.618m roster bonus + $1.45m SB pro-rata)
    2015 Cap Number – UFA

    Mitch Petrus (6’3”, 315) – 25 years old
    2013 Cap Number - $0.64m
    2014 Cap Number - UFA

    Expired Contracts
    Leroy Harris
    Deuce Lutui
    Fernando Velasco
    Kevin Matthews (RFA)
    Kyle DeVan

    3 burning questions (I wish there was only 3!!!)

    1. Will Hutch retire?
    He was serviceable for most of this season (nothing more), but that now makes 3 seasons in a row where he hasn’t been able to see out 16 games. At 35 years old, I think he probably pulls the pin, leaving another mammoth hole in our line.

    2. Is Velasco a keeper at Center?
    Velasco was maturing into a pretty serviceable Center for us and I think they will try and bring him back. His versatility is an added bonus. I have seen conflicting reports about whether he is a RFA or UFA, but the consensus seems to be that he is headed for Unrestricted Free Agency, which means we should try and sign him to a decent contract before March. If he is in fact a RFA, then I’d give him a 2nd round tender.

    3. Is Amano done?
    For the 3rd highest paid C in the NFL, the return hasn’t been worthwhile. I think there is a good chance they force him into a re-negotiation to free up some cap room, because he is no longer a sure-fire starter in my view.

    Free Agency:
    We absolutely have to be a player here. I acknowledge that Munchak has stated a desire to draft an interior lineman, but we can’t go into the draft without a plan B in case the best prospects don’t represent value when we are on the clock. Some good targets available, and C/G’s are rarely franchised because the tag numbers for O-Line are grouped and inflated by the high contracts paid to LTs.

    Andy Levitre
    Louis Vasquez
    Lance Louis
    Kevin Boothe
    Derrick Dockery
    Evan Dietrich-Smith (RFA)
    Jeff Linkenbach (G/T) (RFA)
    Ryan Lilja
    Russ Hochstein
    Geoff Schwartz (G/T)
    Brandon Moore
    Matt Slauson
    Kory Lichtinstiger

    Possible Cap Casualties:
    Adam Snyder
    Stephen Peterman
    Jeff Saturday
    Charlie Johnson
    Chris Snee
    David Baas
    Jonathon Goodwin

    Potential Draft Targets:

    As referenced above, Munchak has declared a willingness to take an offensive linemen early. As I mentioned in my OT preview, I could easily see this as being a guy like DJ Fluker, who is listed as an OT, but may start his career in the pros as a Guard before kicking out to RT. As far as pure guards and centers go:

    1st Round
    Chance Warmack, Alabama
    Jonathon Cooper, North Carolina

    2nd-3rd Round
    Garrett Jones, Alabama (C)
    Larry Warford, Kentucky
    Travis Frederick, Wisconsin
    Brian Schwenke, Cal (C)
    Khaled Holmes, USC (C)

    4th Round and later
    Alvin Bailey, Arkansas
    Brian Winters, Kent State

    My Favorite Draft Target: Jonathon Cooper, North Carolina


    Summary
    What a bloody mess. We have 3 players under contract. One of whom is likely to retire, one who is grossly overpaid and one who was awful in their brief time on the field this season. This position is about as bad as it gets and we have no base to build around. If the team doesn’t makeover this group in the off-season, fans can rightly feel aggrieved.

    My take
    I have no idea why so many interior linemen were brought in last off-season but none signed (other than Hutch). A repeat of that is unacceptable. We need to at least get this position solidified in free agency and then look at options for the future through the draft. Levitre is my #1 free agent target across the board. Boothe (NYG), Lilja (KC) and Vasquez (SD) would be my next 3 targets and I think failing to sign at least one of these guys would be a significant let-down. Of our own Free Agents, I think Velasco comes back and Lutui is also given an offer to return (certainly without a promise of a starting position). I keep Amano at least through the draft because he has proven he can be depth, but if we improve the position during Free Agency sufficiently, he could well be a casualty. Warmack is obviously the draft jewel and if we were picking 5-10 spots later, he’d be our #1 target. I don’t see it in the first round.
     
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  2. TitanJeff

    TitanJeff Kahuna Grande Staff

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    Hutch will retire, IMO. Amano may get a shot to take back his old spot at G. Velsaco seemed to upgrade Amano's play in '11 but I never felt he was anything close to a top-tier guy. He might be someone they can slide out to guard if they wanted to bring in a FA center or kept as depth.

    Right now, it's a mess. I wonder if it's just inferior talent, bad blocking schemes or poor technique. Scheme can be changed. Technique can be improved (though Munch would never fire Bruce). I personally think a lot of this is purely lack of talent and bringing in a new G and C, whether through FA or the draft, has to happen.

    The tackle situation might play into this as well since Roos is a UFA after next season. There doesn't seem to be any easy answers to fix the OL.
     
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  3. Kaeotik

    Kaeotik Pro Bowler

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    The good thing is, all we need is serviceable players at G and C. This season, our guys at G and C were dreadful enough that there will be plenty of options in free agency that could at the very least improve the team somewhat. All Pro's aren't necessary.
     
  4. Rowdy009

    Rowdy009 Starter

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    I'd be happy to get either Warmack or Jones from Alabama. Warmack is more talented as a G, but Jones can play at least 2 positions(C,G) in the NFL.
     
  5. xpmar9x

    xpmar9x The Real Slim Shady

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    Sign Andy Levitre in free agency, please!
    [​IMG]

    If the Bills franchise LeVitre, go HARD after Byrd.. but it's more likely get go after Byrd. Thus, LeVitre can be ours. Resign Velasco. Draft a guard or center within the first three rounds.

    Roos - LeVitre - Velasco - DRAFT - Stewart

    Or, if we go OT early, have them start at RT and move Stewart to RG.
     
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  6. Clark

    Clark #ShoutboxAlley4Life

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    Byrd isn't a UFA however, he could be tagged
     
  7. Clark

    Clark #ShoutboxAlley4Life

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    Or both of em..
     
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  8. JCBRAVE

    JCBRAVE goTitans 2019 Survivor Champion

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    Amano is freaking trash, for what he's due he needs to be cut.
     
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  9. Titans2004

    Titans2004 Pro Bowler

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    this right here is the reason the Reinfeldt got canned. What a freaking over paid mess we have.

    Velasco is really the only one that I would keep. His versatility to start at either center or guard would give us flexibilty in the draft. If Amano would renegotiate then I'd give him a shot at playing OG. He was better there than at center.

    Getting a starting quality center or guard is a must in FA.

    Use Amano and Hutchinson's money to land a young stud.
     
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  10. Big Time Titan

    Big Time Titan Big Time Titan

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    Hutch needs to retire, Amano needs to be cut. Velasco should be re-signed. Bring in Levitre or Vasquez. Draft OL in the 2nd or 3rd AND another one in the later rounds. This is an area we definitely need all the help we can get. Munchak better get this line fixed because we will go nowhere playing behind nobodies if he doesn't.
     
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