Let’s Play G.M. (Part 2)

A couple of weeks ago I posted the first installment of this series looking at options head coach. Well, Marvin is back at the helm for the next [undisclosed period of time], as we learned at the we-are-going-to-be-better-even-though-we-see-no-need-to-change-a-single-thing press conference last week. (That pc made yet another case for the need for a G.M. You, me, even a poo-flinging monkey could have done a better job than Sideshow Mike did.)

Well, as honorary G.M., it’s time for you to look at the position groups and decide where the cleaning needs to happen. You have to know what your needs are before you make decisions on free agents or look at draft picks. Let’s start by looking at the defense.

Ends: Antwan Odom, Robert Geathers, Frostee Rucker, Jonathan Fenene, Michael Johnson, Carlos Dunlap. No doubt MJ and Dunlap stay. Rucker and Fanene are good backups… when healthy. Do you keep Odom? Do you trust his foot? What do you do with Geathers? You are finally starting to hear his name get called on plays again.

Tackles: Domata Peko, Tank Johnson, Pat Sims, Geno Atkins, Clinton McDonald. Not a bad group overall. Do you keep Tank or let him go? Is adding Fairley to this group a smart move or a luxury?

Linebackers: Dhani Jones, Keith Rivers, Rey Maualuga, Brandon Johnson, Roddrick Muckelroy, Dan Skuta. Not exactly an impressive group. Do you bring Michael Johnson into this group to strengthen it? (Does he strengthen it? Is it better to leave him at DE?) Do you make an effort to bring Dhani back? What do you do with Keith Rivers? He is not exactly getting it done.

Cornerbacks: Johnathan Joseph, Leon Hall, Adam Jones, Brandon Ghee, Morgan Trent, Rico Murray, Jonathan Wade, Keiwan Ratliff. This group always struggles with injury. Do you favor talent or durability? JJoe is a free agent this year and is talented enough to get paid. Are you willing to drop $6M-$8M on him? That kind of money will squeeze you somewhere else, but you could be in that neighborhood to keep him. The Ravens have been weak at CB for years. You think Ozzie Newsome wouldn’t love to snatch one of your best assets and use it against you? Do you draft Patrick Peterson and bid farewell to JJoe?

Safeties: Roy Williams, Chinedum Ndukwe, Chris Crocker, Gibril Wilson, Tom Nelson, Reggie Nelson, Marvin White. Another group that is always banged up. Do you see a game-changer here? I don’t. Imagine having an Ed Reed or Troy Polamalu back there. If you can steal a good safety in free agency, are you more willing to let JJoe walk?

Give us your thumbs-up and thumbs-down, Mr. G.M.