So start the counter debate about what can (reasonably) happen to elevate the despair. With everything in place: Jerry, Dak's contract/health concern, CAP situation (especially with Micah at $40M and our LG being paid like a LT) and Defense (especially without Micah, who's costing $40M per)......are we hoping that we find a HC that can get the best out of Dak and his diminishing mobility and a Defense that be overhauled to stop the run.
well on the optimistic (homer) side, our very talented line can put it together and not play like one of the worst units in the league. be it through the natural progression of a raw prospect like guyton, or sensible / optimal lineup configuration it’s hard not to believe they can / will be markedly better.
while all teams deal with injuries, law of avgs suggests we won’t be decimated to the levels we have been this year. strictly focusing on the dl we lost our top four in succession. i’d say over the past few years, the team has actually done a fairly remarkable job of next man up (imo) when injuries strike, but when they hit the entirety of a position group, that’s a tall order and fingers crossed it doesn’t happen again next year.
this team has historically loved top shelf running backs as part of their identity. and while i’m not wanting to spend the capital for a jeanty, i am hoping / assuming they prioritize injecting some talent, and believe that will pay considerable dividends.
lastly HIGH DRAFT POSITIONING. we rarely have it. for a team that relies on the draft, drafting in the 20s and high 20s year to year is a severe handicap. every team that we envy and say “_____ has rebuilt and passed us”, in almost every example it’s due to having high draft picks and hitting on them. with the exception of zeke, who was a MONSTER for a few years, our top 15 player selections are A+++ over the past 15 years or so when we have them. Tyron, Zack, Micah, Zeke. Each had an immediate and identity providing impact. Throw a guy like Mason Graham or a Travis Hunter in the mix and I can see a massive rippling effect. Not to mention the way to combat outsized cap spending is to replenish with young cheap talent through the draft, and picking highly each round is the absolute best opportunity to do that.
so yeah, call the past couple of years fools gold, or favorable schedule, or whatever you like, it’s difficult to win 12 games, let alone three years in a row, so i’m banking on being a talented roster that had a lost season compounded by a myriad of factors, bouncing back with some highly drafted juice injected, a favorable schedule (lol) and a reversal of fortunes.
