Simpelton
In the Starting Line-Up
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2017
- Messages
- 3,888
- Reaction score
- 5,304
No big splash FA or trades. No spicy moves to entice the fanbase. Both will play against the goal of eventually winning the Superbowl.
This year, and probably the next, are lost years. if we try to put a fig leave over them by signing mediocre free agents just to make a splash, they will still be lost years and we'll be out resources we could have used later.
The rebuilding of this team will not be accomplished by bringing in high priced veterans just for the sake of "doing something." if they see a guy they like at a price they find reasonable, wonderful. If they don't, they'd be fools to force the issue.
What this team needs to do above all else is solidify its philosophy and figure out what kind of team it can build. One of the criteria for that, is what assets are out there to build with both in terms of the draft and acquirable personnel. There's several models to chase in pursuit of a team identity, the most important thing now is to pick one you like and move towards it.
We already have a pretty fair defensive identity. But our offense is expansion squad level. I think this year will be as much about figuring out what we have and what that means for how the future will look as anything else. And I think whoever we select for a QB will have a lot to do with what kind of offensive identity (smashmouth, two-way, high end passing attack, possession, gunslinger) can be put together from the pieces we have.
personally I'd prefer a hard hitting offense built out from its line and centered around the rushing attack. I think that's the way to go at least in the short term, especially with Brissett or a wet behind the ears rookie under center. There are other styles that will produce results too. The important thing is to find a style and stick with it. Operational schizophrenia where we try to force the offense to be all things to all people isn't going to cut it, we don't have the talent. So figure out what we cah squeeze out of this lot, and work that angle to improve the offense from terrible to merely mediocre. That might even be all we need to do to start winning more games.
Unfortunately though the offseason is a terrible time to figure that out. We don't know what we are, other than awful. We don't know what we have. that's why this is a lost year, we have too many questions that only live football can answer. And that's why it makes no sense to make big offensive purchases now. Only moves that fundamentally improve all facets of the offense, such as upgrades at O-line, or the acquisition of a genuinely talented QB, make true sense right now.
Once we have a chance to figure out what we even are, then other moves make sense. But like I said, that's going to take some honest-to-god football games to figure out. So for right now, the only course of action that actually works for us is to hold our options open, build out the basics, and see where we can go from there. Not sexy for the fanbase, but it has the benefit of being the right decision anyway.
This year, and probably the next, are lost years. if we try to put a fig leave over them by signing mediocre free agents just to make a splash, they will still be lost years and we'll be out resources we could have used later.
The rebuilding of this team will not be accomplished by bringing in high priced veterans just for the sake of "doing something." if they see a guy they like at a price they find reasonable, wonderful. If they don't, they'd be fools to force the issue.
What this team needs to do above all else is solidify its philosophy and figure out what kind of team it can build. One of the criteria for that, is what assets are out there to build with both in terms of the draft and acquirable personnel. There's several models to chase in pursuit of a team identity, the most important thing now is to pick one you like and move towards it.
We already have a pretty fair defensive identity. But our offense is expansion squad level. I think this year will be as much about figuring out what we have and what that means for how the future will look as anything else. And I think whoever we select for a QB will have a lot to do with what kind of offensive identity (smashmouth, two-way, high end passing attack, possession, gunslinger) can be put together from the pieces we have.
personally I'd prefer a hard hitting offense built out from its line and centered around the rushing attack. I think that's the way to go at least in the short term, especially with Brissett or a wet behind the ears rookie under center. There are other styles that will produce results too. The important thing is to find a style and stick with it. Operational schizophrenia where we try to force the offense to be all things to all people isn't going to cut it, we don't have the talent. So figure out what we cah squeeze out of this lot, and work that angle to improve the offense from terrible to merely mediocre. That might even be all we need to do to start winning more games.
Unfortunately though the offseason is a terrible time to figure that out. We don't know what we are, other than awful. We don't know what we have. that's why this is a lost year, we have too many questions that only live football can answer. And that's why it makes no sense to make big offensive purchases now. Only moves that fundamentally improve all facets of the offense, such as upgrades at O-line, or the acquisition of a genuinely talented QB, make true sense right now.
Once we have a chance to figure out what we even are, then other moves make sense. But like I said, that's going to take some honest-to-god football games to figure out. So for right now, the only course of action that actually works for us is to hold our options open, build out the basics, and see where we can go from there. Not sexy for the fanbase, but it has the benefit of being the right decision anyway.