(03-06-2024, 04:14 PM)Protozoa Wrote:

(03-06-2024, 02:35 PM)Caldrac Wrote: This makes no sense to me. By default, he was considered the WR1 all year. Zay was in and out of the line-up routinely last year. Kirk went down and missed the last five games on the year. 

If anything, it allowed Lawrence to target Ridley more, for this offensive coaching staff to utilize him a little more. The fact that he put up the numbers he did IN SPITE of everybody being in and out of the line-up around him is probably the best case you could have made for him to be brought back. 

Kirk's serviceable. He's a slot receiver. He's not a true #1. 
Jones' is questionable now. He got arrested last year for a baby mama dispute. Then he misses half a season worth of football games.

This is further compounded with the obvious issues in the starting line-up with the offensive line, no running game at all and Lawrence physically falling apart towards the end of the year. 

Ridley did a number of things in 2023 that I simply do not see in Kirk's and Zay's game. His route running is superb, his ability to catch rifles are impressive, sure, he had his concentration drops and we wanted to kill him, but, hate to break it to you, so did the rest of this receiving core all year and they only finished 15th in dropped passes as a team.

Not nearly as bad as it was the year prior I believe.

That's my point he was forced to be more of the focal point. If Kirk and Zay played the whole year does Ridley still have 1000 yards and 8 touchdowns (the same numbers Kirk put up the year before btw). I don't feel Ridley makes it over 1000 yards if Kirk plays those last five.

I respect your opinion and understand what you'resaying. but 20 mil and a 2nd for Ridley who cost us multiple games with his drops and inconsistencies understanding the play book and what route he was running. Yes the line was bad but the line didn't cause the above that's on him.

Where are you getting the 1,000+ yards and 8 TD's then on offense in 2024? With a WR1 currently not on the roster? Line play has a lot to do with a lot of things. A poor throw, a rushed throw, an incompletion, a missed read, etc. Poor line play dictates the way you have to game plan, scheme and call an offense. 

A lot easier to cover somebody when you don't have to respect the running game. A lot harder to keep a front seven on it's toes because the play action game is not there due to inadequate time in the pocket. I think we'll be right back where we were in 2022 and 2023 at this rate. 

We'll see marginal improvements being made on offense because we've created too many greater needs once again as a football team on defense. We're stuck in neutral as a franchise because the person in charge of the personnel department doesn't know how to elevate the roster properly. 

Again, we're complaining about the same exact issues for the third straight year in a row. 

1. No interior presence on defense. Which allows too much time in the pocket for opposing QB's. 

2. No interior presence on offense which enables the running game and the ability to open up the playbook. 

3. No "Alpha" or "X" receiver presence on the outside to offer a trickle down effect of enabling WR2, WR3 and TE1 to achieve more production in the scheme of things.

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