(04-15-2020, 11:28 AM)MalabarJag Wrote: (04-15-2020, 10:51 AM)NYC4jags Wrote: I don't mean to present a laissez faire attitude about it.
As I've expressed in countless posts/threads:
- I am very off put by Khan's insistence to increase revenue by moving a second game and it reeks of greed to my olfactory sense.
- I fully expected and supported a reboot in the front office and coaching staff this offseason even if I don't "hate" Caldwell as many fans do.
- I continue to be mystified by the moves made along the O-Line and the general lack of haste to improve its performance via player acquisition and coach placement. I know moves have been made, but without the necessary urgency IMO.
- I feel the organization turned a blind eye to the TE position during multiple offseasons and the moves that have been made have had unfortunate endings. *fingers crossed on Oliver*
- The reliance on #27 by multiple coordinators has been largely a failure as his effectiveness could be better fulfilled by having a c.o.p. compliment that presents a variance in challenge to opposing defenses. We saw 10 minutes of it with Grant and somehow this entire organization never felt a need to return to a winning formula there.
I've got my fair share of gripes and complaints.
I simply choose to sit back and see how many of those are going to be addressed between now and September rather than ranting about how unhappy I am.
The one thing the Jags haven't had is a lack of urgency on player acquisition on the OL.
Caldwell's very first draft pick was a LT, in spite of having Monroe at the time who was arguably the best player on the team the year before (some might say Poz).
The Jags traded up in the second round when they picked both Robinson and Taylor. Both players were listed much higher in every pre-draft mock I saw, frequently to the Jags as a 1st round pick expecting the Jags to fill the OL need.
Cann and Linder were both 3rd round picks, which is high for a guard. Caldwell even traded up to get Linder.
The Jags also signed Norwell as a free agent, one of the highest rated free agents in that class. They also signed former Pro Bowl guard Beadles, signed Steeler LT starter Beachum to replace Joeckel after he failed, and traded for LT Brandon Albert. They made a big money offer to Pro Bowl center Alex Mack, which the Browns matched (to their regret).
Of course the results have been disappointing. Whether that's due to coaching or the players just being overrated when they were acquired is debatable. I tend to blame coaching because Cann's best season was his rookie year, same with Robinson, and maybe Linder too. When every player on the OL with more than one year as a Jag has gotten worse with time it seems obvious to me that it's a coaching/development failure, not a player selection failure.
But even if you blame the player selection, you can't say the Jags didn't prioritize the OL.
What I said was succinctly "mystified by the moves and lack of urgency" not that they didn't prioritize. And I still believe they did not prioritize it enough in a number of recent offseasons. Like... 2019.
I also included their coaching choices as an issue.
I included the "acquisition" caveat for this exact anticipated response.
Urgency Issues:
* Trotting out Cam Robinson at left tackle last year after his just
barely being cleared to practice after the knee surgery/rehab with no credible insurance plan (and his questionable rookie season) was a lack of urgency.
* Rolling with AJ Cann after two straight years of poor performance with an underwhelming 4th round failed RT prospect as your only contingency was a lack of urgency.
* Hell, drafting Will Richardson ^ as your only real plan to replace an aging/fading Parnell was also a lack of urgency.
* Rolling with the same depth of Shatley, Walker and *gulp* Chris freakin Reed for year after year showed a severe lack of urgency to even remotely push the starters ahead of them or to upgrade depth.
I count all of these decisions as failures.
