kungfoodude

The consistency of the third quarter struggles is the most obvious and glaring sign of a coaching staff that doesn't adjust well to the game.

The defensive part of the blame for our struggles is probably 10ish percent. A lot of that can be directly tied to injuries. Yet....they are still a top 10 unit in the NFL. The core of our problems were our two biggest question marks heading into the season, OL and QB. Those things are responsible for probably 80% of our TEAM struggles. Now given roughly 1.5 seasons of information and considering the situation our franchise is in....the REAL bulk of the blame lies squarely with David Tepper and Matt Rhule. Tepper took a big, risky, EXPENSIVE gamble on a college coach with little NFL experience. The guy he picked has the final say on personnel decisions. So, Matt Rhule is to blame for the QB situation we have been in for the past two seasons, starting and backup. Matt Rhule is to blame for the poor free agent acquisitions on the offensive line. Matt Rhule is to blame for the poor draft decisions in ignoring obvious roster holes on the offensive line.

It wasn't. Logic would have dicated never making that trade at all. What huge contract extension do you see in his future? What huge contract extension did you see after three seasons with the Jets? He is the same player he was and has always been. Only a team like ours would have picked up that 5th year or made that trade for him. That's why he was very available when we called. They fleeced us, plain and simple. The worst part is anyone could have seen why to avoid that trade, yet that braintrust did not.

The WR's are much less of a problem that our bottom of the NFL QB play(and bottom 5 OL play). They are largely mirroring the poo around them.

Yeah but we don't know if those rumors are just their negotiation point. The thing is, we have two conflicting rumors. They want that exorbitant price but they also want to get it done by the trade deadline. If the latter is true, it immediately hurts the first rumor. So, we really don't know very much at all

Trading CMC for the sake of trading CMC is a mistake. We need a clear idea of what we expect to get in return. Is he part of a deal for Watson? Is he part of a deal for a very good offensive lineman? Are we getting a 1st round draft pick(at least)? If the answer is no to any of those questions, I am not seeing a spectacular reason to start tearing down everything. Remember, as bad as this is, we aren't that many pieces away from being a good team.

Well, Sam Darnold is a terrible QB. Keep in mind although ALL of our receivers have piled up drops, Sam has been throwing late and also off target all season long.

I have no idea the amount of assets because this hypothetical trade hasn't happened. Hence the "variables are vast" statement. I have no idea whether we will be better served getting Watson or not. Ask me in 4-5 years and we can see how it did or didn't work out. That is why I have no desire to speak in the definitives that you are. I don't know any of the variables.

The variables are vast. It could be the move that elevates our franchise to the lofty heights we desire, it could be the move that sets us onto a perpetual cellar dweller path or anything in between. Quite honestly, I don't even have a particularly strong opinion about it anymore. If it happens, I guess I will see how it works out. If it doesn't happen, I guess I will see how it works out. I hate to be apathetic to the idea(pro or con) but I am not even sure where our franchise is headed at the moment. Even more unfortunately, I am not sure they are very sure where they are headed.

I don't think you can blame the OL coach. I mean....my God, look at what we provided him. The truth is, we have historically and recently underinvested in the OL and it just simply shows. Remember, this isn't some new problem. It has gone on since before Rhule got here. They are just continuing that trend of lack of investment and poor investments in that unit. They have reaped what they sowed, essentially.

That is the real head scratcher of it all. How did a staff of professional football coaches and front office personnel miss what even the most casual of fans could see???

I mean...anyone who watched him play knew this was coming. I cannot see how you couldn't.

The beer so far.

Starting out with some breakfast burritos(a little upgrade with some smoked cheddar). Transitioning to smoked chili later on, with the first beer likely to be cracked in the next 15 minutes.

Calling a draft successful after six games is ridiculous. As ridiculous as you could possibly get. Almost every player from the 2020 draft started games for us. And now how many see any time at all? Basically our first, second and third. That's how quickly that can change. I mean, through 6 games where are you seeing these surefire hits? Horn? The promising guy that has looked great against Zach Wilson, Jameis Winston and Davis Mills for 2.5 games? Marshall? The 2nd round pick that has a total of 19.3 ypg of production? Christensen? The tackle that has a total of 75 snaps on one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL? Tremble? The talented TE averaging 14 ypg receiving and a max usage rate of 51% of snaps in a game so far? Hubbard? He is probably the closest. Averaging 90 yds of total offense since CMC got injured. Only 1 TD but has been pretty steady, minus some issues with catching ball. Nixon? The guy with a 16% usage rate(60 total snaps) and 6 tackles, 0.5 sack? Taylor? The talented guy that in 127 snaps is allowing 72.7% completion percentage and 110.0 QB rating? Brown? The guy that has literally not been on the active list minus one game with a total of 5 snaps on a bottom 5 OL unit? Smith? Active one game and in a total of 8 snaps? Fletcher? The LONG SNAPPER who didn't technically even make the team? Hoskins? The guy who has yet to be active in a game? So, while we have seen flashes from a few, where are these sure things that make this a successful draft through a total of six games? Is Mac Jones a superstar through Week 6? Trevor Lawrence? Justin Fields? Zach Wilson? Kyle Pitts? I don't recall too many busts or superstars at week 6 of their rookie year.

We definitely didn't accomplish getting any serviceable OL in the draft. I don't see any chance of getting serviceable OL if we squander draft capital on minor defensive needs or trading down repeatedly to gather late round picks. This past draft appears to be a pretty mixed bag(6 games in, which doesn't mean much), which shouldn't surprise anyone given that it was largely 2nd and 3rd day draft picks. If we don't go heavy OL in the 2022 draft, yeah, that will be a bad draft.

We gonna trade our first for three 4ths and 2 6ths? Awesome.

That would be my point to check out on the staff and FO if they take two picks on defense in a draft where we only have a 1st, 4th, two 5th's and a 6th given our needs on the OL. We have a top 10 defense and a bottom 5 offense.

Jeffers?

It says it is, "Local revenues divided by metro population, with populations in two-team markets divided in half." So, basically our local revenue divided by the population of the Charlotte Metro area. There are some other interesting tibits on there, like the Market Value($139M) and Brand($91M). Compare that to another small market team with a giant presence, the Green Bay Packers with a Market Value of $210M and Brand value of $264M. Another interesting comparison is a market roughly double the size of CLT metro, the Arizona Cardinals. Market Value of $136M and Brand value of $101M. Interesting to see their valuations. It would be helpful to see behind the curtain a little on how they came up with some of these figures.

Yeah, I am honestly expecting that other shoe to drop. If we waste this elite defense, it will make we sick to my stomach. I never thought this was a top 10 defense(although more than one on the Huddle predicted that). Now we have it and this offense just fugs it up left, right and center. It is so sickening.

It's been hard to talk football normally this season. Too much poo I didn't want to see happen but expected to happen has happened. This is a rough one.

No doubt. I am certainly not trying aggressively to come to Brady's defense. I just think he is the #3 in the list of problems we have offensively.