MartinC

4 weeks is an extremely optimistic timeline for this kind of surgery. 6 weeks seems to be at the short end and ‘several months’ at the thick end. He certainly has a shot to be physically ready for the start of the season but that’s far from certain. But even if he is available he will likely have a missed a lot of camp and preseason - he is probably not going to be ready for much playing time early in the season. It is what it is, but if he had this medical concern him dropping in the draft is starting to make more sense.

At some point. But it’s a heck of a projection to draft someone in the third round as an opening day starter at a premium position like LT. If he’s even pencilled in as opening day starter at this point it’s a sign of the lack of talent we have on the roster at OT.

To be fair he was decent/solid his first couple of seasons. He dropped off a cliff last season. He was tinkering with his technique but it was probably just mental. He just lost confidence and had zero consistency.

It demonstrably wasn't a well coached team in any aspect. Player development, scheme, game planning in game play calling, in game use of personnel to create or avoid matchups, in game adjustments. Flat bad across the board. I think thats generous. I cant think which coaching staff would have been worse - maybe Carolina. Maybe.

It was a while ago but we drafted an OT called Andre Johnson first round in 96 ( we actually traded up to pick him!). He was cut before the start of the 97 season at the end of preseason without taking a single snap in a regular season game.

I'm old enough to recall Heath Shuler wearing #5 - and that didn't work out well.

Russell Wilson played decent to good last season. He was far from the problem in Denver - but he just wasn’t what Payton wanted at any point. Wilson was doomed there the moment Payton was hired. I think he will play well for the Steelers and they have the infrastructure and team around him where they could make some noise.

Correct - the whole of Davis four year deal was guaranteed. The 5th year option is a team option and we declined that (to no great surprise).

He will have to earn his spot for sure. But his film and play is good enough that he justifies his place. I wouldn’t be surprised if we use some 3-4 looks in base - we kind of have the personnel for it.

He’s at least a solid starter who only costs about $4M on the cap. I’d be very surprised if he doesn’t make the roster. How he is used will be interesting though - I’d like to see him used more in pass rush.

Hey PM me when you are down this way - I will buy you a coffee!

I'm in Chandler (Ocotillo).

We literally had the worst coaching in the NFL last season. No hyperbole - I really believe that especially on defense. Just getting competent coaching on that side of the ball will give us a big lift. That plus having NFL calibre linebackers on the roster. I do worry about where the pass rush is going to come from - it is going to have to be much more schemed than we have seen in the last few years.

The only way is up from last year in terms of talent and coaching. But there are way too many new parts that have to come together, plus some key missing pieces (OT, possibly CB) for me to think we have a real shot at a division title this year.

You think you get to know people on these forums and then we find out Conn is addicted to TMZ. You just never know ...