Dwight Freeney Interested In Staying With Colts

[Flash7]

I think people are vastly under-appreciating the impact that Freeney has had on our defense--even last year. He still commanded double teams, which I will talk about in a minute. Although his sack numbers were down, we cannot deny the pressure that he put on opposing QBs. He was still a main source of pressure, and QBs had to take DFree into account on every play.

 

I will completely agree that he is a liability in the run game.

 

Consider that the previous year Angerer led the team in tackles, and this year it was Freeman. They both greatly benefited from other teams having to double Freeney and Mathis. This is the hidden benefit of having somenone with pass rush skills like Freeney's. It can be replaced by someone else, but that's a gamble--just as much as it is to keep him, but we know what we have if we decide to keep him. We don't know for sure what we'll have if we bring someone new.

 

If possible, keep Freeney (at a reasonable salary) and bring in someone from the draft at a reasonable salary and we may hve the best of both worlds.

[Balzer40]

I think people are vastly under-appreciating the impact that Freeney has had on our defense--even last year. He still commanded double teams, which I will talk about in a minute. Although his sack numbers were down, we cannot deny the pressure that he put on opposing QBs. He was still a main source of pressure, and QBs had to take DFree into account on every play.

 

I will completely agree that he is a liability in the run game.

 

Consider that the previous year Angerer led the team in tackles, and this year it was Freeman. They both greatly benefited from other teams having to double Freeney and Mathis. This is the hidden benefit of having somenone with pass rush skills like Freeney's. It can be replaced by someone else, but that's a gamble--just as much as it is to keep him, but we know what we have if we decide to keep him. We don't know for sure what we'll have if we bring someone new.

 

If possible, keep Freeney (at a reasonable salary) and bring in someone from the draft at a reasonable salary and we may hve the best of both worlds.

 

 

 

I do not under appreciate that Freeney can still get to the QB, but I can not stress enough, that is a small part of his job now as a 3-4 OLBer. He is so bad against the run that teams continuously exploited him in the run game. He is also terrible in coverage. The man will be 33 yrs. old next season and isn't getting faster.

 

If Freeney was 3 yrs younger, I would be willing to be more patient in his transition to the 3-4, but he is past his prime and is too much of a liability both in the run game and in coverage. I think they will sit down with Freeney and they will come to a mutual agreement to part ways so Freeney can pursue a bigger payday and a system that fits his skills because neither is going to happen here.

[Smonroe]

I think people are vastly under-appreciating the impact that Freeney has had on our defense--even last year. He still commanded double teams, which I will talk about in a minute. Although his sack numbers were down, we cannot deny the pressure that he put on opposing QBs. He was still a main source of pressure, and QBs had to take DFree into account on every play.

 

I will completely agree that he is a liability in the run game.

 

Consider that the previous year Angerer led the team in tackles, and this year it was Freeman. They both greatly benefited from other teams having to double Freeney and Mathis. This is the hidden benefit of having somenone with pass rush skills like Freeney's. It can be replaced by someone else, but that's a gamble--just as much as it is to keep him, but we know what we have if we decide to keep him. We don't know for sure what we'll have if we bring someone new.

 

If possible, keep Freeney (at a reasonable salary) and bring in someone from the draft at a reasonable salary and we may hve the best of both worlds.

Right. People don't want him based on his role as an OLB. I'm saying if he plays solely as a rush specialist he's worth a contract. I don't know if he'd accept that role or that salary. But how could anyone object to having a rush specialist on the team?

Forget his run or coverage deficiencies, that wouldn't be his responsibility.

[Flash7]

Right. People don't want him based on his role as an OLB. I'm saying if he plays solely as a rush specialist he's worth a contract. I don't know if he'd accept that role or that salary. But how could anyone object to having a rush specialist on the team?

Forget his run or coverage deficiencies, that wouldn't be his responsibility.

Watching Freeney play this year, he was basically just a rush specialist. I think we're overestimating the amount of times he was asked to drop back into coverage, which was hardly ever. I am not worried about his coverage skills because that's maybe 1-5% of what he's asked to do. He still showed a great ability to pressure the QB, and based on that, still has some value--a much diminished value, but valuable nontheless.

[Balzer40]

Right. People don't want him based on his role as an OLB. I'm saying if he plays solely as a rush specialist he's worth a contract. I don't know if he'd accept that role or that salary. But how could anyone object to having a rush specialist on the team?

Forget his run or coverage deficiencies, that wouldn't be his responsibility.

 

 

Watching Freeney play this year, he was basically just a rush specialist. I think we're overestimating the amount of times he was asked to drop back into coverage, which was hardly ever. I am not worried about his coverage skills because that's maybe 1-5% of what he's asked to do. He still showed a great ability to pressure the QB, and based on that, still has some value--a much diminished value, but valuable nontheless.

 

 

 

He's always going to have run responsibilities though even as a rush specialist. Teams will just run at him when he's in the game even if he's there to just rush the QB. Teams will exploit him and thats a guarantee. The point is, he will never except a minimal contract and even in the absolute remote possibility he did, he would still be taking a roster spot from somebody that could play all 3 aspects of a 3-4 OLBer. That is what would bother me the most, we need all the most versatile players we can get especially on defense and IMO Freeney isn't worth losing a guy like that just because he can rush the QB. A big issue is his age too, he isn't going to get faster and more athletic anymore and with each passing yr. it is going to get worse. Freeney will be looking for 1 final exit contract and it certainly should not be from us.

[Flash7]

He's always going to have run responsibilities though even as a rush specialist. Teams will just run at him when he's in the game even if he's there to just rush the QB. Teams will exploit him and thats a guarantee. The point is, he will never except a minimal contract and even in the absolute remote possibility he did, he would still be taking a roster spot from somebody that could play all 3 aspects of a 3-4 OLBer. That is what would bother me the most, we need all the most versatile players we can get especially on defense and IMO Freeney isn't worth losing a guy like that just because he can rush the QB. A big issue is his age too, he isn't going to get faster and more athletic anymore and with each passing yr. it is going to get worse. Freeney will be looking for 1 final exit contract and it certainly should not be from us.

Balzer, you and I want the same thing-- what's best for the team. It may be that we move on without Freeney, in which case I can get behind that decision. I am hesitant to move on from Freeney without knowing who the other person might be, and I don't think that person is on the roster at the moment. I don't think Hughes has shown enough for me to feel good about letting Freeney walk. So, hypothetically, you make a very good arguement, however, we all know that finding an effective OLB is a difficult task. I suppose that we'll have to wait and see how it all works out.

[Balzer40]

Balzer, you and I want the same thing-- what's best for the team. It may be that we move on without Freeney, in which case I can get behind that decision. I am hesitant to move on from Freeney without knowing who the other person might be, and I don't think that person is on the roster at the moment. I don't think Hughes has shown enough for me to feel good about letting Freeney walk. So, hypothetically, you make a very good arguement, however, we all know that finding an effective OLB is a difficult task. I suppose that we'll have to wait and see how it all works out.

 

 

 

I agree. I'm not sold on Hughes either, but I would think that if we could lure Kruger away from Baltimore he may be the answer for us. At 1st I wasn't sold on Kruger either, but the more I have thought about it and discussed it with other fans the more I'm all for it. I know he wants big money, but we have the money to spend and I have no doubt that he is much more versatile than Freeney. Like you said, we'll just have to wait and see and hope for the best for the team.

 

BTW, I'm already out of likes somehow because I haven't really handed out many today, so I'll give ya a +1.

[oldunclemark]

As many others have said...we have (due to the basic agreement with the NFLPA) to spend a minimum amount...

and, I'm guessing that we are now (with Dwight's $14 mil off the books) we need to sign a couple of free agents to reach

the minimum...

Dwight sounds sincere that he wants to stay and he is a respected vet...but he'd have to take 'specialist' money

..he's just a 3rd down pass rusher....and that's about 25% of what he made this past year..Can he accept that?

The odd thing is....I remember saying that Dwight should be traded to a 'playoff team'

Well, we are a playoff team now (it still shocks me) ..and playoff teams DO sign pass rush specialists.

2 years...$3 mil per year? Is that a deal..?

[Superman]

2 years...$3 mil per year? Is that a deal..?

 

Nope. I think Dwight will get offered two or three times that amount in free agency.

 

Also, we don't have to spend a minimum salary.

[Carlos Danger]

6 mil. a year or he can walk... I'm a huge fan of his, but he should probably be in a 4-3... It will be hard to see him play for someone else (Jacksonville?), but I've gotten used to that over the last year or so...

[Bubba]

Not interested, it is time for Freeney to move on. He will still want too much money and he is no help in stopping the run. He just doesn't work in the Colts D any longer.

[Tony Sullivan]

I'd bring him back, as a pass rusher he's still great. Teams still doubled him all season, and he still got lots of pressure on the QB. We do need something else for the run game, but if we could rotate Dwight in for long downs I would be extremely happy. But not for ~20million.

[ÅÐØNϧ 1]

I think people are vastly under-appreciating the impact that Freeney has had on our defense--even last year. He still commanded double teams, which I will talk about in a minute. Although his sack numbers were down, we cannot deny the pressure that he put on opposing QBs. He was still a main source of pressure, and QBs had to take DFree into account on every play.

 

I will completely agree that he is a liability in the run game.

 

Consider that the previous year Angerer led the team in tackles, and this year it was Freeman. They both greatly benefited from other teams having to double Freeney and Mathis. This is the hidden benefit of having somenone with pass rush skills like Freeney's. It can be replaced by someone else, but that's a gamble--just as much as it is to keep him, but we know what we have if we decide to keep him. We don't know for sure what we'll have if we bring someone new.

 

If possible, keep Freeney (at a reasonable salary) and bring in someone from the draft at a reasonable salary and we may hve the best of both worlds.

 

I think people are vastly under-appreciating the impact that Freeney has had on our defense--even last year. He still commanded double teams, which I will talk about in a minute. Although his sack numbers were down, we cannot deny the pressure that he put on opposing QBs. He was still a main source of pressure, and QBs had to take DFree into account on every play.

 

I will completely agree that he is a liability in the run game.

 

Consider that the previous year Angerer led the team in tackles, and this year it was Freeman. They both greatly benefited from other teams having to double Freeney and Mathis. This is the hidden benefit of having somenone with pass rush skills like Freeney's. It can be replaced by someone else, but that's a gamble--just as much as it is to keep him, but we know what we have if we decide to keep him. We don't know for sure what we'll have if we bring someone new.

 

If possible, keep Freeney (at a reasonable salary) and bring in someone from the draft at a reasonable salary and we may hve the best of both worlds.

I agree although

 

IMO there will be many players who fit the 3-4 much better than Freeney who can only make top dollar or close in a 4-3 .  He has looked like a square peg trying to fit in a round hole . Thank you Dwight happy trails .

[deedub75]

Maybe I was watching a different team but I do not remember Freeney getting a lot of pressure on any QB.  The "he commands a double team" argument is getting old also.  He needs to go back to being a 4-3 DE where he belongs.  He's not even the best 4-3 DE in the league.  I think there are much better and cheaper alternatives out there instead of paying Freeney $6M+ per season. 

[Balzer40]

Maybe I was watching a different team but I do not remember Freeney getting a lot of pressure on any QB.  The "he commands a double team" argument is getting old also.  He needs to go back to being a 4-3 DE where he belongs.  He's not even the best 4-3 DE in the league.  I think there are much better and cheaper alternatives out there instead of paying Freeney $6M+ per season. 

 

 

 

I agree. What I remember from the season, was not a whole lot of pressure from Freeney and a crap ton of him getting embarrassed against the run. IMO, I wouldn't even offer Freeney a vet minimum salary. He is simply terrible as a 3-4 OLBer and would take a roster spot from somebody that could potentially be a much better contributor in the defense. I think people are just having trouble saying goodbye to another long time Colt and seeing a key piece over the yrs. going somewhere else. I can't see how anybody actually believe's he's makes us better, because that just isn't true. That may seem harsh, but as everybody should have learned last season, there is no place in professional sports for sentimentality.