Perhaps the perfect tank job?

[Stewy]

(03-05-2020, 12:39 AM)Shake n Blake Wrote: I think we all wanted to wonder if last season was a tank job, but many refuse to entertain the thought thanks to our past incompetence...which is understandable. That said, I wouldn't doubt if they knew 2019 would be a "throw away" type of year. The roster needed a lot of re-tooling. The defense made a rather drastic change in scheme. AJ Green was hurt.

After our rough start, I wouldn't doubt if Taylor and co made some decisions that they wouldn't have made normally. Such as starting Finley for 3 games, or maybe keeping AJ off the field. Hard telling though. Kinda funny that we started playing better as it became clear we'd secure the top pick.

Fwiw, no way do I believe Mike planned this far in advance.

(03-05-2020, 03:12 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: I believe the same.

I suggested something similar as the OP, but with Taylor as the Mastermind, not MB.  And you're both likely right that it wasn't planned from the beginning, but was turned to once key injuries piled up.

#1 - You'd never tell the players about it.  Their livelihood is at stake, and the Players Union would step in.
#2 - It's almost impossible Taylor is THAT/THIS incompetent of a play caller.  Calling running plays when passing is needed.  Calling short passes on 3rd and long.  Etc.  If you're going to tank, purposefully and quietly, offensive play calling is the place to do it.  
#3 - If you don't score, it doesn't matter how good your Defense is, so IF it was purposeful, the Defensive staff was likely not in on it.
#4 - I think the FO might have stepped in and made Taylor put AD back in, for fear of losing the locker room.
#5 - I bet AD was doing a lot of audibling out of Taylor's play calls during the Miami game, which was the only reason for the comeback.  I bet Taylor was petrified AD was going to pull it off.....if he was behind it.
#6 - As others have pointed out, the Team suddenly started playing better, and Taylor calling better plays once the top pick was secured.  Coincidences are hooey.
#7 - Tanking is a thing.  It's real.  Happens in baseball all the time.  Taylor is a young guy.  Likely into analytics.  Him tanking for a top pick or the top pick is easily believable.

Regardless, we'll see the first few games of the season the likely truth.  If Taylor is incompetent, he'll stay that way regardless of who is at QB.  If he looks like a genius play caller and coach all of a sudden, then that will speak volumes as well.  

In the end it matters not really.  The team is where it is and after the bad season, they're in the enviable position to change the course of the organization for the next decade.