Bear Hands

I snooped around what I could find on some of these guys finally and gotta say, McDonald gives me the best feeling about being a HC. I know we need to build an offense but he just seems like a guy who's got long term, successful coach written all over him. What he did with that defense this year was all-time modern era special (getting the defensive triple crown). Madubuike was absolutely dominant this year. He was a guy I really liked in his draft but had a slow burn. Showed flashes last year and became a top DL in 2023. Also, check out any interview of him, the guy just has a solid way about him. Doesn't seem a BSer, straight to the point, but has a very positive, energetic presence. I see why John Harbaugh likes him, similar in a few ways. https://www.the33rdteam.com/ravens-dc-mike-macdonald-is-nfls-best-2024-head-coaching-candidate/

Not really odd. They mentioned how he’s a candidate that’s not getting much media attention but is getting looked at by multiple orgs.

Interesting point by The Athletic FS this week— It’s clear we want a culture builder and someone who comes in and establish an identity. That is superseding the offensive guru type. We’re likely wanting best of both worlds, but don’t be surprised if we end up zeroing in on Macdonald or Weaver in BAL.

With this organization, I tend to waiver on the side of gross under-estimation.

He also played on a sprained ankle for a few weeks (missed a game too)

We can also roll over $6-7 mil from this season. Only 4.8 mil in dead cap (this is huge that we're finally out of dead cap hell) Est. space will be around 40 mil, some of these moves should get us north of $50 mil easily. -- Whoever the new crew is, they'll have plenty of room to work with on building what they want. We had that luxury in 2011 for Rivera's first season, but Hurney was still in the building. We are primed for a complete build from the ground up for the first time in forever.

Titans are a strange outfit. They seem to have identified good coaches and players but cycle through them like it ain't no thing but a chicken wing Did they really expect Vrabel to do better with an aging Tannehill, Henry this year? Odd call.

Fans have buyers remorse because he looked bad and this was one of the worst seasons by a team in the 21st century. That I get. Fact is, the next coach & GM has Bryce on the roster. He's here for 2024. Combined with this past season's film, the new staff will have an entire offseason, preseason, and probably 8-10 games before they know what they have with Bryce. That's what we're working with here. We'll find out a lot of things this next season and where the future lies. It's absolutely unrealistic to expect us to trade for Fields. It's also unrealistic to expect a QB at 33 or even maybe 65. Have we not learned about forcing QBs without building a team? We're not immediately getting rid or somehow trading Bryce, and we're not drafting a QB high. It's just not happening. HOWEVER, don't forget the new GM will be coming from another team's scouting dept., with their own perspective on Bryce through another lens. Therefore, it's also unrealistic to expect us to force a new regime to trot out Bryce without getting a sound QB room that suits their standards around him. He regressed throughout the season sans 1 half game performance against GB. It should not deter them from bringing Dalton back or signing a new vet. It should also not deter them from taking a mid-round chance on a Cameron Ward type as backup who could get thrust into games. A scenario like that is what we're dealing with if any.

The way I see it, Slowik, Johnson, Canales & MacDonald are the exciting young names out there. I don't see LA signing a young gun, Harbaugh got his title so can go back to the NFL, and Belicheck could get traded (where I think NE has Mayo in the wings). The way I see it, there's 2 of the 4 openings left for the younger guys. So ideally, if this search firm is good and the young guys seem viable, we should have one of them on the plate as HC.

Yep. There's 3 guys representing any semblance of a "core" on contract next season: Derrick Brown, Vonn Bell, & Taylor Moton But we may be in a good position to send Moton to a better place. By the time this can be built, he'll be on his 3rd contract, so might as well position ourselves in a better spot with youth and send him to a contender. Luvu is the only guy worth re-signing. Maybe Franklin as ST captain. We're likely stuck with Tuttle, Bozeman, & maybe Woods another year. Mingo and Icky will be here unless the new HC really isn't liking them. Bryce will of course be here... That's really it. This is as bare bones as you'll see an NFL roster.

Yep. It totally did need to happen. Will be very interesting to see how this offseason shakes out. The roster is primed for the full tear down/rebuild we should have done at the get-go with Tepper. Just 5 years late with a potential QB already in the mix.

haha truth. I would typically be all excited to dive into prospective candidates. Now, I'm just like - no old over the hill dudes or guys that will be a fish out of water. Any of these promising DCs, OCs, sure, whatever. Johnson, Canales, Slowick, MacDonald, let's see what's next in this carnival of madness. GM wise, we'll see who the search narrows it down to.

Solid points and it’s why I’m a bit less invested this time around in the GM search. Sure we can string together a work history, assume who’s on their Rolodex, find some articles and watch interviews but there’s so many layers to it..difficult to form a well-informed opinion as a fan/outside looking in.

Don't overlook Canales.

That actually may be the right fit for Jim. I’ve just heard through their local media about tempering expectations for Ben Johnson and the young guys. They just tried that and failed so they’re leaning to the less risky hire that will give some assurance for helping Herbert.

100% Definitely wish we gave the kid a better situation. Not being able to parse out what is more him vs environment vs combination of all is now on the next staff to figure out.

Also a tough thing for Bryce. The guy who originally pounded the table for him and was his biggest advocate is now gone. An even bigger hurdle to climb appears as not many QBs handpicked by a former, fired regime tend to work out for the next one.

Pinned

Word is LA wants an experienced HC. Could see Dan Quinn in the mix there.

Stop you two or you’re gonna get some time off

Breeg and Reece’spieces — stop it

This stalemate, Burns’ average performance and the team playing so poorly has definitely put us in a pickle. We’ll have to overpay to keep him but we lost value if we tag and trade (which may be hard to do in itself). I could legit see him just go elsewhere.

Yeah, the list keeps going haha.

Just looking around the league, let's consider the true top tier pass rushers and DL. Is Burns really comparable to any of these guys? I just don't see it. TJ Watt Myles Garrett Trey Hendrickson Maxx Crosby Khalil Mack Nick Bosa Josh Allen Micah Parsons Aiden Hutchinson Danielle Hunter Bradley Chubb Justin Madubuike Hassan Reddick

Yep. I'm not in the crowd wanting a QB at 33, or even 64, but given what we saw this year with a bad product on the offense (coaching, OL, WR, & QB), he'll need to show some apparent improvement under a new regime that can prove the negatives we saw this season are due to things out of his control. I'm talking pocket awareness, throws on out routes, pre-snap calls, accuracy, footwork, ball-control when tackled. If not, it's just not going to work out (at least for him in the QC) You usually know by that 1.5 year mark. But failing an eye test at this degree should sound alarms.