So, we're not rebuilding or are we?

[ohall]

Think about why hes signing all these veterans like kevin carter and schulters...he wants rookies to learn from experienced skilled players...i mean how much will crowder learn from junior suea and zach thomas??...what about matt roth from holliday, carter and JT??...it creates a ripple effect...if this isnt re building then i dunno what is...

I see what you're saying, but all of those players you listed as VET's are all players that can still play this game at a high level. Quite a few of them are the best at what they do in the NFL.

I do not think you would find so many VET's like that on a rebuilding team. Usually that type of football situation implies a team that is looking to win games now if possible not only to teach their younger players.

 

[wazzy]

ITs still rebuilding he just has veterans to keep his team respectable and teach rookies. Also, by chance they make playoffs we have a lot of veterans who have been there so thats another reason he might have them plus you can never say no to a veteran whos getting underpaid for his services.

 

[MDFINFAN]

ITs still rebuilding he just has veterans to keep his team respectable and teach rookies. Also, by chance they make playoffs we have a lot of veterans who have been there so thats another reason he might have them plus you can never say no to a veteran whos getting underpaid for his services.

So your conclusion is we're rebuilding, but Saban is using the mental game of keeping the players focus on a playoff run, even though he may not think he has the horses to do so. At the same time, he's setting up the younsters by allowing them to learn some things from the vets. So a psych move, with unrealistic expectations by the fans, but a fighting football team that brought into him..if things don't work out this year, do you think he looses a little creditability with the players?

 

[rafael]

Saban's stated goal was to build a team that will win now and in the future. Other than the QB position, I see this team as fairly solid. If Gus just plays decent ball, I think we can contend for the playoffs. My prediction is that we end up about 8-8, but we will threaten the playoffs. I believe we'll become a true SB contender when we find our QB.

 

[MDFINFAN]

Saban's stated goal was to build a team that will win now and in the future. Other than the QB position, I see this team as fairly solid. If Gus just plays decent ball, I think we can contend for the playoffs. My prediction is that we end up about 8-8, but we will threaten the playoffs. I believe we'll become a true SB contender when we find our QB.

You think we can make a run at the playoffs at 8-8???

 

[jlfin]

i think we're retooling and relearning. but isnt that rebuilding? i don't know just as long as we dont re-live last year.

If they were truly re-building they would have traded their high salary vets i.e JT, SM and ZT and would not have re-signed Seau.
Most teams retool every offseason. What do you think the Pats are doing? What was the purpose of signing Terrell, Chad Brown, Beisel, Starks if not to retool.

 

[Agua]

I saw a quote from some online publication the other day, but someone had asked Saban what he thought the record would be, he was quoted as saying, and I'm paraphrasing here, but this is pretty close, "I don't know, will we win half our games? three-quarters?" As usual, he had deflected the question to make a point about being consistent and never letting up, but that was the quote - 8-8 to 12-4. That's someone who's planning on at least making a run at the playoffs.

 

[Megatron]

If they were truly re-building they would have traded their high salary vets i.e JT, SM and ZT and would not have re-signed Seau.
Most teams retool every offseason. What do you think the Pats are doing? What was the purpose of signing Terrell, Chad Brown, Beisel, Starks if not to retool.

I think you're right, there has been no great purge. The Titans are rebuilding, but only because of cap hell.

 

[MDFINFAN]

When I look at it, we didn't have to do what the Titans did, we weren't in cap hell, the titians were. So of course we retooled..and by signing the players to only one year contracts, we left ourselves open to stock up even more next year. So I see the team as rebuilding from within a framework of not being in cap hell, we've brought in over 40 new players, we've had room to sign a bunch of 1 year deals for this year, so that should tell you that Saban don't see them as long term solutions. Bottomline, our cap allowed the retooling of this year, now Saban can get rid of those who don't work out for the year because of the short term signings, but if they do work out, we'll lose a lot of them due to cap considerations.

 

[BennyVW]

The titans are rebuilding- Cap Hell
The 49ers started last year, and again this year- Cap hell, bad coach
The browns are rebuilding- Bad coach, completly new system,
The pats are Re-tooling
The fins are right in-between.

 

[grendel]

Last year was reTOOLING! This year is RECONQUERING.

 

[MDFINFAN]

Last year was reTOOLING! This year is RECONQUERING.

That's a good point..I defintely thought the O was retooling...this year the D is getting some of that too...The O did a better job of getting younger last year, the D has added a mix, but still a little more age than youth, so there's still some retooling to do on the D to me. If Vickerson and Wright work out, that's a good start for base DT's. Daniel and Poole are good starts for CB's, Y. Bell if he catches on and show those flashes from last year, can be a good player at Safety...Crowder, Moore, Pope, Spragen, Ayanbadejo, and Corey are defintely good players, howbeit, maybe not all starting LB material, but some good ST guys..D.bowens is still young and a future anchor to that DL to me.

 

[Canadianfishfan]

My 2 cents are.. rebuilding? retooling? Im not sure if its either at the moment. Saban... as well as the rest of the NFL know we have always had TALENT. But our defense has underachieved the last few seasons. The offense was vanilla. The only real prblem spot has been QB. Saban isnt dumb. He isnt going to replace these vauable and productive vets. At the same time.. hes drafted wisely for the future. Hes being careful not to be a false prophet and say how many games we're going to win.
He's installed a formidable coaching staff. to be able to assist the players on becoming the best they can be.. and accountable. maybe call it fine tuning the players focus while rehauling the system.

I dont know if its rebuilding or retooling.. i do know its taking a sharp left turn from yesteryear!

 

[rafael]

You think we can make a run at the playoffs at 8-8???

I think we'll threaten to (be in the playoff hunt) and then fall short by finishing 8-8.

 

[ohall]

Saban's stated goal was to build a team that will win now and in the future. Other than the QB position, I see this team as fairly solid. If Gus just plays decent ball, I think we can contend for the playoffs. My prediction is that we end up about 8-8, but we will threaten the playoffs. I believe we'll become a true SB contender when we find our QB.

It seems to me that is not exactly the definition of what rebuilding means.