MHS831

The salary cap causes GMs to make tough decisions and the RB position is at the bottom of the Supply and Demand list. However, if you are choosing in the fifth round and the player you are picking has a 3% chance of becoming a contributing player, and there is a RB sitting there who can come in for 10 snaps a game and get you 40 yards--you take the RB. You might argue, "We have nothing at Center!!!" but a fifth round center is not solving that problem. And you have to consider your needs on special teams. So there are a lot of variables that go into the decision.

Chuba deserved it, imo. Heck of a blocker--something that probably gets ignored.

They do because he gets no credit when the QB does not throw his direction because he is feared. I like both our CBs and hope we keep Jackson.

You consider all variables to identify the central problem--and if the coach is the central problem, you have no choice. Not to say that he is the ONLY problem. but if he is PART of the problem, you let him go. What a difference a year makes--last year we were worried that he might get a head coaching gig.

that was my first thought. I also think there are times when the coach uses the media to speak to the team or the ownership or the coaches and not the public. You have to ask, "Was the coach asked a direct question and did not want to answer it in a manner that would cause controversy? Was the statement voluntary, and if so, why would he make a comment that is otherwise something that is assumed? Context matters.\

Folks should remember that Rhule's wife picked Chuba in the fourth round---two rounds before Rhule picked the long snapper.

definitely a way of approaching it--If you think "I can get a second round value with a fourth round pick" it is hard to beat that argument--and that is the case.

His PFF score (and OL is pretty easy to grade) is over 70 and going up. He will get more expensive if you wait. How many remember the time between Gross and Ekwonu's 2024? I do. Leave the friggin OL alone--sign Ickey. I am even happy with the progress Mays made. Here is something you need to learn about LT if you do not already know: The difference between LT and RT is shrinking based on more shotgun and 11 personnel. Some of the best pass rusher in the NFL are playing edge on the defensive left side--over the Right Tackle. JJ Watt, Maxx Crosby, and Nick Bosa, for example, are most effective attacking the QB's right side. They like the ability to see and swipe the ball while engaged in a block, something not done on the blind side. Ekwonu PFF scores (if you want to bash PFF, find a better measure and present it): overall--70.6; pass protection 64.7; run blocking 80.8 (this does suggest he'd be a stud guard, but he is a tackle and a good one, fwiw) Moton PFF scores: Overall 75.0; pass protection 78.6; run blocking 64.0. Not a lot of difference-- Ekwonu is a considerably better Run blocker (+16.8) Moton is the better pass blocker (+13.9). Pay the man.

If the draft is this loaded, there will be an UDFA available--we have so many needs--a rental could be an UDFA or a 1-year contract signing. But I see a lot of talent and value at RB this year. Lotta ways to approach the problem--not one answer, and if anyone comes across as there is, he is full of shite.

I like to reply before reading other posts, so excuse me if this is repetitive. He is young and his stock is going up. He has a 70+ Pff rating, and I would agree with that. His technique has improved. All OTs get beat once in a while, but he was being targeted more by DCs last year--that tells me something about him. I lock him down for a fifth year. What does not make sense? Draft him, develop him, and if he is not performing at an elite level, let him walk. We are not a farm team. He is coachable and has responded to coaching. Coach him up. Most OL peak around 30. No brainer.

Not an easy call, either way. Good post.

Dave was loyal to Bryce-when everyone wanted him gone. I expected him to be loyal to Evero--and I expect Tepper to learn from it. Frankly, it would be wrong to fire him after only drafting a LB and some day 3 players, losing Burns, Shaq, Brown, Gross Matos, D. Jackson, Chinn, Luvu-- Yikes. No--the old way would be to fire Evero. The Canales way will be to thank him for doing the job he did.

Looking like (but who knows) Rodgers is going to move on, based on a few internet rumors. One of which (take with grain of salt) is a trade with Dallas.

I think we have dropped him more than scouts have based on his injury history---Ewers had a Manning looking over his shoulder and he kept his job and made Texas a possible national champion--not sure he can do more than that. Raiders, Giants, Browns (I would wager), Titans, Jets (probably--Rodgers is a turd), and maybe even the Saints (expected to be over cap by $60m--cutting Carr saves them $40m, or so). I imagine there will be trades if teams like New England and Jax are in the top 5. Gotta think about the veterans who are going to be shopped--Rodgers, Cousins, etc. but I do not see a strong market for vets who were paid to revive a program and lost. Someone might go after Fields and I can see a team taking a flyer on Lance (doubt it), but there really aren't going to be many names in free agency. And you have to consider salary--what does Fields cost you? $10-12 million? Ewers at pick #10, for example, might cost you $5m- so yeah, I could see a team spending a first rounder on a player like Ewers--(after today's game, Milroe's stock is dropping). I would draft him. I am guessing the Giants, Raiders, and Browns are in best position to grab a QB with the Raiders on the outside looking in. Lot could change after Sunday--

How does Jansen not win that special teams MVP? Anyone who watched our OL play would have voted for them before Bryce--I would vote for the Guards and Moton before Bryce. No worries--fluff.

Milroe had another bad game, but possibly. Ewers is the other possibility--a Bo Nix kinda system.

without looking, does Pittsburgh have a reason to play starters?

I am now because you did--. Just engaged with you to illustrate the point. That is bait between your teeth.

If Matt Corral had not come from that system...

LOL? Does your inability to grasp this concept amuse you? You missed the point--and you only think you looked into it. The point was you feel the need to air it out in public when a PM was appropriate. You are part of the problem. LOL

This is the key point. Josh has an OL.

Great points--and yes, if you suggest anything out of balance, you have to hate the people involved. Most folks are all in or all out; black or white--do not get the concept of gray area and that is where this stuff is found. I still go after a WR or two and a QB. While QB is not great at the top of the draft, the middle rounds should be a great place to pick a QB who can be a solid backup and potential starter in time. So if I say, "We should draft Rourke or Ewers in the third round" I get "he sucks. Not an NFL starter!" Nope. Neither was Jake Delhomme, Kurt Warner, Russell Wilson, Brady, Cousins, etc. I think Milroe in round 2 will be tempting for teams looking to develop a QB because he is a dual threat. Ewers kept a manning on the bench and Texas became relevant under him. Injured a lot, but conditioning and more awareness of injury prevention is critical. Rourke has a lightning quick release and Indiana had their greatest season in decades under him. Howard (Ohio State) may step up in the playoffs. I see Carson Beck as a qb with the tools, but he lost his mojo, it seems. Worth a third rounder and if he never becomes more than a backup, that is good value. Klubnik (Clemson) could be a solid pick in the fourth round or so--he has the potential. I think these qbs are in an excellent position to develop slowly and learn from NFL coaches, while Sanders and Ward will have to sink or swim.

Hilarious. I think Bryce will be a game manager. he is already showing us that he is only as good as his supporting cast. Bryce is likeable, tough, and as you say, "Slippery." Give him weapons and he will be the point guard at best.

I agree--He is still approaching average, and average is what half the teams in the NFL are or strive to be. However, average stats on a bad team are better than average stats on a good team. Most of this year, Bryce has had a strong running game--he lost TMJ, Mingo, Johnson, and for many games, AT (regardless of how good you think these players were, they required time and reps to develop chemistry). While improving his numbers, he lost his starting C and his WRs were basically Coker, XL, and Moore. His TE, another rookie and Tremble, were his weapons. Under those circumstances, other good QBs have failed. Rodgers in NY has better weapons and a better defense. Darnold has weapon and an OL now, and he is doing well, but he failed here. Baker? Ditto. Bryce has an OL--and this is a result of that--before his benching, he was gun shy and traumatized--he got to see the protection etc. he is now in full recovery. Will his improvement continue if we upgrade our D, WR room, and maybe a TE? Yes. How much? That is the question we will be answering in 2025.

I once was attacked and I tried defending myself. It escalated, so I contacted the mods to explain how, in my view, it crossed the line and that it was persisting. The troll was very insulting and trolled me on other threads--giving me poo, insulting me--now, I just want to find a pocket of people with common sense and good football ideas to communicate with, but he kept showing up. After blocking him, he kept commenting about me to the others on the thread. Privately, I reported it. It does not matter if you agreed with the complaint or not, you handled it like a troll yourself, without examining the details of my concern. You decided to force your opinions about me scold me on a public thread, insisting that I engaged in it--you obviously had not read the threads, but that was not the issue. The issue is that you decided to address the matter in the public threads--not privately as it was presented to moderators. In my view, you were using the moderator position to troll me--nobody reported me to moderators--so you were way out bounds. So, I did as you suggested and this was the result.