Santee_Panther

I don’t think those sites are including the voided contracts of Shaq, Dalton, Hekker and Corbett, which will add another $16mil in dead money once those contracts void, which happens Feb 17th.

Yeah, you could have all 7 guys split 71% each and get stuck with three man classes. At least the top seven go straight to the final next time. I’m not worried about Luke getting it eventually but Smith’s numbers are going to look less impressive down the road in a pass happy league. (Fitzgerald goes to the top of the group next year, still stuck with Holt and Wayne for votes).

In the past they cut the 15 down to 5, then you voted yes/no for each candidate and they needed 80%. Now they cut it down to 7 and you have five votes per voter, but need 80% to get it. Mathematically it’s possible that no one could reach the 80% if they are spread out among the 7 evenly.

They changed the voting rules this year. Voters vote for five modern candidates but you have to get 80%. I’m guessing the receivers are splitting the votes. Not sure what happened with Luke. He’ll get in eventually, but there’s a lot jam at WR.

This is like being mad about who your parents are.

This is the way. As long as our team is willing to offer him close-but-not-quite top end money, I’m fine with that. BB doesn’t have a ton of options beyond holding out. But that’s not a great option either (missing out on almost $1mil per game and not accruing a season). He might miss this week, but I could see this getting sorted out pretty quickly too. Need Bosa to sign.

I hear you on this. And this is the key point. But if you watch a video on what it is people think have made Belicheck great at building defenses, it is taking tweeners that can be a multi-tool player. And then completely overhaul the game plan every week. Specifically based on their opponents’ weaknesses. Think about how different that is to a coach like Rivera or Fox that have their game plan and make sure the players can fit the plan. Tweener players offen are a lot less expensive. Granted you will always need a lockdown corner, nothing hybrid about that. But these DE/LB hybrids and LB/S hybrids if used properly can really be dynamic. Hopefully we have the right coaches to game plan!

Admittedly I’m a UNC fan, and last night watching the game heard a lot of talk about the Star hybrid LB position. It sounds a lot like Chinn, as a hybrid safety, LB, nickel corner. So I dug into some old articles and it sounds like a staple of the Saban, Kirby Smart defenses, founded in principles from Bilicheck. Some snipets from an old article about UGA: Instead of playing a true nickel defense, however, and replacing that linebacker with a fifth defensive back, who might be a weak link against the run, the STAR position is utilized. The STAR should have the quickness to cover the slot, sound tackling ability and can rush the passer when needed. This is part of the reason the STAR position is important for the Bulldogs; it isn’t one that players can simply be taught how to play. Because of the demanding nature of the position, whoever plays STAR has to possess a unique set of natural qualities that aren’t too common. Players who have the speed of a safety, the tackling ability of a linebacker and can cover like a nickel back are coveted prospects on the recruiting trail. A program like Alabama can sell elite prospects on the success other well-known players had at that position. That is an advantage that Smart is hoping to gain at Georgia. Article from 2017: https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/georgia-football/star-position-important-for-georgia-spring-practice/ And another article with quotes from Saban talking about Bilicheck’s system, specifically the star: https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2012/08/alabama_defense_101_nickel_sta.html

They also have the Broncos tied with the Chiefs.

I think it is more along the lines of we could have not traded up and still gotten either Corral or Howell in the 4th.

From a cap perspective, agree on Thomas, but not Corbett. Corbett would have a $11.6 mil dead cap figure if we cut him after this season. We backloaded his contract plus added void years. He’s likely with us for this season and next.

His cap hit was only $3mil last year. Will be $5mil this year. $10mil next year (oof). And then he will no longer be under contact and count almost $8mil against the ‘25 cap. It was basically a 3 year $26mil contract, but backloaded and spread out over 4 years. If he has similar production as last year again this year and next, not bad. But if not…

Unfortunately that almost $8mil “dead cap” after next season are void years. He’s only under contract through next season. This was kicking the can maneuvering due to our tough cap situation last year.

The starting defensive backfield has a chance to be really good. Bell, Woods, Chinn, Horn and Jackson. That’s solid. And we know Shaq and Luvu should be pretty good. And Burns/Brown can be elite. So I guess it boils down to the new guys. Can Shuttle and Williams step in and step up.

I don’t disagree with you. But, it’s year one of a rebuild, and we have cap flexibility going into next year. I’m optimistic. Of course, there will be some bumps, but if Bryce is good, we will be good.