CTskins

I know I'm probably going to get dragged for this but I see a lot of similarities between the beginning of the Harris group era and when Jerry Jones took over Dallas in 1989. The Cowboys intentionally hit rock bottom, before completely overhauling the roster and culture. The 6 game improvement in '90 laid the foundation for a playoff run in '91 and back-to-back Lombardis immediately after that. Washington didn't get the same haul as Jimmy Johnson did for Walker, but they had a lot of draft capital last weekend and crushed it, by most accounts. I'm expecting a playoff push this year, and whether they get there or not, they should be more competitive and it's going to be more fun than at any point since 2012.

Given their free agent signings, I think this season is intended to be a foundation year, not necessarily a punt. They have to change the culture and establish a vision. I'm not crazy about Mariota on the field, but if they have to protect Daniels for a handful of games while getting their house in order, so be it.

Yet you responded, and thankfully so. Otherwise it wouldn't have garnered two critical "laughing" reactions. Seems like the type of sour grapes Ed Cooley would say after $2 Beer Night, which has been turned into a (since outdated...twice) slogan. Besides, isn't this a football board? The fortune of other area franchises is inconsequential. The post indicated a desire for the Patriots to experience decades of turmoil. I merely pointed out that they already had. Brady and Belichick certainly spoiled Pats fans, but so what? One could say that about any dynasty. The Patriots are not rivals, neither Brady nor Belichick are there any longer, and they haven't been better than mediocre in 4 years. Again, who cares? The 1st Cooke/Casserly/Gibbs era spoiled Washington, which is now emerging from a 24-year ebb. Hopefully the Harris group, Peters, and Quinn can turn it around again and have a nice run. Enjoy it, be entertained, or else occupy your down-time with something else, but this level of schadenfreude only makes you come off like a Giants fan. I'd advise against being like a Giants fan. Now all that being said, I'm on to draft analysis.

Don't fool yourself. The Patriots have had "several decades of turmoil." They made five playoff appearances from their formation in 1960 to the time Kraft bought the franchise (Jan. '94). The only true oasis was 1984-'86, including a surprise Super Bowl run. Between '89 and '95, they were 4th or 5th in their division 6x winning 2 games or less twice. Then there was also the Lisa Olsen Scandal around the same time, Hart Lee Dykes incident(s), Victor Kiam and Sam Orthwein wanting to relocate, and various other "bad luck" events that plagued the franchise. All the while playing home games in a "stadium" that some Texas High School programs would go, "Nah, we're good." The better tackle football in those days took place in the gravel parking lots.

Because as real as Madden is, The NFL is not a video game and these guys are human. The consensus theory is that this pick is coming in to start. Maybe not in Week 1, 2024, but the franchise's fortunes will sink or swim for the next three seasons, minimum, based on this pick. Howell is a heck of a competitor, but anyone paying attention knows his shortcomings and can see a ceiling. That doesn't mean that HE agrees. He wants to compete, play, and earn his 2nd contract. OTOH, as a 3rd year player and single season incumbent starter, he is not so seasoned a veteran to take on the mentoring role for someone only a couple years younger in the QB room. I'm not crazy about Mariota on the field, but Peters evidently believes Mariota can be a bridge, knows his role, and can provide that supportive veteran presence in the locker room. All of that holds true with regard to Drake Maye, plus the fact that Howell is only expected to only be a placeholder for the same kid who succeeded him in college, yet couldn't beat him out when both were there. At the end of the day, Howell's value would never have been higher and WSH gave up a spare part to improve two draft slots (#102 becomes #78 and #179 becomes #152). It was the correct decision.

The QB factor shouldn't be ignored. Daniel Jones making 40M/year means his agents did a phenomenal job of leveraging a mediocre 2022 season after his 5th year team option was declined. It doesn't mean he's good at playing football. Jones is not a $40M QB (37 sks/6 games). Undrafted and inexperienced Tommy Devito was sacked 30 times over 9 games (6 starts), and aging journeyman Tyrod Taylor went down only 17 times in 11 games (5 starts) due to his experience. That's 85 sacks over just over 500 pass attempts.

While hiring Bobby Johnson from the Giants doesn't make sense on it's face, the Giants' line was also devoid of talent. So much so, that they signed a guy from his couch, staying in shape by loading UPS trucks from the sorting line, who was literally getting starters reps 3 days later. That said, Washington needs more talent along the line as well. I don't mind that Kerrigan remains. He's assisting a position coach. He's not one himself. He's basically a quality control coach with a better title.

Evidently glossed over those posts. 🤣

This talk about judging coaches, GMs and Owners in front of a bank of microphones is bordering on hilarity. I personally could not care less about press conferences. Are they on the same page in terms of winning? philosophy to accomplish same? assembling a coaching staff? Putting an effective combination of pieces on the field? Beating the Cowboys? These are the questions to which I would need affirmative responses. Bob Kraft is not a very effective public speaker and getting the cut-off-hoodie wearing Bill Belichick to answer gameday related questions was like pulling teeth. The Patriots have only gone to the Playoffs 22 times, the Super Bowl ten times, and won six of them in the 30 years that Kraft has owned the franchise.

Witt is probably ultimately responsible for making that hire, with Quinn's blessing, I don't think Assistant D-line coach is very consequential to the success of the team. It's a resume building position for a year or two where he's meant to move up or more on. If they are truly cleaning house, he goes and the new D-Line coach brings his own assistants. Kerrigan's ties to the franchise began and ended under Snyder as well.

Kyle Shanahan called the offensive plays. Not Quinn. How they didn't call for more runs with Freeman and Coleman in the 2nd half is as puzzling as the Seahawks throwing on the two-yard line. The Falcons could have virtually sealed that game with an approximate 40 yard field goal, if Ryan didn't get sacked (pass play), followed by a holding call on the subsequent 3rd down pass call. Amazingly, Quinn has been scapegoated, while the person who had a larger role in the collapse is head coach in his 2nd Super Bowl.

The Patriots traded picks to the Jets for Belichick. That worked out pretty well.

Randy Mueller and Matt Miller are getting a lot of play for their opinions on Howell, but after barely scratching the surface, I have my doubts as to their credibility. For starters, had Howell declared for the 2021 draft, he was given 1st round grades in some circles. Even after his 2021 season didn't compare to '19 and '20, his decision to declare for 2022 was based on similar feedback. Did Washington really get a 1st rounder in the 5th? hmm. Maybe. Miller compares Howell to Colt McCoy and rated him the 74th best prospect in the '22 draft. Why Colt McCoy? Similar build and "not great arm strength." Really? Did he watch highlights, let alone any games, from College? How about the Week 18 game vs Dallas? What is this weak arm of which ye speaks? Also, the 74 overall ranked prospect / 32 team selections per round = 2.31. Did Washington really get a high 3rd rounder in the 5th? Seems a bit more reasonable, but still really good value. Mueller was far more...let's say abstract...in his assessment. "I do know this from a team building standpoint, [Howell] I believe was a fifth-round pick and I did study him coming out and he's played one game. So there would be doubt in my mind, one in how did he end up falling to the fifth round if the skills are of starter quality, so I would have concerns there...And when I saw him on tape I would concur with those, I didn't see the NFL acumen as far as skillsets physically go." (Me: He had NFL caliber players filling skill positions at UNC in '19 and '20, who were not there in '21. Also Mueller's is not an opinion that I'd rely upon too much. He hasn't been associated with an NFL franchise since 2018 and was the same GM who traded his entire draft for the opportunity to pick Ricky Williams.). I've seen other comments as well that ask if Howell was so special to be given the reigns after a single start, then why not start him earlier? The answer is mainly financial. Wentz was still viewed as the QB1 (Narrator: He isn't. Wasn't. Probably won't be again) upon arrival, and was, more importantly, being paid as such. Washington caught a break when he went down and Heinicke went on a run. The reality is that Wentz should never had been re-inserted as the starter. So when he failed to lead Washington to the playoffs, it only made sense for Heinicke to stand down in favor of Howell. Heinicke knows the struggles of a low expectations QB. OTOH, he'd already made his money and was going to make more in free agency, whether by re-signing with Washington or from another team. Finally, it's not as if Dallas allowed Howell to outplayed his expectations. They were still playing for seed and Howell still completed nearly 60% of his passes, accounted for over 200 yards and 2 TDs. I might be crazy, but Slye's missed field goals were a more glaring concern than Howell's performance.

The first three defensive drives were 3 & Out, Goal line stand, and field goal, but I missed where the Offense helped keep the defense fresh and off the field in the first half. Washington didn't gain it's 57th yard from scrimmage until the 3rd quarter. I heard Jonathan Vilma mention that the first 15 plays are scripted, but are they barred from making adjustments prior to halftime? Blame should not be confined to Del Rio.

"...And that ass hat Thor (I REALLY had a problem with him)..." - Gee, I couldn't tell. 🤣 The media and teams draw up their own boards, but they don't do it in a vacuum. The media is constantly talking to the teams and while team personnel like to be cryptic (and I'm in the cryptic-press-conference-capital-of-the-NFL), many of these draftniks are quite adept at reading between the lines (Thor Whatshisnutz notwithstanding). Others, on the other hand, seem to hate their jobs and root for chaos, which gives them stories about which to write. My point is that players generally can at least be aggregated into tiers and reasonable assessments can be made on where they would fall based largely on player talent but also team need. At the end of the day, 22 positions can be grouped into 7 categories. (DL, LB, DB, OL, QB, Receiver, and Back). Re: Travis Jones, I was reiterating the news coming out of the Senior Bowl. He had a solid Combine and Pro Day as well. I agree with your view on positional value. Sebastian Janikowski and Saquon Barkley, for example, were wasted picks by their respective teams in their particular situation and in those spots. On the other hand, I believe guards are undervalued.