Quote:First of all, x # of years rebuild is a sales pitch for season tickets and what gm's/coaches have to say to get jobs.  Don't actually buy into that.  This team will be a perennial contender for the playoffs when it becomes a perennial contender for the playoffs.  True, the brass has a plan.  But as with most plans in major sports that plan doesn't mean anything.  We heard the same thing with jack, we heard the same thing with malarkey etc. etc. etc. 

 

Every plan sounds good. Its all about the execution. There was nothing wrong with how Shack and JDR did things. Or Gene and Mularkey. The plan was fine, it was the execution that failed them (with some bad luck thrown in the mix). The same can be said about Dave's plan. Sure, it sounds great to build three drafts then spend money on FA. That's assuming you hit on those players, of course....


 

I bring up this point because in reality what about this team seriously has you thinking that they are headed for a season close to 500 next year?  Is it the fake good defense that is ranked in the bottom third in points that just lost a game to a third string QB called up off a deer stand?  Is it the offense that scored the fewest points in the league?  Is it the fact that all the players dropping passes, running the wrong routes and getting their areses handed to them are all young and still doing the same wrong things in week 17 as they did in week seven? 

 

The only "consoling" thing right now is the "promise" that this team will spend (and it has to, per CBA rules). Hopefully this means less rookies and street free-agents playing meaningful minutes.


 

I just don't see the growth.  people talk about being more competitive this year?  we won a game against the worst team in the league at home, we won a game against the NY giants only thanks to the general stupidity of their offensive players not to focus on ball security against a team that is incapable of scoring touchdowns.  Think about it.  If they just took a knee the entire second half do we win that game? 

 

The saddest part of this whole thing is that for all the hand wringing and finding our franchise QB I think at this point that Blakes QB rating is a whopping 4 points higher than Gabbert at this point in their careers and Gabbert had two more wins. 

 

No, that's not a ringing endorsement about Blaine Gabbert, its the honest truth about a young QB who is still missing basic reads and fankly doesn't look comfortable or natural throwing the football. 

 

Marqise Lee isn't in NE or any of the other contenders at the bottom of the draft who could use a WR for a reason.  The last two years of his career have been a regression from the balitnikoff year.  I don't want that to be the case but it is.

 

In fairness to Lee, yes he has been on a downward trend since his Belitnikoff year. But that said, the two knocks that he's had coming in were catching the ball and injuries. Up until today, he has been solid at catching the football. He has even done a better job at high-pointing the ball than he ever did at USC. The injuries slowed him down early on, but it looked like he was finally coming on. In Lee's case, I think an argument can be made that he has improved this season.


 

I think that we have made some positive pick ups with telvin smith, the triplet recievers linder buwanko McCray gratz colvin and possibly blake but right now luke and cyp are definitely suspect.

 

I just don't see what we are going to hang our hat on next year.

 

Khan better open up that wallet and Dave better be ready to use it. This team cannot go into next season hoping for internal improvement, and that alone + another draft. It won't be enough.