(02-16-2020, 07:39 AM)flsprtsgod Wrote:

(02-14-2020, 09:25 PM)jagsfan06 Wrote: That is what happens when you build with high priced free agents. You get a mirage that is not sustainable. Shame on you Dave Caldwell, you should have known better.

Lol, between DC and TC which had the history of cap destroying free agency moves?

Prior to TCs return, Caldwell had the cap in great shape, and the product on the field was circling the drain because of multiple failed or at best mediocre high draft picks.  TC arrived, opened up Shad's wallet and started doing what he did the last time he was here, wrecking our cap situation, but producing a winning team in year 1.  Unfortunately, as has already been pointed out multiple ties, when you build through free agency you're going to pay the cost very quickly as you'll overpay for talent that may never reciprocate with a level of production equal to what they're getting paid for past production.  That's just the way free agency works.

So, we were a disaster waiting to happen with lousy drafting early, and then buying free agents to plug holes to address the lousy drafting.  What we saw happen over the past 2 seasons really wasn't unexpected, although we all hoped that the team would avoid the inury bug as they did in 2017 and get at least one more run out of the free agents.  Instead, the wheels started coming off in 2018, and the implosion completed last season with the team losing so badly, they set a record for sucking.

The only way to fix this is to do it through the draft.  The problem is, it's not going to be an easy or quick fix.  So, saying goodbye to players who have been major contributors to past success for the team is required in order to turn this team around.  The bigger problem here is that you're still basically letting the guys that put us in this mess try to dig the franchise out of this hole.  Khan decided it should all fall on Coughlin, opting to keep Caldwell and Marrone in place.  The definition of insanity applies here.  Honestly, as competitive as we've been told repeatedly Khan is, this made zero sense.  It was time to blow up the front office from the scouts to the GM to the coaching staff.  It was time to go in a completely different direction while we were trying to clean up the mess with the cap and the roster left by Caldwell and Coughlin.  If someone can provide me with a coherent explanation as to why that didn't happen this year, I'd be happy to hear it.  While mass firings aren't an effective way to run an NFL franchise, sometimes it's necessary if you want to completely change direction and rebuild.  

It will be interesting to see just how bad this team sucks this year.  The draft can provide a few fixes, but not enough to make them competitive.  The fans are going to support another year of last place finishes?  I know I'll renew my seats, but I'm fairly confident I'll have a LOT of elbow room for the 2020 season.  Fortunately, we'll only have to suffer through 6 home games thanks to back-to-back home games in London.  Based on how bad the team is expected to be next year, they may split the home season completely in 2021 once they get a gander at the season ticket sales in Jax.

At some point, this team either has to produce on the field.  This fan base deserves it.  They could have gone a long way toward instilling some level of hope among the fans by hiring a legitimate GM and head coach pairing this season.  It's inevitable it has to happen, but our owner is displaying the level of patience that assures we are basement dwellers for at least a couple of years as he builds a winner for London. At the end of the day, I think our Robespierre may be the Jacksonville fan base.

Bullseye, it's great to see you back on the board. Thought provoking posts are few and far between when you're not around.

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