MHS831

As a former coach on a much smaller level, I can say that I have seen growth and the light come on when the players finally "buy in" to what you are doing. I imagine these young guys looked to Campen and others for answers and they were not served.

I think we are often quick to start moving people in and out when the problem is scheme and coaching. Our OL will heal, be better prepared, and the system will favor their skill sets.

I agree--but Tepper wants a soccer field. That being said (jokingly) we need 2 solid reserves who can play all 5 positions well. I honestly think Mays showed a lot of improvement, but since he was not being coached well (opinion), I think he can develop. I did not see much hope for the others (Jensen, Zavala). They were terrible.

I try to never make blanket statements when there are so many variables to consider. I admire the position that builds confidence in your players and optimism for the expected results, but the approach is based on the situation, not some code or creed. Even the best generals knew when to charge and when to retreat. While I admire the guts, I do not admire the leadership in this case. I still give Campbell a ton of credit for his success.

Personally, i think this offensive line will not be as bad this year, even if they do nothing. However, there are some really interesting questions/points of discussion. The purpose here is not to force my opinion, but to start a dialogue. Assume that Bryce will be the QB (because this is the real world and it is unlikely that we move on from Bryce this early. We hired a QB savant for a reason.) Yet we have a situation. Moton is solid but not spectacular, and he is slated to earn $29.75m in 2024 and again in 2025. He is 30. Something, in my opinion, needs to be done about this. stay tuned. Ekwonu has not been very good at LT for two seasons. His coach is a foul-mouthed, football-kissing (with tongue, I heard), Tepper snitch whose players demonstrated little in the areas of growth, proper technique, preparation, and self-discipline (Penalties). Is it fair to kick Icky inside now, or should we hire a coach who works on his technique? He has the tools. His lack of preparation led to false starts, holding penalties, and sacks. He has upside, so do you kick him inside? Christensen is a stud athlete, but those skills are not really utilized here. Just a reminder from his pre-draft workouts: His 10-foot-4-inch broad jump was eye-popping, and a sign of the kind of explosive ability. a 34-inch vertical leap a 4.89 second 40-yard dash. To put those numbers into context, his 40 time would have been the second-fastest among offensive linemen at the 2020 Scouting Combine (behind only Buccaneers first-round pick Tristan Wirfs' 4.85). The broad jump mark would have been best among blockers; the vertical jump, third. Christensen also had 30 repetitions of the 225-pound bench press (which would have been fifth-most at last year's Combine), and his times in the short-shuttle and three-cone drill would have been second best among offensive linemen. Personally, I do not see him as a guard, and his numbers support this. But how do you have this kind of athlete and get nothing from him? That is what coaches do. I realize that BC was injured this season, but he was kicked around and not provided a position as a rookie and he had Campen as his coach last year. What a waste. Here are my thoughts, and this is to suggest there will be some form of change. This takes into account Moton's crippling cap figure, Ickey's rawness, and BC's misuse--all opinions that can be debated, but I think we might agree that this is common ground. Some options that come to mind: 1. Switch BC and Ickey. If you do that, you do the same thing to Ickey that you did to BC. However, Ickey might be a stud G--I just wish he had been developed. Most experts agree that Ekwonu has the size, strength, and skill set to be a strong LT for another decade. BC's upside at LT is probably average. Ickey's upside at G is probably elite. 2. Draft a LG and make BC a reserve swing OT. 3. Cut Moton (post June 1 saves around half the $$) and move BC to RT. Draft a T with pick 33 or 65 4. Waive Moton (not sure if anyone takes that contract) Draft a T w/ pick 33 or 65 5. Trade Moton (again, not sure about the cap if we do) Draft a T w/ pick 33 or 65 6. Restructure Moton, paying him until he is 35--not too old for an OL. 7. Leave it the way it is. BC was not developed as a LG, maybe he will be now. I think this needs to be decided before free agency and the draft. So if you look at the OL as it stands, you have an investment of nearly $57m for five offensive linemen. That is nearly 1/4 of the entire cap ($240m) for 2024. The OL has potential, but has (my opinion) not been developed since Campen arrived. LT: Ekwonu ($7,500,000 salary cap figure for 2024) LG: Christensen ($1,650,000 salary cap figure for 2024) C; Bozeman ($7,640,000 salary cap figure for 2024) RG: Corbett ($10,100 salary cap figure for 2024) RT: Moton ($29,750,000 salary cap figure for 2024) The depth? I see only Cade Mays as a player with hope to become a dependable backup. These are the kinds of posts I like during the off season. It is long, thereby filtering out the crowd who want to bitch and moan without data or prethought. What say you, realistically? Remember, we need 2 WRs, a TE, maybe a pass-catching RB, etc. We do not have a first rounder and our cap space is limited if you think about Burns, Brown, etc.

About Campbell--he took a team that has never sniffed the super bowl in 57 years and had them on the doorstep. Wilkes gave up 24 points in the first half at home to an underdog. Campbell beat himself--live by the sword, die by the sword. Wilkes was not holding the sword. Dropped passes, a key fumble, not kicking 2 FGs--Detroil beat themselves. Full stop.

change the turf to grass and keep him. He has not earned a fat, healthy second contract, so it is reasonable to expect to keep him for a fair price for the next 5 years or so. I am very suspect of this playing surface (look at the injuries--4 guards (BC, McRay, Zavala, Corbett), Shaq, Horn, Anderson (remember him? I don't), Ricci, Hurst, Wooten, Shenault--not sure how many were directly related to the turf, but it contributed to the IR issues. Our defense played well with our starting Captain LB and #1 draft pick Horn out for most of the season. Our offense was missing (for a large part of the season) 2 starting guards and our former first round selection TE. Lotta problems we had were based on the subpar performance in those 3 areas.

Some of you have such piss poor attitudes about everything--I can't imagine what it is like to be around you.

We had artificial surface and CMC was often injured. He will be 28 next season-RBs, historically, peak at 27. So he was not going to make a difference here as long as Tepper and his clown show are calling shots. SF got a great deal, we got some picks that were like giving $ to a teenager at the fair--gone in 30 minutes.

Damn Tepper? What the hell is wrong with you? Are you TRYING to suck?

Different eras, but Mingo is where Moose was after 22 games. I would not expect a Rookie to show #1 WR skills (rarely does that happen--maybe Chase in Cincy?) but I think he has #2 WR potential. With Thielen in the slot, we need a #1. At this time, there is no reason to call him a bust or make him a future star. I will say that if we build the OL, the WRs, QBs, TEs, and RBs "improve."

This is a good draft for WR. I would watch this kid from Western KY--Corley--great YAC guy--in the third or fourth. He would be great as a play action WR or screen--Bryce needs a guy like that. I also would not be too surprised to see us grab another one at 33.

But there is a lot we don't know. Was he coached up? Was he confused? Bryce has never been in the underdog role before. Remember in that first game? He threw 2 picks? I think that should have shown the coaches that he needs time--instead, they start him the entire season. Dumb. I think Bryce is a different animal, and I am trying to prepare for year 2 with a positive attitude. I got very frustrated with him, and I doubt he is the answer--I just want to see what he can do. We may have put him in the worst possible situation--a situation totally foreign to him--and told him to throw to covered receivers and step around the blitzes, etc. I do not know what he was supposed to do, to be honest. Some

The best question to ask is this one: Name an NFL QB who would have thrived here as a rookie? Remember: 1. No real TE help. Tremble led the team in reception yardage with 194. Aside from a 33 year old WR, no real WR help. Marshall? Shenault? Chark? Pathetic production for whatever reason. 3. 40% of the OL (both guards) were injured just about the entire season. Note: Imagine you are a defensive coordinator playing us. What are you going to do, considering 1-3 above? Blitz up "A" gap and run stunts to confuse Guards like Mays, Zavala, Jensen--it was ugly. Meanwhile, Bryce is asked to stand in the pocket and deliver vs. 7-man rushes. 4. The offensive system was not catered to the talent we had on the field. 5. The play calling was horribly predictable. 6. The pace was too slow--prevented a rhythm. 7. Ninth most penalized team in the NFL. This does not defend Bryce, but a smallish player like Bryce is the opposite of Cam Newton. He needs weapons and he needs protection. He needs OL who do not make mental mistakes to put him in long situations.

This is the "pulse of the fans" in anger management classes and prison. Interesting take, however. and I hope you are wrong.

Needs to coach the buffet line at Shady Acres .

Like when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

I try to avoid making blanket statements--but I get your position and share it if I understand what you are saying, but it depends on the players. Theilen's productivity matched the rest of the WR room. He is not an "either / or" replacement for a TE, in my view. Tremble stepped up, Hurst sucked and was injured, and Ian Thomas must have photos of Tepper with a male prostitute.

Christensen to LT because I do not think we can draft one that is going to be good enough to start. BC is a very good athlete and he should be ready for LT duties. He is not a guard.

It is not a strategy, Baker. It is foreplay.

This move will be the most significant upgrade to our OL. Campen was great in his day, but he was ineffective. Mark my words. Did you mark them?

Isn't that Old Dog?

He knows that he is getting butchered in social media--the drink toss was actually a good thing for us. Maybe he reflected and realized that he is the laughing stock of the NFL.

Remember, as the worst team in the NFL, we get first dibs on the waiver wire. Not that I would want Wilson at this point, but there are some good players waived every year.

I like the trade Thielen idea. He had a good season, but he will be done by the time we are competitive. Not sure you could get much for him at his age...I think Mingo has room to develop and I saw flashes in Smith-Marsette who is a special teamer and could step up as a WR in some sets. Tua was a bust in Miami and suddenly, he got 2 burners. I see that being in the cards.