Moderate change thread

[fanfromvirginia]

I'm not ready to burn it down and rebuild like many in here. I'm much more inclined to believe that truth and solutions are often found in the middle. I guess it has something to do with middle age. I think it's probably the best place to start with this "mess" we've found ourselves in -- we're doing much better than we were five years ago; we've acquired a fair amount of talent, some of it at key positions; we're still financially healthy; and we're better off than most teams in the league, especially our conference. Overall, I'd say we need a couple new coaches, a few key position additions, and a lot of camp competition. Anyway, in that spirit I'm offering up my take on moderate change.

Head Coach: He may make this decision easy for us by retiring. If not, this is actually a tough one. There is a moderate case for keeping him one more year but everything considered, barring two playoff wins, I'm going with change on this. There are a lot of ways, though, to screw this up -- there are a lot more bad coaches than good out there so it's definitely a risk.

Defensive Coordinator: Gone. It would be immoderate to keep him.

3-4: Keep it for now but to the extent possible, get coaches, both DC and head, with experience coaching an aggressive, unpredictable version of 3-4. If this does not appear doable, then go 4-3. Don't keep it just to keep it.

TO: Let him go. He has definitely brought a lot more to this team than some think so it's a tough call. It will be difficult to replace his talent. But he's expensive and at the very least a significant nuisance, if not quite the cancer that ESPN makes him out to be.

Other players: Generally, DON'T cut a bunch of players. Bring in competition and let them battle it out. If Rivera can't beat out the competition, then cut him -- if he somehow turns it around then all the better. Same goes for Bradie James, Pat Watkins, JJ, etc. Draft a potential replacement for Flozell and let them and McQ battle it out under the assumption that this is Flo's last year and his replacement should take over at some point during the year if doable.

Draft and free agency: Stop with the TE infatuation; don't be afraid to go OL early and often; be aggressive in free agency but stay within the budget.

 

[Deputy493]

TO: Let him go. He has definitely brought a lot more to this team than some think so it's a tough call. It will be difficult to replace his talent. But he's expensive and at the very least a significant nuisance, if not quite the cancer that ESPN makes him out to be.

Disagree, he is our #1 playmaker, I stick with him another year......besides, we drop him who is our #1? Terry Glenn? TO opens everything up.

Draft and free agency: Stop with the TE infatuation; don't be afraid to go OL early and often; be aggressive in free agency but stay within the budget

If Tuna is gone, so will the infatuation with TE's. But nobody can say the O-Line has been ignored early and often in the draft or FA. We simply have had bust outs in that area.........Jacob Rogers 2nd rounder, not in the NFL........Stephen Peterman, 3rd rounder off the team and latched onto the Lions finally, Al Johnson, 2nd rounder, bench warmer...........they drafted those 3 thinking by now that would be 3/5 of our starting O-Line, none are........look no further than those 3 picks as to why our O-Line has been in shambles.........FYI, from what has been said in Dallas and the Ticket, Jacob Rogers was a Parcells pick all the way and it was against the advice of most others in the war room that Rogers was "soft".

 

[fanfromvirginia]

Disagree, he is our #1 playmaker, I stick with him another year......besides, we drop him who is our #1? Terry Glenn? TO opens everything up.




If Tuna is gone, so will the infatuation with TE's. But nobody can say the O-Line has been ignored early and often in the draft or FA. We simply have had bust outs in that area.........Jacob Rogers 2nd rounder, not in the NFL........Stephen Peterman, 3rd rounder off the team and latched onto the Lions finally, Al Johnson, 2nd rounder, bench warmer...........they drafted those 3 thinking by now that would be 3/5 of our starting O-Line, none are........look no further than those 3 picks as to why our O-Line has been in shambles.........FYI, from what has been said in Dallas and the Ticket, Jacob Rogers was a Parcells pick all the way and it was against the advice of most others in the war room that Rogers was "soft".

There is a moderate case to be made for TO. Although I lean the other way, I respect your opinion. There's something to be said for that, these days, especially in here.

Yes, we've had our first-day OL busts. But we shouldn't use that to not keep trying. I guess my more specific case is against the shouldn't-draft-OL-in-the-first-round argument. Most of the evidence against taking an OL in the first round is anecdotal, IMO.

 

[Deputy493]

Yes, we've had our first-day OL busts. But we shouldn't use that to not keep trying. I guess my more specific case is against the shouldn't-draft-OL-in-the-first-round argument. Most of the evidence against taking an OL in the first round is anecdotal, IMO.

I am not against drafting O-Line in the 1st round, if they are not simply a reach for need pick.

For example, no T was worth our 1st rounder last year, with the exception of Winston Justice maybe, but you have off the field concerns there which is why he fell so far.

Had we taken Nick Mangold or Davin Joseph there, now I would've had no heartburn there.......Mangold is liable to be an all pro center for years to come and Joseph started as a rookie with a lot of upside, they both contributed a lot more than Carp who we took beofre both of those guys...........hell, Maroney looks like he would've been a good pick for us, team up he and Barber again......as I have fallen off the JJ train.

I did not like the Al Johnson pick in the 2nd, thought Peterman was a bit of a reach in the 3rd, and was not too hot on the Rogers pick either........that said, I do think we passed on some quality O-Linemen in this past draft when they would not have been a reach. So I agree with you, but am not for reaching for O-Lineman just because it is a glaring need....the draft is about value and quality of the player, IMO.

 

[Alexander]

Head Coach: He may make this decision easy for us by retiring. If not, this is actually a tough one. There is a moderate case for keeping him one more year but everything considered, barring two playoff wins, I'm going with change on this. There are a lot of ways, though, to screw this up -- there are a lot more bad coaches than good out there so it's definitely a risk.

I leave it in his hands. Be willing to remake this staff and come on back. If he resists, make up his mind for him. He is one of the greatest ever, but also one of the most obstinate ever.

Defensive Coordinator: Gone. It would be immoderate to keep him.

His contract runs out. Just let him fade away. No action required.

3-4: Keep it for now but to the extent possible, get coaches, both DC and head, with experience coaching an aggressive, unpredictable version of 3-4. If this does not appear doable, then go 4-3. Don't keep it just to keep it.

I agree. The scheme is not that difficult to change up. We will need some additional parts either way, but right now that should not dictate what coordinator we get.

TO: Let him go. He has definitely brought a lot more to this team than some think so it's a tough call. It will be difficult to replace his talent. But he's expensive and at the very least a significant nuisance, if not quite the cancer that ESPN makes him out to be.

Expense isn't an issue. What other options are available is the issue. Personally, I think he needs to stay as he is our only definite playmaker. Love Terry Glenn to death, but he would be neutralized quickly if he were the lone starter alongside players like Crayton, Hurd and Austin. There are no viable options in free agency nor is the draft going to bring a top notch receiver quickly.

Other players: Generally, DON'T cut a bunch of players. Bring in competition and let them battle it out. If Rivera can't beat out the competition, then cut him -- if he somehow turns it around then all the better. Same goes for Bradie James, Pat Watkins, JJ, etc. Draft a potential replacement for Flozell and let them and McQ battle it out under the assumption that this is Flo's last year and his replacement should take over at some point during the year if doable.

Rivera needs to go. James needs to shape up or go to being a 2-down linebacker.

Draft and free agency: Stop with the TE infatuation; don't be afraid to go OL early and often; be aggressive in free agency but stay within the budget.

I agree about the tight end situation.

 

[fanfromvirginia]

I leave it in his hands. Be willing to remake this staff and come on back. If he resists, make up his mind for him. He is one of the greatest ever, but also one of the most obstinate ever.



His contract runs out. Just let him fade away. No action required.



I agree. The scheme is not that difficult to change up. We will need some additional parts either way, but right now that should not dictate what coordinator we get.



Expense isn't an issue. What other options are available is the issue. Personally, I think he needs to stay as he is our only definite playmaker. Love Terry Glenn to death, but he would be neutralized quickly if he were the lone starter alongside players like Crayton, Hurd and Austin. There are no viable options in free agency nor is the draft going to bring a top notch receiver quickly.



Rivera needs to go. James needs to shape up or go to being a 2-down linebacker.



I agree about the tight end situation.

I could really go either way on TO. There's a moderate case to be made either way.