ProcessBlue2

Don’t worry half the board will still be kissing Evero’s ass again this week

Seifert was competitive even during his 1-15 season like 7 games or something was decided by 6 pts or less. Our offense in 1999 was one of the best we have ever had. Reich wasn’t a great hire, but was at the mercy of Bryce last year. Chances are with Andy, Reich was 3-8 or 4-7 not 1-10. Rhule’s first season helped him off the list. We weren’t as bad as we are now that year and a lost a few close games. Whatever he was building, plummeted in 2021.

Just because he was under Fitterer on the org chart doesn't mean he signed off on every decision. In a previous job, my boss was HORRIBLE. Great guy, terrible leader. I couldn't walk around disagreeing with him all the time and sowing division or I would have been pushed out. However, when he was gone, I moved into that role, changed things and did things my way- same thing here. I refuse to give up on Morgan midway through season 1, especially when he has to rebuild the mess Fitterer created. I think because Morgan has ties here, he understands the organization, fan base, and how the culture used to be. Fitterer was just happy to get a GM role and cared more about being trendy. Years of destruction and setbacks happened under Fitterer, the Bryce trade alone set us back 2-3 years, not to mention the bad contracts. Morgan has had more hits than misses this year: Legette- Already more promising than Mingo. Wallace- Hit (So far) Hunt- Hit Lewis- Hit D.Johnson-Hit (and got rid of Jackson in the process) Mike Jackson- (Traded a 7th rounder that didn't even make the Seahawk's roster for him) Clowney- Meh If you look at the guys underperforming, most are Fitterer guys, or guys that used to play for Evero elsewhere.

Also, The Titans have the #1 Defense in the NFL right now and 90% of the huddle couldn't name the DC or a single player without googling. It's not always about the players.

The first two weeks skew the offensive data. Since Bryce was benched, the Panthers average 368 total yards, 232 passing yards, and 135 rushing yards per game which ranks 8th, 10th, and 8th, the last 3 weeks.

Morgan did what he had to do to fix the OL, if he hadn't everyone would be screaming about the offense. Evero's system and bringing in coaches and players he knew was supposed to supplement that, it failed. EE has rode the success of teams and defenses that other people built and it is showing.

Good coaching can make something out of nothing. The defense was overrated last year for those that even care to look. People forget that Evero took over the defense in Denver following Vic Fangio. He was on a staff in LA surrounded with coaching and playing talent. He was allowed to bring over nearly his entire staff from Denver and nearly a dozen guys that he had coached before since his system is so "complex." Not saying he needs to deliver a top 10 defense, but good coaches find ways to make the best of their situation. McDermott used to preach about simplifying the defense and focusing on the basics, all we hear with Evero is how complex people think his system is. Missed tackles, arm tackles, poor technique, and lack of communication in the secondary tells me the coaching is focused on other things and there should be a focus on the more fundamental items.

Yeah and Rhule/Snow running the hybrid 3-3-5 didn't help because they brought in a mixture to the already split group.

Problem A) Roster isn't very good. Problem B) Defensive coaching also hasn't been very good. Problem C) We are in a really weird spot where half the defense is more suited for a 4-3 and the other half a 3-4. Changing schemes can sometimes get the best out of players if they are better suited for one, problem is half our guys would be in more of a fit and the others would be out of place.

This wouldn't fix everything, but would be a step in the right direction. It would still take 1-2 more offseasons to be a real competitor. But this is a 5-7 win roster. Coaches: I would give Canales another season unless he has some Urban Meyer level blunders between now and then. However, I would push for a 4-3 style defense/coordinator change and be very critical of Evero. If Canales truly had confidence in EE, I would support it. However, it would be an opportunity to bring in a guy like Saleh or Leslie Frazier and move back to a 4-3 scheme. The O-line 4/5 starting OL are under contract next season. I would probably let Corbett go into FA just due to recent injuries. I would look for a veteran C to pair with a younger guy in the 2nd or 3rd round. I would also resign Christensen as a depth piece and add another 1-2 depth guys in FA like we did with Nijman this season. QB: I would keep Dalton on another year deal. I would offload Bryce to the highest bidder. I would bring in a younger Veteran QB (Rudolph, Lock, etc) and let Canales work his magic with him. Would also keep Plummer around as a development project. Tight End: I would keep Thomas if I can get a super cheap deal done, just for run blocking purposes. Sanders of course would stay on the roster and I would have him compete with Tremble for the TE2 role, which he would probably win. I would go after one of the top TE Free Agents in the market. WR: I too would try to keep Johnson but wouldn't be afraid to walk away if the price was too ridiculous. Thielen can hang around another season just for his veteran leadership, but I wouldn't be expecting a lot. Considering Johnson stays, I would be looking for a 3-4 round guy, if he leaves I'm looking in the 2-3 round. Either way, I'm still likely bringing in a mid-tier FA from outside. I'll leave Mingo on the roster for an opportunity to improve this season but my patience would be thin. My focus would be on Johnson*, Legette, New FA, Rookie, Coker, with Thielen around. RB. Sanders would be gone, and I would pay for the moving service personally. I'd like to bring Hubbard back to pair with Brooks. I would also target a big back in rounds 4-6 like Braelon Allen this past draft and hope we find the next Rhamondre Stevenson. Defensively: Hopefully Canales agrees that EE isn't the best path for the team, and we bring in a guy like Saleh or Frazier and switch to their 4-3 defense. Defensive Line: I'm using our 1st round pick for DL help. Somebody like Mason Graham, James Pearce, or Mykel Williams. If I can get one of them and still trade back I would. For this exercise, I'll say that we drafted Mykel Williams, and I would stick him in the WDE role, keep Derrick Brown in the center of the line with Robinson. Some of our Edge rushers can convert to 4-3 DEs. Wonnum and Clowney would fit fine in the 4-3 SDE role to play. I would still bring in more DT depth, and DE depth from mid-to lower tier guys in FA. LB: I would offer Shaq a cheap deal, and I mean CHEAP. He would have the opportunity to hang around, but more as depth/rotational piece. I would invest heavily in Trevin Wallace and try to bring him into WLB role. Jewell is under contract, so I would try to push him into the SLB role. I would try to target one of the top MLBs on the market (along with TE). CB: Horn and Dane Jackson are returning. I would try to get Mike Jackson back as well. Smith-Wade is still on a rookie deal, but I would probably draft some Day 3 help and get another veteran FA in the mix. Safety I would keep Woods/Franklin for the SS role. Robinson can kick rocks. I would be open to Fuller returning on the right deal, but wouldn't be opposed to bringing in another 1 year rental for FS. Nick Scott is G-O-N-E. 2024 Trade Deadline. I wouldn't exercise the trade deadline this season. 2025 offseason: FA Additions (Realistic with Cap) Drew Lock QB John Cominsky DE Tyler Conklin TE Chris Godwin WR Connor Williams C Jedrick Wills T Greg Gaines, DT Andre Cisco S Jerome Baker LB Rasul Douglas CB Garrett Wallow LB Chazz Surratt LB 2025 Draft: Something like this (First 5 Rounds): 1st Round- Mykel Williams, DE Georgia 2nd Round- Xavier Restrepo, WR Miami 3rd Round- Parker Brailsford, C Alabama 4th Round-Dorian Strong, CB Virginia Tech 5th Round-Kalel Mullings, RB Michigan 5th Round-Deontae Lawson, LB Alabama OUTLOOK: QB: Andy Dalton, Drew Lock, Jack Plummer RB: Chuba Hubbard, Jonathan Brooks, Kalel Mullings* WR: Diontae Johnson, Chris Godwin, Jalen Coker WR: Xavier Legette, Adam Thielen, Xavier Restrepo* TE: Tyler Conklin, JT Sanders, Ian Thomas LT: Ikem Ekwonu, Jedrick Wills LG: Damien Lewis, Chandler Zavala C Connor Williams RG: Robert Hunt, Parker Brailsford* (C) RT: Taylor Moton, Brady Christensen DE: Mykel Williams*, DJ Wonnum, Amare Barno DT: Derrick Brown, Jaden Crumedy DT: Greg Gaines, A’Shawn Robinson DE: Jadaveon Clowney, John Cominsky WLB: Jerome Baker, Chazz Surratt MLB: Trevin Wallace, Deonte Lawson*, Jackson Mitchell SLB: Josey Jewell, Garrett Wallow CB: Jaycee Horn, Dane Jackson, Chau Smith-Wade CB: Mike Jackson, Rasul Douglas, Dorian Strong* SS: Xavier Woods, Sam Franklin FS: Jordan Fuller, Andre Cisco P: Johnny Hekker K: Eddie Piniero LS: JJ Jansen

We still have one open spot after Lawson signing. Not sure where that goes, maybe DL.

He is more of a 4-3 DE but anything helps. He and Marquis Haynes are immediate upgrades over DJ Johnson and Incoom. Must not be looking good for Clowney, Barno, and Wonnum.

Well we’re going to lose this week. I don’t think it will be a Chicago/New Orleans type loss. I think Atlanta will score whatever they need to and then go on their way to keep everyone healthy for next week.

I actually felt better about Morgan than Canales. I didn’t like the fact that Morgan was essentially a part of Fitterers group, but I was willing to give him a chance because of his past here. Would still be willing to give him another season or two to clean this mess up. The DC hire to me was strange, very skeptical at first because he came out of nowhere and reminded me of the Nathaniel Hackett hire. I do feel somewhat better about DC now.

Worse. I had us being somewhere between 2-15 and 6-11. I guess we could finish somewhere towards the bottom of that range but I don’t see another winnable game on the schedule unless our defense gets massively better in a short amount of time.

FYI, Eagles just released Devin White who was in Tampa at the same time as Canales last year. Not what used to be but an upgrade over Clausen Cheerelus beside Trevin Wallace

Well the personnel is definitely a factor, but he was given a lot of "his guys" that he has coached before that are familiar with the scheme. Nick Scott Troy Hill Jordan Fuller Deshawn Williams A'Shawn Robinson Dane Jackson DJ Johnson (it's on video of him celebrating when they drafted him, because HE wanted him)

He's doing better when we run the ball more. He looked much better under Wilkes his rookie year because we were running the ball and he was getting leverage on the play action. He looked terrible last year because we were dropping back out of the gun 35 times per game and he's not built for that. He's a solid guard in a pass heavy/spread scheme, and a solid tackle in a running/play action team.

Okay let's say he was. It doesn't make the situation any better.

I'm just saying, he was supposed to be this guy that could make up for talent with his scheming and it's not happening. Sam Darnold carved him up when he was Denver's DC in 2022 and then Payton didn't bring him back. Look at Denver's defense this year and look at ours. And FYI Derrick Brown was active for the Saints game that allowed 47 points. Luvu, maybe? but Burns/Chinn aren't hitting on much this year.

I could be wrong, but if I remember during his press conferences they asked before Evero was hired and he said something like "We don't know type of Defensive yet, I'm leaning towards a 3-4 but we'll see." It could have been the front office too, because there was a lot of hype about trying to put Burns in a 3-4 so he could "dominate" which really just exposed him more than anything.

I wouldn't be shocked with Evero getting the boot at the end of the year. Some of it was his fault, some wasn't. However, in the big picture the little bit of defensive success last year was with what Snow built. The defense last year if I recall was ranked "2nd" but only in yards and was pretty horrendous everywhere else. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Panthers in a 4-3 scheme next year. Morgan played in a 4-3 and both front offices he was in (Buffalo/Seattle) were 4-3. Just about everywhere Canales has been also had a 4-3 defense. Rhule ran a 3-3-5 with snow that gave a bunch of different looks, Reich was the one that wanted the 3-4 and it lined up with Evero being available. Our defense is made up of short contracts and is mixed with 3-4 and 4-3 personnel, end of season would be ideal to switch. Plus, I'd love to see Trevin Wallace play WLB like Davis used to.

I had our ceiling at 6-10 and floor at 2-14. After the Raiders game, I thought we were trending closer to the ceiling but appears we may miss 2-14 because the only other winnable game on the roster is the Giants and they just won in Seattle this week.

Top 3 pick incoming. Brace yourselves for another top talent miss.