08-21-2017, 08:54 AM
(08-20-2017, 07:07 PM)TKUHL Wrote: If you asked anyone 3/4 of the way through the season last year what we needed more than anything the answer would have been Oline and D line to an extent. So what gives? Why the hell is this still an issue after FA and what, 11 damn draft picks.
I know according to experts the draft wasn't loaded with talented OLinemen but is it when they say it is. It's always a crap shoot no matter what. You still have to try. We had so much to work with to improve this line, even had a backup QB along with all the draft picks to make something happen. What did we do? As little as possible, as cheap as possible.
Oline should have been the top priority this off season. But we let ourselves get fixated on skill players (who I'm sure are good) but that dosent make it the right decision. This franchise just completely flopped this offseason. No creativity whatsoever in FA with other players or our own, going into the draft having the same issues and still completely ignoring the obvious.
It's always the same arguments every year why we can't fix a repeating problem/problems. But you can't argue that we didn't have the money or ammo to make changes for the better. Whit should have retired a Bengal. We did get rid of some dead weight finally and decided to upgrade over Hill, but we have yet to find anyone to step up as a replacement to most of the players that we let go the past couple years.
Lost player. Replacement
Whit. ? OG, no need to say anymore
Zeilter. ? Hopkins who knows, are big FA signing can't even get on the field with the first string.
Nelson. ? Shaun Williams has been bad, now injured.
Maualuga ? Minter looks pretty slow out there. Still may be an upgrade.
Peko. ? Billings had a year to learn and so far it's the mental part of the game where he struggles. That's concerning.
Sanu ? Boyd, the only decent replacement so what do we do, draft a WR at #9 of course.
Marvin Jones. ? Ross, why...LaFell and Core looked good, Erickson constantly overlooked. I'm sure Ross will be fine, I just think we had more pressing needs than WR.
Now so far this pre season we have vet players looking bad like M. Johnson even Dunlap and Adkins have been quite. Then you mix in the lack of basic fundamentals such as tackling and it's hard not to be critical of this team even though it is only pre season.
So my question is How and Why. Why do both lines look like complete garbage. Why did we seem to have no urgency in the offseason to address the Oline. How do you fix this shit show in 2 weeks.
The answer to your question is that fans, especially on message boards, like to complain, and when something doesn't work out act like it was just stupidity by the front office. No one wanted them to keep Reggie Nelson more than me, he was one of my favorite players. That said, how loudly and often do we hear people complain the younger players never get a shot at the field because the front office it too loyal to the vets? Numerous times a day!! So when they move on to the young guy, and he's not as good, the same people say that was a stupid decision. We had to add receivers this year. As much as I like Erickson and LaFell, nobody not named AJ Green could get any separation last year. Something had to give. Fan favorite bash boy Maualuga.... I suspect he will be missed this year. He never looked great on the field, but as we found out several times when he was injured, we were better with him than without him. Same with Peko. Everyone is salivating over Billings. I have high hopes for him as well, but he hasn't shown much outside the weight room and has yet to play a regular season game. Signing Whit to a 1 year deal would have been great, problem is, he wanted a 3 year deal, which is stupid at his age. Zeitler, they should have paid him. Sanu and Jones left to have a bigger role on the field, not because of money. They would never be a #1 with AJ on the team and knew it. That's no ones fault. As far as drafting an Olineman, when their aren't any, there aren't any..... though I stand by my position they should have drafted Jon Toth. As far as Atkins, Johnson etc being quiet in the pre-season, it's the pre season. They are just trying to not get hurt. 3rd game coming up this week, that's the only one where they will be going full out....
