I started to write this the day after we got bumped from the playoffs.
I usually write it that early to get those "rash thoughts" and keep those season fresh memories on paper.
Quick take on my impulse thoughts
* Canada sucks
* Our WR suck, it was a false claim we had a good core, especially DJ and Claypool.
* Our FO mishandled the OL from FA and not draft.
I am still leaning towards those thoughts, but now in line with Tomlin's rational is that our offense was limited by the talent.
With that said let me restart writing this.
Part I
What went right:
1) Sheesh, this is harder than I thought
2) Watt proves his worth and dominates.
3) Najee is the real deal, it is going to be fun seeing him with a proper OL.
4) Cam is our best player, in words and in action.
5) We finally have a TE, I been screaming for one ever since Miller left. Draft, after draft, we passed on Goedert, passed on Kittle, passed on Moroux (LV).
What went wrong:
1) The domino effect of the roster-depth we had on offense. ( especially OL)
I really want to blame Canada, but maybe Tomlin is right that we were so limited by the players we had (and an aging Ben).
Real blame is thinking Finney is good enough to be a starting center. When he left, so did his game. And in camp of course Green looked so much better than him.
2)The injuries/mess to OL:
It started in camp, Banner out forcing OKA to flip back to RT, and Morre back to LT ( remember early, him as the RT in camp, he was getting to "bust' status)
No Decasrto to provide leadership, Coaches not happy with Dotson reports, and then the injuries to all our guards: Finney, JC, Dotson, Turner.
No stability. With no cohesiveness it only sets up the OL to fail, especially the growth of Green.
3) The run D
I am blaming this on 3 things.
1) Lack of talent at ILB.
2) Scheme, with no talent at ILB, depended on OLB to pressure make the plays. Even Butler mentioned this, the scheme called for the OLB to provide pressure which often took them out of the play.
No ILB and no CB to support the over play of the OLBs.
3) Maybe we miss Hilton and Nelson more than thought in regards to run support. ( Witherspoon is not one for that)
4)ILB
We miss Vince Williams more than we think or a player like him.
Having Bush lined up with Spillen and Shobert killed his instincts. His read and reaction, more often being 1 step too slow and being taken out of the play.
Don't say it was the DL injuries, because the D of stats of 2020 and 2021 are both horrible, and in 2020 we had Tuitt-ALU- CAM
5)WR
( Not taking the possibilities of Ben's limitations and Canada's game planning in covering for Ben, and not the impact of Juju's injury) <= <= <= Too many "IFs" there.
Need more consistant play from them. No more timely drops, no more time on the ground ( is it me or do they always seem to make a break/cut and then fall), no more bad body adjustment to the ball.
I am starting to think that we should start the process of breaking up this tandem. It never meshed right.
Juju was brought in to replace Ward, to mesh with AB and Bryant.
Washington was brought in to mesh with JuJu and AB.
Dj was brought in to mesh with Juju and Washington.
Claypool was brought in to mesh with Juju and DJ.
Somewhere along that way, it went wrong.
We ended up with slow, inconsistent hands, and no big splash plays.
PART II
Needs:
offense: C, G, OT, WR, RB
QB- not sure where they stand, is it MR-Haskins? Is it a FA? Is it a Rookie? It might become a crowded room. or they might just blow
defense: ILB, CB, DL
FA to resign:
Edmunds
Witherspoon
Okorafor
Killebrew
*Juju ( we resign him, if we can sign him cheap or if we can trade DJ for high draft pick)
**Ray-Ray/Washignton, if we can sign cheap only.
***Haden, I would give him another year, maybe even over pay. Leadership, player coach, and keeps Sutton in the slot along with Norwood.
Cut/let walk list:
Banner saves 5 M
Schobert saves 8 M
Ebron - I hated this pick up from day 1. Hated it even more resigning him ( waste of $, could of signed better C and filled his role with scrubs)
Snell - he was passed up for Ballage.
*Tuitt-????
Finney- redundant player. JC even better ( and he is not worthy to bring back)
Too long will continue....
I usually write it that early to get those "rash thoughts" and keep those season fresh memories on paper.
Quick take on my impulse thoughts
* Canada sucks
* Our WR suck, it was a false claim we had a good core, especially DJ and Claypool.
* Our FO mishandled the OL from FA and not draft.
I am still leaning towards those thoughts, but now in line with Tomlin's rational is that our offense was limited by the talent.
With that said let me restart writing this.
Part I
What went right:
1) Sheesh, this is harder than I thought
2) Watt proves his worth and dominates.
3) Najee is the real deal, it is going to be fun seeing him with a proper OL.
4) Cam is our best player, in words and in action.
5) We finally have a TE, I been screaming for one ever since Miller left. Draft, after draft, we passed on Goedert, passed on Kittle, passed on Moroux (LV).
What went wrong:
1) The domino effect of the roster-depth we had on offense. ( especially OL)
I really want to blame Canada, but maybe Tomlin is right that we were so limited by the players we had (and an aging Ben).
Real blame is thinking Finney is good enough to be a starting center. When he left, so did his game. And in camp of course Green looked so much better than him.
2)The injuries/mess to OL:
It started in camp, Banner out forcing OKA to flip back to RT, and Morre back to LT ( remember early, him as the RT in camp, he was getting to "bust' status)
No Decasrto to provide leadership, Coaches not happy with Dotson reports, and then the injuries to all our guards: Finney, JC, Dotson, Turner.
No stability. With no cohesiveness it only sets up the OL to fail, especially the growth of Green.
3) The run D
I am blaming this on 3 things.
1) Lack of talent at ILB.
2) Scheme, with no talent at ILB, depended on OLB to pressure make the plays. Even Butler mentioned this, the scheme called for the OLB to provide pressure which often took them out of the play.
No ILB and no CB to support the over play of the OLBs.
3) Maybe we miss Hilton and Nelson more than thought in regards to run support. ( Witherspoon is not one for that)
4)ILB
We miss Vince Williams more than we think or a player like him.
Having Bush lined up with Spillen and Shobert killed his instincts. His read and reaction, more often being 1 step too slow and being taken out of the play.
Don't say it was the DL injuries, because the D of stats of 2020 and 2021 are both horrible, and in 2020 we had Tuitt-ALU- CAM
5)WR
( Not taking the possibilities of Ben's limitations and Canada's game planning in covering for Ben, and not the impact of Juju's injury) <= <= <= Too many "IFs" there.
Need more consistant play from them. No more timely drops, no more time on the ground ( is it me or do they always seem to make a break/cut and then fall), no more bad body adjustment to the ball.
I am starting to think that we should start the process of breaking up this tandem. It never meshed right.
Juju was brought in to replace Ward, to mesh with AB and Bryant.
Washington was brought in to mesh with JuJu and AB.
Dj was brought in to mesh with Juju and Washington.
Claypool was brought in to mesh with Juju and DJ.
Somewhere along that way, it went wrong.
We ended up with slow, inconsistent hands, and no big splash plays.
PART II
Needs:
offense: C, G, OT, WR, RB
QB- not sure where they stand, is it MR-Haskins? Is it a FA? Is it a Rookie? It might become a crowded room. or they might just blow
defense: ILB, CB, DL
FA to resign:
Edmunds
Witherspoon
Okorafor
Killebrew
*Juju ( we resign him, if we can sign him cheap or if we can trade DJ for high draft pick)
**Ray-Ray/Washignton, if we can sign cheap only.
***Haden, I would give him another year, maybe even over pay. Leadership, player coach, and keeps Sutton in the slot along with Norwood.
Cut/let walk list:
Banner saves 5 M
Schobert saves 8 M
Ebron - I hated this pick up from day 1. Hated it even more resigning him ( waste of $, could of signed better C and filled his role with scrubs)
Snell - he was passed up for Ballage.
*Tuitt-????
Finney- redundant player. JC even better ( and he is not worthy to bring back)
Too long will continue....
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