(12-15-2023, 09:51 AM)Mikey Wrote:

(12-15-2023, 09:07 AM)SeldomRite Wrote: The Jaguars are barreling into an Andrew Luck situation if they keep Baalke.

The team has a great QB and coach without a lot to work with. Khan needs to get a decent talent evaluator/roster builder in quick before we're looking at Trevor in the rear view mirror since he just can't take the punishment anymore.

I'll disagree, with the caveat to talk to me again at the end of April.

Dude used two picks, including our first, last year to address the line. We traded for an LG/T that may be part of the long-term approach. We've spent early picks in the past few years on the line. We can all armchair GM and hindsight our way to 'obvious' misses but you can't say he's turning a blind eye to the matter.

Yes, we need to keep building. Guys get older, guys get hurt, guys get expensive. It's a continuous cycle of replacement. It's better that the guys we've either missed on or lost to injury were the mid-to-late picks. Whiffing on early guys or overspending on flag magnets like the Chefs did would be much more fireable an offense.

Now if we go into April and spend a bunch of darft capital on WR and defensive secondary guys? Ride him out of town on a rail. I just don't see that happening...Yet.

He's tried, to be fair, he's just not hit any homeruns yet. Scherff has been decent, Fortner has been abysmal, Harrison looks promising, it's anyone's guess as to who was primarily responsible for Little being here, but, he's been limited since day one and his injuries continue to concern me. He opted to extend Cam Robinson I believe but that's nearing an end more than likely in 2024. 

I think my concern with him, as cited recently, is that, he's been a better go getter in free agency than he has in the drafting arena. That concerns me as most teams, at least, good quality teams, they tend to be the opposite. They build efficiently and more cost effectively via the draft and just patch up holes or find a missing piece to the puzzle via free agency. 

Time will tell though. Not ready to throw in the towel completely with him. 

(12-15-2023, 10:32 AM)SeldomRite Wrote:

(12-15-2023, 09:51 AM)Mikey Wrote: I'll disagree, with the caveat to talk to me again at the end of April.

Dude used two picks, including our first, last year to address the line. We traded for an LG/T that may be part of the long-term approach. We've spent early picks in the past few years on the line. We can all armchair GM and hindsight our way to 'obvious' misses but you can't say he's turning a blind eye to the matter.

Yes, we need to keep building. Guys get older, guys get hurt, guys get expensive. It's a continuous cycle of replacement. It's better that the guys we've either missed on or lost to injury were the mid-to-late picks. Whiffing on early guys or overspending on flag magnets like the Chefs did would be much more fireable an offense.

Now if we go into April and spend a bunch of darft capital on WR and defensive secondary guys? Ride him out of town on a rail. I just don't see that happening...Yet.

Interesting, you think flushing money and picks on guys that can't play is to his credit?

The problem isn't that Baalke has signed and drafted guys, the problem is only some the guys he signed in free agency or drafted very high are any good (not all of them are) and the majority of his picks have been utter trash. That's not sustainable.

Khan needs to make a move this off-season. His biggest problem has been too much patience, but hopefully the Urban saga has remedied that.

I think Khan was close last year in trying to add a middle man to the equation. At one point, Rick Spielman was linked to this team at some capacity in the personnel department. I think we should try that route again. 

Doesn't have to be Spielman in particular, but, somebody like him, or maybe a Rick Smith type to act as someone with final say, or, the ability to override Baalke if needed based on their personal evaluations or feelings about the roster? I think that would help out a little bit. 

I think Baalke has done a good job at finding free agency players and working out contracts and extensions to keep the cap up to NFL standards and I think he's still worthy of having around. He just has to be better in these drafts. I expected more out of this draft class after he made maybe one or two moves and ultimately selected a total of thirteen players.

(12-15-2023, 10:37 AM)imtheblkranger Wrote: We also aren't the only ones with this problem. It's been going around all the NFL circles recently about just how bad most of the OLs in the NFL are this year. A major contributing factor to so many injured QBs

This is true. Offensive line play across the board has been down in 2023 and it's resulted in a number or major QB injuries. With the exception of maybe the Eagles, 49ers, Cowboys and Ravens, I would say the other 28 teams are all looking for a face or two to add to their current line-up's as it stands now. 

(12-15-2023, 10:48 AM)Jaguarmeister Wrote:

(12-15-2023, 10:37 AM)imtheblkranger Wrote: We also aren't the only ones with this problem. It's been going around all the NFL circles recently about just how bad most of the OLs in the NFL are this year. A major contributing factor to so many injured QBs

Yeah I have a feeling OL is going to be in high demand in free agency and early in the draft assuming there are worthy prospects.  Even if not, the demand will likely push the position group up the board a bit.

I also agree with this. We'll probably see a run and see guys go a little bit higher than expected. That's including a position of need for us in particular at the Center position. All of a sudden guys with late day two and early day three grades are probably moving up a good 15 - 30 slots. 

Going to be a tough off season for this team but I hope they can pull in at least two quality starters at C and LT. I like Little, I just hate his durability. I think Cleveland might give him a run for his money at LT and one of those guys ends up at LG regardless, but, my mind would be towards upgrading the Center position and looking at either a quality LT/LG or a potential RG that replaces Scherff sooner rather than later.

---