Why Not?

[*Wyche'sWarrior*]

(03-10-2022, 11:08 AM)casear2727 Wrote: I appreciate the good points.

Awuzie and Hilton fill 2 out of the 3 CB spots - as of right now one is open with the most likely option being Eli Apple - thus I say Bates is crucial.  An upgrade here lessens this of course.  But my thoughts are based on current roster and the risk of replacing a player.  FS replacement, especially with a rookie is way riskier than replacing WR3 with a rookie.

I am absolutely against Bates being the highest paid Safety - he hasnt earned that, but again as of today this is simply position priority with current roster over the actual player.

"do we even make the Bowl without the clutch performance in critical situations by TB?"

If we had a $10M RG and Trent Taylor, or whoever, I would say yes of course we do.  Boyd averaged 28 yds in the playoffs.  His 800 yards during the season is very productive but my theory is that we were forced to play the short/quick pass game.  Improved blocking opens up the run game and we are able to actual incorporate 5-7 drop pass concepts.  Our offense was quick hitches/slants due to so much pressure and these plays benefit the WR3 with LB coverage.  

If we get the oline help we need this league hasnt seen what our offense can really do. We led the league in every long pass category and we literally ran one quick go route for each of them.  Imagine the deep posts and double moves with Higgins & Chase?   This offense does not need a 10M guy at WR3, we can draft a guy everyone will love that is dangerous every time he touches the ball with 4.3 speed or just a good hands guy.  If we keep both Higgins and Chase, while we have Mixon, the WR3 and TE become check downs.  We need to dispense with fan favs and direct dollars to the most crucial positions.  Just my opinion.

Right, it's just each of our opinions, lol. I understand your point, and it has merit as well. I guess where I'm stuck, is that we're paying Bates 2 million more a year for hit or miss production. Minus the gaffes in the SB, Boyd has steady, and sometimes very good, production. So, say we let Bates walk, we have money for that guard, and a replacement for 30. 

In reality, Bates and Boyd are both fan favs. I certainly am not trying to diminish Jesse, he's been a good player. What I am saying is that there is more than one way to skin this cat. Our secondary was actually pretty good last year, and those guys don't miss tackles. Bates has in the past. Honestly, I think the sure tackling of our CBs is grossly overlooked. In years past, they have been terrible in run support. That wasn't the case last year, and I believe that was as big a part of our run defense being much improved as having Reader healthy and solid rotation up front. Hell, Apple saved the game in KC coming up and putting a hat on Hill and stopping him dead in his tracks. The last few years, I'm not sure anyone makes that play from our secondary. Vonn Bell has played very well also.