12-06-2013, 11:59 PM
Hello, Jaguars fans. I don't know what are the rules here for fans of other teams, but I'm coming here in good mode and hope to have a good conversation with you.
First, I'd like to congratulate your team for 3 wins in a row, and 4 out of last 5 and being the "hottest team" in AFC. I think you will also win next two, maybe all three. Pretty impressive after a bad start to the season. I must admit, I don't know much about your team, but I know Gus (he's one of the reasons, why I'm here), I also always liked MJD and Blackmon (I hope he can stay out of troubles in the future) too last season, mostly for fantasy football reasons. Of course I also know some of the players, who were on our roster last season or in preseason like W.Blackmon, Lotulelei, Guy (Maybe I forgot someone). BTW, what are your thoughts about them? Are they playing good?
Honestly, I didn't always like Gus's playcalling as a DC and partially blame him for a loss in Atlanta in playoff game last year because of his "soft zone" defense in last 0:30 of the game. But other than that, he is a great guy and although Pete Carroll has the final word on defensive side, I strongly believe Gus has a big input in turning one of the league worst defenses to top 5 (or maybe even the best) defense in 1,5-2 years. Carroll always tought highly about Bradley and he was the only coach Carroll keep (on Monte Kiffin advice) from previous Mora regime, when he take over in 2010.
I always respect and like him as a coach and a person and wish him all the best, but was a bit surprised when he takes this job, because I think he could stay a year longer (maybe win a SB) and get an opportunity in a better situated team, but luckily for you he decides to go to Jacksonville. Nobody can guarantee a success in the league like NFL and it will take a time, but I strongly believe, Gus is the right man to turn your franchise destiny around.
And seeing some of the "condensed games" highlights over the last few games, I believe Bradley is starting to build something positive in Jacksonville and I see much similarities to our situation in Seattle 4 years ago. I don't know exactly what he says in his first press conference, but probably one of his words was "building through the draft". I was thinking about that and in Carroll's first draft in 2010 we take LT Okung and Earl Thomas (who is now for me the best safety in the league) in 1st round (thanks to Dallas we had two 1st round picks that year and that is one of the best things our former GM did). Sounds familiar?
There are also similarities in big number of transactions of "street free agents" as I called them. Leave no rock unturned, when you try to find a way to get your team better. Mostly cheap players, who will probably only stick around for a year or two, until better/younger players are drafted, but also always looking for diamond in the rough. As I already mentioned, you also take some of the players we cut and I believe Gus will try to take more in the future, but as you get better, there will be other teams in front of you on the waiver list. We now only have 4 players on the roster, who were there in year 2010, one of them is a punter. It's possible, Gus will do something very similar in next 3-4 years, if he stays that long (I believe, he will).
I've seen a thread about "tanking the season" and respect different opinions, but believe the only way to get better is to win games on Sunday. Bradley is Carroll's disciple and you probably already heard him talk about "Always compete" and "Win forever". It's important to create a winning culture in the organization and you can't do that when losing. We've been through something similar in Carroll's first year, when some fans wanted to tank the season (although in a bad NFC West that season we were still in a playoff race), so we could have better draft position to draft a "QB of the future". We had Hasselbeck back then, who had some good moments in 2010, but was on the end of his (effective) career as a starting QB. Last regular season game against the Rams had a playoff indication (NFC West was pretty bad that year) and we won with Charlie Whitehurst at QB (most of you probably don't know him), as Hasselbeck was injured. If we loose that game, we'd probably have No. 8 pick and could draft QB (maybe Gabbert, who our GM Schneider was apparently very high on - I believe he's the best GM in the league, but he would miss very badly on that one; or Locker, Ponder, maybe Watt, if we wouldn't draft a QB, I don't know), but we won and drafted at No.25. And the rest is a history. As a 7-9 team we hosted reigning champions Saints in wildcard game and beat them. I still believe Lynch's "beastquake" run was the most defining moment of our current team. After that game, fans and players started to believe, everything is possible. We still needed to wait for about one more year to find our QB, but it was well worth it. You don't always need to draft with 1st pick (or even first round) to find a good QB.
Probably I talk a bit too much about Seahawks, but I just want to remind you, that sometimes you need to be patient and of course, you need a bit of luck. We had it last year in the 3rd round. But there is also a lot of hard work in there from everyone inside the organisation. I believe Gus is a hardworker and will get the job done for you. I don't know much about his working relationship with your GM, but I hope it's good. That's a key to succes IMO.
I believe the worst part of "journey" is now behind your beloved team. It will be some up and downs through next season or two, but you will see on week to week (and then year to year) basis, how your team gets better. So just enjoy the ride and believe, that Bradley&Co. will find the right (and the best possible) QB and other missing pieces to make your team better. I will root for you because of Gus and our former players, but also, because I wish you can beat Colts in the near future on regular base. I didn't like them when Manning was there (although I respect him as one of the best QB's ever) and I don't like all those media hype around Luck nowadays (he's good, but not that good IMO).
Good luck to all of you.
P.S.: I will probably stick around for a few days, if you all don't mind. I've seen some interesting debates going on and would like to learn more about your team.
First, I'd like to congratulate your team for 3 wins in a row, and 4 out of last 5 and being the "hottest team" in AFC. I think you will also win next two, maybe all three. Pretty impressive after a bad start to the season. I must admit, I don't know much about your team, but I know Gus (he's one of the reasons, why I'm here), I also always liked MJD and Blackmon (I hope he can stay out of troubles in the future) too last season, mostly for fantasy football reasons. Of course I also know some of the players, who were on our roster last season or in preseason like W.Blackmon, Lotulelei, Guy (Maybe I forgot someone). BTW, what are your thoughts about them? Are they playing good?
Honestly, I didn't always like Gus's playcalling as a DC and partially blame him for a loss in Atlanta in playoff game last year because of his "soft zone" defense in last 0:30 of the game. But other than that, he is a great guy and although Pete Carroll has the final word on defensive side, I strongly believe Gus has a big input in turning one of the league worst defenses to top 5 (or maybe even the best) defense in 1,5-2 years. Carroll always tought highly about Bradley and he was the only coach Carroll keep (on Monte Kiffin advice) from previous Mora regime, when he take over in 2010.
I always respect and like him as a coach and a person and wish him all the best, but was a bit surprised when he takes this job, because I think he could stay a year longer (maybe win a SB) and get an opportunity in a better situated team, but luckily for you he decides to go to Jacksonville. Nobody can guarantee a success in the league like NFL and it will take a time, but I strongly believe, Gus is the right man to turn your franchise destiny around.
And seeing some of the "condensed games" highlights over the last few games, I believe Bradley is starting to build something positive in Jacksonville and I see much similarities to our situation in Seattle 4 years ago. I don't know exactly what he says in his first press conference, but probably one of his words was "building through the draft". I was thinking about that and in Carroll's first draft in 2010 we take LT Okung and Earl Thomas (who is now for me the best safety in the league) in 1st round (thanks to Dallas we had two 1st round picks that year and that is one of the best things our former GM did). Sounds familiar?
There are also similarities in big number of transactions of "street free agents" as I called them. Leave no rock unturned, when you try to find a way to get your team better. Mostly cheap players, who will probably only stick around for a year or two, until better/younger players are drafted, but also always looking for diamond in the rough. As I already mentioned, you also take some of the players we cut and I believe Gus will try to take more in the future, but as you get better, there will be other teams in front of you on the waiver list. We now only have 4 players on the roster, who were there in year 2010, one of them is a punter. It's possible, Gus will do something very similar in next 3-4 years, if he stays that long (I believe, he will).
I've seen a thread about "tanking the season" and respect different opinions, but believe the only way to get better is to win games on Sunday. Bradley is Carroll's disciple and you probably already heard him talk about "Always compete" and "Win forever". It's important to create a winning culture in the organization and you can't do that when losing. We've been through something similar in Carroll's first year, when some fans wanted to tank the season (although in a bad NFC West that season we were still in a playoff race), so we could have better draft position to draft a "QB of the future". We had Hasselbeck back then, who had some good moments in 2010, but was on the end of his (effective) career as a starting QB. Last regular season game against the Rams had a playoff indication (NFC West was pretty bad that year) and we won with Charlie Whitehurst at QB (most of you probably don't know him), as Hasselbeck was injured. If we loose that game, we'd probably have No. 8 pick and could draft QB (maybe Gabbert, who our GM Schneider was apparently very high on - I believe he's the best GM in the league, but he would miss very badly on that one; or Locker, Ponder, maybe Watt, if we wouldn't draft a QB, I don't know), but we won and drafted at No.25. And the rest is a history. As a 7-9 team we hosted reigning champions Saints in wildcard game and beat them. I still believe Lynch's "beastquake" run was the most defining moment of our current team. After that game, fans and players started to believe, everything is possible. We still needed to wait for about one more year to find our QB, but it was well worth it. You don't always need to draft with 1st pick (or even first round) to find a good QB.
Probably I talk a bit too much about Seahawks, but I just want to remind you, that sometimes you need to be patient and of course, you need a bit of luck. We had it last year in the 3rd round. But there is also a lot of hard work in there from everyone inside the organisation. I believe Gus is a hardworker and will get the job done for you. I don't know much about his working relationship with your GM, but I hope it's good. That's a key to succes IMO.
I believe the worst part of "journey" is now behind your beloved team. It will be some up and downs through next season or two, but you will see on week to week (and then year to year) basis, how your team gets better. So just enjoy the ride and believe, that Bradley&Co. will find the right (and the best possible) QB and other missing pieces to make your team better. I will root for you because of Gus and our former players, but also, because I wish you can beat Colts in the near future on regular base. I didn't like them when Manning was there (although I respect him as one of the best QB's ever) and I don't like all those media hype around Luck nowadays (he's good, but not that good IMO).
Good luck to all of you.
P.S.: I will probably stick around for a few days, if you all don't mind. I've seen some interesting debates going on and would like to learn more about your team.
.