(10-14-2018, 07:40 PM)Bullseye Wrote:

(10-14-2018, 06:01 PM)EricC85 Wrote: Going into this year the picture seemed clear. Our plan since we started the Caldwell build was to build defense through the draft/develop that talent and then sign key free agents to boost our strongest positions. We drafted heavy pass rushers, corners and linebackers. We signed key defensive players on the line and in the secondary. We built what was advertised as the next great generational defense. On offense the plan was to build a smash mouth ground game and have a QB that could manage the game. We didn't invest is keeping key offensive players when their contracts ran out, we could replace them with younger drafted role players. We signed established linemen and drafted heavy running backs high in the draft during the entire Caldwell build. 

Did we do it ALL wrong? Has history not proven that keeping a health cohesive defense is both expensive and near impossible.  Look at Seattle they lost some of their LEADERS and the entire defense unraveled. We lost Poz and Colvin and it's starting to look like this defense is unraveling. Was POZ that Leader that was irreplaceable? Would it matter if we had built this team around an offensive powerhouse? 

In todays NFL building around the defense and rushing game is building a team to compete in the wrong decade. It's not sustainable long term, it might not even be sustainable year to year. It's only week 6 and even if we can find our magic juice to finish the season I still wonder did we build this entire thing backwards? 

Having an offense that's just good enough isn't sustainable in todays NFL.

I think your whole premise is wrong

When Caldwell took over, his first draft was the horrible 2013 draft.  He drafted offense in the first round.

In 2014, his first round pick was a QB-Bortles.  His two second round picks were offense-WRs Marqise Lee and Allen Robinson.  His 3rd round pick was offense-Linder.

In 2015, his first pick was Fowler, a DE, but his second rounder was RB Yeldon.

His one defensive heavy draft was 2016 with Ramsey, Jack and Ngakoue.

He happened to hit the biggest with those players, but I don't his initial plan was to build as a defense first team.

Last year, they went offense with the 3 of the first four picks (Fournette, DedeWestbrook and Cam Robinson)

It worked out that way-being a defense first, run heavy team and thus far it worked pretty well.

The last two weeks have been ugly.  But it is due primarily to injuries.

 
Good points. But I think all you have to look at the spending of the #4 pick on a running back, deciding to pay Norwell and extend Blake, rather than spending that on Cousins to see what they wanted this team to be.

You think you have your franchise QB when you draft him at #3, so you try to build around that, but when they had TWO PRIME opportunities to try to get a real upgrade at the QB position after they saw what he is, and passed.


When Caldwell got here, talent was barren, so you're just drafting the best guys possible at that point.


Look where all the FA money went, too. Campbell, Jackson, Church, Gipson, Bouye, Dareus.

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