top dawg

Meaningless games at the end of the year are meaningless. Count it against them if you want. At this point, most are looking ahead to the coming season. I think we'll be better overall if we stay healthy.

They had mailed it in by then. But, even still, the defense was dealing with a lot, as they did all year. I think that it's just being somewhat disingenuous to just regard the stat as completely "bogus" than to consider it within a greater context.

I mean, maybe "optimistic" considering the context of Panthers' history, but "top 15 or 20" outside of Cam Newton is probably him being more realistic than optimistic, cautiously or otherwise. Some people's heads will probably explode because of the elephant in the room.

Good point, but I suspect that they both know the offense. I don't like to admit it, but I'd bet that at the moment, they know their sh¡t much better than our guys know theirs. That's why I'm not too optimistic that we'll split the series, much less beat them both games. A lot has to be going right for us to do that.

You keep saying that, but that doesn't make it true. The total yards may not be as indicative of a great defense as other stats, but it's not indicative of a defense that's irreparably lost either. It means that there is some talent to work with that needs to be honed to reach its potential. Whether Snow can do it is another question. The stat isn't "bogus" though. It happened. Like I've told you before, the difference between us being top five and bottom five is likely in our ability to get off the field on third downs. That was the biggest failing of our defense last season as far as I'm concerned. Change that, and I see a top 10 defense all day long. Surely YGM, our new green LBs, and our other "third round pick" this year will have to play a part in getting us off the field, but there is a scenario where our #2 ranked total-yards-defense of 2021 can improve to be legit In 2022.

Payton is a good coach, but by all accounts, Dennis Allen is well-versed in Payton's offense. What this means is anyone's guess. I'd figure that we'll split with at least one or both. As for Lance and reports not being that great, that's not indicative of recent reports, nor is it from anyone of import or anyone that is even necessarily related to the 49ers in an official capacity. In other words, you're not paying attention to what has preceded OTAs and minicamp, much less the reports post minicamp. Lance has been making strides. He's still raw. He has things to work on, but his OC, HC, current teammates and old 49ers are singing his praises and acknowledging his development and continued need to hone certain skills to meet his potential. They ALL think he'll get there. So don't count on that W.

There may be some truth in this. There probably is. But my thing is that some of this diva-ish behavior preceded OBJ. Hell, there were questions coming out of college. And, the thing is, if you are going to support your QB after the drama surrounding OBJ's dad, it would seem to me that you wouldn't do it anonymously, you would do it publicly, particularly after OBJ was gone. If someone really was committed about what they're saying, surely it would seem like they'd say that he wasn't so bad after all this time.

I just looked at the schedule, and I can see why people are maxing us out at seven wins (Baker or no Baker). The only hope that I see us getting to .500 is if Corral surprises (but he probably won't even get a chance), the defensive interior surprises, and/or TMJ surprises. That's it. Other than that, I just don't know. If we don't win two out of the first three games, we probably won't even win seven games. Now there's always the chance that we drop a couple and get good, but that's about as likely as Butterbean walking on quicksand.

Yes he is, but his opinion on Mayfield isn't all candy, flowers and rainbows like some would have you believe. It speaks to Baker being good in certain situations, and not-so-good in others. He's not necessarily going to succeed while playing off-script. He's not necessarily going to excel if you put too much on his plate. He's limited.

What happened?

Sure. You're correct! He was on the market though (essentially without a job), and the whole of the NFL knew it!

I understand, but people must understand that that was years ago. [That was great though, as Norman got into his head. It happens.] Sure, many fans look at all the negatives surrounding OBJ and his attitude, but the fact is is that he had a lot of locker room love in Cleveland. Baker? Not so much. Moreover, there are legit analyses of how Mayfield did in fact miss reads to a wide open OBJ (purposefully or not). And, let's not forget that OBJ is a Super Bowl champion. His presence made a difference. Without him, notwithstanding he only played about a half, they lose. Likewise, If OBJ doesn't get hurt, the game isn't as close. In my opinion, Baker should've maximized his use of OBJ within the scope of his offense, but it didn't appear that he was doing that.

You're talking about two imperfect QBs. It's an interesting exercise for some (I guess). Winston and Baker do have their similarities (I can't help but think of anything but negative, not saying that it's all negative), and Winston wins the he's-likeable award--whoopie! I don't know if he wins the works-hard award, and even if he did, I would hope that this changes in 2022. Unless Baker is a fool, or the biggest, self-entitled, delusional prick that you will ever see, he better come in as humble, coachable and willing to work hard as any QB that you will ever see. Not saying that it is, but this could just be a little hate on the Saints camp's part because we got Baker on the cheap. At the end of the day, the only thing that will matter is play on the field.

Your answer was "yes." If most GMs felt Baker was the next best thing since sliced bread, then he wouldn't have been jobless for all these months. I try to resist comparing Mayfield to Darnold because it gives people what I believe is a fake overall picture of our new QB--it sets the bar lower than it normally would be--but Mayfield is this year's version of Darnold in the sense that he wasn't worth anything of any significance to invest in, except for the Panthers. Don't get me wrong, I think it was a decent bet, but let's keep in mind that Baker was a QB that effectively no one was going to pay 5 mil to or trade a conditional 5th round pick (that could ultimately move to a 4th) for but us. That's NOT a QB that NFL GMs believe can raise their team's level of play, or at least not markedly enough to overcome the downsides of having him on their roster, including the opportunity-costs associated with him taking reps from others.

Baker chose not to tap out. Notwithstanding his injury, I don't believe that every GM on every team held it against him, but, even still, he was this year's QB that no one but the Panthers were willing to invest in trading for at the end of the day. I don't believe that all comes down to the 2021 season, but what preceded it, in terms of on-field play. In my opinion, some Panthers' fans need to take off the rose-colored glasses.

Baker decided to play, so I don't know how "unfair" the hit to his performance was. Personally, it just makes me more skeptical.

You have some type of weird Baker love fest going on in here, with some mighty claims, and yet still he couldn't take the Browns who had arguably the best O-line and the best backfield in football as well as two of the better wide receivers in football, as well as solid legitimate receiving tight ends to the championship. Sure, he beat the Steelers who had a Swiss cheese O-line and a spent QB behind them, but so what! Baker is supposed to have all this arm talent--better than most--but could barely scrape (if he even did) a top 10 ranking at the position? Are you kidding me? Let me say this one more time: Baker was in an excellent situation in Cleveland! It was ready-made for a QB to rise to the occasion and win a chip. Baker shrank under the spotlight and was arguably the Browns biggest obstacle. He has thrown more INTs than ANY QB in the NFL since he has been in the league. ANY and EVERY QB since he has been in the league! It's his decision making, or lack thereof that has landed him where he is. You think that it feels me with a sense of security that he seems to only excel off play-action when scanning half the field and is able to make quick throws, but when things begin to break down and he has to add a little touch to his passes that he leaves meat on the bone? That's when great QBs make their living. You can't just drive balls with authority, looking for the big play every time. This leads to trouble, and it's where Mayfield has gotten into trouble. So pump the brakes! Mayfield has tons to prove, and hopefully he'll have to earn his role as opposed to it being given to him. If he does, he doesn't even have to be the best QB on our roster, much less a legit threat for being the QB of our future.

Yeah, I knew that, and I think that's just as crazy of a thinking that we'd cut him at all. We didn't invest a third round pick on Corral (particularly when picks were scarce, and when they purportedly had a first round grade on him) to risk him on waivers in any capacity. Anyone that thinks otherwise is basically low-key delusional.

Corral passing waivers? Igo, this is the most worried I've been about you smoking some illicit substances. There is no way in the world that Corral is going to be waived!

I'd love that for Cam. I still wish him the best.

Man, it probably would have been a first, second, and a conventional fourth last season. No way they'd have gotten him on the cheap. They had to learn what the hell they were doing. But we're in an overall better position this season with the O-line and healthy status of McCaffrey, TMJ, and the addition of Higgins who has history with Baker.

I mean, I get it, but he also played more games, injured at that. For those simply comparing him to Darnold, that's good and all, but you must remember that Baker Mayfield has thrown more interceps than ANY QB since he's been in the league.

Well, even the wind of whiffs feels good on these current hot summer days. I'd give us at least a middling chance to actually be competitive on the field this year, and if things go well, we'll be competitive in the win-loss column by 2023. We have at least one solid backup out of the three---uhh, four---and perhaps a long term starter with a little favor from the football gods.

I'm just glad that it's legitimately a good deal. The FO seems to be learning in more ways than one.

You gotta keep swinging until you hit. That's about the most positive way I can spin it.