One of my biggest qualms with people in general is that they too frequently live in the moment. Because of this, we live in a hyperbolic universe where everything is the "biggest, best, and worst." Seldom do I think that these sentiments contain truth and, most often they, need to be examined in context. Rarely is the sky actually falling. This Monday feels different. We looked awful. If we have had any semblance of offense, we could have won the last two games. The problem certainly is not a lack of talent. We can debate all we want about just how talented our roster is, but I am positive that we are not incapable of scoring points. If you look at Cutler's stat lines, his numbers are not horrendous. By no means does he look like an interception waiting to happen. Objectively, I think that the play calling has been atrocious. Gase's commitment to throwing screen passes is maddening. Moreover, this does not appear like it is an example of one poor game plan. I completely understand making a plan, and it not working. This appears like it is a systemic issue where the framework of our offense really is centered around the screen pass. Furthermore, the offense just appears genuinely out of sync. We showed no growth or improvement after the Jets game. The commentators raved about the "vastly improved Saints' defense." *Spoiler Alert* - the Saints' defense is not vastly improved. We got shut out by one of the worst defenses in the league. There is no excuse for our offense woes. Honestly, think about it. How many coaches in the NFL would have coached this team to more than two touchdowns in three games? Honestly, my guess would be every single one. But here is the rub, I think that the number would be higher than 31. I think that many offensive coordinators in the league would have more than two touchdowns with this roster and probably some recently fired coaches. Seriously, I think the answer is to blow it all up. Fire Tannenbaum. Ross is a good owner, but he just needs help. Hire a Ron Wolf as a consultant. Start talking to coaches through underground channels and see if we can lure any big names. If a top name is willing to take the job, let him hire his own GM. If a big name is not interested the job, let Wolf hire a GM, and let him bring in his own coach. In either case, I would let the new regime decide Tannehill's fate. We will likely have a high draft pick. If they want to go in a completely new direction, that is fine with me. This is not an overreaction. Blow. This. Up.
I guess. I remember week 4 of last year being vaguely similar then we got lightning in a bottle for the rest of the year. I don't know how realistic it is to expect a repeat of that. I'd say stay the course for the year and see how it goes. Really really tired of cutting bait on coaches every couple years as it has yet to yield a winner. More bad decisions aren't going to make the future brighter. I agree on a Ron Wolf hire as a consultant to see if we can right the ship now as opposed to later.
The only thing that needs to be blown up is the o-line and Gase's playcalling. I'm willing to give Gase more than 1 playoff season and 3 games to start a really weird 2nd season that has been filled with season ending injuries to the starting QB, starting RT, starting CB, rookie (starting?) LB, and a hurricane AND 3 road games including one in London.
Even if you look at the o-line, there is talent there. Pouncy, Tunsil, and James are all above average talent. We shouldn't be abysmal. The idea that Gase's play calling is the problem, but you want to keep Gase seems problematic to me. Gase was brought in to fix the offense, and his answer seems to be screen passes. His play calling is obvious and telegraphed. In a lot of ways, he is the problem. I agree that the start to the season is weird, and we suffered some blows in the preseason. I just cannot wrap my mind around the fact that we have scored 2 TDs in 3 games. We are not that bad. The slow start, I can handle. But it doesn't look like things are even starting to click. I would be shocked if we score three offensive TDs next weekend.
Tunsil has been playing average, at best. James has had some good moments, but mostly in the LAC game. Pouncey is Pouncey. Honestly, I don't see Tunsil being that great LT anchor for years to come. He plays lazy. Yes, Gase is a big problem with his play calling.
I don't think we need to "blow it up", but there's significant roster turnover that needs to happen, especially on the interior offensive line. To have guys that have changed positions late in their careers, undrafted free agents, and practice squad castoffs as your starters isn't good, and that's bearing out. These guys are great for cheap, experienced depth, but not for starters on the offensive line. Couple that with the fact that Pouncey and Tunsil are still adjusting, to previous injury and position swap, and these games have been absolutely painful to watch. So much of our offensive engine last year was Jay Ajayi's running. To not augment that, as the main cog in your offense, in the offseason is beginning to look like a mistake. Now, we have a game in hand, but this 3-game start has not been encouraging at all. These guys need to start playing well.. like.. right now. Opposing teams aren't offering any relief when their front 4 can handle our "run game" pretty much themselves. This allows the rest of the defense to just sit back and get in the way of our passing game. The sad part is that we have a couple of defensive superstars ala Wake, Jones, and Suh that are completely wallowing, and uselessly eating cap, away on a defense that has no complementary offensive help. By the time we get there offensively, they may be over the hill. Hell, it's a miracle that Wake isn't there already. I'm not saying that they're a waste of the cap, just that we haven't seen their value as much because the offense has been stinking so bad. We haven't been drafting positions where we haven't spent in free agency. Maddening so far. So not only do we need to hit on the offensive trenches, we'd have to spend draft picks on the most important parts of a defense, especially edge rusher. We have Charles Harris, who is showing, at least, but William Hayes is getting old and on a one-year contract, Andre Branch is okay I guess? We still need another linebacker or two, even counting Raekwon. It's a lot. I expect the coaching staff to switch up the calls, but I don't know how the offensive line play, and Cutler, who looks scared to throw it sometimes (perhaps because he isn't getting the protection), are going to take advantage of it. Here's hoping, the roster needs a lot of work yet. That's without factoring in Tannehill's ACL tear, as well. I complained about the roster last year as well, then the team turned it around and made me eat my words. I'd be glad if they did it again.
I am with you concerning our defensive vets. Honestly, I would be willing to go the Jason Taylor route with Cam Wake. If we could trade him to a winner for a second round pick, I would do it in a heartbeat. He deserves a chance to compete, and we need to think about getting younger talent. I seriously wouldn't be angry for a second if we traded him to the Patriots. Think about that statement.
It would be nice to stick to something...anything...for more than 2 years. We're only going to get better if we stick to a plan for more than one season.
For as talented as Gase is from an X's and O's perspective (supposedly), I find the guy to be insanely stubborn and it's very counterproductive to the growth of this team.
We have been sticking to one thing - not addressing the offensive line. In fact, we have gotten darn good at finding mid round offensive linemen that are subpar. Just think, in 3 more seasons, we will still be addressing the offensive line. There were a bevy of linemen available in free agency. We stuck to the plan and did not sign any of them. We've also stuck to screen passes all year. It aint getting better. I am all for sticking to something and working to get better, but sticking to something for the sake of sticking to something makes little sense.
I would. If that were to happen we wouldn't get anything in return. Not to mention having to play him 2x per year. Besides, the Pats have as many losses as us right now. lol
Patriots scored thirty points last week. We haven't scored twenty points all year. Not having Wake will have no impact on the end result of the game.
I think 1 overlooked loss was albert at left tackle.With him at LT we had one hell of a guard in tunsil.Now we have a so far a below average left tackle and a couple of shiity guards.Its like we lost 2 starters on the line.And damm you tannenbaum for not addressing this.
Tunsil was OK at guard, if even. I'm not blaming the FO for letting Albert walk and Tunsil taking over the LT position. He was a top-3 pick, at LT, before the bong video. I expect him to adjust, it's just going to take him a little longer. He hasn't been Ereck Flowers-ing it out there, he just needs reps. Another defense is that they did sign Ted Larsen, and Kraig Urbik was healthy, but they've both gone down. Jermon Bushrod, however, has been ineffective. With all his postulating and reassurance that he'd be better in year 2 at RG, I told myself to be patient and give it a chance. It isn't working. The fact that there isn't an alternative to Bushrod is concerning, the FO was too busy filling obvious holes in the linebacker position (a position that fans knew was **** last year) they should have filled before last year, and the cycle repeats and repeats and repeats. I'm not talking about after-the-season personnel reflection either, I'm talking about "Oh my god, are you ****ing blind/stupid!" type of activity we should be making. The fans, like us on this board, can smell it before the season, only to be greeted by reality when the season actually starts. Fans know the interior OL has been neglected year after year for awhile now. The FO can act all high and mighty and subscribe to the philosophy that because interior offensive linemen don't touch the ball = not worth a high round pick. Well, clearly, that philosophy is stunting the offense. The proof is in the pudding. Our whole offense is effected. They've pigeonholed themselves into this lousy OL performance because they're unwilling to spend on a high-priced guard, which is fine, if you've been hitting on your draft picks which we haven't been. The real stinker is that even after realizing that Dallas Thomas and Billy Turner weren't going to work out at guard, they ignored surefire talent in free agency. Ted Larsen is a ? until he actually plays this season, Bushrod is repeating last year. Even Bushrod, a known commodity with the FO, doesn't have a contingency plan after all of the lousy play last year. I'm ranting, because I'm a little befuddled. Revisionist history, I guess.
I really question the play calling lately. I agree that we look like philbin era teams with zero dedication to the run. Sell that ****, jumbo sets and work it for the play action later. We were down by 3 at half... I just don't understand how we're back to this offense again. This Tenn game could be ugly even if Mariota doesn't play. (Sighs)
-We have 3 first round picks on the Oline and have invested numerous 3rds on guards as well as some free agent dollars. It's inexplicable that none have proven to be even serviceable. Call it rotten luck because it spans multiple GMs and line coaches. I will say that Julius Thomas has always been an atrocious blocker, so they should have known the damage he would do to our protection schemes. -NFL defenses see a weakness and exploit it until you fix it. Our Oline can't handle stunts or blitzes. Period. That necessitates getting the ball out quick ala bubble screens and quick slants/outs. So, defenses know the game is within 10 yds of the LOS and suddenly the box is stacked and we can't run. Only way Gase can change it is to get the pocket to hold up and hit them downfield in order to make them adjust and pull the safeties and blitzers back. Until you show you can do it, expect more of the same. Man up time or heads on the line roll.
It's laughable to think QB is the problem. I mean, people complained about Tannehill, but it certainly seems on the surface that he was most definitely not the problem.
