Martin

It will be very interesting to follow the senior bowl practices this year. I wish some more OTs were there as well, but all QBs are in attendance.

All top QBs this year are going to the Senior Bowl, so that should give us a lot of additional insights. I still think Strong will sky rocket post senior bowl. I prefer O-line, but could see taking Strong.

I wouldn’t take that. The loss in quality in the player you get moving from 6 to 13 is too big (just my opinion), and a mid second rounder is not enough to make up for it. I love the idea of having another first/early second, but I don’t know if we can get it.

Agree. I would not trade down and miss out on a stud LT to just get two good players. At one point we need to get that LT. Also trading down just because we have to recoup our picks from our earlier bad decision is terrible. That bad decision should not impact any future decisions. If we get a crazy offer, e.g. two highish first rounders and a high second rounder, maybe. But take that stud LT and build from there.

Agreed. He’s been great since joining the Athletic. He’s not a breaking news guy which for some reason bothers people. But he’s a very good writer, and that’s what I prefer.

It is ok to make mistakes as long as you learn from them. If he keeps Rhule he hasn’t learned a thing so I would no longer trust him with any football and coaching decisions.

So everyone has been talking about the new early interview timing for coaches. It is still early, but have we heard of any team taking advantage of it? I wonder if it is not that big of a deal and teams like the Bears (and pray it is true for Panthers as well) prefer to play out the season and just wait the extra two weeks and then start with interviews. Even the teams firing coaches (Jags) haven’t started interviewing yet. I’m clinging on to some desperate hope that Rhule will get let go after our final game.

Would be my top four as well.

I thought he looked pretty ok considering his limited experience (fun you Rhule) and considering Tampa’s front four. He should get two more starts this year.

100% agree, and that is what still gives me hope. Also, if today’s game didn’t do it, I don’t know what will.

Would love to see Ryan Jensen at C and Norwell back at G. We need that attitude on the line. Then draft a LT. They are currently both FAs, but might be resigned before free agency stars.

This years super hyped rookie QB class has been very underwhelming in the games I’ve seen. There are a few wow throws in there, but overall meh.

Totally agree, I just think it is harder for talent to overcome bad coaching than the other way around.

It is all about the coaching. If we would have had great coaching this year we probably would have made the playoffs. We wouldn’t have gone far, but we would have made it. As to O-line, you can mage significant improvements with a combined FA and Draft approach. KC changed out four linemen this year, two FAs and two draft picks, Rams stabilized their line in FA etc. But you need people who can evaluate and coach O-line first.

What a joke

This is what I tell myself ahead of kickoff. Once the game starts I can’t help myself rooting for a win. But I expect it to be over early on and then I’m with you, if we are going to lose, embarrass us to help force the Rhule decision.

I’ll watch hoping to see our young guys play on O-line, but I don’t expect it, so I’ll most likely have it on in the background.

I’m waiting to see who we start on o-line. If we start Miller & Jordan at G I might kick off with an Old Fasioned and take it from there...

good news, now there are three potential stud LTs in the draft Mississippi State offensive lineman Charles Cross has officially announced his decision to declare for the 2022 NFL Draft.

Agree. We can talk players for hours, but if you don’t have the coaching it doesn’t matter. Look at Chargers last night. Missing their starting stud LT, they started som random guy at LT and he did ok. We see this all the time across the league, random backups starting and doing fine. Yes our players are terrible, but I don’t know if that matters with our coaches. I would throw as much money as needed at a great O-Line coach next year. I see that being as crucial as a new HC and OC.

Read that Carson Strong’s knee is looking good. If so he will sky rocket after the senior bowl.

Here is one for some laughter:

Caldwell is a bit boring from a personality standpoint, but he worked miracles with Detroit and before that was the OC for two Super Bowl winners (unless I remember it wrong). These numbers are pretty impressive:

It happens every year, so I wouldn’t be surprised.

I agree with everything you said. I would also like to see him being used more like Debo Samuel. I don’t think this coaching staff does him any favors whatsoever. He’s also got speed and is very strong with contested catches, but they seem to never send him deep. I’d resign him in a heartbeat.