(05-27-2020, 11:24 AM)rpr52121 Wrote:

(05-27-2020, 06:30 AM)HURRICANE!!! Wrote: I guess I'm burned out with going down this path every single offseason; optimism that our new OC will make this offense great again.  I mean, didn't we just have the OC/QB coach that made Foles great again in Philly and then coach Cousins (Vikings).  We just don't have the talent on offense for "anybody" to make this anything more than a 20th ranked or less offense.  We have no team speed on O.  Couple that with the fact that I really don't see any creativity with Gruden's past offenses (e.g. going 4 wide, etc.) so I think we're set up to see a lot of what we saw last season --- prediction 27th ranked in Points For and 30th ranked in Points Allowed.  Not sure which teams could be worse so I may be a bit optimistic with my prediction.

It should be noted Gruden had 3 pro bowl players on that 2012 team with the Bengals (Green WR, Gresham TE, and Whitworth LT).  Whitworth, who was drafted in 2006, actually made 3 more pro bowls a few years after Gruden left.

I will completely agree with you that Caldwell and the FO biggest weaknesses are consistently bringing in/evaluating offensive positions such as TE and OL. I would also agree with you that I'm beginning to question our medical team evaluations of prospects and FA as well for similar reasons. On top of that, in spite of Marrone as HC and supposedly some historically great OL coaches, the offensive line has been subpar.

However, changing things up doesn't require completely scrapping everyone on one side of the ball, or in one position group and starting over (unless you just can't pay them all because you have $30+ million in dead money). Few franchises do that successfully, and it often results in a very short window, because  you end up with mass exodus when they want to get paid at the same time or aquick drop off because they all age out at the same time.

It takes tactical moves. Realizing this guy works if adjusting this but replacing that guy. Adjusting the scheme/coaching to fit that guy's strengths better and hide this guys weaknesses. Also, I point out again how young the offensive starters as group are, many of them have yet to reach their peak.

Maybe Balke was brought in to help with evaluating line talent. Wasn't that his specialty? If so, then Bartsch and Chaisson met his approval, so they'll be good. 

If Caldwell gets fired, it's Pandora's Box. We could get another Gene Smith or Shack Harris, with their own deficiencies. I think there's room for a GM to evolve and learn from their mistakes. Do you think Caldwell has learned anything about evaluating QBs after Bortles, Foles, and Minshew? Hopefully Minshew is the guy and he never has to take a QB high again. 

Has he learned anything about TEs after two expensive free-agent TE non-fixes? On the latter, Eifert is at least a less expensive fix.

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