12-31-2024, 04:55 PM
(12-31-2024, 03:37 PM)Isaac Curtis: The Real #85 Wrote: Good idea. I will go.Oh please..our iffense is one of the best in the league..mike brown is not selling the team..we need more scouts..better player evaluation..a plan...zac taylr had this team in the superbowl a couple of years ago followed by an AFC championship game appearance...burrow missed half a season last year and the team was very competitive..I would agree...we need some new voices coaching the defensive and offensive line.
I. Philosophical Changes
I don't like the way we play. On offense or defense. Generally, it is too predictable, too vanilla, and too soft. On offense, our TE personnel give away the play. And empty on 3rd/4th and short drives me nuts. So does passing on 1st & goal from inside the 5 on obvious pass sets.
On D, we need to be more aggreessive in coverage on 3rd downs, stop with allowing easy checkdown 1sts. We don't need 2 LBs on the field in obvious passing sets. And should move guys around more and blitz more from DBs. Hilton and Dax are both excellent in this regard, but wasted playing coverage only all the time. Plus, stop with the refusal to roster OLB/edge types. We need more speed to track down mobile QBs on 3rd down. 1/2 guys out of 5/6 DEs at least. He does not have to start, but situationally.
II. FO/Ownership/Coaches
I think Mike Brown should sell (he won't). Or at least get out of the way (he won't). Or at least allow us to compete and structure contracts better (more guaranteed money) so we can land quality FAs and or retain guys but minimize cap hits. Burrow, Chase, & Higgins aren't gonna be cut, so who cares?
Duke should get fired or get help. We are 30th in the league in drafting Pro-Bowlers. Get a GM and some scouts, FFS.
I think ZT, Lou, and Pollard should all be fired, but they won't be. But how many poor starts (1-11 over 6 years 1st two), boneheaded late game decisions (just kneel v Denver, let Joe try and get a first down vs Balt, why is Anthony on the field on 4th & 16 and no pass rush vs KC when Trey was eating their LT for lunch all game). Not to mention FG/Go calls and short yardage playcalling.
III. Roster
And I'd like to see us more aggressive in certain areas with the roster build.
The offense, despite Chase & Burrow setting records, is not elite. It's good, but flawed. I think 6th or 7th in scoring. That's not elite. Lock Chase & Tee up. But fix the guards. Cappa is no longer starter quality and Ford & Volson never have been. Don't count on bargain bin FA's or Day 3 picks to fix it. Sign at least one stud G in FA, if not two. If it is only 1, then a pick or perhaps a discounted guy coming off injury (Daniels, Fries, Banks), a Day 2 pick (Donovan Jackson). And invest in at least 1 more weapon for Joe. Be it bringing Gesicki back or a high-ish TE/WR3 pick. Or both. Moss is too expensive for RB2. I'd like some Thunder to go with Brown's lightning at RB2. Though a FA/late pick is fine. We have elite guys at QB1, WR1, and WR2 if Higgins is back. Chase Brown is a good RB1. Karras & OBJ are poor run blockers, but near elite pass protectors. And Mims is promising. If we have plus to excellent guard play (and can run block) and Joe has 1 more weapon (TE/WR3), this thing will be fearsome. Good enough to carry even a average D tonthe top of the mountain. Make it so.
We need eveything on D besides DE1. Better run defense, better pass rush (DE2 and DT), better coverage, better recognition, better tackling, more speed at LB, better safety play, and a legit CB1. It is too much for one year. Build the D back with picks, smart value FA signings, and jettisoning high paid guys who are not performing (Rankins, and Hubbard if no restructure). Stone & Pratt are right on the edge, but until we have an upgrade.... we may have to live with the status quo. We are aiming for league average in the short term while stockpiling young/cheap talent longer term. Keeping Hill and Hilton would be nice. As would some kind of decent DL signing.
But my first priority is turning the O into a juggernaught. With better IOL play and a consistent WR3/TE weapon, we are there.
Big FA signings: Higgins, FA guard
Big retention: Chase extension
Moderate FA retensions: Hill, Hilton, Gesicki
Cuts: Rankins, Cappa
Then swing back around & re-evaluate. I'd want enough $$ to get more significant help in the trenches. At least one more big/significant signing: OG/DT/DE. If I need to free more $$, I will.
Restructure/Cut: Hubbard, Moss
Depends on draft: Stone (Starks, Watts), Pratt (Campbell).
Low end/min retenstons possible: Ossai, ADG, Ford, T. Brown, Herbert, Hudson, C. Sample, Bachie.
Ideally, the only "hole" on O going into the draft would then be TE1/WR3. But Sample/Gesicki/All & Iosivas/Burton are both OK if we go another direction. Day 3 depth (RB, IOL) would be it, and we could focus on the D.
And with a plan..you dont need to be spending over 100 million on three played..burrow chase and higgins..I would not sign higgins to a long term contract because he cant stay healthy...
