(02-12-2020, 09:31 PM)MalabarJag Wrote: I pretty much agree with your take on Caldwell. 

Other than maybe Linder, who quickly leveled off once Marrone became OL coach, I have seen no improvement of OL draft picks or free agent acquisitions. Most have declined, even all-pro Norwell. To me that's a problem with coaching, not the draft. If I'm right, then trading up to draft Cam Robinson and Taylor were smart draft moves that were ruined by the coaching staff. Marrone in particular, as a former OL coach, should get the blame whether or not he had a hand in (mis)developing them.

Miles Jack is a WLB who has always played out of position, so it's hard to give an accurate evaluation on whether or not he's worth the trade up. An argument could be made that he shouldn't have been the pick given the lack of need at WLB with Telvin Smith entrenched. Jack was a highly regarded top half of the 1st round prospect who dropped only because of a concern about his knee. So far his knee has not been the reason for his disappointing play.

The Allen Robinson pick was clearly right. I'm not sure who gets the blame for his leaving. Probably it was partly the uncertainty after his injury, coupled with the tight cap space and maybe Coughlin's bad chemistry with the players, or even not wanting to be on the receiving end from Bortles (although Trubisky isn't any better).

So yeah, I think trading up in the second round is a sound strategy, at least as it has been done under Caldwell so far with good value in the trades, slot-wise.

Your take on the coaching is fully consistent with your prior assessments of Jaguars coaching, and is even more intriguing in this context.  I am not sold that coaching may have hindered the development of Linder or the rest of the OL.  The year before he arrived, the Jaguars allowed 71 sacks.  Marrone came aboard in 2015 and the team allowed 51 sacks, twenty fewer than the year before..  The next year, the sacks allowed dropped by 1/3 down to 34 sacks allowed. By 2017, the Marrone coached OL allowed 24 sacks.  I am not sure how the OL as a whole can show that dramatic improvement over three years if the individuals on that line were not being developed properly during that time. Now I can buy the argument that the development may have plateaued/peaked, but that happens with all players at some point and I am unsure if blame can be assigned to Marrone during that time.  However, I was NOT fond of Jawaan Taylor's development under Warhop.  I preferred the old OL coach (I can't recall his name). 

I think we pretty much see eye to eye everywhere else.

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