(04-28-2020, 10:19 AM)Andy G Wrote: While I liked some of the defensive picks in this draft and understand why they had to replace all the players they've lost, this draft hasn't really set Gardner Minshew up to succeed.

He needs to make an impact this season, if he's going to make the starting job his own, but was only really given Shenault to improve his offense.

So, he's going to have to over-perform again, with largely the same set of players.

In fairness, I think you probably have to see it as the start of a rebuild and the start of a defensive re-set, but there's little there to suggest they're also trying to rebuild around Minshew and to me it just fuels the theory they're going to look for an upgrade in 2021.

Which I think is a shame, because I think they could have done more to support him and see what they have there.

Anyone else think they could have done more for Minshew?

I think people who make that point ignore the way a defense can help an offense.  

A good defense keeps a team in the game, which means the team doesn't have to abandon their game plan.  A good defense gets an offense back on the field quicker, which gives the offense more chances.  A good defense can give the offense the ball in better field position.  

A bad defense puts enormous pressure on the offense to score more points to stay in games.  That allows the opposing defense to ignore the run and pin their ears back and rush the passer.  A bad defense forces a quarterback to take chances he wouldn't normally take. 

So it really doesn't matter how much help you give the offense if the defense can't get off the field, and can't stop the other team.  If Derek Henry is running the ball for 6 yards a carry, the Titans are going to ignore Leonard Fournette and just go after our quarterback.  There's no way we can run the ball if we open the second half down 17 points.

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(04-28-2020, 10:49 AM)Captain_Caldwell Wrote: It’s a lot easier to succeed as a quarterback when after you score a touchdown in the 4th quarter, you defense doesn’t give up a 70 yard touchdown run and outs all the pressure on qb to score again with less time. Drew brees can’t win with the defense giving up 200+ rushing yards back to back to back games. Minshew has enough. Adequate line, pro bowl receiver and a few weapons at wr. A runningback who can be productive especially during a contract year. The offense has enough as long as it’s not pressured to score 35-40 a game. Take some pressure off Minshew and let him be comfortable and do his thing

Yes.  That.  ^

I don't necessarily agree that Minshew "has enough."  I would say we don't want Minshew to have to carry the whole team.

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