(12-18-2018, 04:36 PM)NYC4jags Wrote: Building a team around a run game and defense just won't work anymore if you don't have a productive passing counterpart. The league wants the pass, they are very proactive about proliferating it, and that isn't going away. If anything it is a trend that is only gathering steam moving forward.

I think the part in bold is where the disconnect is with many fans.  A productive passing game doesn't mean a bunch of deep passes down the field or putting up a bunch of points.  Being able to make 10-20 yard passes, especially in say a 3rd and 8 situation is important.

Look at many of the best passers in the league.  Sure there are deep passes occasionally that happen and put up points, but the vast majority are shorter passes that move the chains.  That's what QB's like Aaron Rogers, Tom Brady, etc. do for the most part.  Essentially their passing game is their run game.  It's what Payton Manning did his whole career.

I think the key is having an accurate passer and decent-to-good receivers that can run good routes and exploit zone coverages.  A good receiving tight end helps with the mis-matches against LB's and safetys.  It's not all QB.

I just don't think that either QB on the 53 man roster has that ability and I don't think that the receivers on the roster are good enough to do what needs to be done with the exception of maybe Westbrook and possibly Chark.  The addition of Lee next season will give another option.  The rest of the receivers are just filling position slots (IMO).  As far as tight ends, ASJ was supposed to fill the spot at TE and basically missed the season.  I don't think that any of the other TE's can produce the mis-matches required while still being able to block occasionally.

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