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Well that was educational.

 

I think I can sum up your entire post in three sentences:

Caldwell has taken a very aggressive approach to rebuilding the roster. A few of the decisions look to have worked out, but many haven't. I am unhappy about this.

 

My response to that is similar to FBT's. The team was full of overpaid players who either hadn't worked out (Cox, Knighton) or were past their prime (D. Smith, Landry). Instead of committing lots of money to players he didn't think would be around by the time this team makes a playoff run, he chose to replace them with young guys who had a shot to be contributors down the line. Taking a long look at your list, I can honestly say that I don't see any one name that makes me go, "Wow, we'd have won two games if he was still here." I mean, fullback is high on your list of complaints. Fullback? Really? Willy T. is average. At a lot of positions, that's problematic, but for a fullback making minimum salary? As long as he can stalemate defenders long enough to buy Mojo a hole--and the line has been far worse blocking for the run than Willy T. has--he's a passable NFL fullback. I wouldn't be surprised if Caldwell goes with a more versatile fullback as early as next year, but Willy T. does well enough for now. Paying Greg Jones over three times as much wouldn't have bought us a single win.

 

Look at it like this: is Dawan Landry a better strong safety than John Cyprien? Right now, yes, he probably is. But Cyprien is younger, faster and much, much cheaper. Apply the same general principal to Daryl Smith. Is he a better linebacker than Geno Hayes? Yes, absolutely. But Hayes is younger, cheaper, and considerably faster than Smith ever was. Smith does not fit the team's plans long-term; Hayes might.

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