(12-31-2019, 05:03 PM)JagJohn Wrote: Most of us on here, myself included, wanted to clean house and get rid of the FO and coaching staff. I still think that was the way to go, due to the fact there is just too much negativity in the organization that has been carried over from failing staff to next failing staff. Ultimately, I think that negativity will continue to engulf this franchise and next season will be more of the same.

That being said, there definitely is a plan in place for this franchise moving forward (whether we agree with it or not). There was a key phrase in Shad's statement that I think has been largely overlooked:

"This is not the time for an overhaul of the organization"

To me, this is more revealing than anything else that has been said today, and it means many things for the future.

1. I think Shad felt he had to choose between two options: a) going nuclear and resetting everything, with new coaching staff, FO, multiple veterans released and a full rebuild, or b) keeping most things in place and having one more shot at putting together a successful season with the current personnel. Like I said, to most of us, option a seems like a no-brainer. However, I think there are obvious reasons why Shad chose not to go this way. I think he is looking ahead, and sees next offseason as a much better "time for an overhaul of the organization". First of all, our cap situation is kind of terrible, meaning the job is massively less appealing to a new head coach and GM. However, in a year from now we will have a lot more flexibility with the cap, making the prospect of a clean sweep more appealing. Secondly, we will have a much clearer idea of whether we have our QB of the future, or we need to look to the draft in 2021 to find one (which we know has some top QB options). Again, this would allow a head coach and gm to come in and build around their guy.

2. I think this means we will see fewer veterans released than we were expecting. They've gone for the option of trying to squeeze whatever we can out of the current personnel, which means players too. I now expect Calais, AJ and a few others to return for next year. Could be wrong on this point, but if they are going to give it one last whirl, they may as well keep the talent they do have.

3. Gardner will be the QB next year, and is probably the only reason why any of these guys still have jobs today. His play is probably the only reason that Shad considers there is a possibility of having any success next year. He probably wants the same coaching staff around him for another year to make his development as smooth as possible. Imagine how bad this (already very bad) season would have been without Minshew? Nobody would have survived...

So, to be clear, I think Shad was tempted to make sweeping changes now, but ultimately looked at the roster we have, looked at the available options, and decided that after next season would be much better for an organizational overhaul. In his mind, best case scenario is Doug and Dave somehow manage to turn this ship around, Minshew develops into a top QB, and the Jags are successful. Worst case scenario (and probable scenario) is more of the same, at which point we will be at a much better "time for an overhaul of the organization". Again, I disagree with this approach, but I can see where he is coming from.

I think that makes a lot of sense.  

But there is another possibility and that is that Shad thinks the odds of him finding someone better to coach and manage the team is not that great.  I don't agree with that, but it's possible that he really thinks that DC and DM are good enough, and that circumstances beyond their control have derailed the team for the last 2 years.

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