Which makes it puzzling to be quivering over a mil or two above what the team would like to pay, assuming he's that much of an upgrade over what is on the roster. The stated goal was to improve the lines, so pay up or shut up.

I'm not sure it matters in this D. They don't play with Paganos D, which was three guys being blocking sponges and taking on double teams. Every guy has a gap, lineman and linebackers and out side contain may be achieved with the corners. They don't have a guy who's goal is to take on blockers. You get in a gap and you go, mess up the blocking angles. BTW, if you got a really talented guy, it doesn't matter about technique. JJ Watt is a problem what ever your scheme is.

When they put both DT's in the A gaps they were penetrating and screwing up teams blocking schemes. Dungys D in Tampa worked so well because he had a great player at each level. Sapp on the line, Brooks at W LB and Lynch at safety. You get a McFarland, you have two guys pushing the pocket back into the QB's face. It was designed to beat the West Coast O. Mess up the QB's footwook.

What the Colts did last year was to fill both A gaps and get the QB off his spot with out great talent. Put a McCoy in the A gap, he may create a double team without any scheming. Now you have a one on one with the other DT or a lane if you really want to blitz.

He is saying he is going to go where he can win
He views the Bengals as a team on the rise.:confused:

He is going to visit the Ravens( at least they have won a SB)

But the Browns and Bengals ? If winning is what is most important it's hard to take him serious when he is considering the Browns and Bengals as options. 2 teams that never even sniff the playoffs much less a SB.

I am not in for McCoy. While I'm excited about this team, there are way to many question marks with the young players we have. That is what makes this so exciting for me, the idea of watching players develop. The veterans we have on the line are enough for me. Unless the guy is the 'final piece' I want to see what the young guys can do. I also think that it helps with attitude for the young players to see that they are not going to be automatically replaced by older vets. Now if we sign him I am sure that, as a fan, my tune will change. This is one place where being consistent is not a worry

But can he, and how often did teams double team him last season? Imo, this is the key to whether or not McCoy is worth 12-13 million.

Because at that figure he has to bring something to the table that Autry and Lewis do not. I'm not sure that is the case?

In fairness, by that logic, does Funchess offer us anything $10-13M that Inman at $1.4M wouldn't have?

Ballard has shown the willingness to burn cap space in that area, so I think it would make sense that he'd be willing to ditch his austere approach at the DT spot for McCoy v. Lewis/Autry.

Well, I'm predicting 10+ TD's for Funchess. We were never going to get that out of Inman. Also Funchess is 5 years younger, so there is upside there.

I have no problem with Ballard burning the cap space, even if it's for 2 years. But again, McCoy has got to be a clear upgrade over what we already have to convince Ballard to do that.

You're quite a bit more bullish on Funchess than I am. Hey, I hope you're right and I'm wrong! I can't claim to have studied him in particular with the Panthers, more that I'm aware of Panthers' fans hatred of him and in Carolina games I've watched he's certainly never stood out.

And apparently more bearish on McCoy than I am (or are you just more optimistic about Autry/Lewis?)

Well he has been on the bucs forever so his standards are not high. Everybody likes the browns, they are winning the media. But they will have to clip that buzz soon, they haven’t won anything and are gonna get big heads.

I think we are lacking a little beef up front. So I’m wondering if we line up say against Seattle or New England. Can we hold up against a game plan that wants to run all day long. I know the titans and jaguars are looking at us that way. That is how I see NE attacking us. It’s how they are built currently with two young backs. I know everyone is worried about pass rush, but I am kind worried about our lack of size. Can we hang in December in the cold against a team determined to run through the 4th quarter?