Quote:Speedy, you said in the post I quoted from you that DC had some late round hits and that's it...
Caldwell has done more than just bring in the guys I mentioned... But I was specifically responding to the fact that you are only saying he's hitting on late rounders... I'm showing you that he's hitting on 1st and 2nd rounders too...
Cann started today... That dude was another player that's contributing... All the guys are contributing, but it's the coaching that's holding the team back... I'm 91% sure of it... Yes, there's about a 9% chance that the talent is weaker than I am evaluating them to be... But I don't think so. We have more talent than 3 of the 5 teams we played. And we're neck and neck with the Panthers... The only team that over powered us was the cheaters...
When I see a team that should be 3-2 at the worst, and potentially, 4-1, I see a team that is being built properly, but is not being prepared and coached properly...
Even on D... Yeah, we got smoked today... But dude, when a 4 man rush and cover 3 aint working, you gotta scheme more. You gotta confuse the rookie QB with disquising the coverage and bringing extra guys. We just didn't do that consistently... In my mind... The talent is there.
Caldwell has hit on early, mid, and late round picks... Caldwell has hit on some of his FAs as well...
He's not perfect, but you don't fire a GM for not being perfect. You fire a GM is you feel the talent is not being acquired. Are you honestly going to sit there and tell me we are not acquiring talent?
And I go back to the previous game...how can you be sure that our talent is superior to the Bucs and the Colts?
Go watch Martin and Sims vs. our defense. they looked quick and elusive. That burst by Sims in that screen play? Got one block and then boom gone. Martin shredded our defense. Their DLine destroyed our OL, mostly through blitzes. Meanwhile, our DL was getting pushed back off the LOS and our LBs can't set the edge and get off blocks. Poor coaching? Sorry, but when you get manhandled like our front 7 did this game, that's on the players. You can scheme all you want, but if the players aren't winning their one-on-one match-ups, then it doesn't matter.
And contributing? You seem to have a high expectation on Gus yet low expectation on Caldwell. Cann contributed to a running game that Yeldon had to dance so much in the backfield just to get his measly 3+ ypc average and "contributed" to 6 sacks. Yay.
Is there talent there? Yeah, I never said that. But there's still not enough. I'll give you Bortles and Allens, who seem to be developing chemistry on the passing game. Telvin showed real promise as a rookie, but with higher expectations he's being exposed more this season. Cyp had his typical Cyp game.
A lot of people seem to love the job that DC is doing. So here's my scenario: we fire Gus and DC at the end of year. Who do you think the next GM retains for sure? As the core of the team?
Based on play/production: Bortles, Hurns, Robinson, Linder, House, Julius (i'm projecting here obviously, since he's only played 20 some snaps, but I feel he'll get there). Who else? I really can't think of anyone else that a brand new GM would consider "core" of the franchise. Now, don't get me wrong, there are others who will be retained, but not for the reason these guys above will. Those guys will be retained due to their contracts (Odrick) or draft status (Lee)
There was a thread before the season started, I can't remember the name of it, but I believe it was created by Bullseye, which he asked what the overall state of the talent on the team was. My opinion then was we have TONS of potential, very little production.
So far, Bortles, Hurns, Robinson seem to be fulfilling theirs. The other young guys in that "potential" list however? Not so much. And you can throw our free-agent signings there too