Off-season so far ....

[rayzor]

 

Just looking at this full list (that you'll probably have to click to see) if the season started next week would we be better off than last year?

Yes, intentionally asking pre-draft choices and not taking into consideration coaching changes.

Is this team 'as is' better than it was?

Also, where do we still need to improve?

-10 points for the lazy answer of QB

[Jon Snow]

Need a 3rd option.  Unknown. 

[rayzor]

5 minutes ago, Jon Snow said:

Need a 3rd option.  Unknown. 

Nah, I thought of a few other options, but I wanted it to be a case of "forced to choose, would you say it was better or worse"?

I know there are some other things to take into consideration, but just a snapshot of the roster last year and looking strictly at who we lost, kept, and obtained what does your gut say?

[Shotgun]

It would be hard to be worse than the worst team in the NFL like we were last year. So I will go with better. lol 

[JawnyBlaze]

It sure seems we are better, especially considering the OL upgrades and the addition of Johnson at WR.  Clowney is at worst a temporary wash with Burns. Probably actually a minor upgrade but only for the short term. Losing Luvu is a big downgrade but possibly made up for by the upgraded DL (notably Robinson) making it easier for the LBs. The secondary is looking worse on paper but we’ll see how it plays out. Troy Hill was a very nice surprise last year but he’s getting up there in age. 
 

Knowing what we know now, that the last coaching staff was a clusterfug and Reich was terrible/a terrible fit and Canales is a complete unknown, an unknown is better than a known disaster, so yea top to bottom we’re looking much improved this year from both a roster and coaching staff standpoint. 
 

We still need to improve the secondary, that’s the only thing on paper that really needs more work. TE is weak but not a necessity. LBs aren’t world beaters but if they stay healthy they’re sufficient. DL looks really strong and combined with scheming our pass rush should be no worse than last year (which wasn’t good), maybe even better.  Good enough. Our run defense was the problem last year and it should be significantly improved with the Robinson and Clowney additions. 

[csx]

No idea. It's March

[Jon Snow]

I'd say it's a push given my options. There's no way of telling.  Last season they thought they had an all-star staff. That was not true. This year it's "player upgrades". 

But having said that, it appears they have upgraded the oline and dline at a few spots. I love that mindset in team building but the results of player choices has yet to prove itself on the field. I'm also very doubtful of these new coaches. I'm hoping I am completely wrong about this staff but I do not think they will be able to pull this off.

So, I will say they got better at having a good plan but that's all I can give you until the season is over.

Edited March 29 by Jon Snow

[Crixtala]

looking at that list, it's a wash

if i'm an outsider looking in, we lost a bunch of nobodies and gained a bunch of nobodies. any names that are well known that left, were replaced with relatively similar (but older) names. maybe the o-line improved, but at the expense of other areas

[PNW_PantherMan]

9 minutes ago, Shotgun said:

It would be hard to be worse than the worst team in the NFL like we were last year. So I will go with better. lol 

Honestly though, it could easily happen if Bryce doesn't improve.  The defense is definitely worse.  And those offensive additions won't mean a whole lot if we don't have at least average QB play.

I agree with the overall approach of focusing on the offense.  But we could definitely be worse than last year.

[Shotgun]

2 minutes ago, PNW_PantherMan said:

Honestly though, it could easily happen if Bryce doesn't improve.  The defense is definitely worse.  And those offensive additions won't mean a whole lot if we don't have at least average QB play.

I agree with the overall approach of focusing on the offense.  But we could definitely be worse than last year.

I do think it will be very hard for Young now that the NFL has so much tape on him. A sophomore slump is highly probable in my opinion. 

 

[rayzor]

5 minutes ago, PNW_PantherMan said:

The defense is definitely worse.

Not asking to argue, just curious about opinions. How is it worse?

[Navy_football]

On paper... they're easily better. A lot better. 

The only area that could remotely be worse is pass coverage, but an improved pass rush could help there. I'm not looking at the players lost/gained as individuals, but the mission area as a whole.

Run defense is improved drastically.

Pass rush is improved.

Pass protection is improved drastically.

Pass receivers improved drastically. I think David Moore makes a major contribution as he's a vet leader that is familiar with the offense. He's the Jerrico Cotchery from 2015.

Rush blocking is improved drastically.

[PNW_PantherMan]

Just now, rayzor said:

Not asking to argue, just curious about opinions. How is it worse?

I mean just on paper, losing Brian Burns and Frankie Luvu.  Maybe Jadaveon Clowney and Josie Jewell have monster seasons and they're even better.  But on paper I'd say we downgraded talent there.  I think they knew the defense would have to take a hit so the offense could be improved.

[PNW_PantherMan]

I'll vote better in the poll, because pressed between either option I don't think we're worse off.  Even if we're worse next year because of you know who, we'll hopefully be in a better spot for 2025 with what was done in this offseason.