Optimistic Outlook

[MHS831]

3 hours ago, DaveThePanther2008 said:

2023 was abysmal and that's being kind.  What was supposed to be a strength turned into a nightmare.  FA signing underperformed and that's being kind also with the exception of Theilen.  Defense was overworked and some key players weren't available. 

OFFENSIVELY, WHAT IF

Canales gets our O-line out of that crazy zone blocking scheme and gets back to smashmouth football.  Something our O-Line was better at than the zone blocking BS.  We run the ball effectively and take the pressure of Young having to shoulder the load.  We get some real receivers in here.  If we bring in through Free Agency someone like Mike Evans and maybe draft a WR with 33.   

My opinion is that our O-line group is not as bad as many want to believe.  I think Icky didn't respond well to the Reich zone blocking scheme and his sophomore season was one to forget.  I believe that the Canales and Morgan philosophy of bringing the dawg out of our players will improve our O-line greatly. 

If all these things happen, which IMO isn't not impossible, we might just be competitive offensively to make some noise next year.

DEFENSIVELY, WHAT IF 

We have Evero back with his defense.  The players already know his scheme and 2024 they should be even better than 2023.   Our offense reduces the 3 and outs and we don't have the defense on the field for 40 plus minutes.  We keep Luvu and either re-sign Burns or get a pick for him.  Draft a DE and get another one in the draft.  Horn will stay healthy this year.  This is a season where his money is at stake, and I believe he'll play many more games than he'll miss.  

I think Evero can make this defensive squad a legitimate top 10 defense.

Being the eternal optimist that I am, if all these things came together maybe we actually win more than we lose and make the playoffs. 

Summary 

I think Morgan is going to bring is some Free Agent Dawgs and draft a couple more. I think this our offense is fixable and with the right coaches we could get back to an offense that can put points on the board.  The defense will be a legitimate Top 10 and we'll win our fair share of our game.

 

I think you are right--I think the Huddle is a place for overreaction--we all do it--but I have never seen more of that than this year, understandably.  But sometimes the problem is not personnel, but scheme.  Sometimes it is playcalling that puts you in a bad situation.  Mental mistakes due to overcoaching that leads to confusion.  Any number of things.

This offseason we MUST address WR.  That is a given. 

• We must address Offensive Line depth, whether that be finding players to make our starters reserves of finding reserves for our starters.  Ekwonu, Christensen, Bozeman, Corbett, and Moton.  That was pretty good in 2022.
• I think (not really talked about) that we need CB depth.
• I think a new system might help our TE room (Ricci, Hurst, Tremble) so I am not sure that I am going to invest in a new TE this season.  I see the argument for getting a TE, but in my big pic, I want to see what Ricci and Tremble can become and I want to see Hurst have a year that he is capable of providing.
• Edge depends on burns.  If he stays, and we have Haynes, Barno, Leota, YGM, and Johnson--there is some young talent to develop.  Remember, Hardy, Charles Johnson, even Rucker were not studs until around year 3.

Basically, I prioritize it this way:

1.  Alpha WR

2. CB (after oft injured Horn and Jackson, what do we have?  Jackson is in a contract year and we will need to make a decision on Horn soon.  Time to get a CB who can play nickel. 

3.  Offensive Line depth  (C/G is ideal, but C then G then OT, imo.)  Reason?  With BC, Corbett coming back, G is average.  Mays might develop into a solid backup.  Tackle?  If you include BC, we have 3 potential starters there.  Bozeman did not have a good year, and he can play G.  A center if Bozeman struggles is not a bad idea. 

4. WR again

Of course we need help in other areas, but it is not as dire as we think.  On defense, we get Shaq back.  We need Luvu to be re-signed.  We need a CB and maybe a pure NT?  Who knows.

lotta ways it could go.....

 

[Wolfcop]

Not as worried about W-L record next year as I am about seeing hope for the future, including seeing Canales get the best out of #9 and our offense as a whole. 

[ForJimmy]

23 hours ago, Jon Snow said:

There's too many if's for this to play out in your favor.  When you have more than one or if for any scenario to play out in your favor you have no chance at success.

For every if you introduce you decrease your odds by 50%. Do the math. It's more likely that it's gets worse before it gets better. But I'm prepared for just that. Are you?

I’d hope we are currently at the bottom. Dead last with no first is as bad as I’ve seen a team. New GM and new HC hopefully means things will get better. How quickly they do is anyone’s guess. 

Edited February 4 by ForJimmy

[ForJimmy]

22 hours ago, Wolfcop said:

Not as worried about W-L record next year as I am about seeing hope for the future, including seeing Canales get the best out of #9 and our offense as a whole. 

I mean I’m expecting an increase from 2 wins, but yeah I want to see a team that gets better and makes games more competitive as the season progresses.