Quote:Eh its a double edged sword. I think one of the things that Gus struggles with is game-day decision making stuff, like you mentioned. Clock management, timeouts, challenges (though supposedly they have someone who reviews and gives Gus a yay/nay. In which case they need to fire that guy).. 

 

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;">I think Gus has gotten better with some of those decisions. I remember us getting robbed on a challenge in the last few games, and don’t remember any terrible decisions recently. On the one we got robbed on, it was good even just to get us some time to try to regroup on D and get a rest. And I thought he did a good job on the timeouts in the last game. Not perfect by any means, but not fire him kind of bad. 


 

 

The problem is, while Gus may improve the defensive playcalling (which badly needs improvement), doing so will take away further from what he needs to do as a coach...manage the team during game day.

I rather we get someone to replace Babich and allow Gus to continue to grow into his role as a HC.

 

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;">Agreed. I could see him bringing in new blood at DC like he did on the offensive side, but he needs to stay above the defensive play-calling.


 

 

It's almost...kind of a forgotten or ignored thing. The roster (esp the offense) has gotten a pass for being young. DC got a pass for basically throwing two years down the drain as a 1st time GM. But Gus is also a first time HC, yet very few are willing to give him the time that they have no problem affording to the roster or the guy who built the roster.

 

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;">And Gus gets a great deal of blame for defensive struggles, but doesn’t seem to get credit for offensive success. While Vic Ketchman and his shtick could get old, I agree that to a large extent it is players not plays, or more accurately players then plays. Olsen helped, but we needed the players and their development as well. The same is true defensively. I believe that with a bit more depth on the offensive line, we will be good for a top ten on offense for years to come. I think that with one more off-season we can be decent on defense, and in three years, can be top ten there as well. And top ten might be conservative on both sides. One thing Gus has done well is keep the players that we have buying in, and making necessary changes as needed. Replacing Fisch was big, his message is believed, and with a few more stars on defense, we will be fine. He deserves at least one more year. 


<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"> 

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;">One final thing. Think of the young guys we have that look to be very good to great. Bortles, A-Rob, Hurns, Thomas, Yeldon, Linder, and maybe next year we can add Cann and/or Lee, heck, maybe Greene. On defense you have Smith, Marks. Maybe next year Colvin and Cyp will look better with pass rush, and maybe even a few more OK guys like House or Sample with take a step. Odrick isn't bad, and Skuta is decent. But clearly the focus has been on offense, and with a year or two focusing on defense, why shouldn't we expect 
similar<span style="font-size:10.5pt;"> gains? By the end of next year I think we will be in a better place to evaluate Gus, and we don't gain much by replacing him before then. I am tired of rebuilding bad situations. We have what looks to be a good one growing, let's give it one more year.</span>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"> 

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;">(edit for typo)

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;">