Close the Door Behind You: Travis LaBoy and Jacob Bell Out

by Jimmy on Mar 4, 2008 8:37 AM CST in News Comment 9 comments

It appears that Travis LaBoy has agreed to a deal with the Arizona Cardinals, and Jacob Bell has agreed to a deal with the St. Louis Rams. While it is tough to see all these guys leave, I don't think it is the end of the world. There is a hole at left end, especially when you consider that the only ends currently on the roster behind Kyle Vanden Bosch are Bryce Fisher (who is probably done), Sean Conover (who isn't good), and Jacob Ford (who is a big question mark). A move will have to be made at defensive end whether it be through the draft, through trade or through a player who is released later on. I am now convinced that the first round pick will be used on a defensive lineman and not a receiver.

Things at guard are interesting as well. We all pretty much expected Bell to be gone, but where to the Titans go from here? I don't see them using an early pick on a guard. They might sign a veteran at some point, but what will probably end up happening is Eugene Amano and LeRoy Harris will be your starting guards on opening day. The line is very solid at the tackles and at center, so you can afford to plug a couple of inexperienced guys in there. With Mike Munchak coaching them up, there won't be much of a drop off from last season.

A couple of things to make you feel better:

The teams that have been really active in free agency so far are not teams that have a history of being really successful. You don't see the Patriots or the Colts out there spending a ton of money. They build through the draft. That is the best recipe for long term success. The Browns have made a lot of moves so far this offseason, and they will probably be really good next season, but they have traded away pretty much all of there 2008 draft and will find probably end up finding themselves in cap purgatory in a couple of years.
Alge Crumpler makes the offense 100 times better. If you take the time to look at Crumpler's numbers, you will see that he has a better yards per catch average for his career (13.3) than both Tony Gonzalez (12.1) and Antonio Gates (12.8). Also, Crumpler makes Vince Young, the recievers and LenDale White better just by being on the field.

The one thing about this strategy is that it makes the draft a whole lot more important. They better hope that they end up getting something from guys like Chris Henry, Paul Williams and Chris Davis. Bad drafts will make this team irrelevant very quickly.

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Call me crazy

But I think this is a wide open door to bring back Kearse! I think that Odom and LaBoy were both products of the system. And I think that kearse even now is better than both of them.

Someone once said "Vince Young bleeds two toned blue!" But I disagree, because The Great One Doesnt Bleed!!

by Vincanity on Mar 4, 2008 8:55 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Worth a shot

I am cautiously optimistic that you are right about Kearse.

I think that his experience has to make him better than Obom is right now.

I definitly think we should bring him in for a visit.

by theologic on Mar 4, 2008 9:22 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

For the right price

He could still be a big boost to KVB.

by VY on Mar 4, 2008 9:43 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

nothin from nothin leaves nothin...

I hate to see Odom go (Travis' concussion issues made him expendable to me), but we should also be aware that they were definately part of the D-line that got ZERO pressure when they didn't have KVB of Albert out there. I'd have a hard time paying very good starter-level money for that production.

I say we give Kearse a shot as long as it's at a reasonable price.

DEAR M. REINFELDT: PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS GOOD DRAFT EARL BENNETT!!!

by August West on Mar 4, 2008 11:09 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Interesting, but your argument is flawed.

1. Colts are over the cap... How could they possibly make a big splash in Free Agency? Patriots were not far under the cap and just signed Moss for HUGE $$$. Browns made some moves indeed, but with nearly 30 million in cap space, they could afford to.

The idea that you "build through the draft" is a cliché. People are saying this because the Giants won the Superbowl and it is still fresh in our memories. The truth is, if you're gonna be a contender you pretty much have to make great moves in both arenas. If the Pats had won the SB, btw, the media would be talking about how the acquisitions of Randy Moss and Junior Seau and Wes Welker were "genious".

2. Alge Crumpler has not taken a single snap for the Titans, and though the Falcons claim to have released him for Cap Space, they would have kept him and taken the $5mm hit if he was still in his prime.

Let's put two and two together... Judging by his relatively low contract value in Nashville, the doctors must have expressed some serious reservations about the durability of his knees. Can he help us? For sure, even at 80% of his past prime he might be better than Scaife, but does he instantly make everyone on offense better? It just seems like a bit much to ask for. Let's keep our expectations realistic and cheer for him to do something special. By the way his YPC last year was a mere 10.6. We cannot average his entire career and make extrapolations out into the future. If we get 50 catches, over 11 YPC in 2008 he will have done very well for us.

Bottom line: We need a bona fide star on this offense. We need a top-tier receiver. Vince has about one more year to prove himself before people on this board start throwing him under the bus. Let's hope that MR actually creates the conditions necessary for him to succeed and does not shy away from spending some bucks.

by BeansCarter on Mar 4, 2008 11:48 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Odom

would have been totally worth the money he got.

by longtitan on Mar 4, 2008 12:01 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Trade Up

I think what is a big possiblity is us trading up to get someone like a Malcom Kelly or a Sedrick Ellis(DT)/Phillip Merling(DE)/Calais Campbell(DE) depeding on how our scouts have them on there board. I'm getting a little worried with the FA WR talent so poor this year that a lot of the WR in the draft could be taken before our pick and we'd be left with slim pickings.

I really don't see us taking a Defensive lineman in the first round unless we trade up for one or the reciever we had rated high on our board are off by the time we choose and personally I disagree with taking a defensive person first because not matter what we still need to be able to score more points then our opponents. I think we can have one of the most explosive offenses if we can get a highly talented WR on this team. With our additon of Alge I think Vince will really start to show better throwing abilities especially when you think back to Vick and think what he would have looked like without Crumpler on his team.

by SoCalTitan on Mar 4, 2008 12:06 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

i

think alot of the problems with the offense was due to chowman. i dont remember the oilers or titans sucking so bad as far as scoring points goes. hayward jefferies and earnest givins were pretty average recievers and we did very well as far as scoring points goes.
i would have to say now that we have lost odem and laboy i would probally go with a defensive linemen as the number one. then a reciver. i think roydell and brandon and gage will bloom under dinger he will motivate them to play better. my point being a big name reciver or whatever and spending alot of money on one i dont think is all that nessasary right now. i think the problem with scoring points was more of the offsive phlisophy that was the cause of the lack of points. a 2nd year qwaterback was some of the reason also and a cordinator stuck on the moon calling the plays didnt help. with dinger back i think the recivers we have now will become better then last year when they droped alot of balls.
iam not worried we will get somebody for the defense i wouldnt mind seeing keerse back in the fold. seems like he gets hurt alot though.
atleast we made a move in free agency and got crumpler thats a start.

by dentureboy on Mar 4, 2008 7:22 PM CST reply actions 0 recs