Quote:Your assessments of the list agree pretty closely with mine, so let me move on to the declines.


 

Cyp was playing better at the end of last year, and the beginning of this one, than he is now. Since he has the same FS he did last year that's not the reason.


 

Gratz has clearly declined. He was very good last year, this year he has been torched repeatedly.


 

Sanders is getting less play because of the rookies, but he was pretty good as a receiver last year, and has shown nothing when he has played this season. He also sucks as a punt returner, but I think that's always been the case.


 

Shorts wasn't a drop machine last year like he has been this year. That's a decline.


 

Yes Mike Brown. He was pretty good last year, but did nothing when given the opportunity this year due to injuries, and was recently cut. I'd call that a decline. You could make the argument that neither Brown nor Sanders have had enough play this year to accurately evaluate them. Maybe that's true.


 

I thought Joeckel was playing better earlier this season. Maybe that was just due to the opponents exploiting the hole at RT. In any case he hasn't improved over the course of the season. Pasztor was much better last year. No one was calling for a free agent RT to replace him like they are this year. Frankly, I'm hoping that it's due to injury, that he heals completely and gets back to his 2013 level of play. I just have a hard time believing that a hand injury that had six weeks (and more) to heal is the difference.

 

We'll know more by next year. In the meantime, I'm disappointed in the player development so far.

Okay, we can look at the coaching aspect of this since I think this is where you are unhappy. Cyp hasn't had the same safety since he has been here.  He's played with Prosinski, Evans, Guy, and Martin.  He's never had a reliable partner back there with him. Gratz hasn't played as well as last year, I will agree with you.  But I also think a reliable FS would make both of them play a lot better.  

 

Sanders has been who he is, he hasn't declined.  Shorts becoming a drop machine isn't a coaching problem. He also was not a Caldwell guy so I'm ultimately not concerned with him. I also don't really care if Mike Brown declined or not, he was never part of the future of this team. I dont think we can be upset if a fringe talent didn't make it in the NFL.  

 

I don't think there has a been lack of player development, there is a problem with consistency. I don't think we really know where these players level of play is.  I think this will be a conversation to better have at this point next season.    

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