Great roundup of where we are. The offseason threads around here can be great b/c of the guys that start out from homework/facts like the list that kicks off this thread. It'll be a long offseason debating who's worth what money and how/whether we can get rid of them (cough cough Jonnu).
The team ended up in the "middling" category and it's really not good enough as an end state -- and we've been muddling there for 3 years. I finally agree with you guys. We're spoiled, but it's not too much to demand a make-the-playoffs level of play, with a game or two cushion so you don't find yourself blaming refs (especially since, as BB would certainly remind us, they straight up gave us at least 1 game as well. These things even out.)
We can hope something brilliant falls in our laps (Brock Purdy says hi, until it turns out it was fool's gold), but there are only 3 teams in the AFC unquestionably happy at QB, Buffalo, Cinci, and KC. It's hard work and it takes luck to land and develop
that guy.
There are many others with reason to hold on to hope with their current guy -- sort of where we were last year, waiting for that expected step forward.
I fully expect open competition in camp. Nobody's a rookie anymore and both young guys have had their NFL welcomes, Mac more than Z, of course. If a decent vet becomes avail. (don't say Galassolo) I am sure we'll have our wars about that.
I think the coaching situation needs to change, and I could love a BoB return, and hate me if you want, I would take McDaniels back in a flash, either or both to get the passing game to function, especially in the RZ. We're not bad at yards accumulated, we can get chunks, but we can't sustain drives as needed and we can't produce TDs.
For you guys who are all worried about whether we pick at 15 or 16, I hope it's not to try to draft our way to fixing the QB position, just because of the terrible odds going in.
The current pass catchers
could work for a Brady, but they won't for a Jones or a Zappe. Thing is, most receivers won't work for them as of last season's schemes and play.
Jones doesn't have a job; he has to earn it. Quoth BB, “I think Mac has the ability to play quarterback in this league." Not too many tea-leaves to read there. Get to work, Mac. 2023 QB competition starts as of that comment this morning.
We should call Jonnu "Fetch" because it's not going to happen.
But here's his cap situation, to figure out whether we actually get much of anything by cutting bait now. You guys do it. For me it's a ton of work to be right about it. As almost always, we'd want to trade not cut. But what's he got on his resume the last two years?
Jonnu Smith contract and salary cap details, including signing bonus, guaranteed salary, dead money, roster bonuses, and contract history
overthecap.com
Also, fortunately, I'm always wrong, so me giving up on him is a sure sign that he's about to unexpectedly catch fire.
I am sure people are going to argue there is nobody to throw to, but there are competent enough receivers to get us passing TDs in the 30s and certainly in the 20s. We posted 19 -- 14 from Mac and 5 from Zappe. Mind you, that's about twice as many as during the Cam year. But last year, Mac's total was in the 20s. We need to make the pass game work. To me that mainly includes O-line, coaches, and QBs, although we can be opportunistic about picking up pass-catchers.
Just repeating the obvious and throwing out some platitudes. It'll be interesting.
