Quote:
Originally Posted by southside asshole
(Post 36512)
I don't know, man. What you're describing sounds like the installation of a drastically new system and culture. That takes time and effort. I want you to be right but at the moment I'm just not feeling the optimism.
A coherent offensive strategy and a defense that puts players in position to succeed both represent significant systematic changes in every facet of game preparation and execution. I just don't see getting to that from where we are in a single offseason.
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IMO the new culture is already chambered and ready to fire, but Pagano and his staff have to go. That culture is about competition, proving yourself, and winning. That's what Ballard has talked about, but he can't implement it with these losers in charge of the practices, game plan, and gameday rosters. Winning and losing cultures can't co-exist, you have to cut out the losers.
That return to a winning culture will come to fruition once Ballard brings in his guy, and that guy brings in his assistants. Whether that's Taub, or McDaniels, or Harbaugh, or whoever, it'll be someone that doesn't clap like a dummy when a player fails to execute.
If we were in a more competitive division, then yeah playoff contention next year wouldn't seem very likely. And the Jags and Texans have some juice they haven't had previously. But I'm still not worried about them or the Tits like a Bengals fan worries about the Steelers and Ravens. Not at all. When Luck gets back he will again be far and away the best QB in the division.
I really like the pieces we have on defense already. Give even Manusky this roster and we'd have a top 10-12 defense IMO. Davis, Melvin, Wilson, Hairston, Hooker, Geathers are 5 pretty good, great, or high-potential players. I expected more from them this season, but no one anticipated this trainwreck. At OLB I think Simon and Sheard are again pretty good. There's no depth behind them, we need Basham to develop and we need to draft a pass rusher with elite potential. ILB is a mess. And at DL, again I think we have some pretty good players. Hankins, Woods, and Anderson are three quality starters. Hunt is better than expected. The depth after them is questionable. These guys are an elite pass rusher, improved play at ILB, and a good DC away from greatness.
On offense, just buy an OL if you have to. We have Kelly. Castonzo is good enough to not worry about this year. But once again we need talent infusion. If Luck is protected, Hilton, Doyle, and whoever else will get open enough that he'll get them the ball. Just focus on OL.
I don't think we're that far away from contending at all, as long as we get the right coaching staff.
