The rebuilding of the secondary should have been an indication this year would be questionable. Especially when they let go of several veterans at the positions they tried to fill with rookies.
Add to this the Zeke issue and the replacing 40% of the offensive line and any prediction about this being a Super Bowl year was a lot of blue sky.
The positive aspect to this is the rookies are playing and getting experience. The replacements in the offensive line are playing and getting experience. If this team goes on to 7-9 or 6-10 then they will is closer to the top in the draft. And even though there is Martin and Lawrence's contract coming up, the brain trust can find a way to get the dollars to hire one exceptional free agent. However, I think they are shopping the bargain basement in that realm, so don't count on it.
So this is not Marinelli or Linehan. Although I do think Garrett has hit his ceiling and can offer nothing more.
If the last twenty years of a nothing burger has taught us anything, this road to a Championship requires patience from the fan. While that seems like it is ignorant to think that way, consider this.
How long has Will McClay been here? And how many of those seasons has this team been in cap hell? McClay is the reason why the team is doing better - Zeke, Dak Offensive line - and with another year he can vastly improve this team.
Get Zeke straight with the league.
Resign Martin and Lawrence.
Have another successful draft. Get a real defensive tackle that eats up the middle.
And if it were me, I would use free agency to find a guard for the offensive line that is top notch. But that is me.
One last point.
The team has Dak.