Mr. Scot

I think that started happening a little later, but at least in the first season and maybe first season and a half I just didn't see a whole lot of late game effectiveness. But hell, even in the super season of 2015 the MO was to build a big lead in the first half and pray like crazy we could protect it in the second. I don't think that was on Newton though. That was due to Rivera being terrible at adjustments.

Looking like much ado about nothing...

Possible "uh oh" moment incoming...

At least for his first couple of seasons, Newton had a habit of coming out on fire in the first half and then disappearing in the second. But no it's not the defense losing games, though Ellis did rightly point out that our defense is kind of weak in the takeaway department.

Dalton isn't starter material anymore, and definitely not a long-term starter. We need to look for somebody that's got that kind of potential, even if it's via the draft rather than free agency.

I'll say this unequivocally; I do not believe that you can call Bryce Young a bust right now and I don't think we should treat him as such. It's way too soon to know what he is regardless. With that said... I do think it's going to be necessary next year to sign a backup who can not only mentor him but also compete with him if his issues continue. Mind you, some of those issues may not be all his fault. The David Carr treatment that he's receiving this season could certainly have an effect. Either way though, I think that's something you have to factor into the coming offseason's personnel strategy.

This is kinda cool, though... Hell, I'd use a Madden coin for every game.

I know they took some things off his plate a while back.

She said she's talked about it before and it's never been a big deal. Someone else also indicated it was something that happened in years past, not currently. Still, this was...unwise

"This is bad." - Jack Dawson, Titanic

Weird story of the week... She's since released this statement... A colleague of hers stated she was talking about something that happened years ago, not now. Greg Olsen also spoke in support of her. Kinda hard to think there won't be some fallout from this though...

I don't think Ickey would be "marginally better" at left guard. I think he'd be significantly better. The problem is that pretty much anybody we put at left tackle would also be significantly worse. Mike Kaye suggested moving Bozeman to left guard and trying Cade Mays at center. Don't know if that works either but it's an option. The problem though is that none of these options work unless we move to a power run heavy offense. If we're not going to do that, then it's just Titanic deck chairs.

More from John...

And when the coach said he'd tailor the scheme to fit them.

All I know for sure is none of it makes sense.

NFL is already looking into it.

Christensen would be the obvious choice if he weren't hurt, and likely would be the pick next year. With the choices we've got now? Don't know.

What's maddening is the disconnect between the coaches messaging and the on-field product. "We're going to tailor the scheme to the personnel"... except we didn't. "We're going to have a collaborative approach"...you really wanna tell me nobody on a staff full of professionals is seeing this? It's just infuriating.

As to the chart, I think it's accurate but it doesn't tell the whole story. (stats and charts rarely do)

It's a wrongheaded idea to begin with. Even Newton, for all his strengths, couldn't win with a bad team around him. Still, people have gotten the idea that a "do it all" quarterback is what you need, but that's not what wins in the NFL.

In the last presser, somebody asked whether they might think about going to more of a smashmouth running attack. Reich rejected the idea in his answer. Granted, they could still do it in private but at least publicly he said no.

He didn't get where he is without having strengths. David Carr had strengths too...until they got beaten out of him.