Still in the mix, but what needs to happen next year

[Matthias]

This is my take for the season so far, and what needs to happen going into next year.  Technically we are still in the mix for our division.  This current stretch we are about to go into, looks to be the toughest schedule out of every team in the league.  We could very well lose pretty much all of them, I wouldn't be surprised based off how we looked these past couple of games.  Hopefully we got the kind of guys in the locker room that won't stand for this mess, I know TD is one of them.  All that said, some massive changes need to go on in the offseason, and that is an understatement.  Next year will be the first year our cap should be stable enough for Gettleman to truly work his stuff.  

 

 

First thing we need to do is find an offensive coordinator who's expertise is in the passing game.  We are on the verge of giving Cam probably the biggest contract yet for a QB.  No way should we pay this man a 6th of our total cap space, and have our offense be run oriented.  Forget that stuff.  I think historically speaking when a team's head coach is a defensive minded guy, the offense usually sports a heavy running style.  This could be due to the theory you can win the time of possession stat, keeping your defense fresh on the sidelines.  Again, forget all that.  Our next OC should be a master of the passing offense, and let Cam earn that 100 million dollar contract.  JJ Watt was paid 100 million, and he's playing like he should have been paid 200 million.  I want to see Cam earn it like Watt.  By the way, Cam's passing has improved, but he threw a pass yesterday, that pretty much left a scorch mark on the shoulder of one of the Ravens' defensive backs.  I mean that has to be the most accurate, thread the needle type of pass I have ever seen!  Talk about a guy who has the potential to be the best QB to ever play the game. (And I still love his "Statue of Liberty-esqe" throwing stance.  You can see it in one of Zod's photos he captured in the "Along the Sidelines" thread)

 

 

Next up is a list of guys who should not be on this roster by the time camp rolls around again......

 

 

Byron Bell aka Byron "Drum"

Josh Norman

Roman Harper

 

 

Here's a list of guys that we should let go or consider letting go due to various reasons......

 

 

DeAngelo Williams (Cap casualty/going to a passing oriented offense)

Charles Johnson (Cap casualty)

Greg Hardy (May cost too much money/trouble hoovers around him)

 

 

That's about all I have for now concerning the changes.  I would add Stew to that list of guys we should consider letting go, but letting him go may still be costly concerning his contract against our cap.  Plus he's still young and still has burst in him when healthy.  He would be our starter going into next season and it would help him if he's not our feature in the offense. (He came from a pass oriented squad in college I believe)  Now with the money we're going to have with our cap, especially if we decide not to bring back Hardy, we should focus on building up our O-line to protect Cam.  Sign the best OT in free agency, and draft the best OT available in the draft.

[chknwing]

in other news, carowinds has begun vertical construction of the world record breaking coaster "Fury"

 

[Pejorative Miscreant]

I disagree about Bell not being on the team.  I think he would be a good rotational guy to bring in as a sub while your starter gets his wind.  End of the day, Bell is an overachieving UDFA but unfortunately does not possess the talent to start in the NFL.

[Matthias]

The truth about Bell and the entire offense for that matter, is Rivera don't have a clue on how to run a good offense.  We released Otah back in 2010 in training camp, and Bell was simply the next man up.  Going into the following year, Rivera should have either signed or drafted someone to ultimately replace Jeff Otah.  Nope, he lazily just kept Bell at RT.  Then came this year where Jordan Gross calls it a career.  Instead of going after a quality tackle in Jared Veldheer or even going after Donald Penn, they decide to plug in Bell at LT.  Pretty much all of us saw that as our worse case scenario.  All that bull about Bell being better on the left side because he was left handed has finally been silenced.

 

Next season Rivera better make it his priority not only to sign a good RT to finally replace Jeff Otah, but also find a LT to replace Jordan Gross.  Stop being lazy when it comes to the offense.

[Pejorative Miscreant]

The truth about Bell and the entire offense for that matter, is Rivera don't have a clue on how to run a good offense.  We released Otah back in 2010 in training camp, and Bell was simply the next man up.  Going into the following year, Rivera should have either signed or drafted someone to ultimately replace Jeff Otah.  Nope, he lazily just kept Bell at RT.  Then came this year where Jordan Gross calls it a career.  Instead of going after a quality tackle in Jared Veldheer or even going after Donald Penn, they decide to plug in Bell at LT.  Pretty much all of us saw that as our worse case scenario.  All that bull about Bell being better on the left side because he was left handed has finally been silenced.

 

Next season Rivera better make it his priority not only to sign a good RT to finally replace Jeff Otah, but also find a LT to replace Jordan Gross.  Stop being lazy when it comes to the offense.

 

I think the GM is probably the guy that signs the players.  I am sure Rivera has some influence but G man builds the team.

[Matthias]

I think the GM is probably the guy that signs the players.  I am sure Rivera has some influence but G man builds the team.

 

Of course Bell was starting before Gettleman arrived.  I think if we had let Hardy go, we would have had the money to bring in Veldheer.  Next year we should have money to play with, and there's no excuse in the world that Bell should have a starting spot.  I would rather we just release Bell to make sure that is no longer an option at all.

[JawnyBlaze]

I don't see us letting CJ and Hardy both go.  I still see us keeping Hardy and letting CJ go, especially if CJ finishes the rest of the season on the track he's on now.  If Hardy is found innocent in a real trial, I can see us giving him big (but not astronomical) money to stay, part of which is paid with CJ's money.  I know we'll still owe CJ some, but I recall reading somewhere that cutting CJ after this season nets us a gain in cap space...could be wrong about that one though.  After clearing up some money, we lock up Cam and Hardy this coming off season and then let Deangelo (and maybe Stewart) go after next season to make room for Luke's contract.