Resign Weaver?

by michaelfox99 on Oct 27, 2008 8:31 AM PDT

I am having a very hard time figuring out what our backfield will look like next year. Weaver and Morris will both be FA's this offseason and we drafted Schmitt and Forsett who are very cheap, effective options. Duckett and Jones are on contract through next year so they are likely to be around.

We saw the market value of backs hit rock bottom this season. Benson, R. Johnson. SA, these guys did not generate a lot of FA buzz. The only big splurge was Turner and even he is splitting time with Norwood. In the copycat world of the NFL, every GM wanted to grab the next AP. Look at how many rookie backs came right into PT this year:

McFadden, F. Jones, Hightower, Forte, Slaton, Mendenhall, Stewart, etc.

The feeling among teams is that it is smarter to draft a fresh young back then pay a guy who has taken a lot of licks.

The interesting question is what sort of FA demand will Weaver attract?

Weaver is 26 but only became a starter around the middle of last season... He was hurt when he first got here but has been quite durable otherwise. A lot of us feel like Weaver has the skills to play halfback. Weaver is the perfect singleback, because he can do everything reasonably well. Teams that employ a lot of singleback, which seems like everyone these days, would probably be interested in him.

We have a ton of redundancy in our backfield right now, partly because everyone has been healthy other than Morris for a short stint. My best guess is that we let Weaver and Morris both go because they will cost the most to keep around; Duckett and Jones are already on contract. This may depend somewhat on how their contracts are structured which I would love to hear someone explain.

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Personally, I like our setup right now once Morris is gone.

JJ, good runner, pretty good pass catcher, damn good pass blocker.
Forsett, good small scat-back in the mold of a Darren Sproles who can also do wonders for our special teams.
Duckett, big back who can be used for 5-10 carries per game, or just short yardage and goal line situations.

Weaver, FB who’s pretty good at blocking, pretty good at running (great for a FB actually, almost HB good), and great at catching (and then running after the catch apparently).
Schmitt, FB who’s great at Run Blocking, fairly good at pass blocking. Seems like he’d be gooat running in short yardage situation, and seems to be ok at pass catching or at least passable.
No way do we need to resign Morris, the only real problem is if JJ get seriously injured, then Forsett and Duckett would have to take on a bigger load, but I’d be fine with this because I’d actually use Weaver for some more carries at the HB position, and have Schmitt at FB more.

by LantermanC on Oct 27, 2008 8:43 AM PDT reply actions

I pretty much completely agree with this post

Especially the part with using Weaver at RB if JJ gets hurt. I don’t think Forsett could carry much of the load on offense.

by Mr_Nate on Oct 27, 2008 9:21 AM PDT up reply actions

still...

Weaver won’t be free though. It will cost money. I think it all comes down to what the # is. If it isn’t that high, I agree with the above. If it will cost a lot, which would happen if some team really wants to feature Weaver, you have to ask: Can you be happy with dividing what weaver brings to the table between Schmitt and Duckett and using that cap space on another position?

by michaelfox99 on Oct 27, 2008 9:33 AM PDT reply actions

What player isn't that true for?

by Nate Dogg on Oct 27, 2008 11:25 AM PDT up reply actions

I dont' know, except for this game, Weaver hasn't done much

so I’m not sure he’ll cost a lot. Plus I dont’ know any high priced Fullbacks.
I definitely think he’ll be worth it.

by LantermanC on Oct 27, 2008 12:13 PM PDT up reply actions

Lose Duckett

Don’t get this wrong, as I think he’s a decent and valuable member of our team right now, but I would rather keep Weaver over Duckett, regardless of cap-hits and/or contract implications. I just don’t see how Weaver’s contract could dwarf TJ’s current one to the extent we couldn’t make it work to keep him. Even though he’s had some decent carries in short-yardage and the one solid game being almost featured carrying it, he is still somewhat of a square peg in a round hole. His contract and the level of replacement players we have make him expendable. This situation as a whole would be clearer if we hadn’t drafted Schmitt, but we would be keeping two FBs anyway, wouldn’t we? Axe TJ, make an above-average effort to retain Weaver. I don’t think I’d tag him over Leroy, depending on how the draft shapes up to look, and just the sound of using the franchise tag on a Fullback makes me chuckle.

by Misfit74 on Oct 27, 2008 8:50 PM PDT reply actions

You should not franchise Weaver

He’d count as a running back and we’d have to pay him like 6 million dollars.

by Mr_Nate on Oct 28, 2008 8:32 AM PDT up reply actions

If Forsett can contribute to special teams other than just returns...

… then I don’t see any reason why not to keep five in the backfield.

JJ
Weaver
Duckett
Schmitt
Forsett

by djafrot on Oct 28, 2008 12:55 AM PDT reply actions

Maybe he could be the next Josh Scobey!!!

by Badical Turbo Radness on Oct 28, 2008 11:45 AM PDT up reply actions

weaver

had a career day last sunday…he has done nothing like that before…and probably wont again…im real glad he did tho..we needed it….now hes out with a sore foot..game time decision.

.holmy said even if weaver plays…schmitt will get EXTENDED playing time…GO OWEN!! kik ass!!

by 13receivers16days on Oct 31, 2008 2:13 PM PDT reply actions