I'm pretty disappointed in general, in general manager Pace. His drafts and FA(for def) are solid, and that's what this team needed, but he has done more to damage the O then help it w/how he's handled the draft and FA since he's been here. Slauson, Bennett, Forte, Marshal all are starters on this roster, before the injuries. Larsen, Whitehair, nor Grasu are beating him at LG or OC. We are learning real quick that w/out a back like Forte, the idea of getting short yardage/goalline plays is still near impossible w/that OL(not always Forte's fault even though people still claim it was), but they are limited in this ability to make something happen between the 10's.
I didn't think bringing in Fox was a good move, but I at least understood it, but I was really worried that he was go back to Lovie ball where the O wouldn't matter; and it sure to hell seems like that's what he did. And the D isn't far enough along to play that style; nor is it a good way to win and win long term.
I'm going to go out on a limb here. There was no obvious issues with talent on Forte nor Bennett. My guess is that the issues were perceived (or real -- I sure don't know) locker room issues and that the moves were driven more through Fox. Pace of course is the guy who actually makes the moves but I think Fox drove them. JMO
Oh I agree completely. Marty put himself on the trading block when he asked for an extension with two years remaining on his deal. The only guys who ever get something like that are so indispensable that a team moves early to save themselves money in the long run.
His fate was sealed when they left him behind for the GB game and then stuck him on the IR.
With Matt it was simply Fox's system of using a RB by committee approach and Matt was tough to take off the field when healthy which incidentally he's not been so far this preseason in NY.
I'm going to go out on a limb here. There was no obvious issues with talent on Forte nor Bennett. My guess is that the issues were perceived (or real -- I sure don't know) locker room issues and that the moves were driven more through Fox. Pace of course is the guy who actually makes the moves but I think Fox drove them. JMO
That might be true, but Forte was considered THE leader in the locker room; even when they had Marshal who was prone to flip out, he'd back down to Forte. If there was issue it was w/him not being 100% football, ie wanting a contract. If Fox cannot handle that then he's not near the coach many thought they were getting. It's not like they had Ray McDonald or Terrell Owens on this roster(even w/Bennett). Many had a large issue w/Trestman and Emery's inability to handle "nfl personalities" well it seems Pace and Fox cannot handle them either.
Ric are you aware that Forte has been MIA most of camp with a hamstring injury and that today is the first game he's played in? I fought against the idea that he was not injury prone and had plenty of good football left in him but maybe I was wrong.
He missed 3 games last year and he's far less than 100% so far this year so maybe they did the right thing. Who can say? But Forte wouldn't make any yardage behind blocking like that either and you don't pay a guy $4 mil a year just to be a locker room leader.
It's in the past now and we can't fix today or tomorrow by looking at yesterday. It probably bears repeating to say again that no team Brandon Marshall has played for has ever been a winner so whether you have him or you don't the results wouldn't be much different. We didn't win anything with both BM and AJ when we had both of them on the field so why should we believe we would now.
He was an expensive option who was wearing out his welcome like he's done after three years with every team he's ever played with starting here in Denver where the Donkey's never won anything when he was here either. I think they've been much happier with Demaryius Thomas whose pretty much a BM clone. And based on his lectures to the Jets front office on how they needed to re-sign Fitzy my guess is they aren't real thrilled with his big mouth right now either.
White's a rookie just playing his first games. Dial up the way back machine and go back and look at AJs rookie game films or BM's and you'd see much the same. Give it time.
I hope you're right, Soul, and yeah I know it's way too soon to panic on White. But holy shit he looks unimpressive thus far. Lot of sloppy cuts and butterfingers. Don't know if you saw Cutler's press conference afterwards--Jay tactfully called him out a little. Words to the effect of: "rookie mistakes are gonna happen but they can't keep happening". Sounded like a hint that White needs to get his head out of his ass, focus, and work harder.
I didn't see the presser but that's exactly what Jay should be doing is calling any and all of them out for not doing the jobs they're put in there to do. That's kind of leadership I want to see out of him.
White needs to be improving each week as does every other rookie starter and second year man on that team without exception. With the exception of a QB every other player on any NFL team is pretty much all he's ever gonna be by year three so his first two years should be his journey to that level.
With the exception of about half that OL the talent is there but once again they aren't playing up to it and that I blame as much on the coaches as I do the players. Maybe Fox has them laying back and playing soft to avoid more injuries but if so that's dumb because it's not working. It's time for Foxy to go a little Ditka on a few of them and ask whether they'd like to play for Chicago or somewhere else an accommodate them.
All in all though I'd rather lose with younger players who can get better than vets who won't.
That might be true, but Forte was considered THE leader in the locker room; even when they had Marshal who was prone to flip out, he'd back down to Forte. If there was issue it was w/him not being 100% football, ie wanting a contract. If Fox cannot handle that then he's not near the coach many thought they were getting. It's not like they had Ray McDonald or Terrell Owens on this roster(even w/Bennett). Many had a large issue w/Trestman and Emery's inability to handle "nfl personalities" well it seems Pace and Fox cannot handle them either.
Ric are you aware that Forte has been MIA most of camp with a hamstring injury and that today is the first game he's played in? I fought against the idea that he was not injury prone and had plenty of good football left in him but maybe I was wrong.
He missed 3 games last year and he's far less than 100% so far this year so maybe they did the right thing. Who can say? But Forte wouldn't make any yardage behind blocking like that either and you don't pay a guy $4 mil a year just to be a locker room leader.
Forte rushed 10 times tonight for 18 yards. As big a fan I was of his, letting a 30yo RB go when you have 3 young replacements in the wings doesn't bother me too much.
I wonder maybe if losing Gase will hurt down the road, as inevitable as it seems. I am really wondering how good that OLine will be now even if Long is healthy. This D from KC was getting pressure on Cutler all half and it was beyond awful. It looked like Trestman all over again. Hope I eat crow with that remark.
I'm not sure what the answer is either but by now a team should be able to at least run it's base offense successfully. These are the 12-15 core plays every one should know their assignments on and be able to execute well.
The pure fact that they aren't even able to do that yet is maddening and if I'm Fox I'm asking for answers from my offensive staff now. From last week to this week they slipped right back in the hole again and looked like they did against Denver.
I also don't accept Cutler's we'll get it worked out. THESE plays should already be worked out and they should be so basic that even the backup can execute them better than this. If they play like this in the opener somebody better start to answer for it.
