Quote:I agree there was overall optimism, but there was still disagreement then (the first offseason), specifically over the wisdom of trading a 2 the next year for Derek Cox.  That disagreement persisted for a while.

 

By this time in Gene Smith's tenure (year 2), the controversy was over Tyson Alualu, whether the team reached for him, whether there was the opportunity to trade down, whether we should have taken Tebow, etc.  Even though many remained optimistic, the chorus against Gene Smith began to grow.

 

TBH I'm not sure if this is optimism based or not.

 

It could be...but there are reasons to think otherwise too.

Gene was a terrible terrible GM. Dave appears to be, at the very least, an average GM. We don't have years worth of suspicions built up against Dave. No matter how Weaver/Vic spun Gene, you knew he was from the previous bad regime, and he did stupid moves from the very beginning (Cox trade, Alualu reach). Caldwell came from no where near that kind of problematic background. He deserves, and I believe, is getting a fair shot to prove himself.

 

Gene never should have been promoted, and tried to shift blame away from himself the entire time he was here, especially the last two years. I think Gene was excellent at trying to 'kick the can,' but he finally met with new management in Khan who saw right past that. I have to say I was suspicious of Khan at first, but he is a phenomenal owner so far IMO. And if the Jags stay in J-ville, it will be because of him.

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