A Tankathon Approach to the remaining Schedule

[MHS831]

2 hours ago, 45catfan said:

Bad drafting sets up for all kinds of failures.  It makes you go out in FA and overspend, which leads to huge cap numbers, which limits how many other key pieces can brought in to finish the puzzle.  Until we can start drafting better, this team is doomed.  One, maybe two hits in each draft isn't going to cut it.

In fairness, I like Morgan's intent in this past draft--we got a #1 TE in round 4, a solid LB in round 3--the first two rounds were gambles--but if Brooks became solid (comparing him to Jonathan Stewart and Thomas Davis--taking liberties) and if XL works on his hands over the offseason, I think we are going to consider the 2024 draft a success.  And it should be noted that we did not have our first round pick. This draft was purely long term--it told me the plan would be a 2-year process--3 if bryce had not shown signs of life.

XL was the head scratcher--and what bothers me about it--they told him they were picking him and he told the media.  However, if the light comes on, he can become special because he has the tools.   Not sure I want to draft projects early, but we did for the past two years.

I am still not sold on Bryce, but he was putting the ball where it belongs and he is much more confident now. 

Edited December 30, 2024 by MHS831

[MHS831]

2 hours ago, 45catfan said:

If we miss out on T-Mac, take a look at the other Higgins; kid out of Iowa State in the 2nd round.  Same build and everything. Watching highlights, he's the anti-XL...complete hands catcher.  Rarely does the ball get to his body.  I also like Jalen Royals out of Utah State as an inside/slot type.

THAT is what I look for at WR--does the WR extend his hands toward the ball and does the WR catch it without bobble. Secondly, how late does he raise his hands?  I have not yet watched videos on the WRs, so I am getting excited reading this.  I did watch some T-Mac and Luther, and I like them, but I would have 3-4 WRs from last year's class over them both...I think speed is important, but 40 speed is not the gauge--look at the 3 cone--how fast are they exploding after a cut?  etc.

 

[45catfan]

7 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

In fairness, I like Morgan's intent in this past draft--we got a #1 TE in round 4, a solid LB in round 3--the first two rounds were gambles--but if Brooks became solid (comparing him to Jonathan Stewart and Thomas Davis--taking liberties) and if XL works on his hands over the offseason, I think we are going to consider the 2024 draft a success.  And it should be noted that we did not have our first round pick. This draft was purely long term--it told me the plan would be a 2-year process--3 if bryce had not shown signs of life.

XL was the head scratcher--and what bothers me about it--they told him they were picking him and he told the media.  However, if the light comes on, he can become special because he has the tools.   Not sure I want to draft projects early, but we did for the past two years.

I am still not sold on Bryce, but he was putting the ball where it belongs and he is much more confident now. 

I hate it for the kid, but I'm not penciling in Brooks for the future.  If he makes a TD like come back, then great, but there's a real possibility he's never going to be the same.  I like Sanders, but calling him a #1 is a stretch at this point.  He's promising.  I still want to draft a TE or pick up one in FA.  Thankfully, the Ian Thomas experiment has finally run it's course (better have).  Tremble is a TE3, TE2 is his ceiling and he's not there.  I'm in wait and see mode on Wallace.   The results have been mixed.

I did not want XL with that first pick, let alone move up for him.  In a trade back, sure.  I was in the McConkey camp.  How professional scouts and front office personnel overlook the totality of one-year wonders full resume` is mind blowing to me.  XL was so far off the radar until his last season.  Yes, he had a good season stats wise, but watching the tape, his rawness was glaring.  It's like they saw a twitchy, tall and fast WR and glossed over the terrible route running and routine body catches.  It's almost like a badge of honor to mold a raw product.  Screw that, save the energy and take the more polished kid that's a little bit less athletically gifted.

[MHS831]

2 hours ago, flagfootballcoach28 said:

I’m a huge fan of Tre Harris out of Ole Miss. Size, speed, hands, and great production. If we got him in the 2nd, I’d be ecstatic. Outside of T-Mac, he’s my favorite WR in the draft. 

Convince me to like him too-clear my bias, in other words.  I worry that Ole Miss (and Miami, for that matter) have those high-octane offenses that tend to inflate stats.  Matt Carrol's stats for example.  Miami and Ole Miss had the top 2 offenses in the nation.  I would watch the film on Harris or Xavier xxxxxx from Miami--

Edited December 30, 2024 by MHS831

[MHS831]

2 minutes ago, 45catfan said:

I hate it for the kid, but I'm not penciling in Brooks for the future.  If he makes a TD like come back, then great, but there's a real possibility he's never going to be the same.  I like Sanders, but calling him a #1 is a stretch at this point.  He's promising.  I still want to draft a TE or pick up one in FA.  Thankfully, the Ian Thomas experiment has finally run it's course (better have).  Tremble is a TE3, TE2 is his ceiling and he's not there.  I'm in wait and see mode on Wallace.   The results have been mixed.

I did not want XL with that first pick, let alone move up for him.  In a trade back, sure.  I was in the McConkey camp.  How professional scouts and front office personnel overlook the totality of one-year wonders full resume` is mind blowing to me.  XL was so far off the radar until his last season.  Yes, he had a good season stats wise, but watching the tape, his rawness was glaring.  It's like they saw a twitchy, tall and fast WR and glossed over the terrible route running and routine body catches.  It's almost like a badge of honor to mold a raw product.  Screw that, save the energy and take the more polished kid that's a little bit less athletically gifted.

I think Sanders is OUR #1---and I agree that we need better.  Sanders needs to be a #2. 

I was also a McConkey drum beater. 

When you draft a RB off the operating table in the second round--there is reason to question the decision.  They are found all day on day 3.

Gonna be fun.

[TheSpecialJuan]

Currently at #8 

[tukafan21]

13 minutes ago, TheSpecialJuan said:

Currently at #8 

No, still at 6th

With a loss next week, the lowest we can be is 7th given the SOS's of the teams we're tied with, highest we can get to is 2nd.  Even with a win the most we can fall is likely 9th as (not sure our SOS can rise enough to catch the Saints to fall to 10th)

I think the best outcome for us is we lose along with wins by the Jets, Jags, Giants, and Titans (possible with the Jets getting Miami maybe without Tua and the others playing teams with nothing to play for).  

That puts us 3rd behind the Patriots and Browns with the Raiders behind us at #4.  Then one of the two teams ahead of us fall in love with Hunter and take him, the other trades with the Giants to take a QB.

We are then able to leverage the threat of a trade to someone like the Titans or Jets and get the Raiders to give us their 2026 1st (and maybe more) to swap picks with us so we can still take the player we want and add draft capital at the same time.

Edited December 31, 2024 by tukafan21

[TheSpecialJuan]

29 minutes ago, tukafan21 said:

No, still at 6th

With a loss next week, the lowest we can be is 7th given the SOS's of the teams we're tied with, highest we can get to is 2nd.  Even with a win the most we can fall is likely 9th as (not sure our SOS can rise enough to catch the Saints to fall to 10th)

I think the best outcome for us is we lose along with wins by the Jets, Jags, Giants, and Titans (possible with the Jets getting Miami maybe without Tua and the others playing teams with nothing to play for).  

That puts us 3rd behind the Patriots and Browns with the Raiders behind us at #4.  Then one of the two teams ahead of us fall in love with Hunter and take him, the other trades with the Giants to take a QB.

We are then able to leverage the threat of a trade to someone like the Titans or Jets and get the Raiders to give us their 2026 1st (and maybe more) to swap picks with us so we can still take the player we want and add draft capital at the same time.

Wonderful explanation, thanks 

[*FreeFua*]

We need Pittsburgh to beat Cincy on Saturday for SOS with us and the Jets

[MHS831]

1 hour ago, *FreeFua* said:

We need Pittsburgh to beat Cincy on Saturday for SOS with us and the Jets

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

[PanthersNCSU]

Really need a 3rd QB to come out of nowhere at the combine and have an Anthony Richardson type rise. Don't think we'll be in a trade down position, but damn it would be nice to move down a couple of spots and grab an extra 2nd rounder at minimum. 

[SCO96]

8 hours ago, tukafan21 said:

That puts us 3rd behind the Patriots and Browns with the Raiders behind us at #4.  Then one of the two teams ahead of us fall in love with Hunter and take him, the other trades with the Giants to take a QB.

We are then able to leverage the threat of a trade to someone like the Titans or Jets and get the Raiders to give us their 2026 1st (and maybe more) to swap picks with us so we can still take the player we want and add draft capital at the same time.

I wouldn't go into this draft thinking we'll be able to make a trade inside the top 10. Recent history is showing that these moves don't really pan out. The 49ers gave up a kings ransom to draft Trey Lance. He couldn't beat out a QB taken in the 7th round. Lance is now buried on the Dallas roster behind 2 other QBs. Moving up to get Bryce didn't exactly put us up over the hump either and we lost our best receiver and draft capital to do so.

I don't see a player in this draft worth giving up a 2026 1st round, and a 2025 2nd round, and possibly a a 2027 2nd round. One of the worst things to happen was the creation of the draft chart. it's way to expensive to make deals at the TOP THE DRAFT. If some idiot GM approaches us with a deal then we should listen. But, I think GMs (especially the ones on bad teams) may start to wise up and just let the chips fall where they may.

[*FreeFua*]

20 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

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

I don’t know 

And we know Cincy has to win. Denver plays Sunday so Cincy is playing for playoffs 

Cincy beating Pittsburgh will most likely result in our SOS being higher than the Jets (moving us to 7)

[SCO96]

8 minutes ago, PanthersNCSU said:

Really need a 3rd QB to come out of nowhere at the combine and have an Anthony Richardson type rise. Don't think we'll be in a trade down position, but damn it would be nice to move down a couple of spots and grab an extra 2nd rounder at minimum. 

In theory I agree with you. 

Unfortunately, the Carolina Panther draft history in recent years is terrible. I'd be terrified if we got an extra pick in round 2 because I'd be almost willing to bet a month's salary we'd pick the wrong player. I think I'd jump out of my bedroom window if we picked a WR.