03-20-2021, 12:14 AM
(03-19-2021, 10:54 PM)N_B Wrote: I’m kind of flabbergasted by the posts in this thread...how is this off-season better than a C+? I mean, they signed a bunch of Tier 3 guys while losing 2 notable Tier 1 guys. So they signed an RT....I mean, they literally HAD to sign some guys to fill out a roster!
Neither Lawson nor WJ3 are Tier 1 guys. Ditto AJ & Geno.
Though, obviously, neither are Hendrickson or Waynes (who is the real WJ3 replacement, not Awuzie). Now, YMMV, but I look at it like this, amongst our starters:
Offense:
Reiff for Hart = significant upgrade. Reiff is an above average starter. Hart below average. Particularly in terms of pass blocking. Hart is a better run blocker.
AJ Green loss. As of yet not replaced. Golladay would be an upgrade. Chase is an upgrade. Smith is an upgrade. An early 2nd round WR pick is a likely upgrade.
That is it in terms of starters. Not necessarily a good thing when Michael Jordan is a starting guard. But we ain't done yet. Plus, if CJ is healthy again, TE will be better.
On defense, there have been more changes.
All new starting corners. WJ3, Sims, and Alexander are now Waynes, Awuzie, & Hilton. Waynes is a bit of a downgrade from WJ3 as a cover guy, but is a better tackler and has better hands. And we play so much zone anyway. Hilton is an upgrade from Alexander, but only slightly. Alexander was solid. Awuzie should be a big upgrade from Sims, who was forced to start for the injured Waynes last year. Phillips, Brown, and Davis are all still reserves. Overall I think it is a wash.
Up front is the other big changes. Hendrickson for Lawson is a slight downgrade, but dude did lead the NFC in sacks last year. He does not suck. Losing Geno sucks, but he played a tad over 100 snaps last year with 1 tackle. I do not know what Ogunjobi will give us, but at least he is healthy. And Reader is healthy. Hendrickson, Reader, Ogunjobi, Hubbard will be better than Lawson, Daniels, Covington, Kareem. Mostly due to health. Topou should be back after skipping due to COVID. Wren healthy?
Safety is largely the same. Williams played less than 100 snaps on D. Bates, Bell, and Wilson back.
LB largely the same minus Bynes and Evans. At least for now.
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Again, FA is not over, and the draft has not happened, and I'd say:
OL: better but needs more help.
QB: better (Burrow healthy, Allen > Finley)
RB: better (Mixon healthy)
TE: better if CJ healthy (big if)
WR: worse (no AJ replacement yet)
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DL: better (more guys healthy/available)
CB: about the same (worse CB1, better CB2 &3)
S: same
LB: slightly worse (Bynes & Evans not replaced)
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KR: same, Wilson
PR: ??? Erickson gone.
PK: ??? Randy gone, Seibert not the answer.
P: ??? Huber unsigned still. Expected back
LS: Same. Harris back.
