Meanwhile, free agent tight end Alge Crumpler is expected to visit the Titans by the middle or end of the week, but no date had been set as of Sunday.
The Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers appear to be Tennessee’s primary competition for the four-time Pro Bowl selection recently released by the Atlanta Falcons.
Just keeping you folks updated. It would seem that with the performance of the Tight Ends yesterday, having a proven veteran to play in front of a second day pick might be the smartest strategy. The more Alge Crumpler is discussed the more I am in favor of the move. I think the only roadblock would be Seattle's proximity to the Southern United States, as in it ain't close! Hopefully the combination of Hasselbeck, Mora, and Championship are enough to overcome that.
Thank you Michael for all the info today. I followed the blog the past two days and enjoyed the comments.
ReplyDeleteThe Hawks seem to be in the running for their FA needs and in fair shape for cap room and the draft. If Alge comes on board, does our priorities focus on running back and DL development?
I would agree that Crumpler and a TE in 2nd or 3rd round would make the most sense. However, I think location is going to be the biggest issue and he will end up in TB.
ReplyDeleteSo the problems with his knees don't bother you at all?
ReplyDeleteWe've got the best chance to win it all between the 3. The Titans are in the AFC so that means they have to get through New England and/or Indy just to get to the Super Bowl. No matter how good they are for '08, it doesn't matter b/c they are a class below those two franchises.
ReplyDeleteThe Bucs are nothing special. They won their division but have had terrible finishes 2 of the last 4 years and nothing is guaranteed in '08 with a 98 year old QB.
We have a QB in his prime and are looking pretty solid right about now and play in a divison even worse than the NFC South.
We should remember what Crumpler said, He wants to go to a winning team. I think he said that was his largest priority. I think we have enough money to sign him, and that means that we should be his #1suitor. I also have a feeling that Crumpler will be a hawk next year :) While less scientific, you can take that for what it is worth...
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of bringing in Crumpler for couple years and drafting a rookie in the 3rd to 4th round to eventually replace him. Plus, that would give a two solid recieving TEs and Heller as our third blocking TE.
ReplyDeleteI look at Crumpler as a 1-2yr fix as a starter while we groom our pick this year. His knee's can hold up that long.
ReplyDeleteIf Mendenhall or Stewart are gone, which they probably will be, when we pick in the 1st round - I sincerely hope we trade down to get more picks. Sign Alge and get a guy like Keller in the 3rd round to groom for the future.
ReplyDeleteOne nice possibility for us in getting Mendenhall is that hopefully all the teams drafting in front of us will think about what a deep RB draft this is and draft something else, hoping to get a RB later in the draft. Not likely, but I can hope.
I think Crumpler has 2-3 good years left. He also gives us the best chance to win in '08. We don't have to draft a TE this year if we sign him. He and Heller will do fine this year. We normally would probably only keep 2 TE active next season with the 3rd TE serving as an inactive.
ReplyDeleteThe Titans have a vast amount of cap room (over $30 mil)).
ReplyDeleteIt is in the south.
They have a quarterback who approaches the dog killer more than any other in the NFL and operate an offense not that alien to Alge.
We will see how intent Alge is on winning now. The Titans could be an elite team in two years if Vince progresses.
Good luck Hawks. It will be Crumpler's connections with the fall of Atlanta associates that will bring him here if anything will.
CUT Shaun
ReplyDeleteGet Crump and Hack
DRaft a RB in the first round
TE in the second
DT in the third
Think superbowl
I read that article and didn't take it to mean that only three teams were pursuing Crumpler. I think your heading is a little misleading, maybe a little naive.
ReplyDeleteHe was scheduled to meet with 7 teams, not just the three.. as the paper said, the Hawks and Bucs appear to be the PRIMARY competition, not the sole competition..
I think Crumpler stays in the south and we draft a TE in the first..
I wouldn't be suprised if we went defense in the first round (if Stewart/Mendenhall are gone).
ReplyDeleteHow about the Chris Johnson, RB, ECU in round 2? He lit it up in the 40 with a 4.27 (yes, speed thrills).
ReplyDeleteShaun for power, Chris for speed.
CJ's 2007 numbers:
Rushing: 236-1423 6.0 70lg 17td
Rec: 37-528 14.3 78 6
M|SF|T
Shaun for power ... that's funny. I thought power backs were supposed to be able to break tackles and move piles of people. Well, I suppose if you are willing to overlook those two aspects (along with pass blocking and receiving), then he would make a great, expensive power back.
ReplyDeleteOk - the great TE debate. Crumpler is still likely to come here more than most other places, but the Titans have a decent shot given their heavy use of the TE in recent years. But let's break it down. If the Hawks do not get Crumpler, the draft is the place to look for their TE. However, Holmgren has said he will never take a TE in the first round again (after Stevens), and if you look at the breakdown of first round TE's over the last seven years they are all still decent, and there are few 'misses', but the top TE's in the NFL are not neccessarily first rounders. I think the Seahawks would feel pretty good about a 2nd or 3rd round TE. Now if they get Crumpler, the TE position may still be on the board because when Pollard was out (or even in) the lineup last year, Heller was just barely servicable.
As for RB, if Mendenhall and Stewart are gone, this is a position where the difference between the next 10 RBs on the board are not much, so better players can be taken in the first and second round.
Despite the lack of need at OT, the ability to get a talent that would typically only be found in the top half of the first round ( a place the Hawks don't plan on visiting anytime soon), that may be the best move the team can make.
I would agree with your idea of the hawks taking a OT talent that would usually be impossible to nab in the latter parts of round 1, as far as it being a good idea. However, I would only agree with it if your desire were to forever be a team that makes it to the playoffs, and never actually wins them. If we chose to use our 1st round pick on a guy that won't see the field for 3 years, and we were concerned with improving to win it all now, it would be a pretty strange move.
ReplyDelete-Griffin
Too bad Johnson is only 200 pounds. I'm more interested in power, hands and blocking than I am in speed.
ReplyDeleteFred Davis showed bad hands. All the TE's have issues that will probably keep them out of the first round, so we could get one in the second. I think we can wait as late as third round to get a RB, unless the "right" one is ready for us at 1 or 2. Hawks will go "best player available" in the first round. Wouldn't shock me if that player was Limas Sweed. Do we need a WR? If we lose Hackett (which we probably will) this guy brings that size.
ReplyDeleteShaun as power runner? funny. Matt Forte' as power runner? Exciting. Saw him in Senior Bowl- very impressive. Saw his combine numbers- impressive. 6'1" 220 lbs. Nice.
-Papahawk
I wouldn't be crying at all if we landed Sweed or Caldwell in the first.
ReplyDeleteAs for the winning now. I don't think taking a TE in the second (or going with Alge) and grabbing a RB in the 3rd would do anything to keep the Hawks from winning NOW. It is just being prudent with the draft picks. A franchise WR, OT, DT or even RB if it is one of the top three guys is a much smarter way of drafting for the Hawks considering there is not a huge difference in the guys at the other positions of need and a guy that they get in the first at TE or RB (outside the top three) will likely be only marginally better than the guy they can get in the 2nd or 3rd.
Some great players in the past have had poor combine showings. Combine setting is stressfull--lots of pressure.
ReplyDeleteWhile Davis poor showing no doubt hurt his status, I'm sure teams will remember how he played on the field. Davis was a very good reciever in college, he just had a bad day at the combine.
I think there are 3-5 TE's that the Hawks will get a shot at in the second/third rounds that will be contributors. Looks good!
Im hoping for Martellus Bennet (AKA Mr. Doom), both for his talent and for his wacky personality. I know, not scientific, but Im a fan, not a GM so I can be that way.
-leshthomas