(05-29-2022, 11:41 AM)NYC4jags Wrote: Attempt at a chronological overview of Baalke through the lens of a semi-reasonable Jaguars fan:

• Came to us with a bad track record, but began at director of player personnel under Caldwell Check
  
• When promoted to GM, Jags fans had the track record to consider and initial concern understandably began, but so many were eager to be rid of Caldwell it wasn't widespread Check, I would add even those that were against him would at the end put in a "well he could do ok" remark to CYA.
  
• Urban Mayer happened - and while many excuse Baalke of blame for this - I think he should have/probably could have done more to show Khan it was a bad idea. It's not his fault necessarily - but it was his job to inform on a better decision. As giddy as Kahn was about his hire I am not sure anything would stop that train.
  
• 2021 free agency:  It was mostly bad.  Factor in Meyer all you want. Baalke is complicit. Several bad moves. Agreed, best thing that happened is we didn't blow all the cap space on Urban cronies.
  
• 2021 Draft:  Not so bad. Jury is still out, but may end up pretty good and a reason to have a glimmer of hope for the guy.
  
• • The twitter rumor mill stirred up a lot of stuff about Baalke's nature as a snake in the grass, bad-faith-negotiator, eager to throw colleagues under the bus for his own advantage. No idea how much of that is true or not. Yea, his political squabble with Jim Harbaugh ended up with the owner siding with him. If Harbaugh had won that Baalkie would be out os a job as SF. He didn't so most of that is sour grapes from Harbaugh.  My guess is they both dug in their heels and forced a decision by the owner. Both at fault.
    
  
  
• Pederson hire:  Kudos to Baalke/Khan on this one. Well done. I don't care about the weeks-long process and all of the ire it drew from fans. They got a good thing done. YES !
  
• 2022 free agency: You can nitpick how much he directly helped Trevor or not, but he and Pederson clearly had a plan to build a run stuffing defense that covers well enough and can rush the passer better than before. They have done that on paper. They also managed to add what should be moderate help for Trevor.  I agree here. I am glad they got some receivers, we should be at the least average to maybe a bit above this year there. Why? well because last year all the fans had convinced themselves that was a area of strength on the team. Proving that without all the information and our extensive experience operating football teams we make bad takes.  At least this group is agile enough not to run into each other.
  
• 2022 draft: Looks pretty good on paper to me. Questionable trade value will only haunt them if those picks don't pan out. Doubling down on ILB will draw criticism if other areas struggle - but could also turn out to be very helpful to the defense. Way too soon to know much on this bullet point. I believe this years defense will be much improved. They showed flashes of being really good last year. I felt they were inconsistent due to a lack of depth compounded by the ineffective offense. As for over paying some personnel, they earned the extra because they are risking their career by coming to a team that has been a mess for the last 10 years. The more the risk the bigger the reward has to be.
  

Synopsis: Since arriving in Jax - He's done some bad things, he's done some good things. As tough as it is to wait it out, 2023 is probably when we will have a good grasp on which outweighs the other. 

Agreed ...good synopsis. Thanks