ESPN: We are 0 players away from contending for the Super Bowl

[big dog cowboy]

That's upgrading half of the defense in one-offseason. Not impossible but highly challenging.

Not exactly half the defense but if we fill 2 or 3 of those holes in FA it can be done. We just really need to be smart with who we bring in and hopefully not get any stiffs that just waste our time and resources.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

I agree with most mens here. We half to upgrade the defense with a middle run stopper and two QUALITY DEs. Let's not fook ourselves that we can continue with what he half now. Hey, that reminds me, we still need some quality in the secondary, maybe a blue chip Corner and a athletic and powerful safety. Make that two safties.

 

[CyberB0b]

We were in pretty much the same situation in 2007. Great regular season and lost a close game against another legit contender. Granted, they never won a playoff game that year, but everyone thought they would have a successful 2008 season. They went 9-7, losing the last 3 out of 4, and getting embarrassed 44-6 in Philly.

 

[dwreck27]

Honestly guys if we get one impact Dlinemen on this team with our "okay" secondary its enough to lift up this defense with a *crossing my fingers* healthy season of lee, McClain, and Hitchens playing LB for us....

You give our "above average/average" secondary less time to have to cover i think we see us move into a top 10 unit.

I truly believe if say (i know beating a dead horse) Suh was to play along side Crawford and D-law they would look oh so much better and have far better production which would lift the entire unit up a few notches

 

[hornitosmonster]

We got to get better on D, especially the secondary and pass rush

 

[AshyLarry06]

Id say 2 DE, 1DT, 2 CB, a Free Safety away from elite

I'd agree, and my lil Mock offseason has us basically gettin DE's Greg Hardy (via FA) and Markus Golden (Draft), DT Malcolm Brown (Draft), CB's Buster Skrine (FA) and Kevin Johnson (Draft), and a FS tba lol so im right there with ya

 

[endersdragon]

Can I just ask, why do so many of you not think DLaw is a capable DE, I think it is silly to write him off after 1 year where he missed training camp and several weeks. I think we need to pair him with someone but to say we need 2 DEs seems silly.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Can I just ask, why do so many of you not think DLaw is a capable DE, I think it is silly to write him off after 1 year where he missed training camp and several weeks. I think we need to pair him with someone but to say we need 2 DEs seems silly.

I love DLaw. But I still think we need 2 DE's. I want unrelenting non-stop pursuit of the QB on every play. I want the opposing QB to be very thankful when the clock finally hits all zeros. I want our DB's buying expensive gifts for our DE's because they make their work so easy on game days. OK I'll stop now but you get my drift.

 

[AshyLarry06]

I love DLaw. But I still think we need 2 DE's. I want unrelenting non-stop pursuit of the QB on every play. I want the opposing QB to be very thankful when the clock finally hits all zeros. I want our DB's buying expensive gifts for our DE's because they make their work so easy on game days. OK I'll stop now but you get my drift.

Exactly, and what's wrong with Depth, especially on the D-Line and ESPECIALLY in Rod's scheme?

 

[endersdragon]

Exactly, and what's wrong with Depth, especially on the D-Line and ESPECIALLY in Rod's scheme?

We are talking about what we need to contend and that isn't steak at every position (and the backups of some positions), especially when that is likely impossible. At some point in time, good enough has to be good enough. Otherwise we will turn into the Washington Commanders or the Dream Team Eagles constantly looking for new players but not getting any sort of chemistry.

 

[AshyLarry06]

We are talking about what we need to contend and that isn't steak at every position, especially when that is likely impossible.

Who said we need "Steak" at every position? My hope is that we sign ONE Primo DE (hopefully Greg Hardy to an incentive-laden contract) and draft another DE in one of the first 3 rounds. That ain't steak at every position, that's depth at one position or one position group.

 

[endersdragon]

Who said we need "Steak" at every position? My hope is that we sign ONE Primo DE (hopefully Greg Hardy to an incentive-laden contract) and draft another DE in one of the first 3 rounds. That ain't steak at every position, that's depth at one position or one position group.

The problem is we also need a CB (who won't come cheaply or easily), a safety (bit easier here), a DT (if we want something elite, it won't come cheaply), and a RB (won't come cheaply). And beyond that you are saying we need 2 more top caliber DEs just to CONTEND. Meanwhile Zach Moore is good enough to be the Patriots 3rd DE (I know what you are thinking... who the **** is Zach Moore, and yes, I would have to agree with that sentiment but he is a rookie drafted in the 6th round (had to look that one up)) and Demarcus Dobbs (a guy in his 4th season who has never recorded a sack, yea that good) has that spot with the Seahawks. Compared to those two guys, Mincey is a beast at DE. Do we need another starter, duh, I don't trust Mincey to put up the same kind of numbers long term, but do we need to prioritize our 3rd string DE just to contend? Well only if you think the Seahawks and Patriots aren't contending right now.

 

[AshyLarry06]

The problem is we also need a CB (who won't come cheaply or easily), a safety (bit easier here), a DT (if we want something elite, it won't come cheaply), and a RB (won't come cheaply). And beyond that you are saying we need 2 more top caliber DEs just to CONTEND. Meanwhile Zach Moore is good enough to be the Patriots 3rd DE (I know what you are thinking... who the **** is Zach Moore, and yes, I would have to agree with that sentiment but he is a rookie drafted in the 6th round (had to look that one up)) and Demarcus Dobbs (a guy in his 4th season who has never recorded a sack, yea that good) has that spot with the Seahawks. Compared to those two guys, Mincey is a beast at DE. Do we need another starter, duh, I don't trust Mincey to put up the same kind of numbers long term, but do we need to prioritize our 3rd string DE just to contend, only if you think the Seahawks and Patriots aren't contending right now.

I'm not saying we need 2 more guys just to contend, im saying 2 more DE's would take this defense from average to good-maybe GREAT. As for the other positions, I believe Carr will take a pay-cut and stay put and we can get a decent 3rd or 4th CB on the market without breaking the bank, plus with a better pass rush comes better secondary play. I'd take a DT and either CB or S in the first 3 rounds as well, again making it not-so-pricey of an option. I also believe we will re-sign Murray to a 3-4 year deal but in the scenario where we do not, I believe we will sign a guy like AP or Ingram OR perhaps draft a RB in either the 1st or 2nd round.

The Seahawks also have a guy by the name of Bruce Irvin listed as a Linebacker so don't let the listed depth-charts throw you off- Bruce Irvin is the backup D-End, not Demarcus Dobbs. All i'm saying is that it definitely couldn't hurt to have good depth at DE, esp if that depth is being acquired via the draft.

 

[JackOfNoTrades]

http://espn.go.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/12179331/how-many-players-away-super-bowl-team

Checked out a bit of their methodology and it seems pretty sound... I would have to disagree and say we were 4 players away from contending next year, or 2 by their measurement (at least 2 new players on the d-line and 2 new players in the secondary, they were far kinder to Wilcox (who I think is an average SS... but when we need a FS he isn't that) and Melton (good through part of the year... but just not enough) than I would have been) but still... nice to see them say that we are that close. Though... reallly... Romo is not elite?

thanks for sharing but seemed like a silly, visually based publishing aimed at getting clicks - did like tho how the Commanders need a whole new team! lol

 

[endersdragon]

I'm not saying we need 2 more guys just to contend, im saying 2 more DE's would take this defense from average to good-maybe GREAT. As for the other positions, I believe Carr will take a pay-cut and stay put and we can get a decent 3rd or 4th CB on the market without breaking the bank, plus with a better pass rush comes better secondary play. I'd take a DT and either CB or S in the first 3 rounds as well, again making it not-so-pricey of an option. I also believe we will re-sign Murray to a 3-4 year deal but in the scenario where we do not, I believe we will sign a guy like AP or Ingram OR perhaps draft a RB in either the 1st or 2nd round.

The Seahawks also have a guy by the name of Bruce Irvin listed as a Linebacker so don't let the listed depth-charts throw you off- Bruce Irvin is the backup D-End, not Demarcus Dobbs. All i'm saying is that it definitely couldn't hurt to have good depth at DE, esp if that depth is being acquired via the draft.

If a great DE falls to us after we most likely get a good one on free agency, fine take him, always take BPA, but, if we get a DE in free agency (which I have every reason to believe we will) then I think it will be stupid to be looking for one. To me looking for one generally means either drafting them too soon, or trading up to get one... neither or which seems like a good bet for a guy who could very well end up being #4 on our depth chart for the near future.

 

[AshyLarry06]

If a great DE falls to us after we most likely get a good one on free agency, fine take him, always take BPA, but, if we get a DE in free agency (which I have every reason to believe we will) then I think it will be stupid to be looking for one. To me looking for one generally means either drafting them too soon, or trading up to get one... neither or which seems like a good bet for a guy who could very well end up being #4 on our depth chart for the near future.

Agreed

 

[tyke1doe]

We were absolutely good enough THIS year to win the Super Bowl.

No, we weren't. Otherwise, we would be playing in the Super Bowl.
Guess, what? The Green Bay Packers weren't good enough to play in the Super Bowl this year.
The only teams good enough to play in the Super Bowl are the teams that make it to the Super Bowl. Teams that don't make it aren't good enough.

 

[SPCowboysfan9]

Well we were perhaps a call from playing the Seahawks for the NFC. A team we dominated in their home. A team favored over the Pats.

We absolutely could have won it all this year.

Excuse me while I go throw up.

Let it go man haha............I hear now Romo doing a pizza commercial where they mention it. Won't go away.

Next season we make it go away.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

No, we weren't. Otherwise, we would be playing in the Super Bowl.
Guess, what? The Green Bay Packers weren't good enough to play in the Super Bowl this year.
The only teams good enough to play in the Super Bowl are the teams that make it to the Super Bowl. Teams that don't make it aren't good enough.

Unfortunately that's not really how reality works.

Every postseason there are a handful of teams that have the talent to truly are a run. Only one team will. We were absolutely in that grouping.

It takes talent, preparation AND luck.

But in your black and white world I realize how this may be too nuanced a concept for you understand and fully grasp.

 

[DallasEast]

No, we weren't. Otherwise, we would be playing in the Super Bowl.
Guess, what? The Green Bay Packers weren't good enough to play in the Super Bowl this year.
The only teams good enough to play in the Super Bowl are the teams that make it to the Super Bowl. Teams that don't make it aren't good enough.

That's certainly a contentious statement, almost as debatable as the customary 'quarterback talent equals number of Super Bowl rings' argument. In my opinion of the post-1994 cba/salary cap era, the two franchises reaching the Super Bowl each year are often the playoff teams who committed the least number of turnovers, capitalized the most on their opponents' turnovers, and executed their schemes well-enough in their games--not necessarily the two teams with the most efficient rosters and best coaching.

Sometimes teams advance to the Super Bowl because of lucky bounces, split-second lapses of judgment, and yes, occasionally questionable officiating. It may even be said the "better" team during a particular playoff game were fortunate enough to win by game's end but not because that team was THE best of the two. Of course, the legs of my opinion are automatically cut down from underneath when it must contend with "the fact" that the only teams qualified to play in the Super Bowl are the two that got there.