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Season Review and Offseason Thread

Dom McRaven

Hall of Famer
As for my review of the season, it was a failure. Sorry not sorry. I can't say it was a success when we lost one round prior than the previous season in which the ways we lost were basically the same ways how we lost virtually each and every single game this season.

Offensively, by far Lamar's best season. Only 4 INTs in which arguably 3 weren't his fault? Impressive. 41 TDs too. At first I wasn't overly excited with the acquisition of Henry, but man, what an amazing season he had. Another aging player who was blessed by the Ravens fountain of youth. My heart breaks for Zay as the football gods continue to punish us. They were like, "Oh word? First 1,000 yard Ravens WR? LMAO watch this." Bateman also had his best season as a WR. He definitely put it all together although he pissed me off in the Browns road game. TEs did their thing. Which leads me to the OL. Rosengarten = STUD. Linderbaum is a top 5 center at worst despite that snap we just saw. Stanley still looked great. That said, upgrading the guard position is a must. I want us to have one of the (if not THE) strongest OLs in the game especially with PIT and CLE's front 7s still there.

Defensively, I was ready to call for Orr's head if he didn't turn this defense around. Boy did he ever. That switch to Hamilton and AD as our starting safeties worked WONDERS. KVN, ANOTHER aging player who was blessed by the Ravens fountain of youth. Oweh looked good too. But those two alone is nowhere NEAR enough. I don't know what tf an Ojabo is other from being a mythical creature but that's another big offseason need. Wiggins seems to be another foundational piece on defense......something that I was hoping Stephens aka BS would be. I'd like to see what TJ Tampa can bring to the table.

S/T. Ummm, yeah I got nothing.


Either way, y'all. We'll see what happens in the offseason, but it'll prolly be more of the same.
 

UPennChem

Hall of Famer
I said before the season even started that EDC made stylistic choice in how he developed the team. He chose to largely ignore the OL and EDGE groups.

I'm a broken record for years now. The teams that win SBs have a QB, an OL, and guy who can rush the passer. That's the formula and we just have never committed to that during the Lamar era.

I hope we can try but it just seems so unlikely to upgrade 2 OL spots while retaining Stanley and then also upgrading EDGE.

This is all in the face of the many other issues we have at Safety, CB, TE etc
 

SepticeyePoe

Hall of Famer
I said before the season even started that EDC made stylistic choice in how he developed the team. He chose to largely ignore the OL and EDGE groups.

I'm a broken record for years now. The teams that win SBs have a QB, an OL, and guy who can rush the passer. That's the formula and we just have never committed to that during the Lamar era.

I hope we can try but it just seems so unlikely to upgrade 2 OL spots while retaining Stanley and then also upgrading EDGE.

This is all in the face of the many other issues we have at Safety, CB, TE etc
I thought our OL was fine today (although an upgrade at guard would be nice). Seemed like they made adjustments in the 2nd half. The pass rush seemed like the greater liability
 

Simba

Staff Member
Moderator
I said before the season even started that EDC made stylistic choice in how he developed the team. He chose to largely ignore the OL and EDGE groups.

I'm a broken record for years now. The teams that win SBs have a QB, an OL, and guy who can rush the passer. That's the formula and we just have never committed to that during the Lamar era.

I hope we can try but it just seems so unlikely to upgrade 2 OL spots while retaining Stanley and then also upgrading EDGE.

This is all in the face of the many other issues we have at Safety, CB, TE etc
I’ll probably do a full rundown tomorrow, but my impression of the OL is that we’re an interior piece away (pending what happens with Stanley) from a really good unit. You can live with 1 guy like Mekari or Faalele but 2 put us in a bind when the going got tough. The early returns were rough but I do respect that they stuck with it and trusted that they’d gel, and I think Faalele in particular will be better for it next year.
 

UPennChem

Hall of Famer
I’ll probably do a full rundown tomorrow, but my impression of the OL is that we’re an interior piece away (pending what happens with Stanley) from a really good unit. You can live with 1 guy like Mekari or Faalele but 2 put us in a bind when the going got tough. The early returns were rough but I do respect that they stuck with it and trusted that they’d gel, and I think Faalele in particular will be better for it next year.
I can't imagine we can keep Stanley and upgrade both OGs. But at least we have Roger and if we roll with Faalele again he should get better. You'd hope. Mekari needs to be let go to be a starter elsewhere or he needs to be OL6 again
 

rossihunter2

Staff Member
Moderator
I said before the season even started that EDC made stylistic choice in how he developed the team. He chose to largely ignore the OL and EDGE groups.

I'm a broken record for years now. The teams that win SBs have a QB, an OL, and guy who can rush the passer. That's the formula and we just have never committed to that during the Lamar era.

I hope we can try but it just seems so unlikely to upgrade 2 OL spots while retaining Stanley and then also upgrading EDGE.

This is all in the face of the many other issues we have at Safety, CB, TE etc

Don’t need 2 OL upgrades - just need to upgrade Mekari - you can have an elite OL without having 5 elite guys

I feel like EDGE is the number 1 need by far on this team - the problem is we pick so late every year it’s tough to have a chance at grabbing studs at that position…

In the 20s we’re either getting great prospects at positions with lower positional value (Tyler linderbaum) or we’re getting prospects with distinct flaws in their profile:

Wiggins had weight/size concerns (and some character stuff behind the scenes)

Zay had size concerns

Oweh was raw and had 0 sacks his final year in college

Bateman had some injury concerns and some occasional drops

Queen was a 1 year starter with lots of development required

Hollywood was massively undersized and coming off surgery

We don’t get opportunities at bona fide blue chip prospects where we pick which makes solving our problems at key positions so much tougher
 

Simba

Staff Member
Moderator
Don’t need 2 OL upgrades - just need to upgrade Mekari - you can have an elite OL without having 5 elite guys

I feel like EDGE is the number 1 need by far on this team - the problem is we pick so late every year it’s tough to have a chance at grabbing studs at that position…

In the 20s we’re either getting great prospects at positions with lower positional value (Tyler linderbaum) or we’re getting prospects with distinct flaws in their profile:

Wiggins had weight/size concerns (and some character stuff behind the scenes)

Zay had size concerns

Oweh was raw and had 0 sacks his final year in college

Bateman had some injury concerns and some occasional drops

Queen was a 1 year starter with lots of development required

Hollywood was massively undersized and coming off surgery

We don’t get opportunities at bona fide blue chip prospects where we pick which makes solving our problems at key positions so much tougher
Im with you on pass rusher. I’m not often one that is keen on giving up high draft picks, but I’d absolutely do it if a stud rusher happened to be available and would work with the long term cap implications of course. We have some solid guys but no one to fear and game plan around.
 

UPennChem

Hall of Famer
Don’t need 2 OL upgrades - just need to upgrade Mekari - you can have an elite OL without having 5 elite guys

I feel like EDGE is the number 1 need by far on this team - the problem is we pick so late every year it’s tough to have a chance at grabbing studs at that position…

In the 20s we’re either getting great prospects at positions with lower positional value (Tyler linderbaum) or we’re getting prospects with distinct flaws in their profile:

Wiggins had weight/size concerns (and some character stuff behind the scenes)

Zay had size concerns

Oweh was raw and had 0 sacks his final year in college

Bateman had some injury concerns and some occasional drops

Queen was a 1 year starter with lots of development required

Hollywood was massively undersized and coming off surgery

We don’t get opportunities at bona fide blue chip prospects where we pick which makes solving our problems at key positions so much tougher
100%. And when Eric says we need to compete every year, it tells you philosophically these are not risk takers. They're not looking for homerun risks. They're very much looking for coaching and culture to take us to the top. I just don't know how possible that is.
 

rossihunter2

Staff Member
Moderator
I can't imagine we can keep Stanley and upgrade both OGs. But at least we have Roger and if we roll with Faalele again he should get better. You'd hope. Mekari needs to be let go to be a starter elsewhere or he needs to be OL6 again

That’s my hope

Re-sign Stanley
Faalele continues to develop
Mekari back to swing tackle/backup C
Have an open competition for LG with Vorhees in year 3, maybe a cheap vet and a rookie day 2 or early day 3 pick

I will say that if mekari does move on, I’d love to retain Josh jones - he was great as the OL6 and did well in limited opportunities as the backup LT (also offers emergency cover at LG)
 

rossihunter2

Staff Member
Moderator
100%. And when Eric says we need to compete every year, it tells you philosophically these are not risk takers. They're not looking for homerun risks. They're very much looking for coaching and culture to take us to the top. I just don't know how possible that is.

I mean they have been taking risks on incomplete profiles - that’s kind of the point of that post

They’ve been unfortunate with Ojabo amounting to nothing and oweh stagnating in his development but they’ve taken some swings
 

UPennChem

Hall of Famer
I mean they have been taking risks on incomplete profiles - that’s kind of the point of that post

They’ve been unfortunate with Ojabo amounting to nothing and oweh stagnating in his development but they’ve taken some swings
I mean risks by trading things like 1st round picks. We don't move up and we don't acquire Maxx Crosby types.
 

Simba

Staff Member
Moderator
Idk who that guy is but I’d definitely be open to it
I’d also be open to giving up the capital to go get a guy if there’s one we believe in via the draft. We tried for Khalil Mack. If there’s a guy we like that much, I feel like it’s time to do it.
 

Simba

Staff Member
Moderator
I’d also like to prioritize a S that can play single high. I love what Ar’Darius did and would absolutely still like to keep him, but adding a rangy guy back there allows Kyle to be Kyle. I feel like he was partly the playmaker we’ve been missing this season because he was forced to play deep more than we probably would have liked.

There have been some nice hits coming out of the mid rounds at S in the last few drafts, so I don’t even think it has to be a super high investment on paper.
 

52520Andrew

Pro Bowler
Have to think Marcus Williams gets cut, what are savings looking like with him?

Stanley seems like the big free agent, had a healthy year and played well, probably will have a healthy market. I do agree that safety and trenches seem like the areas to invest in. Maybe another corner as the 3rd guy
 

JO_75

Hall of Famer
If you all need me..... I'm going to drive to UNC tomorrow and have a chat with Bill Belichick. Just a chat........ just a chat.
 
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