I'll say he sucks. Wait till Berger gets hurt and we need to play Proctor at center. You can forget the inside running game. This is getting ridiculous, We are getting rid of a lot of our good depth over money. Douglas, Grant, and now Grove. It makes me sick. We will not be able to survive injuries this season.
I know this FO works as a team but it seems that all the articles considering Parcells step aside revealed that Gaines/Parcells pushed FA and Ireland pushed the draft maybe Parcells realized too many chiefs did not give clarity to the direction we needed as far as talent was concerned. That being said, this is pretty much Irelands show now. All the articles on this are stating that Sparano is impressing upon his team that next to talent durability rules. I think the writing was on the wall for Grove and that maybe his shoulder was more problematic than we the fans understood. Too much money for a backup and an injured shoulder gets you an exit ala Smiley. Just a thought...
Good point, the only thing I can add is there was a dual failure. -Free Agent Olinemen, the big money ones, flamed out, Smiley, Grove. -more importantly, the young developmental Olinemen, largely flamed out as well. -thomas -Murph -gardner Only the after thought guys made it, Incognito, Berger, Proctor, McQuistan. Hate to be harsh but you sorta have to wonder what in the hell Sparano, the fmr Oline Coach saw in those washout players because going forwards you cannot have that as a Trend. Basically the only young, developing Olinemen are Murtha and Garner.
Being Irelands show now I'd imagine Sparano will have to make his point with him much more. I'd bet Ireland has a pretty good feel for Ross' purse string now. Only time will tell if Parcells move to the side was the right move at the right time. We should have much more clarity in the talent direction now.
True, and they have to play some games before we all head out on the ledge. My point, as I watch Carl Nicks road grade the Williams Wall, is Sparano, or whomever is picking these Olinemen, are not doing a good job at all of choosing them. I can appreciate the fact they jettison mistakes, no matter draft choice or Free Agent, what I don't like is the fact it keeps on happening. If Ireland was not finding gems in low level FA's this team would be in a bad way. I'm holding out some small hope they pick up Herman Johnson who was waived by the Cardinals..6'6 350..drop him in at Guard and be done with this nonsense.
I couldn't agree more. It's almost as though they are trying to justify their wages by granting the illusion that they are doing something, when in reality they are doing nothing. I think Ireland is an idiot and I was not happy when I heard the news that he was given the reins, regardless how they spun it. There is no other team in the NFL that continues to rebuild the team while playing the season like we have the last two years. This is damn foolish and it looks like there is no ends in sight. In order for us to be champions we will have to stop rebuilding long enough to win something. This endless fiddling is a sign that we are years away from the end of the teams re-build regardless of what they claim. It's time to stop the damn talent search and win the damn division.
I have to kind of agree with you. It's like Tuna is constantly auditioning talent. I think he should be an American idol judge. Seriously though this has become very puzzling. It's almost as if no one can satisfy them. Last years draft was a joke, and the FA's that we got last year are mostly gone as well. Carpenters who constantly keep going back for more material have no blueprint of the finished product. This is starting to look the same way.
How much of that is the fact that too many people with power were pushing "their" guy and not working in the same direction? Can't say it was all Ireland and can't say it was not Ireland. Until we get a few games in this season as well as see how the post season goes with what appears to be one mind set now we can't say for sure. Ireland could be the saving grace if BP had lost his talent touch. Bottom line, we need to let this play out this season and see what happens.
Never does make much sense to build your team out of players that other teams didn't really want. Its not like they were cut for no reason, these guys couldn't make that team. That usually means there were 3 other guys better than him on that team and here we are picking them up like were getting extra draft picks or something??
To a point, they have nailed down QB/WR/DB/PRusher or so it would seem. I cannot argue with Irelands' results from doing so, and perhaps in 09 they did not do it enough? Whomever did the talent/state of the team evaluations in 2009 seriously botched their job.
Can't agree with 'never" Wake Polite DBess Ikaika Francis Micah Johnson Dan Carpenter Clifton Smith All discards, all key pieces or expected to be key pieces.
If you think you're getting frustrated, how would you like to be the equipment manager! They probably can't even keep track of who is wearing what number, what week. Now that's a job that would really suck!
Then after two seasons we think the team is turning the corner to be good and they do it again? So...
The Starters were upgraded, why the meshugginah over back up players? Let me ask, do you think the depth is better than what the Jets have? Pats? Bills?
at the supposedly core positions that Ireland outline a while back (I think I have them right), we are looking pretty set. QB- Chad Henne (still not sold) CB- Vontae Davis LT- Jake Long Passrusher- Cameron Wake WR- Brandon Marshall NT- Starks (I'm not convinced he can hold up long-term here) The secondary remains a mess, the interior o-line is a total experiment, and this team seems to sign high-priced free agents and just cut them a year later. There's still a lot of work to be done. Will see if the 'core' is really the nucleus the team revolves around, or whether a true core should be something else. My opinion is that if a running game can't get going, and the QB is on his butt every 7 step drop, than it really doesn't matter what kind of CB you have.
The Starting offensive line is a mess Padre! There is one upgrade, one possible upgrade, and an unknown rookie. The depth behind that now sucks. No matter how you slice it. I think the depth was pretty damned good with some of the players they cut and put on IR so yeah, I think it was as good.
I would add Center as a core position as well. As for Starks. I don't know if he'll hold up either but the one thing I do know is that he should be a DE in this system. I'm hoping Solai steps it up this year. He has almost everything to be a good one.
On the Oline? Eh, did the second team Oline look good to you in the preseason? FWIW I'm not sure they have upgraded the interior of the Oline, what I do think they did was improve the Consistency and Cohesion of that unit. Less blown assignments, less penalties.
Jerry is a young developing OL too. Hartline could be included even though he is on the PS, since you included Garner who is IR. They see something worthwhile in Parnell to basically replace Gardner with him. That adds up to 5 young developing OL. McQuistan is still only 25 too, even though he is heading into his 5th season.
' FWIW, I'd add Returner to that list, and maybe a Stud Gunner. Agree about Starks but it depends on Odrick, if Odie plays like a knuckle head then I'd hope Sparano does move Soliai into the NT position and Starks back out to DE. With Wake and Odie manning the right side of the Defense front 7, best believe draws and shovel passes and screens will be run to that side of the field, it is Odie's job to sniff them out, if he doesn't Sparano had better not hesitate to make the switch, even during the game in Buffalo.
What? When Sparano et all got here we had a 40% roster turnover (or more) and won the division immediately (11-5). You're suggesting a similar turnover now, which would suggest another division title. In that comparison last year's 7-9 would be the "1-15." I doubt Sparano would ever have a team go 1-15, even if we only had 53 guys playing for the minimum.
Different views Mr C, Jerry has been a Day 1 starter since TC opened, in my mind he should be expected to play like a Starter. As for Parnell, it strikes me that he is in the roster churn zone, so I have no real opinion of him one way or another as he may not be around for long. Eh, along with Proctor, if they were good, why weren't they already acquired from Dallas? Why blow tens of millions on Smiley and Grove?
Except for some pretty good drives in game two, the entire offensive line did not impress me but it's preseason. They can go thru the season without one blown assignment or penalty but without some lineman blowing people off the line they won't be the run based line it was looking to be before training camp started.
What? lol One, maybe two injuries on the offensive line and Sparano better be ready to suit up if he wants to make you correct. It could get very ugly pretty quick.
If you think Jerry is fully developed right now and won't continue to improve over the next couple of years, well, ok.
I'm not saying I'm going to be correct (I predicted a 9-7 record this year), I'm just saying people suggesting the season is lost because of a few cuts (or "lack of time to gel") need to only look to 2008 to see that roster change isn't the end of the world.
Eh, I saw some things, for example on Ricky's nice run Berger turned out the NT with relative ease, have to admit was not thrilled with line play overall.
Sparano won the division with two in season, street FA pickup Guards and Incognito and Jerry are far better players than Ndukwe and Alleman were.
Comparing preseason with regular season play is like apples and oranges. Berger beat out Grove and Grove proved once again in the preseason to be an injury waiting to happen. I commend the FO for moving on and doing what they can. It shows they are comitted to making progress, even if it means admitting their own mistakes...
Well, I have not suggested the season is lost but could see trouble with some injuries on the LOS. The depth might have some promise but I'm not comfortable with them being ready to contribute. Also I just like to debate/argue/whatever we call it...
Both players came in due to injuries. Are you comfortable that Sparano can do as good if the current backups are needed? I like most of the starters on the team, but the depth is full of developmental players with hardly any experience.
Yeah there was one or three plays here and there that showed good things. I totally understand that it was preseason but there was hardly anything other than a few drives and a couple of plays here and there that made me say hmmm we're soo much better this season.
Yep, believe me when I say I'd be much happier with: Thomas' Grove Smiley As the Opening Day Oline, now it is like we are back to Square 1. Sparano needs to knock that crap off and settle on some guys, he has said "the same line has been together for 25 practices with Berger and Grove rotating" but still, Jerry is a Rook who had little push in the preseason, and Incognito is also an unknown. Stack that up with the Starting Experience we just gave away and I can see what you are saying. Jerry-0 starts Berger-surely less than 16 games, he started 4 in 09 but in Dallas I think he was an occasional starter Incognito-plenty of experience, but can be a headcase and become to easily prevoked into Dummy Penalties. I "think" they will be fine, but until I see it, I do not "know" it.
