Polk instead Kingsley Suamataia?

[Ring 6]

Every one of those players would have beaten out Lowe and Okorafor when healthy.

Anyone suggesting a healthy Tyron Smith wouldn't beat out our scrubs shows a complete break with reality.

Of course they would have.

 

[TommyD4207]

The free agent options were garbage. Maybe we could have done better with one of the other options but we made a choice that we thought was best for our situation. A Steeler cast off or some aging or injury prone guys were about all that was out there.

As far as the draft maybe they should have gone Tackle at 37 and maybe that option winds up better than Wallace but we weren't getting Polk at 68 so they took the chance that more tackles were on the board and one would last. Time will tell if this is a mistake or not.

Aging, Injury-prone players, but can actually play the position > dumpster-diving in the cuts pile of fringe NFL players.

Also 'oh noes we don't get JAG Polk at 68' isn't a very compelling reason, to me.

 

[Since1960]

If we liked McConkey better than Polk i'd assume we would have taken him.

One would have to believe that while hoping at the same time that *they* were right… I try not to “assume” as much anymore - after all , hope springs eternal!

 

[signbabybrady]

I think the piece if the puzzle that’s alluding you is that when they put together a terrible roster “they got the guys they liked” is more a condemnation than an excuse.

I'm not condemning or making any excuses just pointing out how and why things went the way they did. I'll save judgement for after we've at least played a few. If you are forcing me to judge now I would say we screwed up the LT spot but Polk could still wind up good enough to justify it and then all that would be left to judge is not trading up from 68 to 54 to get ahead of the run on tackles that occurred.

 

[signbabybrady]

Aging, Injury-prone players, but can actually play the position > dumpster-diving in the cuts pile of fringe NFL players.

Also 'oh noes we don't get JAG Polk at 68' isn't a very compelling reason, to me.

No big argument with the first part.

I don't agree with calling Polk a JAG he's looked good enough not to put that ceiling on him yet. But you're entitled to that opinion.

That's easy to admit if Polk is just a JAG then yes we should have gone Tackle first.

 

[Wozzy]

The free agent options were garbage. Maybe we could have done better with one of the other options but we made a choice that we thought was best for our situation. A Steeler cast off or some aging or injury prone guys were about all that was out there.

As far as the draft maybe they should have gone Tackle at 37 and maybe that option winds up better than Wallace but we weren't getting Polk at 68 so they took the chance that more tackles were on the board and one would last. Time will tell if this is a mistake or not.

The free agent options were garbage… but Okorafor and Lowe were good.

Welcome to weird world….

 

[signbabybrady]

The free agent options were garbage… but Okorafor and Lowe were good.

Welcome to weird world….

I've never called either a diamond in the rough. They are both shots in the dark and Probably trash too.

 

[Wozzy]

One can still hold out hope but it looks like they might be trash too.

I’m holding out hope for Wallace and Demontrey Jacobs.

We’ve seen plenty from Okorafor and Lowe… they’re poor athletes… trash.

 

[Ring 6]

I'm not condemning or making any excuses just pointing out how and why things went the way they did. I'll save judgement for after we've at least played a few. If you are forcing me to judge now I would say we screwed up the LT spot but Polk could still wind up good enough to justify it and then all that would be left to judge is not trading up from 68 to 54 to get ahead of the run on tackles that occurred.

My perspective is they had an entire off season an entire draft and 100,000,000 of cap space to use to field an NFL caliber OL and not only don’t we have starters we have no depth.

If the answer is we chose to focus on other positions, then we have a methodology issue.
Whether they evaluated poorly or a methodology problem, they failed to do their job.

 

[Grogan14]

Well established principle in the NFL that from Ground Zero rebuild, after qb you focus on OL and DL. Wolfe did not do that.
Fail so far

 

[signbabybrady]

My perspective is they had an entire off season an entire draft and 100,000,000 of cap space to use to field an NFL caliber OL and not only don’t we have starters we have no depth.

If the answer is we chose to focus on other positions, then we have a methodology issue.
Whether they evaluated poorly or a methodology problem, they failed to do their job.

Some injuries in camp didn't help but everyone deals with injuries. Right now it would certainly look like they failed to field a proper starting 5 at OL. Hopefully things settle in and don't look as bad as preseason game 3 (which didn't include Andrews). And right now when I say hopefully I'm not even talking a good 5 just hopefully not as abysmal as it looks it might.

 

[Ross12]

As far as relying on Okorafor and Lowe, that was clearly a mistake and not the result of some longterm plan. There is no justification for signing or relying on bad players... ever. Especially not when there were better options available for similar money.

I ask again, who are you talking about?

The only free agent who was out there that I think is noticeably better was Tyron Smith, who signed a 1 year/$20 million contract. Only $6.5M is guaranteed, but if he actually stays healthy then he will earn huge incentives. If he doesn't stay healthy and predictably gets hurt, he still gets paid roughly what Okorafor was paid, despite doing nothing for you. How are these players comparable financially?

And that's not even accounting for the fact that it's a one year deal when the whole point is to acquire and develop players who will be here next year for Maye. Blowing $20M on Smith to protect Brissett and then having him be gone next year when it's Maye's time, and needing a tackle once again, doesn't make any sense.

 

[Ring 6]

Some injuries in camp didn't help but everyone deals with injuries. Right now it would certainly look like they failed to field a proper starting 5 at OL. Hopefully things settle in and don't look as bad as preseason game 3 (which didn't include Andrews). And right now when I say hopefully I'm not even talking a good 5 just hopefully not as abysmal as it looks it might.

what injuries?

 

[Ring 6]

I ask again, who are you talking about?

The only free agent who was out there that I think is noticeably better was Tyron Smith, who signed a 1 year/$20 million contract. Only $6.5M is guaranteed, but if he actually stays healthy then he will earn huge incentives. If he doesn't stay healthy and predictably gets hurt, he still gets paid roughly what Okorafor was paid, despite doing nothing for you.

How are these players comparable financially?

You want to compare terrible OL play but Kraft spends less to better ol play but Kraft spends more?

Traditionally the “yeah but what does he cost” argument means to fit him under the cap you would have to sacrifice elsewhere. We held onto 40 mill and sacrificed everywhere.

 

[Ross12]

You want to compare terrible OL play but Kraft spends less to better ol play but Kraft spends more?

Traditionally the “yeah but what does he cost” argument means to fit him under the cap you would have to sacrifice elsewhere. We held onto 40 mill and sacrificed everywhere.

They'll roll it over - again, into next year - to build up around Maye. If the team is still squatting on cap space next year or paying huge contracts to people for no reason just to hit the cap spending floor requirements then sure, we can talk. But right now you're essentially advocating for just that - that they should've blown tons of cash right now because they have it, and not doing so means Kraft is cheap. I think it's obvious that instead, Wolf is holding that for the near future to build around his (hopefully successful) rookie quarterback.

 

[TommyD4207]

My perspective is they had an entire off season an entire draft and 100,000,000 of cap space to use to field an NFL caliber OL and not only don’t we have starters we have no depth.

I mean, it's this - Picks in the top 3 in every round and 100 million in cap space, and you manage to bring in ZERO starters, and the only depth piece would be Gibson. Oh, and you traded your best defensive player for a 3rd round pick in the offseason because you didn't want to give him a pay bump, after he way outperformed his last contract. 4-13 isn't just a 'bring in a new QB and we're good' situation.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

Well established principle in the NFL that from Ground Zero rebuild, after qb you focus on OL and DL. Wolfe did not do that.
Fail so far

Madden said the first thing you get is OL and CB. Then look for a QB,etc.

 

[TommyD4207]

They'll roll it over - again, into next year - to build up around Maye. If the team is still squatting on cap space next year or paying huge contracts to people for no reason just to hit the cap spending floor requirements then sure, we can talk.

They are *under* the floor requirement on average for this cycle. So they're going to *have* to overpay the next couple of years, just to make the floor.

 

[archstanton543]

Madden said the first thing you get is OL and CB. Then look for a QB,etc.

Madden also said that the Pats should have taken a knee and went to overtime in 2001.

 

[signbabybrady]

what injuries?

Sow, Lowe, Strange, and Jake Andrews