Kontradiction
On my retirement tour.
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Just to let some people know, this thread is only semi-Moss related. I'm going on a couple of observations that I think are safe to make now that he's gone.
Observations...
1. This obviously won't occur this season, but going into the offseason I think the one thing that we're going to concentrate on bringing back is the power running game. With the two TE sets that O'Brien has been constantly employing ever since last season, it's obvious that he was to move back toward the offense that we had in the earlier 2000's. With that in mind, I wouldn't be surprised to see the team make a move toward obtaining a RB, either through the draft or through free agency, and letting one, if not both, of Fred Taylor and Sammy Morris go. With that in mind, it also wouldn't shock me to see the team (finally) make a move for a FB either in free agency, through trade, or in the draft. Now, I already expect the team to use one of their many early draft picks on an O-Lineman, but I'm not sure whether it will be a center or a guard. Either is fair game since Koppen is generally an undersized center that has been struggling against the bigger DT's in the AFC East and, at guard, Mankins remains un-signed and Neal has aged. But, with those three moves, we could see the return of the power running game. A back that can can make you pay, a fullback that can explode through the hole, and an interior O-Line that can open up those holes. With a renewed focus on the power running game, the TE's and WR's become that much more dangerous. Another area that becomes more dangerous are play action passes out of the I-Formation. That would a welcome sight, considering we have the best play action QB in the league.
2. Those thinking that we're going to use the early picks on replacing Moss are fooling themselves, IMO. I have multiple reasons for this. The first of which is because I honestly don't think the team is interested in going back to a high flying attack, though it did work out well. If this move on top of the moves we've made in the last couple of months for the offense tells us anything, it's that BB and O'Brien look to be more interested in going back to a ball control offense. Personally, while I didn't like the trade at this point, I couldn't be more happy about that. My personal preference is for a smashmouth, pound the rock, run the ball down your throat style of offense that we displaying in the Antowain and Dillon years. For another, I fully expect those picks to be used to stabilize the trenches. I already mention a pick being used somewhere along the interior O-Line, but I wouldn't be shocked to see another used on bringing in a DE. These are just two reasons why I don't expect a pick to be used to secure an A.J. Green or a Julio Jones. I think it's more likely that we pick a WR in the second or third round, or secure one through free agency.
3. Another order of business, one that will also most likely prevent a WR from being picked early, is focusing on building the front seven. As of right now, we have at least one question mark at DE (and this is assuming that Brace continues to come into his own), and a question mark at OLB, as I don't believe that Ninkovich is going to be able to give us what he gave us in the Miami game on a consistent basis. At least one first round pick, I believe, will go into the front seven. As I mentioned earlier, it will most likely be DE. However, I wouldn't discount the possibility of there also being an OLB taken either with our second first rounder or a second rounder.
4. Finally, I would like to suggest that we enjoy what we have coming up this season. Sure, a lot of us don't agree with the trade. However, these are interesting times. This team is VERY young. For me, the biggest thing I'm looking at is how they respond in the Baltimore game. Will they sulk or will they come out fired up, ready to rise to the challenge? The way this team responds in two weeks will tell you a lot about their intestinal fortitude. Enjoy this team for what it is, and hope for the best.
Just some random thoughts that I wanted to get off my chest. I'll go ahead and save the one star bandit the trouble and one star this thing myself.
Observations...
1. This obviously won't occur this season, but going into the offseason I think the one thing that we're going to concentrate on bringing back is the power running game. With the two TE sets that O'Brien has been constantly employing ever since last season, it's obvious that he was to move back toward the offense that we had in the earlier 2000's. With that in mind, I wouldn't be surprised to see the team make a move toward obtaining a RB, either through the draft or through free agency, and letting one, if not both, of Fred Taylor and Sammy Morris go. With that in mind, it also wouldn't shock me to see the team (finally) make a move for a FB either in free agency, through trade, or in the draft. Now, I already expect the team to use one of their many early draft picks on an O-Lineman, but I'm not sure whether it will be a center or a guard. Either is fair game since Koppen is generally an undersized center that has been struggling against the bigger DT's in the AFC East and, at guard, Mankins remains un-signed and Neal has aged. But, with those three moves, we could see the return of the power running game. A back that can can make you pay, a fullback that can explode through the hole, and an interior O-Line that can open up those holes. With a renewed focus on the power running game, the TE's and WR's become that much more dangerous. Another area that becomes more dangerous are play action passes out of the I-Formation. That would a welcome sight, considering we have the best play action QB in the league.
2. Those thinking that we're going to use the early picks on replacing Moss are fooling themselves, IMO. I have multiple reasons for this. The first of which is because I honestly don't think the team is interested in going back to a high flying attack, though it did work out well. If this move on top of the moves we've made in the last couple of months for the offense tells us anything, it's that BB and O'Brien look to be more interested in going back to a ball control offense. Personally, while I didn't like the trade at this point, I couldn't be more happy about that. My personal preference is for a smashmouth, pound the rock, run the ball down your throat style of offense that we displaying in the Antowain and Dillon years. For another, I fully expect those picks to be used to stabilize the trenches. I already mention a pick being used somewhere along the interior O-Line, but I wouldn't be shocked to see another used on bringing in a DE. These are just two reasons why I don't expect a pick to be used to secure an A.J. Green or a Julio Jones. I think it's more likely that we pick a WR in the second or third round, or secure one through free agency.
3. Another order of business, one that will also most likely prevent a WR from being picked early, is focusing on building the front seven. As of right now, we have at least one question mark at DE (and this is assuming that Brace continues to come into his own), and a question mark at OLB, as I don't believe that Ninkovich is going to be able to give us what he gave us in the Miami game on a consistent basis. At least one first round pick, I believe, will go into the front seven. As I mentioned earlier, it will most likely be DE. However, I wouldn't discount the possibility of there also being an OLB taken either with our second first rounder or a second rounder.
4. Finally, I would like to suggest that we enjoy what we have coming up this season. Sure, a lot of us don't agree with the trade. However, these are interesting times. This team is VERY young. For me, the biggest thing I'm looking at is how they respond in the Baltimore game. Will they sulk or will they come out fired up, ready to rise to the challenge? The way this team responds in two weeks will tell you a lot about their intestinal fortitude. Enjoy this team for what it is, and hope for the best.
Just some random thoughts that I wanted to get off my chest. I'll go ahead and save the one star bandit the trouble and one star this thing myself.
