Irish Boy wrote:
I'm less concerned about coaching that I am about personnel. If there's a coaching change, then fine, but it's not going to matter unless some of the holes get filled.
On defense, you can pencil in Gaines Adams as a starter next year on the line and probably no one else. You're stuck with that at this point. Brown and Ogunleye should be released. I'd try to renegotiate Tommy Harris's contract and reduce the cap hit for the coming season, but outright releasing him would be a mistake, unless he's adamant about not renegotiating, and then I'd think about it, but still probably live with the cap hit unless there's someone out there that sneaks through to unrestricted free agency who is really appealing. There's a loaded DE free agent class this year in theory, but there's no telling who will actually get through. Pray that Julius Peppers sneaks through.
Linebacker is set for next year with Briggs, Urlacher, and Hillenmeyer.
Secondary looks set at two positions with Tillman and Afalava, and I suppose you can live with Bowman on the other side, but I'm not wild about it. If you can sign a decent safety alongside Afalava, fine, but not if it prevents you from making a big signing at DE. Chances are the best thing to do there is continue playing late-round draft roulette.
On offense, Pace is probably retired, and if not, he's gone. The Kreutz situation is up in the air, but if he can get over himself I'd keep him. Both tackle positions seem set. Guards are the easiest position to pick up in the middle rounds, and I'd have at least two interior linemen drafted by the end of round four.
It's not worth chasing a WR free agent unless you can get Marshall or Boldin, and getting either of those two would mean not getting a DE. If there are no defensive ends to get in free agency, fine, go after those two, but the defense is going to suck from lack of pass rush. There's a logjam at WR right now, with a lot of guys with very similar skill sets. If someone wants to take Johnny Knox off my hands for a third or fourth, great, I just improved my draft pick from last year. Iglesias has to see the field as well. I don't think this is vital.
A veteran guy has to be brought in to push Forte, but there's probably not going to be anyone worth getting in free agency. There you're just going to have to pray for improvement. Kahlil Bell will get a chance to try out for a spot on the team and no more.
As for coaching, it's a given that both coordinators are gone. I'd have feelers for Schottenheimer, Cowher, and Harbaugh. If all are lukewarm on the offer, I force the coordinators out and give Lovie an additional year. If Lovie refuses, he's gone, and the chips fall where they may. As for the coordinator positions, I want someone with a pedigree of wide-open passing. If you have four #2 receivers on the team and a better-than-average TE in Olsen, then I want them all on the field at the same time, and I want the ball in the air. If Raheem Morris is out in Tampa I see if he wants to be DC.
Couldn't have been written better than anyone else at Pro Football Weekly, congrats.
While I tend to agree with you about being skeptical about bringing in Cutler's guy as OC, the rationale you follow is off IMO. Nas is right, the guy had a bunch of 18-19 yr. olds, led by a preening, self-entitled 19 yr. old who reads every press clipping and whose dad (re-)posted the glowing ones. It isn't fair to damn him because St. Matt B's warts were exposed on the field...along with the overrated Trojan D.
I simply wouldn't trust Cutler to make this call. Why would any sane organization put this kind of authority in the hands of a kid who has never won at any real level, and worse, seems to lack perspective?
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