(12-26-2023, 07:08 AM)Shad Khans Mustache Wrote:

(12-26-2023, 03:56 AM)Eric1 Wrote: Brunell never threw for more than 20 TDs (twice) in his entire career here.

In 96 when they made the first AFCCG, he had 22 Total TDs (19 Passing, 3 Rushing), 20 INT and 14 Fumbles that season.

In 99 when they made the second AFCCG, he had 15 Total TDs (14 Passing, 1 Rushing), 9 INT and 6 Fumbles that season.

Don't get me wrong, I love Brunell, but Lawrence is absolutely better than he was.

Comparing stats back than to now is pretty idiotic.

All we should ultimately care about is wins. Once they start drying up, which, in fairness, they have as of late, after a 1 - 2 start that was then flipped into an 8 - 3 record at one point. It's frustrating. 

He's certainly played a part in the mid season collapse. I think he had a good game against the Bengals which was ruined by a really, really bad let down defensively. 

I think he let the team down a bit in Cleveland, along with the defense there collectively in that loss. We can argue about wrong routes, etc. But, they all needed to play better in that one.

Those are the last two games where the offense looked somewhat decent, competent and capable of moving the football down the field. It's since grown stale and his injuries are obviously effecting him physically and mentally. Those are the two games I wish we could have back because it all but seals the deal for this team right now in this division more than likely. 

Carolina is the make or break game for me this year. If they lose this game, whether he starts or not? There needs to be changes made across the organization at the end of the year, especially if they miss the play-off's. 

It could and should very well include a conversation regarding Press Taylor and Mike Caldwell's status as coordinators and it should also include, most importantly, a deeper conversation between Pederson, the Khan's and Baalke's future within the organization.

There's a disconnect somewhere and it goes back to March and April of this year. Somebody signed off on being confident in what they had on the roster in two glaringly BAD areas on this football team and they had some opportunities to improve upon it and they didn't do it.

They failed in evaluations. They failed in improving the offensive line, the defensive line, the secondary and the running game. All of those are major factors as to why this team has collapsed, more so than a banged up Lawrence in my opinion. 

I'd say it's about a 65 - 35 split in favor of Lawrence in this mess right now. A QB in this league is only as good as his offensive line enables him, and is only as good as his running game can balance him out. We can argue semantics, we can argue the past, we can argue skill sets, traits, etc.

We can argue turnovers. What we cannot argue on though, is a fundamental fact in this sport, and, you can see CLEARLY with the top teams in the NFL, that, NOT having a running game, and, NOT having a powerful offensive line and defensive line will typically result in your franchise hovering around the middling range of the NFL or being a basement dweller. 

Period.

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