(10-05-2021, 08:27 PM)OzJohnnie Wrote: (10-04-2021, 09:13 AM)JagFan81 Wrote: Exactly this. We're getting better but were still 0-4
I also think theres a bit of 'you play to your opponents level', no team plays 100% every game, you do enough to beat who you are playing, sometimes that requires everyone to be playing great and sometimes you just need to not mess up and make enough plays.
TLaw is getting better. Everything else is as it was last year. The team is essentially a push except for TLaw. The next big improvement needed here is defense. 1. It must play better as a unit, 2. It needs talent. After that TLaw needs WRs and a TE.
But basically, this year we get to watch TLaw go from green, mistake-making rookie and worse than Minshew to better than Minshew. The first two games the team was clearly worse than it was last year. These last two show that maybe it's starting to draw level with last year? We'll see. And maybe in the second half of the year when TLaw is consistently making better choices and plays than a more experienced (and less talented) Minshew, we'll see the Jags clearly better than last year. Maybe even win some.
This is a multi-year journey to getting talent into Jacksonville. As far as I can tell, the Jags still have $72m of cap space for next season and only $16m in dead money. So if TLaw improves as we hope then he is the biggest recruiting tool we have. And a lot of money to spend on players willing to come join the TLaw team. The Jag's future over the next few years is entirely dependent on TLaw's development as an NFL superstar QB.
The troubling aspect to me-aside from the 20 consecutive loss thing and the mounting injuries-is how little quality contribution we are getting from the rookies.
Doing the rookie watch analysis every week this year has been sad, quite frankly.
We had extra draft picks this year thanks to the Ramsey, Ngakoue, Campbell and Bouye trades. We had an extra pick in the first, second, 4th and 5th round.
T Law has had his rookie struggles, but I'm happy with how he has played thus far, all things considered. He shows some signs he could be great with time, health and better surrounding talent and coaching.
Everyone else? Pfft.
Etienne was injured for the year in preseason.
Tyson Campbell has been mostly bad when he's been in, and he's been banged up too.
Walker Little has been inactive most of the year and I don't think he's gotten any regular season snaps. Granted, the O-Line has been playing better than expected so far. Nevertheless, it's disappointing he hasn't played well enough or developed enough yet to merit playing time...or at least even being active.
We all anticipated Andre Cisco would at least be a contributor, but he hasn't cracked the starting lineup, either.
Jay Tufele was just made active this past week. Jordan Smith has been a complete non factor.
Luke Farrell has made modest impact for a 5th rounder, but certainly hasn't been much of a difference maker.
All of this "non impact" for an 0-5 team.
What's worse is the bulk of these guys aren't even getting game reps to gain experience for next year.
Based solely on the contributions-or lack thereof-from this rookie class, we seemingly have a young nucleus of one to count on for improvement next year.
I cringe typing this.
(10-06-2021, 05:11 PM)jaguarmvp Wrote: The Jags are good as:
A wet smelly sock
Moldy Cheese or bread after you have taken a bite
Someone stealing your wallet
Having to use the bathroom really bad but the toilet is already clogged
Fast food restaurant pay
You get the point?
As outlandish and unpleasant as these analogies are, nobody can really disagree with them.
Worst to 1st. Curse Reversed!