Quote:No...YOU can't name one position of improvement.

 

As others have indicated, RT and SS represent areas of improvement.  I'd also throw CB into that mix as well.  I'd say thus far, Gratz has played better than Ross or Mathis played last year.

 

As far as going backwards before going forward, right off the top of my head, I can think of two examples of teams doing just that.

 

The 1988 Cowboys (Landry's last team) finished 3-13 and wound up with the top draft pick in the 1989 draft.  They picked Troy Aikman, Daryl Johnston and Mark Stepnoski in that draft.  The 1989 season saw them finish 2 games worse, finishing 1-15.  That rebuild wound up successful to say the least.

 

Bringing it closer to home, the 2002 Jaguars (TC's last) finished 6-10.  Shack and JDR took over in 2003, drafted BL, Rashean Mathis, and Vince Manuwai, among others, and finished 5-11.  They wound up going 9-7 the next year, missing the playoffs by a game, and then 12-4 the next year, making the playoffs.  A Garrard meltdown cost the team a winning season in 2006 as the team finished 8-8, and the team rebounded to make the playoffs in 2007.