Darth Tater

It has nothing to do with being in a pre-salary cap era. It was more about guy like Gibbs changing how talent is evaluated, innovative schemes, ability to integrate and understanding that a good coaching staff is as important than the talent of the players.

Lighter case of Swearinger syndrome?

If you don't include new franchises, only 1 coach in the SB era ever was given 3+ years to rebuild and did so successfully. In fact, you can usually tell if the coach will rebuild successfully no later than year 2. When Norv Turner failed to make the playoffs in 1996, that pretty much told me that he was a fail. Jay Gruden's regression in 2016 is pretty much why I always called him Norv Gruden.

If we sign Fitz next month, we must be looking at a project QB like Lance.

Other key adds were Brown, Fournette, Gronkowski, Winfield and Wirfs. Several others were just coming into their own. Vita Vea also finally made it back (a high quality nose makes the LB core look much better in most 34s) for the NFCG and the SB. Further, if TB's defense not been so good in the SB especially in the short area, KC wins the game. TB's short area defense kept GB from scoring at least 10 more points. Against NO, that defense was why TB won as opposed to getting blown out. Interestingly, WFT is the only game where their defense nearly lost it. By the way, KC's defense is meh anyway. Reid is a known choker losing 4 conference games (2 where he led the better team) and lost a SB despite the fact that his guys almost out-played NE and just did it again despite the fact that many were sure his team was much better than the competition. He is 17-15 in the playoffs even though he has often had elite teams. Mahomes also has a history of playing mediocre in big games at times.

Huh? What does the OL have to do with anything here? Though I suppose they are often part of the problem.

He did this while playing for Philban and Gase. Interceptions are heavy downgrades to OB ratings but are often something that can be fixed if you have the tools to put stress on DBs.

@JamesMadisonSkins, If you think we need a QB who is COMPETING for a stop-gap job, even if you think he will win, you should not consider more than a 4 or lower in this environment since there are better options (Fitzmagic for instance and even Smith may be better). So, if you think you can get Mariota for a 5, you are right because you can now cut the biggest loser in the competition with little harm.

Depends on what we do at QB. If we give up significant draft resources, we will need to make up for that loss.

In the slot, we just need a guy with better hands than Sims Jr. Sims Jr is a good route runner but has no hands. Crowder is a good route runner with hands. We really don't need a number one here in the slot, we need a guy who can put heavy conflict on the guy who gives deep help.

IF you see Mariota as a stop-gap who should only be COMPETING for the starting job (and not have it as his to lose), than you don't see him as an upgrade as a stop-gap. Why spend any signigicant resources on a guy you do not see as significantly better than what you have? To give up quality resources for anything but a potential long-term solution is inane, especially when there are some better options for a stop-gap and/or don't see the stop-gap solution as significantly better than what you have (ie, should not be COMPETING for the starting job).

Tannehill actually was an above average QB at Miami. He did have health issues and wasn't what you want in a Franchise guy. His coaches included Adam Gase and he still managed a winning record.

Yeah, but I pay no attention to the combine except to confirm something about a player that I already believe.

And to think we took Geron instead of Orlando.

Don't know how relevant that is, its more about how much he has now. Of course, according to most resources I could find, it does look like he could spend about 2M/year without ever running out of money while doing nothing but spending money. Thing is, I don't think he would enjoy that but I don't think money is why he'd come back.

About 6 to 10.

I've always felt that Jay is too naive, doesn't seem to have the courage of his convictions and is not a good enough "sales" person to be a good GM.

I was supporting your position but adding the fact that Sean has a better rep a taking a QB on the ropes and turning them into something and that describes what Winston was. Only said that he traded for Bridgewater, said nothing else. Sean had also turned a busted up (torn shoulder), average talent at QB (Brees' play was why SD had the opportunity to draft when they did and Brees only had one real good season at SD anyway, he was mostly mediocre, there was a reason that he didn't have much of a market even before the injury) into a HOFer. Brees was just about done and there was little reason for Winston not to think he could establish himself as the starter in NO in '21 (or leave if he got the op elsewhere). Even if Winston had other choices, this would have been his best choice anyway. We don't have a staff that has the kind of rep SP has and are definitely not a plug n' play QB away.

Also, the year before Winston signed, the backup had been Teddy Bridgewater and Sean had signed a busted up guy with average talent and turned him into Drew 'Fin Brees. Winston was joining with a coach that has a pretty good rep at rehabbing QBs. The starting QB was getting up there and there was no heir-apparent last spring so Winston was going to be in a position to show the coaches he should be the heir-apparent or have a short enough contract to get out. Hell, I would consider taking a 1 year backup spot with NO over a starting op with most other teams in the NFL.

A bridge QB should cost nothing in terms of non-cap resources. If we think we need a bridge, roll with Alex (expensive in dollars but doesn't cost resources need to continue building). I'd also look at Heinike or Allen for even cheaper versions. Problem is that Mariota will cost in terms of resources needed to rebuild and would likely force us to use more cap than other options if you are looking for a bridge. Only way you consider Mariota is if you are really convinced he might be a long-term solution.

Faulk was a cheap add who was also new to the team. Bruce was good but the Rams had used a second rounder on him. Holt was a late pick who was a rookie when KW stepped on the scene. Hakim was a mid-rounder in 1998 that basically broke out with KW. Proehl was pretty much just a Steve Sims type with better QBs. Of the defense, Fletcher was a UDFA. Lyght was mostly just solid and '99 was a career year, same with McLeon (though '99 was more of a break-out year). Bly was a rookie backup.

My problem with Trey Lance any higher than the second round is that the best predictor of failure for a QB at the pro-level is lack of multiple years of some decent level of college success.

...he could punt, if 1 yd is good.

More research I do on Lance makes me think he is more a second rounder or a late 1 if you got multiple. Impressive measurements but very limited credentials. I think the only QBs worth high first rounders are Lawrence, Fields and Wilson.

Mahomes is more likely the Mahomes we know because he has Andy Reid and a highly talented offensive powerhouse , we don't and don't have anybody who has Andy's history (Lavell Edwards, Mike Holmgren and his own). Also, Mahomes put up multiple quality seasons at TTU.