(10-31-2022, 11:35 AM)rpr52121 Wrote:

(10-31-2022, 10:43 AM)Caldrac Wrote: Common sense really. Look at the turmoil and falling out we saw last year with the clown show in the season finale. Alright? Factor in that all we heard through the rumor mill at the local level and national level, was, during the entire new head coaching search that most potential hires simply did not want Baalke involved nor factored into the equation. 

We interviewed Pederson first, went through a long, drawn out interview process with various candidates and it ultimately circled back to Pederson at the end with him being willing to work with Baalke. Even the local media, when Pederson was introduced by Khan and co. They went after them publicly with some of the questions. 

Alright? Now, let's look at the facts. Baalke has been the general manager two years in a row. Some of his selections are working out, some of them are not. In particular, there's a lot of depth missing on this football team. Alright? We ALL saw this back in the preseason and we all were concerned about it going into the regular season. Because once the starters came out of the line up there was a gigantic drop off in the level of play across the board between the second string and third string performers. 

If this team, nets it's 3rd straight number one overall pick? Somebody's head has to [BLEEP] roll. And it's not going to be Lawrence's head or Pederson's head that the Executioner's axe is seeking out. It'll be Baalke. Somebody has to answer for that. For better or worse. I don't think anybody is saying it's easy. I think most, rational fans, are looking at it as a clear failure to execute on every level. 

You have to look at those levels at a player by player standpoint and line them up with everybody else. All of this money spent on defense? Nothing to really show for it. All of that money thrown at some improvements on offense? We're still soul searching here for a legitimate receiving threat on the outside. I don't think Baalke gets another chance next year. They were already talking about the potential hiring of a VP of Football Operations. Spielman's name was thrown around last year. 

If it bleeds. It leads. The same exact heated topic that we had last year will be the same exact heated topic we'll have again next year in the off season.

So I'd say a couple things. 

1. All the fans and national media wanted Baalke gone after last season. The fact the was not let go was because of Kahn. Given this franchise has had a revolving door of HC/GM/Head of Football guys over the past few years, I just don't see Kahn firing him after this season no matter what. 

2. No GM can fill every need every season. We all saw how horrible the 2020 team was. It was a legitimate miracle they won that first game and didn't go winless. The team was missing holes all over that roster, and that 2020 draft was a disaster and supposedly under Caldwell. Granted the 2021 FA class has been meh to bad. But the last 2 draft classes have been okay. Baalke has not hit every pick, but no GM hits every pick.

If this team lands the first overall pick for the third year in a row? Baalke's head will roll like a Mayan head did during the age of sacrifice. He'll be zigging and zagging out of Jacksonville like he was in Apocalypto. This situation with Lawrence is vastly different than anything he's had here in Jacksonville. He (Khan) has to feel the hot seat with this. He'll cut him loose if this scenario unfolds. 

Baalke has not hit on every pick. Not every General Manager does. I agree. That's correct. HOWEVER, when you're seeing a lot of these 2nd day picks, these multiple picks that he has at his disposal in RD4, RD5, RD6, etc. 

What's he done with them? Nothing. He's really done nothing. And that's a part of the problem. You're supposed to be finding quality depth or role players there at that point. Or, at the minimum? You need to be trading up to find real, tangible value at areas of need or veteran players that are already proven. 

He's not doing enough. That's what I am getting at. He didn't do enough in San Francisco. He's not doing enough here now and again, the fact that everybody had an issue with him being retained and Khan stuck it out, hey, I get it. It's admirable. We put all of last year on Meyer, etc. That's fine and all. But, we'll see how the rest of this year plays out. 

If this team falls to 2 - 15? And nothing is shaken up in that front office? Oh boy.

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