Originally posted by OnTheClock:
Honestly, if this doesn't get better, I think it's time to pull the plug and let Tarver take over. I think he's a bright young mind too who could get a lot out of the players we have. He knows both the 4-3 and 3-4, so it'd give us options. I would prefer to stick to the 3-4 and build depth at LB and DE primarily.
CB: Brock, Acker, Ward, Reaser, Johnson is a good group.
Upgrades Needed: We could add competition, but these guys when playing in the right scheme are fine.
DE: Dial, Armstead, Dorsey, TJE, Carradine
Upgrades Needed: Carradine hasn't been the stud people expected, and TJE is barely worth keeping, if at all. Dorsey is better suited to NT, and it'll be interesting what the team does considering Ian Williams is in a contract year and Purcell has emerged as a starter-caliber player for the future.
NT: Williams, Purcell (with Dorsey and Dial also able to cover)
Upgrades Needed: None yet. If we let Williams walk, I think Dorsey and Purcell compete for the starting job in 2016. The versatility of our other players makes this not a huge area of concern at the moment.
OLB: Brooks, Lynch, Harold, Lemonier
Upgrades Needed: Lemonier looks a little better this year, perhaps the extra PT is helping. He's still not as good as we hoped based on his draft slot, so at best he's an OK depth guy. Brooks' contract will be way too much at his age after this season. We will likely need to replace these two and probably add another OLB for extra competition in 2016.
Good post. Agree very much. I hate talking about next year but overall, I agree. I don't think locking up Williams will be too difficult and with Dorsey still under contract and Purcell, we're fine there. AA will most likely take over at LDE for Dorsey at some point this year anyhow. Dial has RDE locked down. That's a very good and active and young front 3 with depth in Dorsey, Carradine, Purcell, etc. I'm guessing this run-defense unit will slowly climb up the charts as the year goes on. We've played against a lot of top backs already (at that time).
I'm with you on the CB's. IF they think they can upgrade, fine but I don't see a lack of talent nor depth here. For perspective, behind one of the best pass rushing units in the NFL, Marcus Peters has given up 6 TD's in 6 games. And many think he's great. So for us to expect a rookie to come in and out perform Brock or Acker, that probably isn't too realistic. Scheme, like you, IMHO, is the real culprit here. In a more vanilla scheme during pre season, Acker/Reaser/Johnson looked terrific. Put them is a complex scheme with essentially, a new game plan every week, and everyone looks a step slow and lost (everyone).
Tarver? If Mangini can't pull his head out of his ass this game and continues to force a complex scheme and ever-changing game plan week-to-week, it's proof he is inflexible, incapable of playing to player-strengths and is losing the concept of momentum (a no-no in sports) and is not allowing his talent to grow WITHIN the (proper) scheme unless this is a looooong-term plan (which we'd need new personnel for). I'd be all for a change.
Baalke/JT/Geep/Logan have all adjusted and adapted to the offensive side of the ball as evidenced last week in working together. Mangini? It's your turn! Listen to your proven vets. This is a veteran defense that is flat out lost and a step slow. Get BACK to what you KNOW works for this talent. He's watched it for 3 years now. No excuses.
Talent? You nailed it...OL (obvious) and a cornerstone OLB pass rusher is what we need (and some interior push/rush would help too). I don't know if any premier FA's will be on the market but we are certainly in position to 'buy' whatever we need next year while these young-ones continue to grow and develop on the field.
There are a few positions we can look to upgrade or add key depth too such as ILB, OLB, C, RG, RT, TE and maybe CB & PK. We have $13.36M right now before some of the older vets contracts are reworked (Brooks/Bethea), traded (VD), or cut. We'll have plenty of roll-over $ as well. We'll just have to take our lumps this year and use it for evaluation of the players, scheme and staff. Sad. This off season went from a simple 'retooling' to a 'rebuilding' in about a 3-month period. I like a lot of the talent and depth we have...coaching/scheme/philosophy is my biggest concern.
I know Baalke will go get the key pieces we'll need for next year (i.e. Reid, Bethea, T.Smith, etc.). He was a former OLB himself so he does have an eye for pass rushers. Eli needs at least a full year to build up his strength to play in our 3-4. He's physically overmatched right now but does have great upside and heart.
Baalke will also now have a full year in working with Tom Gamble and I'm hoping that pays off on the offensive side of the ball.
[ Edited by NCommand on Oct 15, 2015 at 9:43 AM ]
