MHS831

I heard rumblings (probably from some cracked up Huddler) rumors about Gilmore moving to FS--I think he and Pride might be able to transition to S with some degree of success.

The core (youth) is going to be Taylor, Horn, and Henderson and they should be cheap for a while. We need to keep a veteran (Jackson or Gilmore) for a season or two, giving us 4 starting caliber CBs. Remember, we have Hartsfield at Nickel, and he has been solid. This is a good question, and Jackson may want to break the bank with this contract. What about Moore? (5th year) Reddick? potentially Cam? Free agent OL? We are going to lose a veteran CB or two---maybe all of them.

Not really, but I thought I'd play along. I will be pumped to see what he can do, but my expectations are tempered. There are a lot of questions to answer.

We have 3 "must win" games coming up (Washington, Miami, Atlanta) before we get New Orleans, Tampa Bay x 2, and Buffalo. We have to win all three and split "murderer's row" to lock down a playoff birth. It is possible, if we play like we did Sunday.

Rivera was good every other year with Cam in his prime. Without him, he would be the LB coach in Detroit. Nice guy and all that, but we did not pay him millions to shake hands and kiss babies.

Basically, Cam would be the wildcat with the read option and the ability / option to throw, give, or keep. As much as I have always wanted him not to be hit, if he is smart about it, he can do this successfully.

Cam adds a dimension that we have not had since he was here before. I hope that the rust falls off him and he plays lights out. He is motivated, and we nearly lost the season with Darnold. I am really looking forward to watching this one.

He did not say, "We're back." and getting a 15-yard penalty to scream "I'm back!" in a camera was not leadership. Spin it if you want, but Cam was frustrated sitting on the that couch and emotion came pouring out--I get it, but people calling that leadership are off point.

He was not at that time--he was talking about himself--there was no leadership. Do you know what leadership is? It was self promotion. And this thread title is not a parade for pro-Cam enthusiasts--it says "Thoughts?" So I am just as entitled to post sensible, logical comments as you are to post nonsense.

Not me. A leader does not jeopardize his team to promote himself in the endzone. Sorry if we disagree on that.

Hindsight--at the time, it could have--you kick from the 20 after going ahead 7-0 vs. the top team in the NFL at their place. Could have been huge.

pup tent prolly

Oh, you thought my comment meant that it happens every time. Damn son.

That is why you don't get hurt in the NFL....Somebody is waiting to take your job.

If so, we picked a great year to have a draft with only a first rounder (so to speak). We could then target a LT or MLB.

I think the pass was a "Statement" more than the smart play to make at that time of the game. He was showcasing his arm--he'd heard the criticism. Let's talk OL--if BC can develop (by the end of the season) into a serviceable LT, and if Elflien continues to look good at C, and if we can re-sign Jordan (assuming his improved play continues) and if Scott with Brown behind him can secure the RG duties, then we could be set at OL. Often we draft players and demand immediate results or we call them busts, but BC just might do something at LT. Lets see how we do vs. the remaining schedule. This would require some planetary alignment, but it could happen.

OFFENSIVE LINE Michael Jordan might be getting a contract if he continues his LG play. If we can get Elf at C (he is on the hook through 2023) and sign Jordan to a deal, RG (Scott has been solid) and RT (Moton) are set. We need a LT, and BC's development could determine that---I do not see him winning the job, but some lower body strength and technique and those short arms may be good enough. Still, instead of needing a C, LT, LG, and RG--we could have found a combination that works--if we get some LT play. DEFENSIVE TACKLE Jones has been solid at DT, but we have Brown, Roy, Hoskins, and Nixon there--if you do not count Fox who plays inside (5 and 3 tech) a good bit. Depends on how the young guns are developing, but I would offer Jones a team-friendly deal and nothing more. CORNERBACK Jackson will want top dollar, but there is one factor here many are missing--Taylor has been playing lights out for a rookie. Throw in Horn, Henderson (I am high on him) and Nickel Hartsfield, that is pretty solid. I would love to sign one of the two departing vets, but the money could be spent elsewhere. QUARTERBACK Darnold just became the backup in 2022. Cam is now entering a 7-game audition for the job. If we like Cam Newton, he could (think Cap Room here) get a 3-year contract in which the final 2 years have more guaranteed money than 2022. Let's hope that works out. Even so, we need to draft a QB to develop at some point (2022 or 2023). If Cam plays well, the 2022 draft is not as important as we originally thought. If he does not, our record will have us picking in the 10-15 range and probably forcing us to take a QB. FREE AGENCY So we need to re-sign Reddick. No brainer the top priority of the offseason you don't mention Cam Newton yet. We need a MLB. Yes, signing Jones and Jackson would be nice, but we have depth at their positions. Carter is not the answer, and our D would be better with a legit MLB. It is my hope that free agency is used to re-sign Reddick, Cam Newton, and go get a MLB.

It was a business decision. Cam had not shown much in 2 years and was battling recurring injuries--that is what happens when you have been used like he was for many seasons. Keeping Cam would have necessitated a contract in the $30m per year range for at least 4 seasons. It was never personal or about how much they liked Cam the player or person. Business decisions that project the future rely on data and past performance. 2017 was his last good season and he did not seem fully recovered. I want to see 7 solid games from him and a 2-3 year contract to follow. Then we can go after a LT.

which is about the time Scott was moved to RG.

Taylor has been playing lights out. Throw in Horn and Henderson (I do not think he is a bust), you keep Reddick and don't look back. (Hartsfield has been solid as well)

This group of Huddlers was gloom and doom for the past month and probably rightly so--how did a good game by the OL and 9 plays from Cam change that? Now we are talking playoffs--what a roller coaster of emotion most Huddlers willingly board. It is like watching a crying baby suddenly start laughing because someone makes a funny face.

Here is what I think, and it is not "drunk friend at party telling you how special you are" stuff (as most of these posts are right now). Cam made an impact. He is 32. What he did was not a demonstration of a starting QB--it was Taysom Hillish. I need to see more. I was excited, but the emotion he brought is not sustainable. It needs to convert to solid play. I want to think it will, but I have not seen enough. Nor have you. PJ Walker was much better than Darnold. Good news. However, he is not the answer and we all know it. There is nothing (right now) that tells me more than Cam was to save this season, and nothing more. If he plays well, sure, he could be given a 2-year deal, but you don't see many 34-year old Running QBs, so his value will not be $30m+. He will want that, in my opinion. We need to remain focused on finding the long term QB of the future--soon if not now.

we better hope Elf is better at C because Paradis will never play another snap here and Elf has 2 years left on his contract after this season. What a nice thought that we do not have to find a C in free agency or the draft (a starter would take the first rounder, imo). And if Cam is decent to good, we can finally use the #1 pick on a LT.

Cam was in on about 8 plays. CMC was awesome--we just expect it. Elflein should get some consideration. Not kidding.

The oline was decent today. PJ got rid of the ball. Sam was unsure of his reads and made the last 3 or 4 weeks hard to watch.