PODCAST Episode 21 - Draft Wrap-Up - Special guest Alex Brown of Optimum Scouting

[OILERMAN]

Foster and Tate make that Oline look alot better than they really are IMO

Exactly

[Jas]

I see Oldschool said it, but is Oilerman also claiming that they didn't try to sign Myers and Wells?

In Munchak's most recent statements about the OL, he specifically said they just brought the guys in to look at them and do their homework on them. He also said if they thought that they were better, they would have done something. Obviously they didn't do anything. He didn't say they tried to sign them but got outbid or just turned down for whatever reason. Who knows the actual truth, but I never saw any media reports that we ever even offered a contract to anyone.

Link to the post with the actual quote -

[OILERMAN]

but I never saw any media reports that we ever even offered a contract to anyone.

I wasn't sure if there were reports that they actually ever offered Myers or Wells contracts

[Jamalisms]

From my observations, contract offers are not often reported until a signing is near, and rival offers are only specifically reported among the highest tier of FAs. Were there reports of an actual contract offer to Hutchinson before he signed? I don't believe so. It just isn't as common as some seem to think, and I wouldn't use the reporting or non-reporting of such things as the principle evidence of interest in signing them to contracts.

I think it rather standard for teams to downplay interest after the fact when a signing did not occur. There were multiple and many reports from the press regarding our actual interest in signing those two guys when it was going on. Interest in the other centers was not often played up by the media beyond mentioning they were in for visits, and an explanation of getting a feel for those guys fits with that. With Myers and Wells it does not fit.

[Jamalisms]

For instance, not certain this link will work as it's a cached page (blame the Tennessean for archiving policies) but the quotes are valid and from back when it was going on:

http://webcache.goog...n&ct=clnk&gl=us

Quote 1:

“We can’t get everybody we want, because players want to play in certain cities or with former teammates or a place that might work better for their family. And there are concerns dealing with the (salary) cap,” Munchak said. “Just because you want a certain guy it doesn’t necessarily mean you are going to get him.

“Myers, for instance, wanted to go back to Houston. So I don’t think anyone else would’ve gotten him. And Wells ended up getting a lot of money (from the Rams). I don’t know what would have happened there. Through it all, we do feel great about Hutchinson being the best player for us to bring in on the offensive line. And defense was a need and (Wimbley) is a guy who will help us there.”

Quote 2:

As for bringing in Myers, Wells and Saturday, Munchak said: “We felt like they fit our system, and we thought, ‘let’s see how this works.’ But just because we brought in centers it doesn’t mean Eugene Amano has to leave, because Eugene Amano can still play guard. Eugene and Leroy can play multiple positions. It wasn’t an indictment on them at all, it was more about us looking for a good fit and we’ll continue to do that at a number of positions.”

[TitansGuru]

I'm pretty surprised to say this, but this is the most listened to episode we've put out. Even more than McClain and Kuharsky.

[TitansGuru]

Actually, I should say single day most listened to podcast. It's still Kuharsky, McClain, and the "Shuffling The Deck" episodes all-time. Still, this is fourth on that list with it only being out less than 24 hours.

Thanks to everyone who listened. I really appreciate it. Also, a big thanks to everyone who chimes in on these discussion threads afterwards.

[Jas]

“Myers, for instance, wanted to go back to Houston. So I don’t think anyone else would’ve gotten him. And Wells ended up getting a lot of money (from the Rams). I don’t know what would have happened there.

That is an interesting quote. How do you interpret "I don't know what would have happened there" part? Doesn't sound like they made either offers.

Hutchinson and Wimbley are both good examples. The TItans wanted them and signed them quickly before they made other visits.

[OILERMAN]

That quote makes it sounds as if no offer was made for sure. I don't know what would have happened there if we would have offered him a contract

[Strait_Shooter]

That is an interesting quote. How do you interpret "I don't know what would have happened there" part? Doesn't sound like they made either offers.

Hutchinson and Wimbley are both good examples. The TItans wanted them and signed them quickly before they made other visits.

Hence is why I don't think they tried very hard to sign Myers or Wells.

[Jamalisms]

I think that it means the players basically shot the team down before it got that far. Contracts are not the opening salvo of negotiations, and it sounds like the players expressed desires to play elsewhere.

Note that he didn't say we weren't interested. We got shot down.

[Jonboy]

I'm pretty surprised to say this, but this is the most listened to episode we've put out. Even more than McClain and Kuharsky.

Dang, that's awesome. Thanks everyone!

[Strait_Shooter]

I don't think any of us said that we weren't interested. Obviously, they wouldn't have wasted their time bringing them in if they didn't have any interest. Just that they apparently didn't see them as as much of an upgrade over what we already had.

[Jamalisms]

Here's a question:

What odds would you give that Amano doesn't start even of the Titans sign no other Cs, and who gets that role if not him?

In this event I would guess Velasco, and I'll go with a hopeful 20%.

[CMJ]

Great show guys.

I loved Brown's comments on Thompson.

A Witten comparison is never a bad thing.