NFL: Offseason Thread

[Mr Janny]

Even though some teams are still playing, the offseason has begun for the majority of the league. There weren't many surprises on Black Monday. It will be interesting to see how the coaching carousel spins, this year.

I'm also interested to see what happens up in Green Bay. Pretty major shift up there with Ted Thompson being essentially removed, without being fired. He has been a scapegoat for their lack of talent surrounding Rodgers. I guess we'll see if it really was on him.

Vance Joseph is getting another year, but it feels like he's a dead man walking. I expect the Broncos to bottom out next year unless they bring in a QB. Even then, that defense can't hold out forever, and showed signs that they aren't elite anymore.

Hue Jackson has 1 win in his entire coaching career, and he's back. Meanwhile, Jim Caldwell gets fired after going 36-28 over 3 years in Detroit. Crazy stuff.

 

[jbindm]

Even though some teams are still playing, the offseason has begun for the majority of the league. There weren't many surprises on Black Monday. It will be interesting to see how the coaching carousel spins, this year.

I'm also interested to see what happens up in Green Bay. Pretty major shift up there with Ted Thompson being essentially removed, without being fired. He has been a scapegoat for their lack of talent surrounding Rodgers. I guess we'll see if it really was on him.

Vance Joseph is getting another year, but it feels like he's a dead man walking. I expect the Broncos to bottom out next year unless they bring in a QB. Even then, that defense can't hold out forever, and showed signs that they aren't elite anymore.

Hue Jackson has 1 win in his entire coaching career, and he's back. Meanwhile, Jim Caldwell gets fired after going 36-28 over 3 years in Detroit. Crazy stuff.

I heard Capers is out in Green Bay as well. McCarthy might find himself on the hot seat next year too, depending on who they bring in as GM.

I think Joseph is getting another year only because Elway has whiffed on several critical decisions recently. Admitting failure this soon into the Vance Joseph era would be a bad look for him.

The Caldwell deal wasn't all that surprising. He wasn't the current GM's pick and they toyed with the idea of firing him after last season. I think he's well-liked by his players but there's nothing wrong with aiming higher.

I have no idea what they're doing in Cleveland. These arranged marriages between a new GM and incumbent coach rarely work out. And they've still got the moneyball guy in the front office, too. So what's the plan there? You have a new GM planning for the long haul, a coach trying to win now and save his job, and a stats wonk trying to accumulate draft picks with no real plan as to what to do with those assets. Only the Browns could hold two of the first four picks in the draft and still look hopeless.

 

[coolerifyoudid]

Caldwell surprised me, but I'm guessing it was due to some discord with the GM more than anything. The Lions were 9-7 and nearly made the playoffs. The Vikings ran away with the NFC North this year, but it has typically been up for grabs most years. I'm guessing Detroit feels they have the right players in place and need to make a push before their Stafford-window closes.

 

[3GenClone]

Biggest surprise has to be Jon Gruden coming out of MNF booth. It hasn't been formally announced yet, but Adam Schefter was reporting that Jon Gruden will be the next coach of the Oakland Raiders.

 

[2020cy]

Even with the Chiefs in the playoffs, still talk of trading Smith at his peak. Getting some help on both sides of the ball and get salary cap room.

 

[2020cy]

I agree with that strategy no matter how far they get in playoffs.

 

[jbindm]

Biggest surprise has to be Jon Gruden coming out of MNF booth. It hasn't been formally announced yet, but Adam Schefter was reporting that Jon Gruden will be the next coach of the Oakland Raiders.

And I can see his second go round with the Raiders playing out similarly to his Tampa tenure. Early success with a team built by someone else (Reggie McKenzie) and then a quick decline.
Speaking of which, McKenzie might be the guy for the Green Bay GM job. I would guess that Gruden wants total control over the roster. McKenzie might look at where things are going and decide it's time to go back to where he built his career.

 

[clonedude]

I'm interested to see what my Packers will do. Glad to see both Capers and Thompson out. Capers was such an overrated defensive coach, and Thompson's drafts lately have not been good.

 

[Mr Janny]

I heard Capers is out in Green Bay as well. McCarthy might find himself on the hot seat next year too, depending on who they bring in as GM.

I think Joseph is getting another year only because Elway has whiffed on several critical decisions recently. Admitting failure this soon into the Vance Joseph era would be a bad look for him.

The Caldwell deal wasn't all that surprising. He wasn't the current GM's pick and they toyed with the idea of firing him after last season. I think he's well-liked by his players but there's nothing wrong with aiming higher.

I have no idea what they're doing in Cleveland. These arranged marriages between a new GM and incumbent coach rarely work out. And they've still got the moneyball guy in the front office, too. So what's the plan there? You have a new GM planning for the long haul, a coach trying to win now and save his job, and a stats wonk trying to accumulate draft picks with no real plan as to what to do with those assets. Only the Browns could hold two of the first four picks in the draft and still look hopeless.

Oh, I'm not disagreeing with Detroit getting rid of Caldwell. I'm just saying that it's crazy to see a coach with a winning record, in Detroit of all places, get the boot. I mean, his 3 year tenure is damn near unprecedented in Detroit.

I think Elway needs to be careful as his own seat could get a little warm. He hasn't exactly lit the world on fire, recently.

Green Bay also could be teetering on the precipice. They were exposed as a 1 player team, this year. Without Rodgers, they're not very good at all. Everyone already pretty much knew this, but a large number of their fans would insist otherwise. Now, there's really no argument. Jordy Nelson is garbage without Aaron. Most of the big names on that defense are overrated as well. Next year could be really interesting. If Rodgers tapers off at all, they're in trouble.

 

[3GenClone]

Even with the Chiefs in the playoffs, still talk of trading Smith at his peak. Getting some help on both sides of the ball and get salary cap room.

That sounds kind of like a dumb gamble, because the QB free agent market is stacked and teams desperate for QB help also have early draft picks and can get whichever rookie they like the best.

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

Only the Browns could hold two of the first four picks in the draft and still look hopeless.

The Browns should trade back and get 2 later first round picks and a few extra 2nd, 3rd round picks and load up on some support for the QB. Drafting QB after QB hasn't worked. Get something for him to work with.

 

[Mr Janny]

And I can see his second go round with the Raiders playing out similarly to his Tampa tenure. Early success with a team built by someone else (Reggie McKenzie) and then a quick decline.
Speaking of which, McKenzie might be the guy for the Green Bay GM job. I would guess that Gruden wants total control over the roster. McKenzie might look at where things are going and decide it's time to go back to where he built his career.

Totally agree. Gruden has become this genius coach in some people's eyes, and while he did have a few years of success, his coaching tenure was not without some significant flaws. He is heralded as this quarterback whisperer, but his time in Tampa was marred with some pretty bad QB play. I don't think he's the savior that some think he is.

 

[jbindm]

The Browns should trade back and get 2 later first round picks and a few extra 2nd, 3rd round picks and load up on some support for the QB. Drafting QB after QB hasn't worked. Get something for him to work with.

Only because they keep picking the wrong QB. In the last two years they passed on Wentz and Watson, and even before that they missed out on a next tier QB prospect like Teddy Bridgewater in favor of Johnny Manziel. Now, it's fair to argue that those guys don't become who they are if they had gone to the Browns, but they should still keep addressing the QB spot until they get it right. It's still the most important position on the field.

 

[3GenClone]

The Browns should trade back and get 2 later first round picks and a few extra 2nd, 3rd round picks and load up on some support for the QB. Drafting QB after QB hasn't worked. Get something for him to work with.

Browns should see what the Giants want for Manning - as long as they can keep both of their top-4 picks. Then draft Barkley #1 and go with best player available at #4.

 

[SCyclone]

Hard to conclude that one player - even as great a player as Rodgers - is responsible for 8 consecutive playoff appearances and several division championships. I'll be the first to admit that the talent level in Green Bay isn't where it was 7 or 8 years ago, but drafting consistently at the bottom of the pack year after year makes it difficult.

I'm glad to see TT step down. Whoever replaces him will likely be more aggressive, which is exactly what this team needs. A little professional fear of extinction won't hurt anyone. I wouldn't be surprised if Nelson - whose torn ACL aged him pretty quickly - is gone next year, ditto Matthews. Neither are producing at the level they are paid.

 

[Mr Janny]

Hard to conclude that one player - even as great a player as Rodgers - is responsible for 8 consecutive playoff appearances and several division championships. I'll be the first to admit that the talent level in Green Bay isn't where it was 7 or 8 years ago, but drafting consistently at the bottom of the pack year after year makes it difficult.

I'm glad to see TT step down. Whoever replaces him will likely be more aggressive, which is exactly what this team needs. A little professional fear of extinction won't hurt anyone. I wouldn't be surprised if Nelson - whose torn ACL aged him pretty quickly - is gone next year, ditto Matthews. Neither are producing at the level they are paid.

Rodgers covers an awful lot of warts, though.
Nelson is entirely dependent on Rodgers to be a good receiver. He had 6 TDs through the first 5 games of the year, was leading the league. Then, AR got hurt, and he didn't just decline, he fell off the face of the planet.

 

[coolerifyoudid]

That sounds kind of like a dumb gamble, because the QB free agent market is stacked and teams desperate for QB help also have early draft picks and can get whichever rookie they like the best.

Smith is one of the least popular successful QBs I have ever seen. You'd be hard-pressed to find many Chiefs fans willing to credit Smith after a win. Once management drafted a QB in the first round for the first time since Todd Blackledge 34 years ago, Smith has just been keeping the seat warm for Mahomes.

 

[SCyclone]

Rodgers covers an awful lot of warts, though.
Nelson is entirely dependent on Rodgers to be a good receiver. He had 6 TDs through the first 5 games of the year, was leading the league. Then, AR got hurt, and he didn't just decline, he fell off the face of the planet.

I agree, to an extent. In 2010 (Super Bowl year) they had the #2 defense in the league (Matthews in his prime, Woodson, Nick Collins, Raji, etc). Jordy was a great deep threat until he tore his ACL, which apparently cost him a lot of his speed. He can't run away from anyone anymore, which limits him pretty severely.

 

[Rural]

Yeah, the Packers are ******.

(Gripping analysis)

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

Smith is one of the least popular successful QBs I have ever seen. You'd be hard-pressed to find many Chiefs fans willing to credit Smith after a win. Once management drafted a QB in the first round for the first time since Todd Blackledge 34 years ago, Smith has just been keeping the seat warm for Mahomes.

I don't understand that. His career stats aren't going to threaten any records but they aren't awful. 62% completion percentage, 2 to 1 TD to INT ratio.
At the beginning of the season I kept hearing that it was just a matter of time when Mahomes would be starting.