And really this team has holes basically everywhere other than QB and Kicker (that's not to say RW and Hauschka don't have a lot of room for improvement only that we aren't in need of players at that position)
My initial thoughts going into Free Agency:
1) Sign Devin Hester to a 1 year deal. He obviously still has gas in the tank and I would much rather have him back there as opposed to risking our #2 receiver
2) Its Bevell or Jimmy, but one of the 2 has to go. Bevell clearly is unwilling and/or incapable maximizing JG. At $10 mil he needs to be maximized. I want to keep Jimmy but if Bevell stays on as OC then I think we can put the $10mil to better use. If Bevell goes then JG can stay and see if our new O coordinator can make better use of him.
His overall yards for the season wasn't bad (not great either) but his targets / TDs were just not comparable to his best years in New Orleans. 140 targets and 16tds vs 95 targets and 6 tds. Again for $10mill we need to use him more or get rid of him.
Graham is most definitely going to stay. He's got another year on his contract and he brings a lot to this offense.
I think a big factor in his performance, especially early in the season is he was returning from MAJOR injuries to his leg. There was legit talk that he may never be the same again. So for him to come back in the time thst he did was impressive in itself, then it's a matter of not only getting into shape but getting into football shape which takes some time. In the second half of the season Bevell and the offense started to use Graham much more as he should be used, in the red zone and you could really start to see the trust/chemistry him and Wilson have. It seemed that Wilson eventually figured out 'Ok Graham is covered but he's never really covered' throwing him balls he otherwise would have skipped over, because he knows Jimmy is going to come down with it. And on top of that Grahams blocking improved immensely compared to before, he was like a totally different guy this year when it came to doing his job blocking.
Now that the season is over, Graham is only going to be better next year as he knows he can make it through the season without getting injured again.
I really am tired of Bevell myself though. ATL is a perfect example - that first drive was awesome - a perfect balance of run and pass and Rawls you could tell was in a mode similar to the Lions game. He had 30 yards on 4 or 5 carries on that first drive. Then for whatever stupid reasons Bevell abandoned it - I believe Rawls only had 1-2 carries until the third quarter. Why? Why get away from running Rawls knowing how big of a game he just had against Detroit and how successful he was in that first drive? Makes no sense. So what we got was passing on first down, almost every time, and then the predictable line up in shotgun and run on second down, then next thing you know it's 3rd and 8 or whatever.
We have Marcel Reece and big tight ends and an offensive line that is best when run blocking, which really sets the tone for the rest of the game. So why the hell can't Bevell use more power running formations? Running from Shotgun is ok once in a while or if they are going to do a lot of read options, but they weren't doing that at all. So running from shotgun and having guys spread out is severely limiting the chances of any success, especially considering how damn predictable it is. They keep talking about wanting to run the ball and that running is their true identity, ok if that's the case then act like it. Use Power formations, utilize the best aspects of the struggling o-line. I was watching KC vs Pittsburgh and I was so damn jealous at their running games, which seems so simple but apparently for Bevell it's too much to ask for.
The problem is Carroll is incredibly loyal to use coaches so unless Bevell gets offered a job elsewhere he's going to stay. It's funny - Gus Bradley, Dan Quinn get jobs right away and now even fucking Tom Cable is getting interviews, meanwhile Bevell is waiting next to the phone waiting for a call that never comes since no one wants him! Mayne Carroll knows something most of us don't know, idk but I cannot see it.
3) Kelcie McCray is a serviceable backup but Steven Terrell is not. We need to find more depth at Safety.
We need more versatile guys that can play CB and Safety. Shead is out for 8 months. That's a massive loss since he was great this year considering playimg opposite of Sherman is incredibly tough with all the targets going that way but he didn't give up much this season and was solid. I felt like next year he was only going to be better but obviously this is a huge setback.
They are going to have to replace Shead and Lane is not the giy I want at CB, frankly Lane sucks on the outside.
They are going to have to draft a couple CBs at least, ideally guys who can play safety, and bring in a better or two to compete. We cannot afford to have another Carey Williams back there this season.
5) I hope we make a run at Dontari Poe. The initial report out of KC is they aren't going to have enough cap space to resign him and Eric Berry, and it looks like Eric Berry is they guy they are going to keep. Tony McDaniels played well considering he wasn't even in the NFL to start the season, but our interior D line was not anything like it was in 2013. I think Poe could transition from a 3-4 to 4-3 defense and provide more interior pressure while helping to stop the run. Jarran Reed and Poe would give us two big solid run stoppers that are young and have upside.
1. Offensive line.
2. Secondary (CB/safety).
3. Defensive line.
4. RBs.
These are their needs imo in order from most important.
I think they need go draft a RB or two since while Rawls and Prosise are talented as hell both have been plagued with injuries so we need a back up plan, possibly even a long term replacement for Rawls. I love Rawls but I have a lot of concerns on how long he can last and how many full seasons can he stay healthy if at all. Prosise seems like more of a change of pace guy, a 3rd down back or just a 1-2 punch I'm combination with Rawls. I don't think he's capable of being a ground and pound for of running back like Rawls and Lynch.