(07-10-2023, 12:45 PM)Mikey Wrote:

(07-10-2023, 12:30 PM)jaglou53 Wrote: I'm looking most forward to seeing the offense with Ridley and Strange. If Ridley stays healthy and has totally overcome his "off the field" problems he should become the true number 1 receiver this team has lacked- although Kirk did have a great 2022 season. Strange will undoubtably take time to adjust to the speed of the NFL game, but I expect him to increasingly become an important part of the offense. It will be interesting to see how these two are utilized in the pre-season.

The entire defense will also be interesting to watch in the pre-season. I expect tremendous growth from both Walker and Lloyd. How they will be utilized will be the interesting thing to watch; Caldwell must utilize both in ways that their superior athleticism results in much better on-field production. While everyone talks about the potential of this offense (including me), I believe the defense is capable of making huge strides this season. For this to happen, other things need to happen besides the improvement of last year's 1st round picks. Cisco and Campbell need to continue to improve upon their much improved sophomore seasons; both are capable of becoming pro-bowlers. Fatukasi played hurt much of last season; he is capable of providing a good pass rush rush as he did for the Jets from 2019-2021.

As I have stated several times, the greatest concern on defense is the absence of a capable nickel Since my expectations are not high for Herndon or the late-round draft picks (at least for this season), my hope is that Baalke makes a move to upgrade this position- either via a trade or signing one of the few remaining capable nickels in free agency (Callahan is an option).

I'm curious if everyone's interest with Strange is more about his capability/potential or just compensating for the expected departure of Engram?

You couldn't fill a thimble with my knowledge of Strange or his game; I know how EE played and was very pivotal in a number of games/drives being successful. I certainly want Strange to be the long-term equivalent if the team is not planning to keep Engram around. Does anyone else here get the feeling that unless Strange essentially becomes a carbon copy of EE, we're going to deem him a flop?

I really hope we see some flashes from our newest TE this preseason. Hopefully the backup QBs give him some decent passes to work with

I think they see Strange as a chess piece to be used in conjunction with Engram or whomever might replace Engram as the primary "move-TE"  should he not sign a long term deal. 

Two tight end sets in 2022 did not offer the Jags offense with any additional influence on opposing coverage.
If Engram was in - defenses fully expected a route to be run.
If Manhertz (or basically any other TE) was in - defenses expected him to block. 

Strange will ideally allow the offense to field a two-TE set that requires defenses to consider both players as receiving threats while simultaneously giving our personnel an additional capable run blocker should they call a play requiring one. 

Having another big body that can do more than block 95% of the time and leak out for a screen the other 5% should provide another facet of strategy.

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