smittywerb

idk man, I’ve kind of gave up on him. I’m not saying he’s bad. He’s cool. But he’s not what we need. We need a defensive end that can cause havoc. Unfortunately, those are hard to come by but we might be able to sign one this year depending on how things go. what I feel like happens, from a combination of the eye test and looking at stats, teams don’t worry about the front 4 because they know they can help on buck and Ebukam because of Grover and kwitty. I feel like the reason why the blitz works so well when we do it is because that stops the offensive line from helping on buck and Ebukam. But that also means we need stout safeties and corners because they have less help. Think we’re good on corner for now, definitely need a ballhawk safety. Texans game exposed that.

I’m there with you. I don’t think our problem are our defensive backs, even though I think we should definitely upgrade the FS position with McKinney if possible. I think we need to improve on getting pressure also. people will point to our sacks but where the true story lies is our pressure rate. According to statmuse (https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/ask/which-nfl-teams-pressure-the-qb-the-most-this-season), our pressure rate was 85.0. Which isn’t bad, but isn’t good also. But when you think about the scheme, it’s actually worse because we depend on our front 4 and don’t blitz, meaning our defensive backs are actually solid. The sack number with the low pressure means our defensive backs are actually solid. and then when you look at our pass rush win rate, we have Ebukam and Buckner who perform well (https://www.teamrankings.com/nfl/stat/sack-pct). Which once again leads me to believe our pass rush needs an upgrade, specifically kwitty. Grover is a run stopping machine. I feel if we could get a dog to replace kwitty, that would free up the others. We could use an upgrade at corner but on my personal list of priority, corner is towards the middle. If we could improve on our pass rush and get a safety that could ball hawk, i think we’d see this defense become really good. But above all, regardless of what we do, Gus needs to get more aggressive.

my bad, I’m saying Football IQ, field awareness, etc. not trying to say they’re “dumb”. Football players are actually very educated. I know a few of them. what I’m getting at is that they don’t have that kelce savvyness. Kelce isn’t the fastest or most athletic tight end, but he just find ways to alter his route and get open. Plus him and Mahomes just have that rapport. And kelce isn’t the only one who has that ability, but it’s the easiest way to explain what I’m trying to say.

I think it’s morseo the players: Woods: can’t stay healthy and when he does play he flashes. He needs to just play. I think he’ll be good. Ogletree: doesn’t really have the speed to separate. Doesn’t have the IQ to find soft spots. Mo: See Ogletree Granson: does have the speed, but doesn’t seem to have the route running to break off consistently or the IQ to find soft spots. i don’t think it’s playcalling, because at multiple times this season our tight end group was outperforming the wide receiver group.

I’m ok with AR running. But not running him like a running back. I want more off script scrambles (unless it’s a rollout) and maybe one or two designed runs to catch the defense off guard. basically what we saw Mahomes do in the Super Bowl. That would be perfect. Mahomes led the team in rushing and only had one designed run.

hmmm, so he’s already said he wants to test FA. If we were to do so, would that p*** him off?

AR will be fine. if I remember correctly, the colts got the surgery and shut him down as a precaution and to limit future injuries of the shoulder, not because they had to. So I expected AR to bounce back quickly. Also, he’s super young so his body will heal quickly. he has all off season to get better and get his strength back. Glad to see him throwing.

I can see this happening. Pittman wants to test FA and rightfully so. Depending on what he gets offered, he may welcome the tag. I’m predicting $22million per year for him. Hopefully a team doesn’t try to overpay for him and puts us in a pickle. Question, say if a team offers him $30mill per year but the tag is $26million per year…could we still tag him?

To continue my comment from earlier, I’m going to apply what I learned from the SB to our team: 1. We need an absolute DOG on the defensive line. Buckner is very good, but not Chris Jones good. We need someone nasty that’s going to command double teams on every play. Since we already have Buck, I’m hoping we can pair him with a defensive end. 2. We need an ABSOLUTE number one target for AR. Doesn’t have to be wide receiver, but someone who can affect the game on all levels. Kelce took over that second half in the short and mid range. Not so much deep, but deep enough to keep the safeties occupied. We can get that in Bowers, but if he’s not there we can’t miss not getting a wide receiver. We have to go bowers or best receiver available with the first pick. I know, people are going to say we have Pittman. But we don’t KNOW that yet. We have to go with something that’s certain. If he does have it in him, then that’s more weapons for AR. If not, then at least we have something. But we can’t pass up on the opportunity to get a dynamic weapon because we may not have that chance again for years. 3. Gus needs to find ways to apply pressure by blitzing. I believe KC runs a Tampa 2 also but they are a lot more aggressive than us. The Tampa 2 requires having good corners and safeties. I think Juju and Moore will be fine, still eh about JJ, and we need to upgrade FS BADLY. I’d say sign a vet corner and free safety in FA. 4. AR has to stay healthy. QB is the most important position in the game and can be the deciding factor. KC did not have as much talent as SF but they had the better QB. 5. AR has to know when to run. We saw it in the SF vs Lions game with purdy and we saw it in the SB with Mahomes. Those off script scrambles can kill a defense. Less designed runs, more off script scrambles. Mahomes was the leading rusher for KC and had ONE designed run.

Mahomes record contract is in regards to the total. His salary cap hit per year will be adjusted as he will most likely restructure every year and push the money down. That’s why they made it 10 years. They have 10 years to keep restructuring as the team needs him to in order to keep and acquire talent. Look at sportrac and some of the years on his contract, the cap hit is less than $40mill in the future for multiple years lol. We both know that isn’t going to stay the same. So yes, you are right, Mahomes contract is record breaking, but it works for him and the team so they can stay competitive. what I’m getting at with manning is he didn’t give the colts that option. I understand irsay made it a point to keep him the highest paid qb but manning could’ve said “no, I want to help the team build up”. Manning has every right to his money, I’m just comparing him to Brady and Mahomes and why those 2 were able to keep talent on both sides around while manning and the colts had to penny pinch. now I will say, I would love to see what the hits of Mahomes contract will be later, but right now it’s working great for the chiefs. But that’s about 3-5 years down the line before this contract really becomes heavy.

1. MUST have a good qb. Mahomes is him, but purdy played well also. Either way, must have a good qb. 2. Win the war in the trenches. Have to protect the qb and if you can’t, the qb better have the ability to move and throw on the run. On defense, sacks are ok but pressure and qb hits are more important. 3. Stout defensive backfield. DBs and Safties shorten the field. Makes it easier on everyone else. 4. The threat of the big play. Need to keep the opposing defense honest at all times. It allows receivers to operate underneath. 5. Coaching matters.

Ok, didn’t know this. Thanks for the info! but Once again, this is after signing a record contract. See the second paragraph in my previous response.

idk man, I’m not seeing anything and I was a fan of the team back then. I remember him getting his money (rightfully so). I remember his last contract with us making him the highest paid player in history. Mahomes contract is large but extremely team friendly. And Tom Brady took multiple pay cuts and restructures and has been reported many times. Manning, I can’t find anything and don’t remember anything. What I’m getting at is restructuring your contract while being the highest paid player isn’t the same as taking a pay cut and restructuring.

with us? I know he did with the broncos but I don’t think he did with us. And even when I google for a pay cut he took with us, I don’t see anything. I even saw this article from 2011 calling him selfish lol: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/633485-indianapolis-colts-peyton-manning-has-become-the-most-selfish-player-in-the-nfl and if he did take a pay cut with us, it was after we made him the highest paid player in history at that time. It’s a difference between taking a discount and pay cut (ex. Mahomes, Brady) and becoming the highest paid player in history and restructuring (ex. Manning)

Good read. we are definitely in prime position and not as far off as the media makes us to be. This off-season is so important because everything is aligned. We have the coach, we have the qb, we have the cap room, we have a good draft position. We have to capitalize on all fronts this off-season. and I agree with the philosophy. Even though we just saw a sb that lacked the explosiveness, we saw what an off script qb can do, and we possibly will have one of the best. This defense needs to get nasty. This offense needs to get explosive. And honestly, I think we have the GM to get it. Problem is, will he do it?

I agree, polian did play a role by building the team to play with a lead. Which worked when it worked and didn’t when it didn’t.

Yup, $45 million per year for what Mahomes does is a steal. And we all know that contract is going to constantly get restructured to fit the team’s needs.

If that doesn’t break any rules, I 1000% agree with you.

Yeah sorry colts fan, Mahomes is definitely top 3 at this point. its Brady, Montana, Mahomes. Mahomes is going to pass Montana, the question is will he pass brady. i see people saying Peyton would’ve won more if he had a defense for majority of his career, and that may be true. But the reason why Mahomes has a defense is because Mahomes is willing to take pay cuts to keep his team intact. Not saying manning wouldn’t but he didn’t say he would either. He has a right to his money but I’m just saying ya know.

yup, this all it right here from the horses mouth (pun intended) Like you said, What I’m seeing is people trying to place to blame on someone when everyone played a part. If I to break it down to a percentage I’d definitely give luck most of it. You just can’t come to your employer weeks before something and say I’m done without any heads up whatsoever. Luck should’ve said something when he knew it was a real possibility. If I was Ballard and Reich I’d panic too lol. But there could’ve been more transparency on the coaches and org part also despite the situation. all in all, as I said before, luck wasn’t going to last long for us anyway. He didn’t really want to play QB at an NFL level. So he was going to retire soon anyway because the game was taking a toll on him. I know, it sucks because we all loved luck, but he played a part in the circus. That’s just the truth. Respect to TY for taking up for his teammate but sorry, luck would not have came back.

hmmm, that sucks. I can see why they would say no, especially when thinking about how much money, business, and other stuff was on the line that season but I can’t get mad at them for saying no. Going to link the wickersham article for you also. It’s an interview with Andrew about the entire ordeal. https://www.espn.com/nfl/insider/insider/story/_/id/35163936/andrew-luck-reveals-why-walked-away-nfl

based off the wickersham article, it seems like he told some players during camp, and then told management during the preaseason. Not sure if you’re familiar with the wickersham article but it was basically an interview with Andrew himself about the entire ordeal. I’ll link it so you can see because I might’ve read it wrong. https://www.espn.com/nfl/insider/insider/story/_/id/35163936/andrew-luck-reveals-why-walked-away-nfl

sorry, weeks before the season does not count as knowing beforehand. And from reading Wickershams article, he told them during the preseason which still sucks. that’s really a punch in the gut. Especially when everyone in the org is depending on you to lead them. Imagine a director putting on a big play and the star lead actor tells them they can’t perform weeks before the play. I don’t blame Ballard and company for trying to talk him out of it, what would you expect them to do. It was season suicide. And it also seemed like luck already knew he didn’t want to play football even before the off season program. I don’t know, but I could guess Ballard told luck to at least sit on it and luck was adamant about his decision.

See, this is how I looked at it at first. Also, tight end is not a premium position and it confused me how people hated the Nelson pick but salivate over getting bowers. but once I looked at some bowers tape and reading things about him, I get it now. Tight end is just what he’s listed at, but he’s really a walking mismatch. He’s like a big bodied gadget player. Think CMC if he played tight end. Speed and hands of a receiver in a linebackers body. I’d even say maybe a deebo Samuel offshoot. now, is bowers that explosive player were all hoping to acquire one day to play opposite of Pittman? Maybe not, but I’m hoping we can grab that player in the second. at least that’s how I’m looking at it.

Idk man I’m 50/50 on which side of the fence I’m on. one side, luck did kind of screw the org. It only came out because it got leaked. If he was that close to not wanting to play football before the season, that should’ve been brought to attention and the org would’ve most likely let him take time off. People have the right to voice their opinions on something so even though I personally wouldn’t have boo’ed him, I can’t get mad at people who did. on the other side, the colts failed him. He took a beating playing for us. Management put his well being at risk. Playing football for luck probably was not a fun thing. He gave us everything he had. It was a good gesture to allow luck to keep the money, but honestly he deserved it. With all that said, if what TY saying has any validity then honestly luck would’ve call it quits eventually. You gotta have tough skin to play football. Not only at an NFL level, but at the most important position of the entire sport. And if people booing him hurt his feelings that much, then football probably wouldn’t have ended for him in a good way anyway. anyway, this is water under the bridge. I don’t have anything against luck and I appreciated the years he did give us. I hate grigson for not protecting him. I wouldn’t have boo’ed him personally.