MHS831

TAMPA BAY MOTIVATION FOR WINNING SUNDAY:

I think we should include the motivation for Tampa Bay to play its starters to assure that some team with a SOS like the Seahawks do not mathematically push the Panthers to #7 in the draft.  This is the way I see it, based on tie-breaking rules:

A Rams win vs. SF would lock up the #2 seed for LA because they beat Tampa Bay during the regular season.  The Rams-Niners and Bucs-Panthers play at 4:25.

A Dallas win and Bucs loss would not impact the Bucs' standing because they beat Dallas week 1.   So the Dallas game is not a factor for Tampa Bay. 

If Arizona wins vs. Seattle, the Rams lose to San Francisco, and Tampa Loses to the mighty Panthers, the Cardinals would earn the #2 seed, based on a their record within the conference.  The Bucs would get the #3 seed, Rams would get #5.

So a Tampa Bay win and Rams' loss is their only chance at the #2 seed, and if they lose, they are no worse than the #3 seed.  I imagine there will be some scoreboard watching, but I expect to see at least a half with the Tampa Bay starters.

The Rams are playing the Niners, who need this win to make the playoffs if New Orleans beats Atlanta. 

5 minutes ago, stbugs said:

I guess, my bigger worry is if we somehow peg BC as our LT and don’t draft one of the top 3 in this draft.

I get that--there is not enough there to crown him, but most of the problems we are having are coming from A and B gap.

2 minutes ago, stbugs said:

Experience? He’s a 25 year old LT who played LT at BYU. Are you saying that stunts and blitzing DBs don’t happen until the NFL? I’m not trying to bash him since he’s barely played but how many times will he give up the play before he gets it right? Also, from my perspective, he wasn’t close to picking up the DB. His only movement was his head moving, which worries me that even if he recognizes it he’s already lost once he starts his inside move due to the stunt.

His age is a concern, but all rookies have college experience when they are called inexperienced.  A QB has seen zone, Man, cover 2, 3, etc. but the game has to slow down for that young QB before he succeeds--and he saw it in college.  The blitz and stunt schemes these pros run blows away anything he saw at BYU---and he was a third rounder, so he did not dominate in college.  And finally, in college he never had to play beside Mike Jordan.

13 minutes ago, Killah_Ray said:

Aren’t we pretty much guaranteed the 6th pick in the draft now regardless of outcome?  If so, we can win this and I don’t care since I think we’re keeping Rhule win or lose anyway. 

If the SOS does not change enough to move a six-win team ahead of us...

27 minutes ago, ThPantherFan said:

Pavlov's dog's come to mine.  You shock them enough they'll jump at anything.

Pavlov simply rang a bell when they were about to eat.  Then the bell caused them to salivate with no food--so this is a good example.  Imagine a bell ringing every time Sam got sacked.  Now ring the bell when the ball is snapped and there is no pressure.

Preliminary report: 

He had more hurries than any other OL, but he was tested more with stunts.  I saw him lose his feet and fall once, similar to a few prior games.  On a few plays his routine block went inside and BC followed him too long, making him late to pick up a blitzing DB--but that is experience, not a lack of skill.  He was not the liability he could have been, and the other side of the OL struggled more.

If we win vs. Tampa next week---if they rest their starters and play their bench, we should still be picking no worse than 6th, based on current strength of schedules.

We have no QB on this roster capable of winning a game. 

Let that sink in.

41 minutes ago, PhillyB said:

> another historically awful 3rd quarter

Matt Millen said it best: "It means your halftime adjustments did not work."

How good is your coaching if you can't adjust to what the opposition is doing?

I think we are going to sign a QB like Mariota and trade back a few spots for OL.  However, you can have the best OL in the world, and if you have no QB...

Chicken or egg.

Seriously--Tepper has been silent. No preliminary moves have been made that suggest we will change coaches.  Tepper still has 2 games to watch.

And now, "Deep Thoughts" from MHS:

This strongly suggests that we are going to have a NEW QB next season.

This strongly suggests that we are going to have a NEW VETERAN QB next season (due to the urgency / finality of the situation

This strongly suggests that we will have to trade for the QB (because no legit veteran on the market would come here (I think Watson and Wilson have already stated that they do not want Carolina to be their next destination.  Garrappolo trade?  Maybe. Trubiski signing as a free agent?  Perhaps)

This strongly suggests that the focus of the offseason will be on offense, meaning that we may not re-sign some defensive free agents.

This strongly suggests that we will trade back in the draft to acquire 2 OL because the OL was exposed (G, C, and RT) and one upgrade will not get the job done. 

This could also strongly suggest that Rappaport has no idea and is speculating based on the tea leaves he is reading.  I personally think Rhule is gone if he loses the last 2 games.

My father and Reeves were close friends while playing for the Gamecocks back in the day. Reeves was a QB, dad was an end. He was like an uncle to me until my father died in 2000 and we sorta lost touch.  I hate to hear this.

If we trade back and get a second rounder, and if you are OK with any of the top 5 QBs in round 2, that could be the move.  For example, if we could get Linderbaum (Sp?) C, Iowa and then grab Strong, that might be the move.  I still feel that MAYBE Christensen could prove that he has the foundation to play LT and then we could sign a G in free agency--line should be fixed with a stud C.

Look for Fitterer to shop for a QB in free agency.  I do not see ANY of the picks in this draft ready to start.  Can Darnold play better with protection?  May be our only option.

In my view there is no way Rhule can stay after making these comments that have now become public.  I do not see Tepper, eager to put a winning product on the field, willing to lose another year on the CHANCE that he gets the #1 overall pick.  If I am owner, I stop the bleeding NOW.

While some of you have deviated from the theme of the thread---ranking the QBs--not asking about the draft or which OL you want or what we should have done last year in the draft---I would simply suggest that it is likely we trade and move back

2 hours ago, *FreeFua* said:

Put them in order 1-5 and then say which guys you’d be comfortable spending a top 10 pick on

Malik Willis, Desmond Ridder, Sam Howell, Kenny Pickett, Matt Corral, Carson Strong

Good Thread.   Finally someone starts a thread that is more than bitching.

1.  Kenny Pickett.  Although he threw a lot of interceptions before this season, he is still a gunslinger with no mobility; his short and long accuracy, however, was solid this year.  He has good height and a lot of experience, which I think will help him transition more quickly.  Finally, he wins games, evidenced by Pitt's success this year.

2.  Matt Corral.  Although he scares me on the next level, his athleticism is what the new NFL seems to want in a QB.  Most of his passes (52%) were within 5 yards of the line of scrimmage and his accuracy beyond that was suspect.

3.  Sam Howell.  He has the athleticism to run and has accuracy.  Average arm strength.  Was very accurate in the short passing game, had some issues this year (with lesser WRs) in the longer passes.  I think he will be better than advertised, but not a star.  However, PFF compares his profile to Lamarr Jackson, something that surprised me, due to his run/pass threat that emerged this season.

4.  Malik Willis.  Much of what I see is based on his confidence in his physical ability to make a play, even when a play is not to be made.  In the NFL, you can't throw a pass into a tight window with regular success and holding onto the ball too long will end your career.  As a running QB, he will be one of the best; as a passing QB, he will need much more discipline and coaching in his mechanics.

5.  Carson Strong.  The injury concern is strong in my assessment of him, but I put that aside to look at his long ball accuracy.  We have some long ball threats (Anderson, Smith, Moore) so he could be a good match.  He has excellent to good success on short and longer throws.  I think he needs a year or two to develop, and may never be more than a serviceable backup.

6. Desmond Ridder.  Ridder had a big, stud OL and was rarely challenged with extensive pressure.  His short accuracy was solid, but when he had to get yards downfield, he was below average.  That was a red flag for me--a QB with time should be able to succeed on every level.

17 hours ago, BlitzMonster said:

I'll bet Fitterer trades back from our high first and picks up and additional 2nd or 3rd, if not more.  That's his modus operandi.  

 

If it were up to me, I'd stand pat in the first and take a blue-chip LT.  Just permanently fix a serious problem on the OL.  

The Houston 4th will be top of that round so a C or G should be available.  Last season the Falcons drafted a C at 4-9 and he's currently competing to start.  So you can find good interior linemen at that point of the draft. 

If Neal is there I take him.  If he is gone, I trade back.

27 minutes ago, jackson113 said:

 

steff_e•1 min. ago

Additional comment actions

My daughter goes to school with his kids, and I'm friends with some of the admins. The Rhules have been requesting some documents so that the kids are ready to transfer when the time comes.

  As a former school administrator some 15 years ago, that never happened until  the new school has been determined.  The new school contacts the former school during registration etc. The former school system forwards the materials to the new school system.  Is that what you are talking about?

2 hours ago, Richard Cranium 1 said:

Come on, Rhule won't "bring us an outside linebacker with the first pick." He'll pick what Mrs. Rhule tells him to pick.

Well, he drafted the long snapper without any help. 

There seems to be a bunch of hope here and not much news.

Access to the Cats, a Computer, and Crack--the three Cs required to start a thread like this on the Huddle.

22 hours ago, Gipetto said:

If no one is going to give an opposing opinion than what is the point of a debate. You can make all the childish gifs and emoji's or whatever but it seems like having a discussion with anyone on this board just leads to idiotic responses. 

Yeah, they are all experts.  I got hammered last spring when I merely suggested that Mac Jones as an option for us at QB.  If we are on the long-term plan as suggested when Rhule was hired, Tepper is not going to fire Rhule now. Yesterday I noticed that the QB play was better on the few plays the OL gave the QB time.

Expect us to address the OL in free agency.  I would not rule out QB either.

• Tepper gave Rhule a long-term contract because he wants to see the rebuild done right.  After 2 seasons, a firing seems impatient, from that perspective.  He knows we need OL and a QB.
• Tepper was part of the Steeler ownership, and they change coaches once every 20 years, it seems.  If he shares that mentality, we could be in for more Rhule.