MHS831

What do they call it, "Black Monday?" the day after the season ends? I think Fittermagic will be fired on Monday. You are right, "Who knows?"

I see your point and wish I could share in your optimism-i have had the same thoughts. Until he takes his hands off the steering wheel, this franchise is headed for the iceberg.

I think Tepper will fire him--he has nobody else left to blame. The narcissist leader will fire all those around him to avoid taking the blame himself. We all got to see that between 2016-2020. It should not be a shock to anyone.

You have to see the underlying narcissism in that "apology." He admits to being wrong about not letting stadium security handle the problem, but I don't care what was said, I saw no threat to Tepper. Fans talk smack--that is not a stadium security issue. Tepper screamed "Fug" out loud and was caught on camera. then fires the head coach. This time he is throwing a drink at fans. The Wolf of Wall Street has become the Toddler of Mint Street, so it seems.

The Corral pick tells the story because we needed a QB and it was a bad QB class. However, they passed on Pickett, an NFL starter. Not great, but if you need a QB, that was the second year we passed on a QB that would become an NFL starter. The year before, we passed on 2 starters in the first round--admittedly, both are struggling, but the player we took (Horn) has had less production. OK, so we see Malik Willis get drafted and immediately hit the phones--all QBs should have been heavily scouted. We trade UP to get Corral, but why? What was the difference between Corral and Howell? I liked Purdy early in the draft research cycle, but I sorta forgot about him, and on a different team, I doubt he is Brock Purdy today. But he was then and is now better than Matt Corral. So why trade up? Howell was drafted 2 round later, and Purdy, 2 rounds after Howell. I guess we should not be that worried about losing the first overall pick this year because our GM would probably draft Slim Pinkerton, holder on kickoffs when the wind is blowing.

Perhaps, but when I see him fail, it is because he drops his head (lunges) forward and any NFL DE/OLB knows that takes away balance and lateral movement abilities. Campen is to blame, but if it is not Campen's fault, it is the fault of Fitterer: FIRST ROUND, 2021: Horn FIRST ROUND, 2022: Ekwonu FIRST ROUND, 2023: Young Mingo (Hard to gauge him yet since the OL and QB play has been abysmal, but I am seeing too many drops--at least early on) Corral (OK, third round, I get it. But there are 2 starting QBs in the NFL who were drafted after we traded up to get him) Free Agency (I am seeing a pattern here. They were products of the system. Fool's gold. Fitterer loaded up when other teams were passing. Fitterer taking players from good offenses and expecting the same results here, at least in terms of salary.) Sanders Hurst Anderson (Might want to Google that one) Chark (flashes, but good WRs step up and make plays--he drops passes) McCray (supposedly solid depth, but what the hell does Campen do all day?--I have seen no growth from the young players and the older players get waived). The Training Staff/Ownership Injuries to our OL, Horn, Thompson, kicker on game days, Hurst, Shenault, Corners, etc etc etc. Let's bring in a soccer turf, Mr Tepper, so you can own 2 teams that suck and fire twice as many head coaches. Do our players stress stretching and rehabbing minor injuries? Hell, we aren't that good when healthy, but if you take away two first round starters on the defense (Horn, Thompson) and then Shenault and your 2 starting guards on offense, you should look at your facilities and overall program to keep athletes healthy. Tepper should have thrown the drink in his own face, then tossed Fitterer at the fan.

Yet Fitterer left the booth dry. Not sure Tepper understands the source of his frustration.

There is no such thing as being accountable BEHIND THE SCENES. Accountability is not hidden from view--he may be licking his wounded ego, but that is another thing. Many think success has to do with superior intelligence, and that is only one variable. I have a doctorate, and people tell me, "You must be smart." I reply, "in one specific area of life, yes. But the process teaches you what it takes to be a real expert in one specific area of life, and that knowledge makes me realize what an idiot I am in the other areas."

Sometimes an agent or GM may involve other teams to help set the market price--they are being used, in other words. If a GM senses that is the case, why would he get involved? Not defending Fitterer's non decisions when there are plenty of moves with his fingerprints on them that give me enough reason to want him gone. If he can't say no to Rhule or Tepper, we need a GM who can--if that is the case.

It did seem that the light came on for Bryce--we need to see it for multiple games, but this gave me hope.

He is not there yet, but he has the tools. Year 3 should be the tell. I think they asked too much of him, scheme wise--but there were times he simply got beat. Jury is out. I think he might make a good guard, but I also think we have to give him every opportunity to develop before kicking him inside--how long that is is debatable. It is going to be interesting to see what they do, but with so many (perhaps) bigger needs, I think he gets year 3 at LT by default if nothing else. I think the light will come on.

There is probably a good reason. If the Raiders do not hire Pierce (there is some talk about Gruden II) I would want to hear his side of the story before making a decision. I am impressed with him. Brandon Parker is one of my son's friends from childhood (he was the ball boy for the team I coached around 2004-5) and he is a person of high character (NC AT). He thinks he is great, fwiw. According to a former player or two, Bienamy was given a lot of credit for Andy Reid's involvement. Others dispute this, but it is out there.

He is playing with limited technique and doing OK--when he gets some technique, as you say, it should improve.

He sure has--I like him.

I will just bullet some things that I saw that are very encouraging signs: 1. Tommy Tremble showed that he can be a starting TE. His routes were crisp, and we know what he can do as a blocker. It moved. 2. Our problems all year on the OL have been at G. G is an easy position to effectively address. Christensen, Corbett, and Zavala (potential is there) have been injured. I saw some fire from Cade Mays--it was as if the light came on a bit. 3. At T, Ickey needs some coaching---I thought Campen was going to be great--he has not been. Does that mean he is not an experienced coach? No, but it does mean that he is not a good fit in this system and he is probably not a good communicator with this particular group of players--and he has had some injuries, but I see Ickey's lack of development as a reason to let him go. 4. Moten will count $30m against the cap next season, and frankly, at 30 and playing RT, I do not see that happening. I think BC can play RT, and although he may not be quite as good, we could bring in a stud RG in free agency (I think Corbett is probably done?) and maybe a stud DL. 5. It takes most WRs a year or two to develop, so I am very bullish on Smith-Marsette and Mingo. We need Theilen in the slot for another season. Chark had a good game, but he needs 2 more before I give him a contract. We need a true #1. We need some depth on the OL, a RG, some coaching, and maybe another TE. That sounds like a lot, but if Tremble can step up and be a weapon at TE, if someone can teach Ekwonu some mechanics, if we can get a stud RG, and if we add an elite WR, I see the offense getting better. And we need a coach who can scheme to Bryce's skill set.

If Bryce has 2 more good games, we will get a good coach to come here. No coach wants to go to a place without a good or potentially good QB.

Yes. It was Christmas magic.

When most of you were trashing Bryce with more venom than a Forest Cobra, I compared the situation to Tua in Miami--crickets. I stand by that comparison. We were able to give Bryce time once we replaced Jensen with Jackson at RG. It is not that our WRs were not getting open as some announcers say, it was that there is a brief period after the break--the top of the route, that creates separation and then closes quickly. Pass rush that disallows the QB from throwing the ball at the right time makes the WRs seem to be covered because the QB was late--This is a positive step in the right direction--I really did not care about losing (as much as I cared about seeing our offense step up. Now do it 2 more times.

the lack of a threatening TE is killing us. Chark on most teams is a role player, Theiland is a slot, and Mingo is a #3 or 4. Throw in the fact that our top 3 guards have been on IR most of the year, and it is what it is--Bryce may suck, but there is not much of an opportunity for him to succeed.

Derrick Brown is the reason our D is stuffing the run. Best DT in franchise history, and that includes Kris Jenkins, who was very good. He plays more snaps, runs to the whistle, and draws double teams.

I want white helmets. Call me crazy moron fool dolt idiot man, but that is what I think would look best with all of our variations. And please don't call me that. It would hurt my feelings.

I get the feeling that Tabor is out of his league/comfort zone as a HC, but I admire his effort. The players seem to like him, fwiw.

I had the thought, but man, we need him doing what he is doing. Out of curiosity, I would like to know how many times an internal promotion leads to success--or is it better to move on to a different organization. I was promoted once from a peon to a managerial dweeb, and it was difficult to get people to see me in my new role. Just a thought.

Same page, brother, but I will repeat this: I was not referring to the last offensive stand--I was referring to the second FG at the beginning of the 4th quarter. So that nullifies what you are saying-I agree with you 100%, but it does not address my point accurately. Now we need to run the table...

Some bright spots: Offensive Line: The team's top three guards have been on IR for most of the seasons (Corbett, BC, and Zavala). Jensen and Mays have been given some valuable experience, so we should have decent depth on the interior OL next season. Our T situation is going to get better when someone teaches Ekwonu some mechanics. Personally, I think we need to coach up what we have (after restructuring Moton's deal or trading him, moving BC to RT) and develop some OL chemistry. That means we can focus on WR and TE in free agency. Running Back: Hubbard has become a beast. Wide Receiver: I think Theilen should stay in the slot and we need to bring in a #1 WR free agent and maybe a draft pick-- and draft a solid TE. Mingo and Smith-Marsette (I see him emerging and he is 24) could be the fourth and fifth WRs. I think Ricci was developing into a pass catching TE before going to IR. So we are not that far away--but when you are playing with third string interior offensive linemen, the defense seemed to use that to get in Bryce's face all season. No separation from the WRs (and a LOT of that is based on timing-when Bryce saw them, they had already taken one of two steps out of their breaks- and that is too late. So I am optimistic that this can be fixed and that Bryce is not as bad as people here say he is.