- Joined
- May 12, 2006
- Messages
- 4,986
- Reaction score
- 7,378
Right. So, after 3 weeks into the season, there have been plenty of bad things that have been highlighted in the media and on this forum that leads us all to believe that we are in for another sucky season. If this turns out to be true, then we will be in a rebuilding mode yet again next year. Thing is, watching this team for as long as I have, I don't think this team is as bad as the 1 and 16 version that ran Cam Cameron out of town, so I began to think of reasons to justify why I think this team is better talent than it is playing. So I started to list the players who I think are actually playing well or are pretty good and here is what I came up with:
1. Daniel Thomas - He looks great. Looks like we are set at running back with this guy
2. Jake Long - He's been injured, but he'll get back to being the best player on the team
3. Mike Pouncey - He looks like a solid center and like he will be manning that position for a decade or more
4. Davonne Bess - One of the top slot receivers in the NFL I believe
5. Brian Hartline - a solid number 3 option
6. Brandon Marshall - A beast who needs to stop dropping touchdowns. If he drops another one might have to remove him from this list.
7. Randy Starks - Our best interior Lineman
8. Paul Soliai - Solid nose tackle, will probably bolt after this year since Ross was too cheap to lock him up
9. Karlos Dansby - Our best linebacker, he's reasonably solid
10. Cameron Wake - One of the top pass rushers in the NFL, but he needs more help
11. Yerimiah Bell - Our only decent safety
12. Vontae Davis - When healthy should be a decent NFL corner
Then you have Chad Henne. I'm not ready to put him on this list yet, but I must say, he is looking a hell of alot better than he did last year. Can't blame him for two Brandon Marshall touchdown drops, but still when the team fails as much as it does in the red zone you have to look at the QB. I am pleasantly surprised, but if we end up winning the Andrew Luck Sweepstakes I don't think we would or should hesitate.
I guess my point is that offensively, there is some talent to work with at the running back and receiver positions. We need upgrades at Tight End, Guard, and Right Tackle. This is one of the main reasons I think Sparano deserves to be fired. This is supposed to be his strength as a coach, plenty has been invested, but the line is probably in worst shape than it was last year. Not a good sign. At QB, we absolutely need another option to back up and challenge Henne. Having said that, the offense isn't beyond repair and two or 3 players would do it.
Defensively, we need big help in our secondary. These guys are getting eaten alive. We need probably 3 new defensive backs and could probably use an upgrade over Koa Misi since JT is not likely going to play past this year considering his age.
That leaves the coaching (yes, fire Sparano, why not), and GM. Not sure why Ireland is safe, but the thing that concerns me the most is that story I read in the herald that suggests that Ross isn't giving the club all of the tools they need to go out and get good players because he is losing money because the team is losing and can't win at home.
In summary, there are pieces to work with here and I don't think this team should be playing the way that they are from a talent perspective, so this team has the capability to win 6 or 7 games this year and when that gets everybody fired, they should have the ability to turn things around quickly with a new administration assuming Ross allows the team to spend to the cap to field a winner. Also, if I were him, I wouldn't be adverse to getting rid of Ireland if it meant being able to attract the right coach like Cowher who would want to bring in his own Personnel guy.
Thoughts?
1. Daniel Thomas - He looks great. Looks like we are set at running back with this guy
2. Jake Long - He's been injured, but he'll get back to being the best player on the team
3. Mike Pouncey - He looks like a solid center and like he will be manning that position for a decade or more
4. Davonne Bess - One of the top slot receivers in the NFL I believe
5. Brian Hartline - a solid number 3 option
6. Brandon Marshall - A beast who needs to stop dropping touchdowns. If he drops another one might have to remove him from this list.
7. Randy Starks - Our best interior Lineman
8. Paul Soliai - Solid nose tackle, will probably bolt after this year since Ross was too cheap to lock him up
9. Karlos Dansby - Our best linebacker, he's reasonably solid
10. Cameron Wake - One of the top pass rushers in the NFL, but he needs more help
11. Yerimiah Bell - Our only decent safety
12. Vontae Davis - When healthy should be a decent NFL corner
Then you have Chad Henne. I'm not ready to put him on this list yet, but I must say, he is looking a hell of alot better than he did last year. Can't blame him for two Brandon Marshall touchdown drops, but still when the team fails as much as it does in the red zone you have to look at the QB. I am pleasantly surprised, but if we end up winning the Andrew Luck Sweepstakes I don't think we would or should hesitate.
I guess my point is that offensively, there is some talent to work with at the running back and receiver positions. We need upgrades at Tight End, Guard, and Right Tackle. This is one of the main reasons I think Sparano deserves to be fired. This is supposed to be his strength as a coach, plenty has been invested, but the line is probably in worst shape than it was last year. Not a good sign. At QB, we absolutely need another option to back up and challenge Henne. Having said that, the offense isn't beyond repair and two or 3 players would do it.
Defensively, we need big help in our secondary. These guys are getting eaten alive. We need probably 3 new defensive backs and could probably use an upgrade over Koa Misi since JT is not likely going to play past this year considering his age.
That leaves the coaching (yes, fire Sparano, why not), and GM. Not sure why Ireland is safe, but the thing that concerns me the most is that story I read in the herald that suggests that Ross isn't giving the club all of the tools they need to go out and get good players because he is losing money because the team is losing and can't win at home.
In summary, there are pieces to work with here and I don't think this team should be playing the way that they are from a talent perspective, so this team has the capability to win 6 or 7 games this year and when that gets everybody fired, they should have the ability to turn things around quickly with a new administration assuming Ross allows the team to spend to the cap to field a winner. Also, if I were him, I wouldn't be adverse to getting rid of Ireland if it meant being able to attract the right coach like Cowher who would want to bring in his own Personnel guy.
Thoughts?
