(09-28-2020, 04:28 PM)NeptuneBeachBum Wrote:

(09-28-2020, 04:03 PM)Kane Wrote: Uhh okay.... you can split hairs and cut Wash slack if you want to. Fact is, Wash as DC has had more bad games than good as DC (even in 2017 he got pencil whipped by certain teams like a Gabbert led Cardinals team and the 9ers).
In 2018 we lost a few of the '17 stars but the overall roster was mostly the same. Only big names that were gone from 17 were Poz and Jackson and we released Church a few games into the season iirc. In 2019 Dareus got hurt mid season but we were getting gashed in the run game before that injury. And yeah talent drops off but if Wash needs a 2017 all-star type team to be good, then he isn't good. Which I believe is kinda the point being made by many.
And you skimmed over the whole fact that after the 2017 run Ramsey, Gipson, Bouye, and others spoke out about Wash's scheme/playcalling. So if they hated the scheme how could it possibly work with younger or less talented players?

You hate Caldwell and think he's to blame for the defensive issues and you're right to an extent. The defense is being completely rebuilt after Caldwell under Coughlin bought in big $ FAs and jettisoned 2 of the top players on this defense. If Campbell and Bouye's play were declining, moving them was the right move. What's the saying? "Rome wasn't built in a day" It applies to football rosters too I guess.

The offense, generally speaking, looks solid. OL play looked improved in weeks 1 and 2. Under Gruden the play calling seems to fit Minshew and the weapons that Caldwell has surrounded him with. Maybe even found a gem in Robinson.
Caldwell certainly has the ability to build a roster if given time. But Wash doesn't seem to have the ability to adapt his play calling or scheme to work around weaknesses or to play against other team's weaknesses. 

Against a rookie QB, with a terrible OL, and a team not running the ball very well, will he be able to capitalize or will he continue to rush 4 (with 5 or 6 blocking on offense) and hope the back 7 can cover for 6+ seconds?
I have my doubts.

I think my points have misunderstood by many here... maybe that is my fault.  I thought I have made it clear that I am not a fan of Wash and would be happy if he is gone.  But the problem still remains...lack of talent.  Rome was not built in a day, but this is YEAR 8.  And we have only had one winning season.  It should have been reload, not rebuild at this point.  And that is not acceptable.  

Our D is atrocious and our offense is average at best.  I know we all like Chark, but would you put him in the upper half of the League in #1 receivers?  Go look at that list and tell me if you would.  Same thing with QB.  Same thing with RB.  Same thing with TE (I might actually put the TE in the upper half of the League... maybe).  O-line is average as well.  Every unit we have is average at best.  You put that all together and you have the #22 ranked offense.  Statistically speaking, we are actually ranked higher on D than offense after 3 games, if you can believe that.

You and I are in agreement about a rookie QB and bad o-line vs. Cincy.  I would hope we blitz them early and often to see if they can handle it.  We played 3 veteran QB's prior, so I can see why Wash sat back more in those situations.  If he doesn't come out more aggressive against Cincy, I will be with you guys here carrying my pitchfork!  lol

Year 8? This is year one of a new rebuild. Yes, under the same GM but Caldwell took a Gene Smith roster, gutted it, got it to where it was in 2016 (improving but not good) Coughlin came in they bought a bunch of free agents and kept building, and had an elite D and an average at best offense. And then in 2 seasons it was poof gone.

Like it or not Caldwell has been given a redo.
It's year 1 without Coughlin. Building an offense around Minshew and completely rebuilding the defense.
Now we can go back and forth about how much blame who deserves over why the elite defense is now being rebuilt after only 2 really good years but honestly no one is gonna budge on their positions of blame Caldwell or Coughlin. But for arguments sake, lets say they split the good and bad 50/50.
I have said many times before Caldwell should have been shown the door. His average at best resume hasn't been good enough. But ultimately he was given more time (probably til the end of his contract). He gets one more shot to do it and with a very short leash.

The offense looks like it could be a strength. The defense looks to be lacking talent just about everywhere, or is very young at least. Allen, Chaisson, Henderson, and Jack are the only long term players on D imo. Perhaps growth for those guys this year, Scho being serviceable at MIKE, and a good off season gets the defense to an "average" status by next season.
If the offense is a strength as we believe it could be... then I think his Coughlin-less rebuild will be in good shape. If Minshew doesn't work out or Henderson and/or Allen end up busting (which it's very early, they still could) it's a failure and he'll be gone.

I was fully on board this past off season with cleaning house, top to bottom. It didn't happen.
Outside of a 2-3 win season, which I don't think happens, Caldwell will be here another year. But man... watching our guys out of position constantly on defense makes me question if Wash should be here another game. And I'm not usually a "fire this guy 3 games in" kind of guy.
But I always think back to that elite squad after 2017 openly criticizing his play calling. Some of whom would free lance against the play call. Very talented players going "what is this coach thinking". Maybe there was some fire to that smoke.

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