Khyber53

We need to quit letting Rhule trade away future picks that will be needed after his tenure here is up. He needs to work with the resources he has on the table right now. If he's hamstrung himself, that was his own doing. He shouldn't be allowed to foist it off on the next coach. I know, there's optimism because of some of the free agency movement we've had. There was last year at this time, too. The guy is just not a pro coach yet and I don't think he's managed to become one over this off season. Plus moving from one QB to another to another, all with descending on field experience hasn't been working so far, why would it work for him now?

That's what I've been trying to say...

And there's the rub... even getting hit with that dead cap money still on the table... they let him go. I'm not saying there's a hidden injury or just the slow downs that come with age, but New Orleans has been masterful at gaming the cap system for years. There may be a reason they didn't do some of their cap voodoo in this case. Or he could be physically fine, just financially expensive. Me, I just think the money could be better spent elsewhere.

Released or not, he's either too rich for their blood right now or there's a knock on him that we don't know about. Both are possibilities, both are things we don't need during a rebuild.

I don't really trust him at all on these things.

In a OT rich environment like this year's draft, I think I'd want to use the draft pick over an expensive LT that is being released by a team that needs a LT... Just saying.

I'm not sure we're drafting a QB in the first. We're picking up some decent playing pieces here and Rhule is on the hot seat for performance, not potential. There are some interesting, but not great, QBs still out there in FA. I think we'll snag one of them before the draft and then look for a stud OT or DE in the first. I'd been big on Linderbaum in the first, but it doesn't seem he's needed here anymore. This has been playing out quite interestingly and the loss in the Watson sweepstakes will play in our favor handily.

Yes. One of the most important things for offensive lines is finding the lineup and then sticking with it. Consistency plays a huge part in gelling the group.

Dur hur

When it comes to O-line, we've got to quit being the suckers that always buy the old beater that was only driven on Sundays by a little old lady. Maybe this is one of those better to pass ons. We've got a couple of good vet pick ups to help solidify the line. Let's build with some youth there.

There's a lot on paper to think optimistically about. But there's still these factors: 1) I'm not believing in our defense yet. We're looking at a lot of subtraction by subtraction at the moment. Perhaps some stout defenders are on their way in, but I'm looking at a defense that is right now weaker than it was last season. And last season, we got run over by everyone just about after week 4. 2) I don't believe in Robby Anderson as a WR2, I think he's chicken-hearted and a diva on top of that. Bad team mate and bench poison. Hopefully Terrace Marshall can move into the WR2 or we find a trade partner for him. 3) QB. We don't have one yet, but we doubled down on who we had last year. I'd bet that Cam is still on speed dial and that's not a good thing. We will probably draft QB in the first round now, but I'm not sure of the strength of this class (although no class is ever completely a bust in QBs, someone always seems to stick) and I'm not sure Rhule is going to develop a pro-level QB. 4) The team was soft last year, cream puffs in light blue and black. There was a decided lack of grit outside of three or four players, one of which has moved on to Philadelphia. Soft teams develop from soft culture. They don't survive in the NFL, they last about, hmmm, four weeks. I don't believe in Rhule's culture, but maybe it will firm up this year. We've gotten some good players and had the good fortune to NOT get our unicorn. That's reassuring, but man, the stink of the last couple of years is going to be hard to wash off of the team.

Like I've said many times before, I want to be proven wrong about my opinion of Rhule/Fitterer. This has me intrigued. Time will show. Things looked effin' fabulous here last season until week 4.

This gives me hope that someone knows what they are doing. I'm a forgiving man, just give me something to believe in this year.

One of the modern greats, sad to hear of his passing. Hopefully he'll be taken into the Hall of Fame someday for broadcasting.

All of a sudden, my optimism has returned... Solid moves, dodged a bullet. Maybe.... hmmmmm.

I don't hate Tepper, not at all. I do, however, think that he came in and promised a better version of the product we all love. And... well... it has been a worse version of it since. I don't blame him so much as I blame how business works in this country right now. People who founded and created great products eventually get moved off the stage. They take with them the passion and know how that made their product(s) special. The provider then gets taken over by people who move money around, who only look at the bottom line and the dividend checks. They really don't know anything about the product, the company or the customer base. Tepper is one of those guys, or more succinctly is one of the guys who makes his living off of those guys. He's, in effect, triply removed from the original product. I can't hate someone because they don't understand what they have in their hands. I can be mighty upset when their lack of understanding harms what they hold, though.

Look, I've been banging the drum for our draft pick to be Linderbaum, even at #6 because we desperately need a top flight Center. If we were to pick up Bozeman, I'd be so happy with that. Of course, I want them to check him out using a different doctor than the one that gave passing grades to both Paradis and Elflein. Yeah, this line can be built to compete, but without a best in the game center, you'll never solidify the line. This could be the best money we could ever spend.

We'll be better off in the end. Of those top 3 QBs, one is probably near the end of his career (and he wants a poo ton of control over the team/coaches/management), one is riding out the last couple of years of his career after being stuck in purgatory for more than a decade, and the other one may not ever play a meaningful down again if evidence suddenly turns up or he starts asking for happy endings again. This season is going to be rough for us. The following year we will start really rebuilding. Just breathe and hold on.

Eh, he was here for a couple of cups of coffee. Liked watching him when he was on the field, but honestly he wasn't there enough to get upset if he goes elsewhere. Won't mind seeing him back here on the cheap, but I don't think that's going to happen. Best of luck to ya, man.

I've been on the fire Rhule bus since the moment it pulled into the parking lot, but at this point, ride out the season with him. It's our best shot at a top 5 draft pick next season. We have neither enough draft picks or pull for free agents to patch this sucker back together, so just keep on this course and let's just make a big production of how bad it can get.

God bless and I hope everything goes well for y'all.

This 100%.

Really? You watched the games, right? We are way more than an LT away from being steady. We are a shambles of what we were when Rivera left. And he left a team that would compete, but just couldn't compete. Now, we're just the East Louisian State Tech Mud Dogs.

Build a solid team, then the right QB will come.

All I know is that we aren't getting good players with those picks. I have so little faith in this coaching/managing staff that I don't trust any of their picks.