All good points, but I would say two things - I think that Garoppolo is a
better QB than Mason, however, I don’t think he fits with the Steelers desire
to have a mobile QB in this offense. Also, Alualu is back next year, that we do
know, but the Tuitt situation is one to watch. DL should be high on the
shopping list if he doesn’t return.
On 14 Feb 2022, at 17:17, Eric Johannsen ("airhannsen")
<dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
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….. ;)
