Cherry picking responses:
- Barring earth shattering trades, can anyone see a team other than one QB’d by
Mahomes, Allen, Burrow, Herbert and maybe Lamar representing the AFC in the
Super Bowl next year? No. I have been talking with my brothers about the AFC
and how in the matter of a few years, the Steelers went from upper tier QB
situation to one of the worst in the league. Every one of those guys (sans
Lamar, I was never sold that you can win with him) reminds me of 2005 Big Ben
in one way or another.
- If the Bills managed those 13 seconds against the Chiefs better than they
did, I think there would be a parade in Buffalo this week….. Speaks to how
important it is to capitalize on your opportunities to advance in the playoffs
when they're there. Ask Dan Marino if he ever thought his start in XIX would
be his only in the Super Bowl.
- I’m convinced that something was terribly wrong with Mahomes in that playoff
game against the Bengals. they’re in an interesting spot, 4 starting AFC title
games at home but only one Super Bowl and the pack has closed on them…… For all
his success, that sitch is so reminiscent of the early 00's Eagles. 4 straight
NFCCG's, one win, and lost that Super Bowl. He's 3-6 in Conference
Championship Games with only 1 title (and most of the time having the better
team). Not saying he's a bad coach, but the record speaks for itself.
- I like the new regime with the Giants, Daboll can coach and has assembled a
really strong staff, if he can get a tune out of Daniel Jones and if they can
continue to stockpile talent, they could be something, Living in NJ I see a
lot of Giants coverage. They have so many holes on their roster to fill. With
picks #5 and #7, it'll be really interesting to see if they go Offensive line
with both of them or if they spend one on a defensive playmaker - they do not
have one at the moment. Also don't be totally surprised if they explore trade
options for Saquon.
- Do they go all in and throw Lance into the fire, or do they try to get
something for Jimmy G and attempt to bring Brady in? Count me among those who
do not want Jimmy G in Pittsburgh. Is he really THAT much of an upgrade over
Mason? He has more experience, of course, but the inconsistencies between
those two are consistent in my eyes.
Once the Super Bowl ends, every team is back to square one and we can begin to
start really looking ahead to next season. But dangit September is a long way
from here.
And this will be a very different feel, because this will be the first year
since 2003 that I won't enter the year thinking we have as good a shot as any
team to win it all. The Steelers are mid-level at best right now.
One more comment on 2022 - I am hoping really hard that both Alualu and Tuitt
come back. That instantly helps restore the DL with in-house options already
baked into the salary cap.
Eric in NJ
-----Original Message-----
From: David Reid <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Steelers List <steelers_pb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Mon, Feb 14, 2022 10:31 am
Subject: [steelers_pb] Postseason 31 Thoughts about 31 Teams
Barring earth shattering trades, can anyone see a team other than one QB’d by
Mahomes, Allen, Burrow, Herbert and maybe Lamar representing the AFC in the
Super Bowl next year?…... If the Bills managed those 13 seconds against the
Chiefs better than they did, I think there would be a parade in Buffalo this
week….. The Ravens were destroyed by injuries, but I’m very interested in what
they do with Lamar this offseason regarding an extension…….. The Bengals don’t
need a superstar OL, they just need a competent one. If you were to give Mike
Tomlin a big old chunk of cap room this summer, I bet he’d allocate all of it
to Jessie Bates. They are young and fun and talented, but that’s no real
guarantee that they will be able to fend off challenges in the division and in
a packed AFC…. One word to describe Cleveland’s season: Heartwarming. It’s
wonderful to see all the old questions being re-aired after a one year hiatus…
The Broncos need a veteran QB, but how good would they be with a veteran QB?
I’m not sure they automatically become championship contenders. Javonte
Williams is the man, though, what a player he is…… The way the Texans have been
run - and continue to be run, a firing, a token hiring and lining up Josh
McCown for the head coaching gig in 2023 - is a disgrace. If I’m a top rookie,
would I want to play in such a dysfunctional environment? I’d say no…….. The
Colts gambled on Wentz and it has bitten them hard, their collapse against
Jacksonville was jaw dropping…… I saw the historic first win for the Urban
Meyer Jaguars in London. The fact that Trent Baalke has a job down there is
staggering and they won’t improve until he is gone, the Leftwich/Wilson
proposed dream ticket would have been such a boost and a new start, but they’ll
continue to have this disorganised feel to them. A word about Trevor Lawrence
having seen him in the flesh, he is the real deal, he can make the throws that
veterans can’t, the question is, do they get him a supporting cast that gives
him a fighting chance of competing in this league?…. I’m convinced that
something was terribly wrong with Mahomes in that playoff game against the
Bengals. they’re in an intersting spot, 4 starting AFC title games at home but
only one Super Bowl and the pack has closed on them……. I don’t rate Josh
McDaniels as a coach, so what happens in Las Vegas will be very interesting.
Mike Mayock once again demonstrated that plugging a draftnik into a real live
front office does not work…… Big challenge for Brandon Staley and the Chargers,
his game management needs to improve and he needs to learn from his mistakes…..
I hadn’t paid much attention to Mike McDaniel prior to this round of
interviews, but I’m really fascinated by him now. I saw Tua in London, too,
he's is one of those quarterbacks who can make spectacular plays and the most
horrific errors within seconds of each other. McDaniel will have his work cut
out trying to salvage this, if he does though, they can win that division. And
yes, Brian Flores got hosed and should not have been fired after they turned
that season around……. For all the early plaudits, Mac Jones collapsed down the
stretch. And that defense in New England was very solid this season, but also
very old…… Year three of this Jets rebuild is pivotal, they have some real
talent there and 4 picks in the top 38 in April, I’m an interested observer in
how they are rebuilding, I think they are on course, but I need to see more
from Zach Wilson, he needs weapons, but the jury is out on him already…… I was
never convinced that the Titans were the best team in the AFC and so it was
proven. Jeffrey Simmons is the best DL not named Aaron Donald in the league
though….. Another Cardinals collapse down the stretch and the hot seat under
Kingsbury just got turned up a million degrees with this supposed falling out
with Kyler Murray. This is one to watch, Kyler is talented, but if there is
genuine beef here, could he return to baseball? And could another coach correct
this situation? Shoutout to James Conner for staying healthy for once and
knocking in 18 TD’s in 15 games, there was never any doubt that he could do
that in my eyes……Look up the word “nondescript” in the dictionary and the
definition would be your 2021 Atlanta Falcons…… How committed to establishing a
culture under Matt Rhule is David Tepper in Carolina? I give it one more year,
but he is a coach who needs to turn this around and fast…… I predict the Bears
will be looking for another head coach in 2-3 years. The decision not to pair
Justin Fields with Eric Bieniemy is a bad one. Coaches like Eberflus are a dime
a dozen in this league……. The Cowboys collapse was delightful, because they
have spectacularly underachieved. My prediction that Micah Parsons was the best
defensive player in the draft was bang on for once, but seriously, do they
really think that McCarthy can deliver a title there? And I’m not sure that
Sean Payton wants that pressure, either……. Of all the teams in the league, I am
most fascinated by the Lions. They have a head coach with a football IQ
somewhere in the 70’s and yet, they are building an identity and a culture that
could mean they are going places. They are at the bottom end of the scale
talent-wise, but they have picks to burn and could acquire more, but if they
begin to put the pieces together, then they can rise in that division. They
kept fighting until the very end and not all teams in that position do that……
Now that McVey won the big one, attention shifts to whether Matt LaFleur can do
it. Everything hinges on Rodgers return and it seems that bridges have been
built after he napalmed them last year, but if he does stay, can they get this
right and at what cost?…… The Champs can ride the wave this offseason, but I’m
very interested to see how they manage the cap and retain the free agents they
have. And if Donald retires, they will fall back to the pack in a big way……
Interesting new regime in Minnesota, they lost a lot of really close games, fix
this defense and they can win that division if they can overcome Kirk Cousins
frequent bouts of aloof dickishness……. The Saints are one to watch, no QB and
the rest could get messy in a hurry, that Michael Thomas business was off the
wall as well…… I like the new regime with the Giants, Daboll can coach and has
assembled a really strong staff, if he can get a tune out of Daniel Jones and
if they can continue to stockpile talent, they could be something, but that new
regime needs to clear out the front office deadwood first which will be tough
as half of them have power and are backstabbers and are related to one or both
of the owners…. Philadelphia can be kingmakers in this draft with three first
rounders and 5 picks in the top 80. I like Jalen Hurts to a point, but he needs
help, I thought Siriani did really well after a rough start, if they can
continue to build and continue to tailor things to Hurts, they can contend with
Dallas, I have reservations, but it’s one to watch…… Very interesting offseason
in San Francisco who went all in on a QB who wasn’t ready and will be paying
the price tag for him for a couple of years to come. Do they go all in and
throw Lance into the fire, or do they try to get something for Jimmy G and
attempt to bring Brady in? Lance is talented, but he needs to make the leap,
they are a really good team, but expecting more from Lance than they got from
Garoppolo is a big risk. Deals like that can sink GM’s and coaches if they
don’t come off…… And speaking of being burned by deals, the Seahawks crashed
and burned a) with the Jamal Adams deal and b) John Schneider thinking for the
last 5 years now that he can draft better than anyone else by trying to be
clever, Schneider’ draft record would have got him fired in many places by now.
Now, do they trade Russell Wilson for a kings ransom this year or not? And if
they do, can Schneider be trusted with the picks to build a backbone for this
team again? I think that in one year’s time, we’ll be talking about a new coach
and GM in Seattle with questions at QB and wondering where they go from here…..
I never thought for one second this year that the Bucs would repeat (mainly
because the way they stayed healthy in 2020 was an anomaly and bringing all 22
starters back is not the recipe for success that many think it is) and now they
might just have the worst QB situation in the league with Bortles or Kyle Trask
starting. Maybe they are the ones to make a big move this offseason for one…..
As for Washington, see Houston. A cesspit ownership who needs to be stripped of
the franchise, they need a QB, I feel sorry for Ron Rivera, a good coach in an
awful situation, the sooner the league can move on from Daniel Snyder, the
better…..
And breathe….. ;)
