Post by JABF on Jul 23, 2019 11:47:10 GMT -6
+1,000
I definitely understand (and agree with) the bold moves Pace made after he sent John Fox packing. But you can't sustain that type of thing (dealing draft picks for high priced FA's). Here's the thing that stands out to me. Look at the majority of high priced FAs each year on the market and notice how many of them are NOT first round draft picks. Yet they have experienced so much success in the NFL that they are high priced guys. Obviously, there are many exceptions to this and you do have first round guys on the market too. But over and over and over again you see mid to late round guys who have proven to be studs in the NFL.
Instead of "buying" our players at a high price, we need to get our own studs through the draft as much as possible - they are younger and cheaper. Then, like a Bill Belichick, fill out that roster with "value FA players" who fit your team and schemes without breaking the cap bank.
As I said, I don't disagree with the moves so far. Love having Mack here. But as the team moves forward these next years the ONLY way you sustain winning here is to have a steady flow of incoming talent through that draft. We've talked about this a number of times. Don't be afraid to let some of the FAs walk and get the extra draft picks like Belichick does:
It isn't an "accident" that the New England Patriots are always loaded with talent. Think about it. 12 draft picks. Two "extra" 3rd round picks alone... can you imagine what Ryan Pace could do with drafts like that? To put this into perspective we had our 1st draft pick this year in the 3rd round... and only 5 picks in the entire draft. Belechick? With 12 draft picks in Belichick's hand he can laugh at the FAs leaving his team each year. He "buys cheap and sells high" and has the cupboard well-stocked year in and year out. This is what I want to see Ryan Pace do here.
I've watched over 55 seasons of NFL football. When teams try to survive long term "buying" their talent, it has never produced a sustainable winning team. Not sustained winning spanning years.
Most teams first round picks don't go into FA because most teams don't want to get rid of very talented players even at a high price tag. The players in FA are talented sure but most are average at best in easily replaceable position. Once in a while you can find a gem in there. Thing is you can't just ignore FA like the Packers did. There will always be some position that is more talented in FA than the draft.
You don't buy average talent. You let average talent walk. If Eddie Jackson is a top 5 Safety in the NFL. You have to keep him. If he regresses and is just an average Safety like Amos was. You can easily find their replacement.
Even giving up 2 first round picks for Mack our defense has transform into something elite.
I do hope we keep Eddie Jackson. And I agree you don't buy average talent. We're on the same page there.
I also agree you need your QB in place to do something like the Patriots do. Tom Brady is one of the greatest to play QB, ever. But I do recognize that Brady has benefited by great coaching and supporting talent too. If that same Brady had been drafted by the Bears he would have been out of the NFL long ago and with zero rings. People now wouldn't even remember his name. He'd just be one of the 20 or 30 or so QBs that came to the Bears since the 80's, to a dead-end career playing for brain dead coaches. LOL, Brady would have been drafted here to play for Dick Jauron on our last place Bears team of 2000 (and Jauron's 28th ranked offense that scored 13ppg that year). Then (if he lasted here) think Lovie Smith through the John Fox eras would get him all those Super Bowl rings? Playing for "The Logg" and the mighty OC Mike Tice? Personally I don't think so. Maybe I'm wrong though. We will never know.
Brady is a great QB that a brilliant Belichick found in the 6th round of the draft... and Belichick matched him up in a system that he could excel in - and yes, he gave him the the supporti to help him succeed - even Hall of Fame level coaching and player talent. The Bears by contrast had the Chicago Clown Show going here on offense most of those years.