What’s Left To Do?

[BTTA]

Yes, the roster, without significant injury just about anywhere, is good enough to make a huge leap in victory total, perhaps 100% improvement.

The roster needs two things to happen this year: 1. The QB to take the leap we are all expecting, 2. the new players to push several prior starters into backup roles.

Then it can take the next leap to being a threat to win the division, by adding superstars to at least three of these five units: OL, DL, Edge, DB, WR. Give that team new all pro's at any of those three, on top of what they have, and it is a top 5 AFC roster.

 

[JohnJH]

Wallace would likely be the best option should Campbell miss time IMO..

Marcus Bryant played LT while Membou played RT. I like him and the guy from BC Conley who's 6'7 and 330. One of those 2 could be our ST this year if they do well in camp, and Conley has played every OL position except Center. He could be our RT of the future (as I think Wallace's best position is RG). I'd find a way to keep both of these guys. Remember, Alaric Jackson was an UDFA and Orlando Brown Jr. was a 7th Round Pick.

 

[doesntmatter1]

Whats next? Cut rt Demontery Jacobs and probably a few other bad linemen and bring in more bodies to get this right.

The oline has the most interesting scenarios. If/when injuries occur things could look very different from what everyone expects. For example if Moses was to miss a game the next best rt would actually be Owenu. If Owenu was forced to move from his natural rg spot could someone like rookie Jared Wilson fill in at guard? The last coaching regime couldn't figure this out whatsoever.

 

[Real fan 02]

Marcus Bryant played LT while Membou played RT. I like him and the guy from BC Conley who's 6'7 and 330. One of those 2 could be our ST this year if they do well in camp, and Conley has played every OL position except Center. He could be our RT of the future (as I think Wallace's best position is RG). I'd find a way to keep both of these guys. Remember, Alaric Jackson was an UDFA and Orlando Brown Jr. was a 7th Round Pick.

Good points on everything you mentioned. Goes back to what Vrabel has said that every position on the team will be competition. What Moses has over all the rookies and young guys is veteran knowledge and leadership. That alone puts Moses ahead of anyone at RT right now. I feel like Vrabel would want to see one of his OTs beat out a vet that only means good things for the OL.

 

[Real fan 02]

Then why did you make it look like you took it from another site?

Relax huck, I'm pulling your leg.. that's just a Google search I put up.

 

[Thelonious]

You find out what you've got, then cull as you go, pick whatever talent is dropped or offered on the cheap by others where you see an option better than you've got, let the new coaching staff show what it can do, try to establish a responsible and winning team culture, build a far better set of backup players at virtually every position,and generally work the situation until next draft when there's a reasonable chance you might complete the rebuild-to-competence phase of restoring at team that had fallen pretty much to the bottom of the league.. Nothing special, in other words, just - well - Do Your Job.

My expectations for this year's team are certainly higher this year than last, but I am going to have the same attitude - I will care far more about progress in rebuilding than I will about the record. There is no realistic chance we can do anything this year with respect to the post season. In the pretty unlikely event we manage a one-and-done thing in the playoffs, such a thing doesn't really mean much except insofar as it is evidence of genuine, sustainable progress in restoring the team.

I am optimistic, for sure, and since we moved on from the deeply weird Mayo fiasco, I think there has been real progress, but any thought that the rebuild is pretty much done and that we are ready to "compete for the championship" is just an overreach. This past year was pretty much the first year of the rebuild, after two or three false starts, and it'll take another year of development, drafting, trading - if all goes well - to get back in the fray for real.

 

[TommyD4207]

I'm actually ok with the OL.. this OL looks night and day different/better, from last season.

Here's the projected starters.
LT Campbell
LG Strange
C Bradbury
RG Owenu
RT Moses

Assuming Onwenu doesn't come in like he ate an entire McDonald's like he did last year, that's a representative offensive line right there. I do hope Moses is still playing at his usual level.

 

[TommyD4207]

Who is projecting that line up?

The ****ing AI.
The same one that says to put glue on your pizza to keep the cheese from sliding off.

 

[Real fan 02]

Assuming Onwenu doesn't come in like he ate an entire McDonald's like he did last year, that's a representative offensive line right there. I do hope Moses is still playing at his usual level.

Agreed with you. Last season guys were far to comfortable and complacent. Reported ownenu was riding a bike throughout the locker room.. like what type of bozo the clown **** is that? Lol.. Vrabel has come and and dropped the hammer and letting it be known what he wants out the guys. Moses appears to be the leader of the OL right now.. I do hope that Wallace and the young guys take to his leadership and grow to thier potential.

 

[Real fan 02]

The ****ing AI.
The same one that says to put glue on your pizza to keep the cheese from sliding off.

Exactly and it wasn't a serious post it was a Google search. We will know full well by the middle of camp how the OL positions are shaping up. These guys will be tested going against thier own defensive front in camp.

 

[Real fan 02]

Unless an opportunity presents itself, this is what they are rolling with.

With that said, this roster is good enough to make the playoffs in a league full of pedestrian teams. The only way this team doesn't make the playoffs are injuries or a combination of Maye, the big ticket FA's, Barmore forced to retire and draft picks are busts.

We had a 3 year break from the playoffs, it's time to get back.

And we will every opportunity to do so.. as vrables said the first order of business is winning the division..the last few seasons winning an actual game was a chore. We have enough depth to withstand some injuries if we encounter them. Another thing too is when guys are young and get knicked they need to get the treatment to help them recover..and stop thinking they are invincible..NFL is violent game.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

We are all hoping that Bryant is the BU LT, and Lowe is gone, but we really don't know either. No-one, that I have seen, has a good reason why Bryant was at LT and Membou was a RT except that "they wanted the least OL disruption possible" (seems unlikely going from one year to the next).

BTW, the JETE drafted Membou so there must be something wrong with that draft pick

I saw some highlights and Bryant is a huge, gigantic monster and not a bad blocker. He seemed like a great guy in the interview. Not sure why he lasted until round 7, but he did look a bit awkward and not very nimble, but all in all he seems like a great pick for round 7.

 

[Huckleberry1]

The ****ing AI.
The same one that says to put glue on your pizza to keep the cheese from sliding off.

Thanks. I wondered why there was no attribution.

 

[Huckleberry1]

It’s actually surprising that the verdict from pretty much everyone is that they have addressed everything they could this offseason. No one would have thought when the season ended that they would be in a place by May where there really wasn’t anything left to do. Even when Belichick was in charge and they were winning all the time we were usually looking at how to upgrade throughout the summer. I realize that the standard then was higher, and this team will still have plenty of work to do next offseason, but it’s still pretty remarkable.

 

[Wozzy]

Agreed Wozzy anyone who gets to the NFL level has talent. Be it draft or undrafted. We now have the makings of what we haven't had in years.. a well rounded team with sufficient depth.

And good coaching with owners who support said coaches fully. There is great depth of talent on this roster, it’s untested and inexperienced… but talented.

 

[Real fan 02]

It’s actually surprising that the verdict from pretty much everyone is that they have addressed everything they could this offseason. No one would have thought when the season ended that they would be in a place by May where there really wasn’t anything left to do. Even when Belichick was in charge and they were winning all the time we were usually looking at how to upgrade throughout the summer. I realize that the standard then was higher, and this team will still have plenty of work to do next offseason, but it’s still pretty remarkable.

Alot of it has to do with the organization looking themselves in the mirror and being humbled by how bad the teams been the last few seasons, being phased out of prime time, ect. Enter in Vrabel and his staff with realistic ideas,and pedigree to create a competitive team. I'm very happy where the team is right now..I'd say we are a playoff team. Of course still have to go out, and execute on the field.

 

[Real fan 02]

And good coaching with owners who support said coaches fully. There is great depth of talent on this roster, it’s untested and inexperienced… but talented.

Agreed. Where do you think we stack up in the AFCE?

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

...

I Think that Cole Birdow is a surprise on the 53 and replace Lowe.
...

Is Birdow being considered for OL or DT? I think I saw a picture of him going up against Will Campbell in the rookie minicamp. I must be hallucinating

 

[Wozzy]

Agreed. Where do you think we stack up in the AFCE?

Too early to tell, will have a better grasp after camp and preseason. But 2nd in the East is reasonable based on raw talent alone.

 

[Real fan 02]

Too early to tell, will have a better grasp after camp and preseason. But 2nd in the East is reasonable based on raw talent alone.

I feel like right now.. we are better than Buffalo everywhere save for OL and QB..