(04-03-2022, 09:13 AM)Bullseye Wrote: (04-02-2022, 09:13 AM)The Real Marty Wrote: I would also add, so much of what you are asking involves pure speculation with no actual knowledge of what the Jags' brass is thinking.
In answering your questions about "starters," I considered anyone who would be on the field a majority of the game a "starter." Like Travis Etienne. He may not start the game, but I think, if healthy, he will be on the field for most of the game.
1. So we're talking maybe 6-7 new starters from free agency.
2. So maybe 2 starters from the draft.
3. Two other starters from last year's draft. So we're talking about half of the 22-24 starters (base personnel packages vs. Nickel packages) are changed within a year's time? I would add Walker Little to the list, upgrading one of the T positions-most likely Jawaan Taylor/
4. Scherff, Kirk and Williams are three good candidates to be upgrades from last year's roster. I'd also add Engram to that list, with the LB from Atlanta and the DL from the Jets to be candidates to upgrade the roster, depending upon who they are replacing. I could see the LB fom Atlanta being an upgrade over Jack, not due to size or athleticism but due to intelligence and instinct. I'm not sure the guy from the Jets, if a NT, would necessarily be an upgrade over Hamilton, as I like Hamilton. But I do like what little I've seen from the former Jet.
5. A distinct possibility, but I would tend to put more trust in Pederson than Baalke, since Pederson understands his schemes and their personnel requirements better than Baalke does (they are his schemes) and Baalke's history of drafting (especially offensive skill players) leaves much to be desired.
6. A fair response.
7. Assuming it would have been Minnesota's Spielman, I would expect more from him than Baalke.
These questions came to mind because it hit me how many possible new starters there was likely to be. At first blush it struck me as a lot of new starters, and I'm trying to make more sense of it and get a proper perspective. Is Baalke getting enough credit? How much improvement can we really expect because of the new players?
There will be a big number of new starters and there should be.
They've placed last in their division in 4 consecutive seasons.
We just really don't know how many of them are clear upgrades and whether the proportion of improvement is enough to have meaningful impact.
As per usual with new regimes, I'm cautiously optimistic, but we've all seen maiden voyages crash violently upon the rocks a few times now.
Regarding the red bit on NT: I think Fatukasi should be a notable upgrade over Hamilton vs the run at nose tackle. Hamilton may have better upside on creating QB pressure/pocket collapse in the pass game though. Hopefully they find the optimum ways to distribute and rotate those guys.
