05-07-2021, 11:58 AM
Well, this team has on and off field weaknesses.
On field.
1) Offensive & Defensive line play.
We were bottom 5 to dead last in a slew of stats measuring line play. On offense: sacks & pressures allowed, & rushing yards. On defense: sacks, rushing yards allowed, & others. We could not pass or run block effectively nor stop the run nor rush the passer. Ain't gonna win many games that way.
Now, some of that was injury related, especially on D. Reader got hurt early. Geno's injury reduced him to a shell. Tupou opted out. Wren missed all year. Our top 4 DTs all lost. We were signing guys off the street to start/play all year (Daniels, Covington, Hunt, etc). Hubbard also missed time and Dunlap flat out quit (thanks, Lou). Lawson was our only impactful DL, and he left in FA.
Getting Reader back is a start. Brought in Ogubjobi to replace Geno and Hendrickson for Lawson. Hubbard still here. Drafted Ossai, Sample, and Shelvin, who all likely make the team. And Hubert, who is likely PS bound. Tupou and Wren are also back in the picture. Along with some of last year's holdovers: Daniels, Kareem, Bledsoe, McKenzie, & Akinmoladun. And signed Anthony Williams as an UDFA.
For those counting at home, that is 15. Likely 10 on the 53 plus 2-3 on the PS. There are a lot of unproven, young, or new to the team guys. So we don't really know what we have. Has to be better than last year's disaster, but by how much?
On offense, injuries were less of a factor (XSF & Williams missed time, and Hopkins late), but Turner's guys just sucked. Pass blocking and run blocking.
A healthy XSF, Spain all year, and drafting Carman & converting him to guard should give us 3 playable OG options & push Jordan to #4 OG. At tackle, we swapoed Reiff for the much maligned Hart (who was our best run blocker, BTW). Drafted Smith in Rd 4 but he seems a bit of a project. Johnson & Adeniji look to battle for #3 OT. Can Jonah stay healthy? Yikes. At C, Hopkins coming off major injury backed by Price. Hill likely not a contributor yet.
We got a bit better at G, depending on Carman. We got better at pass protection at OT but worse in the run game. C is the same.
And of course canning Turner and giring Pollack is a major upgrade.
This seems to be a prove it to me year. Can Jobah stay healthy and be a franchise LT? Can Carman play G? Do we want to keep Reiff around long term? Is Hopkins healthy? What does Spain look like with a camp here? Can Pollack polish/save some of the depth guys into functional players (Price, Jordan, Johnson, Adeniji)? Are Smith/Hill contributors now? How big a difference does Pollack make?
Again, got to be better, but by how much? I still think we will need more reinforcements next year. Not sold on Jonah as franchise LT. Hopkins is an awful run blocker. Reiff on 1 year deal. Spain/XSF are adequate at best. No confidence in Turner's guys. Plus 3 rooks.
I'd love to bring in a vet OT, but I can see wanting to take a look at Smith in camp first. If he can play year 1, then maybe we don't need to.
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2. Wide Receiver.
We were bottom of the league, or near it, it separation. Higgins & Boyd are good, but not speedsters. Ross was benched. AJ was not good. Erickson gone. Tate & Thomas are marginal NFL players.
Chase is a huge upgrade. But he does not solve all our problems. Still no speed outside of him. No proven depth, really. No PR or backup slot guy. With Lees & Robinson brought in as UDFAs, I think one could make the team. Also think Morgan could displace Tate.
Again, we are better. The top 3 look fantastic. Not much after that.
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On field.
1) Offensive & Defensive line play.
We were bottom 5 to dead last in a slew of stats measuring line play. On offense: sacks & pressures allowed, & rushing yards. On defense: sacks, rushing yards allowed, & others. We could not pass or run block effectively nor stop the run nor rush the passer. Ain't gonna win many games that way.
Now, some of that was injury related, especially on D. Reader got hurt early. Geno's injury reduced him to a shell. Tupou opted out. Wren missed all year. Our top 4 DTs all lost. We were signing guys off the street to start/play all year (Daniels, Covington, Hunt, etc). Hubbard also missed time and Dunlap flat out quit (thanks, Lou). Lawson was our only impactful DL, and he left in FA.
Getting Reader back is a start. Brought in Ogubjobi to replace Geno and Hendrickson for Lawson. Hubbard still here. Drafted Ossai, Sample, and Shelvin, who all likely make the team. And Hubert, who is likely PS bound. Tupou and Wren are also back in the picture. Along with some of last year's holdovers: Daniels, Kareem, Bledsoe, McKenzie, & Akinmoladun. And signed Anthony Williams as an UDFA.
For those counting at home, that is 15. Likely 10 on the 53 plus 2-3 on the PS. There are a lot of unproven, young, or new to the team guys. So we don't really know what we have. Has to be better than last year's disaster, but by how much?
On offense, injuries were less of a factor (XSF & Williams missed time, and Hopkins late), but Turner's guys just sucked. Pass blocking and run blocking.
A healthy XSF, Spain all year, and drafting Carman & converting him to guard should give us 3 playable OG options & push Jordan to #4 OG. At tackle, we swapoed Reiff for the much maligned Hart (who was our best run blocker, BTW). Drafted Smith in Rd 4 but he seems a bit of a project. Johnson & Adeniji look to battle for #3 OT. Can Jonah stay healthy? Yikes. At C, Hopkins coming off major injury backed by Price. Hill likely not a contributor yet.
We got a bit better at G, depending on Carman. We got better at pass protection at OT but worse in the run game. C is the same.
And of course canning Turner and giring Pollack is a major upgrade.
This seems to be a prove it to me year. Can Jobah stay healthy and be a franchise LT? Can Carman play G? Do we want to keep Reiff around long term? Is Hopkins healthy? What does Spain look like with a camp here? Can Pollack polish/save some of the depth guys into functional players (Price, Jordan, Johnson, Adeniji)? Are Smith/Hill contributors now? How big a difference does Pollack make?
Again, got to be better, but by how much? I still think we will need more reinforcements next year. Not sold on Jonah as franchise LT. Hopkins is an awful run blocker. Reiff on 1 year deal. Spain/XSF are adequate at best. No confidence in Turner's guys. Plus 3 rooks.
I'd love to bring in a vet OT, but I can see wanting to take a look at Smith in camp first. If he can play year 1, then maybe we don't need to.
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2. Wide Receiver.
We were bottom of the league, or near it, it separation. Higgins & Boyd are good, but not speedsters. Ross was benched. AJ was not good. Erickson gone. Tate & Thomas are marginal NFL players.
Chase is a huge upgrade. But he does not solve all our problems. Still no speed outside of him. No proven depth, really. No PR or backup slot guy. With Lees & Robinson brought in as UDFAs, I think one could make the team. Also think Morgan could displace Tate.
Again, we are better. The top 3 look fantastic. Not much after that.
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