(03-07-2024, 09:28 PM)Jagulars Wrote: [ -> ]Interesting. So the guards and Harrison are set. Center will be upgraded. Now, what will they do with Robinson?
Nothing. He will stay on the same contract, he has no incentive to restructure. They won’t release him either. #baalke
(03-07-2024, 08:57 PM)Jaguarmeister Wrote: [ -> ] (03-07-2024, 08:50 PM)Caldrac Wrote: [ -> ]They're really going to run it back with the same five.
Holy. [BLEEP]. Hell. Man.
Unreal.
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Lol. Didn't you make a resolution a few weeks ago to take it easy and not care so much or something to that effect?
I agreed and will stick to the following. I am not investing every single one of my Sunday's to this football team in 2024.
There's 17 games in a season. I am going to give in and watch 8 games and potentially go to one or two of those 8 games.
The other half I am tuning out completely. It's just draining man. I owe it to myself, but, most importantly, my family.
I promise ill do something more on those days. It just seems unhealthy man. Ill be 36 next month on the 27th. The whole vegas and open support of gambling by the NFL is also bothering me more and more.
Just hard to trust the integrity of it all now.
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(03-07-2024, 10:08 PM)Firesky Wrote: [ -> ] (03-07-2024, 08:50 PM)Caldrac Wrote: [ -> ]They're really going to run it back with the same five.
Holy. [BLEEP]. Hell. Man.
Unreal.
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I think Fortner is just a massive black hole that really negatively impacted the rest of the guys. Beyond that, poor play calling and design of the offense did them no favors. And lastly injuries. Cam Robinson, Walker Little, Scherff, Cleveland, Harrison etc. all suffered significant injuries that they largely played through. I think health, an NFL caliber Center, and depth to allow guys to heal from the bang ups when needed will go a long way to securing the line and Trevor's protection.
Also they need to figure out who is playing Left tackle. If Cam's ego is the only thing preventing him from playing RT or kicking inside that's problematic. I'd like to see Harrison at LT since he's stellar in pass pro but his run blocking needs work; I think Cam Robinson is a top half LT but would be a probowl/AllPro on the right side since he just has that NASTY streak. Little just needs to be left in one spot to develop no matter where on the line that is.
Agreed on Fortner. That's the catch 22 in all of this. Cleveland and Scherff are more tolerable IF you get them a stronger and competent Quicklink in the middle to hold it altogether.
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Scherff is too slow to pull now and on the verge of not being strong enough. Now he will be older and they think he will be better? What is this team doing?
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What is WRONG with this team. Jesus is Baalkes ego that big? Does Doug have ANY say?
If we start opening day with the same starting 5, I predict Baalke will be fired week 13
(03-07-2024, 10:56 PM)MojoKing Wrote: [ -> ]What is WRONG with this team. Jesus is Baalkes ego that big? Does Doug have ANY say?
If we start opening day with the same starting 5, I predict Baalke will be fired week 13
If Doug does have say Fortner will likely be the starter next year. Run it back.
Cleveland only going to account for less than 4 million against the cap this year.
That’s good. I’ll give props on that one.
(03-07-2024, 10:16 PM)Caldrac Wrote: [ -> ] (03-07-2024, 08:57 PM)Jaguarmeister Wrote: [ -> ]Lol. Didn't you make a resolution a few weeks ago to take it easy and not care so much or something to that effect?
I agreed and will stick to the following. I am not investing every single one of my Sunday's to this football team in 2024.
There's 17 games in a season. I am going to give in and watch 8 games and potentially go to one or two of those 8 games.
The other half I am tuning out completely. It's just draining man. I owe it to myself, but, most importantly, my family.
I promise ill do something more on those days. It just seems unhealthy man. Ill be 36 next month on the 27th. The whole vegas and open support of gambling by the NFL is also bothering me more and more.
Just hard to trust the integrity of it all now.
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Oh this sport has never been anywhere near perfect and probably never will be with how much 3rd party (ref) influence there is and has always been. Infractions require the right ref to see it and many are subject to interpretation. That allows for a pretty significant berth to intentionally affect outcomes if someone desired let alone unintentionally affecting outcomes. And the embrace of gambling surely adds to that imperfection. All the more reason to figure out how to really only be emotionally invested in good moments and try to disconnect quickly in bad. Commtting some sundays to other real life endeavors works too. Don't let the offseason drain you though. You don't really know what the result will be until game day. Unless Fortner is starting week 1. Then we already know.
Look, if we don't replace Fortner, I'm gonna lose it.
(03-07-2024, 10:33 PM)p_rushing Wrote: [ -> ]Scherff is too slow to pull now and on the verge of not being strong enough. Now he will be older and they think he will be better? What is this team doing?
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Trying not to create a hole where they don't have to. The main thing they really need to do is make a massive upgrade at Center. Let's pray they are not so egotistical that they can't admit that Fortner isn't the guy. "We have to get bigger and stronger" has to mean something other than just hitting the weight room in the offseason.
(03-07-2024, 08:28 PM)Cleatwood Wrote: [ -> ]https://twitter.com/rapsheet/status/1765...915L-t18Xg
So by “bigger and stronger” they legit just meant Fortner hahahaha
Let's hope they at least meant that. Let's hope they don't think they can solve the problem by getting Fortner in the weight room more often.
(03-07-2024, 08:36 PM)Jaguarmeister Wrote: [ -> ] (03-07-2024, 08:28 PM)Cleatwood Wrote: [ -> ]https://twitter.com/rapsheet/status/1765...915L-t18Xg
So by “bigger and stronger” they legit just meant Fortner hahahaha
Scherff appeared to my untrained eye to be nearing the cliff, so an extension is not something I am enthused about. Hopefully, all of the problems along the IOL can be attributed to him trying to reinforce the Pillow Fortner in the middle.
In spite of all the injuries he's incurred over the past two years, hasn't missed a game, and that says something. I agree that you're flirting with fate as the years tack on, but if we are rolling with a newb at C I like having two good guards on each of his shoulders especially early on. The deal will probably convert some or all of this year's salary to bonus to lessen the 23M hit this year, and maybe stretch some salary into next year.
Gives us time to bring in his replacement or see if Hodges can be ready after a redshirt season.
We as a board/fanbase are putting a LOT of faith in Tugboat, but in reality he is a huge question mark at this stage.
(03-07-2024, 08:42 PM)Jaguarmeister Wrote: [ -> ] (03-07-2024, 08:38 PM)Cleatwood Wrote: [ -> ]Baalke loves to double down on his bad moves.
There are so many young guards on the market he could have got to play RG but he’s keeping Scherff.
If he runs it back with Fortner with the amount of good centers on the market……
I'll be interested to see the deal. If all they did was push some money into next year and guarantee a little of it to create space this year while also drafting Scherff's eventual replacement, I think it'll be fine.
sound logic. Maybe not as much fun as running around like a chicken with your head cut off, but at least you're not winded at the end of the day.
(03-07-2024, 08:44 PM)Cleatwood Wrote: [ -> ] (03-07-2024, 08:42 PM)Jaguarmeister Wrote: [ -> ]I'll be interested to see the deal. If all they did was push some money into next year and guarantee a little of it to create space this year while also drafting Scherff's eventual replacement, I think it'll be fine.
They’re definitely pushing money further down the road but they’ll eventually need to upgrade the RG spot because Scherff is old. This FA class of guards and centers is good. Not to mention the draft class for the IOL is very good.
It’s a perfect time to upgrade.
Correct. Plant now. Harvest will come.
I think everyone is aware how daunting a 17-game season is on the trenches. Injury is inevitability. Build depth, develop replacements. The rook may not unseat him by week 1, but midseason that depth will be valuable. It might even be good enough to hold the starting spot if Scherff gets banged up. Will be super cool to have a reliable backup if we plan to be in a postseason run.
(03-07-2024, 08:50 PM)Caldrac Wrote: [ -> ]They're really going to run it back with the same five.
Holy. [BLEEP]. Hell. Man.
Unreal.
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80% gives you a B...or maybe we should grade this "incomplete" for now?
(03-08-2024, 09:10 AM)Mikey Wrote: [ -> ] (03-07-2024, 08:50 PM)Caldrac Wrote: [ -> ]They're really going to run it back with the same five.
Holy. [BLEEP]. Hell. Man.
Unreal.
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80% gives you a B...or maybe we should grade this "incomplete" for now?
Maybe we could at least wait until free agency starts next week to jump off the Modis over what they haven't done right? I'm all for getting rid of Baalke at some point, but to be writing off the season next year before we even know the roster is overboard even for this group.
(03-08-2024, 10:33 AM)flsprtsgod Wrote: [ -> ] (03-08-2024, 09:10 AM)Mikey Wrote: [ -> ]80% gives you a B...or maybe we should grade this "incomplete" for now?
Maybe we could at least wait until free agency starts next week to jump off the Modis over what they haven't done right? I'm all for getting rid of Baalke at some point, but to be writing off the season next year before we even know the roster is overboard even for this group.
Typically if you're looking for a veteran to simply fill in while grooming a new guard, you wait until there is FA value after the draft. The extension for Scherff is only reasonable if you plan on starting him full-time, otherwise you're burning money for depth and kicking the can down the road. When the majority of fans have targeted IOL as the biggest area of need, it's not as easy as just replacing the C (assuming the team does that.)
(03-08-2024, 11:20 AM)cland Wrote: [ -> ] (03-08-2024, 10:33 AM)flsprtsgod Wrote: [ -> ]Maybe we could at least wait until free agency starts next week to jump off the Modis over what they haven't done right? I'm all for getting rid of Baalke at some point, but to be writing off the season next year before we even know the roster is overboard even for this group.
Typically if you're looking for a veteran to simply fill in while grooming a new guard, you wait until there is FA value after the draft. The extension for Scherff is only reasonable if you plan on starting him full-time, otherwise you're burning money for depth and kicking the can down the road. When the majority of fans have targeted IOL as the biggest area of need, it's not as easy as just replacing the C (assuming the team does that.)
I think that a vet center solves a world of trouble for this team, even with the intention to keep Sherff. I just want some new blood in the pipeline so we don't have to spend big FA dollars on both guard and center in another year.
(03-08-2024, 11:20 AM)cland Wrote: [ -> ] (03-08-2024, 10:33 AM)flsprtsgod Wrote: [ -> ]Maybe we could at least wait until free agency starts next week to jump off the Modis over what they haven't done right? I'm all for getting rid of Baalke at some point, but to be writing off the season next year before we even know the roster is overboard even for this group.
Typically if you're looking for a veteran to simply fill in while grooming a new guard, you wait until there is FA value after the draft. The extension for Scherff is only reasonable if you plan on starting him full-time, otherwise you're burning money for depth and kicking the can down the road. When the majority of fans have targeted IOL as the biggest area of need, it's not as easy as just replacing the C (assuming the team does that.)
It's not hard to replace the 36th best center. He's the 36th rated center, you don't wait until all the good centers are picked up. Biadasz would be a huge improvement as would pretty much ant center that's available. You get the guy you want , you don't wait on the left overs
(03-08-2024, 11:49 AM)flsprtsgod Wrote: [ -> ] (03-08-2024, 11:20 AM)cland Wrote: [ -> ]Typically if you're looking for a veteran to simply fill in while grooming a new guard, you wait until there is FA value after the draft. The extension for Scherff is only reasonable if you plan on starting him full-time, otherwise you're burning money for depth and kicking the can down the road. When the majority of fans have targeted IOL as the biggest area of need, it's not as easy as just replacing the C (assuming the team does that.)
I think that a vet center solves a world of trouble for this team, even with the intention to keep Sherff. I just want some new blood in the pipeline so we don't have to spend big FA dollars on both guard and center in another year.
Here's what doesn't make sense: Baalke says, "We’ve got to get bigger, we’ve got to get stronger, we’ve got to get more physical in the trenches. If you want to compete for championships, you have to do that. I think we’ve got some good pieces in there, we have some good young players in there,
BUT we have to get better."
How do you do that if you're bringing back 4 out of 5 OL starters (assuming they replace Fortner)? Is rookie JPJ going to transform the entire line into a dominant run and pass-protecting line? Is there a reasonably priced all-pro center out there that accomplishes the same?
What this really comes down to IMO, is that
THIS is the season to give Trevor Lawrence every possible opportunity to "Show me the Money!", before giving him a market setting contract. And the way to do that is to give him more time in the pocket and a strong run game. Now maybe I'm wrong and this is all part of that effort, sign what you got, sign top of the market OL FAs, and use the first 3 draft picks on OLmen...but I tend to doubt it.
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