(01-09-2024, 10:34 AM)Caldrac Wrote:

(01-09-2024, 08:40 AM)MarleyJag Wrote: The defense did have it's moments. But then it had games where they looked woefully unprepared (like Sunday). I'm a little surprised they made the change but it does show a willingness on the part of Pederson to make changes where HE sees a need which is really all that matters at this point. Whether those are the right changes remains to be seen. To make the announcement that rapidly means they probably have someone lined up already. 

I'll be interested to see if there are any changes at all on the other side of the ball. I've been critical of Taylor but as Doug says, there have been execution errors all season long so maybe that's hiding a hidden offensive genius that we have yet to see. I would like to see them play a little more conventionally and take the points in FG situations where you don't HAVE to have the points. And lord knows they need to work on the redzone offense.

Defensively I've been hoping they'll switch to a conventional 4-3 with Walker moved permanently to defensive end. It'll require some personnel changes but in the end may suit the team better. Well, we've got an offseason to think about it. It's gonna be a long one.

Valid points. I think collectively the team failed overall down the toughest stretch of the season. This is more of an indictment in my opinion on the general manager, scouting department and Pederson. They were not prepared half the time to keep pace with the likes of more grounded and consistent play-off caliber football teams. 49ers schooled them on both sides. Bengals, Browns & Ravens honestly schooled them on both sides. 

This team after starting 8 - 3 had began losing it's continuity and the weaknesses were beginning to either get exposed here and there or the injuries were starting to take it's toll. I really don't like the idea of using injuries as an excuse, as plenty of teams had to deal with it and manage through it, but, again, it's an indictment on the general manager, scouting department and Pederson.

They made next to no significant changes personnel wise in the off season, they wasted really good value picks by treating them as luxury picks, they also failed week in and week out in adjusting to anything as a football team. Nine times out of ten, when this team was tasked with matching another opponent's tenacity, physicality and intelligence? They got absolutely worked. 

For Pederson, I think it boils down to a few things in regards to his staff:

1. He still needs Taylor, even if he is the problem going into this upcoming regular season, it's a lot easier for Doug to say "Alright, Press, take a step back, I am calling the shots full time now, BUT, I need you here to help with the backend stuff in getting the gameplan installed throughout the week".

2. It was Taylor's first, true up to bat as a full time play caller. While it was clearly not perfect. You cannot overlook the obvious issues on this offense. It felt like this team couldn't run the football to save it's [BLEEP] life all season with the exception of two games where Etienne found 18 inches of daylight in London and against Carolina and that was about it. 

When the injuries started cropping up and Lawrence was getting virtually every significant area of his body beat up, literally, head, shoulders, knees and toes (ankle). They couldn't make anything fire on all cylinders collectively. This is a perfect storm of three things. Inexperience as a full time play caller in Taylor, inept personnel to establish balance and a revolving door of players in and out of the weekly lineup soul searching within an identity crisis. 

The identity of this offense was this, "Either Lawrence is ON, or everything is OFF" or "Either we get SOMETHING out of Etienne, or everything is COMPLETELY OFF". 

I think Doug is his own worst enemy. He does need to stop with the gambling on 4th downs. It's something I know it's in his nature, but, when it's not working? It's not working. Goes back with the failures to adjust when needed all season. Not sure what the base front will look like defensively but Walker is more than capable of being a multipurpose defender. I don't think we should limit him to one particular position now going into year three.

I would continue to let him pick and choose some of his match-up's but he's now shown the ability to rush inside, rush outside, set the edge and play standing up or with his fingers in the dirt. I still have concerns with Baalke being in the building though. I just don't see "it" with him in the drafting department and these other teams in this division are clearly ahead of us already when it comes to finding and selecting talent.