Off Season

Maybe this is too soon after the loss but what do you guys see happening this off season?

I see Hampton, Smith, Farrior and Ward gone. We obviously need offensive line help which will hopefully come in the draft. I would also say corner but with Lewis and Allen not playing it is hard to tell how bad we need help there.

Your thoughts?

 

I see a lot of veterans gone, but I think Hines could stay on for the last year of his contract.

I'm hoping we spend these next few months focused solely on the draft.

 

i would agree that Ward, Farrior and Smith are all probably done. not sure about Hampton though. i would also add Foote, Sepulveda and Suisham to that list of guys gone.

the secondary will be better next year. i think Lewis and Allen both look like they can take the next step. i see Ike fighting for his job and Gay will probably go back to being the 3rd or 4th db.

the biggest changes need to come on the oline and at the ocordinator spot. its time Arians goes and its time they really concentrate on improving that oline. Ben is one of the best qbs in the game and if he ever gets an oline that can actually protect him we will see just how good he is and maybe not see him get killed.

 

I know this seems to be one of the more popular suggestions on here, but we really need a change at Offensive Coordinator. Our offense has no rhyme nor reason to it, we very rarely seem to have a cognitive gameplan and we just have too much of a sandlot mentality. We need to bring somebody in who knows how to devise an intelligent gameplan, utilizing the running game and quick passes to open things up later in the game.

 

Tomlin needs to make his first big decision and let Arians go.

the sooner he sees that Arians is holding this offense back with his total lack of vision the better off this team will be. they have as many if not more weapons than any team in the NFL, but Arians just doesnt know how to call a game.

 

Draft the two best GUARDS in the draft

I don't see Hampton leaving yet. But I would look for his replacement in the draft.
I don't see Farrior leaving yet because we have no one to call the defense. Maybe Foote but I would be looking for another ILB as well

Ward should be done. Along with Smith, Seupuveda, Hoke and Mcfadden.

The secondary should be good. Taylor, Gay, Allen, Lewis and are good starting block.

Bring in someone to teach our Dlinemen how to rush the passer or draft/free agency someone who does. Any one remember Bruce Smith? 3-4 defensive end that could rush the passer. I've been screaming for this for years now.

Bring in Greg Lloyd to teach our outside linebackers another passing rushing move other than the bull rush.

I love Dick Lebeau and I think he is the greatest Defensive Coord on the planet but we need someone to design and implement some exotic blitzes that get to the quarterback.

We need some pass catching TEs. This is the new NFL. Miller is ok but we need another TE/WR type like the saints/patriots/packers/ravens etc..etc.

 

I believe it is wishful thinking to say that we will focus on our o-line. This is the same team that let Allen Fanneca walk. We have needed an o-line for years. We won our last Super Bowl IN SPITE of our o-line! But we are just talking to ourselves so what is the point in complaining. We will take a linebacker in the 1st rd. I would almost bet money on it.

 

Hampton needs to be replaced, his saving grace is I don't think there are any potential FA NT's, and I don't think the draft has a strong NT class this year.....

 

I am not sure we can let Hampton go yet. McClendon is good, but is not a starter. Smith will almost certainly retire. Hines is probably 50/50. Cotchery's status probably has a lot to do with Hines' future in Pittsburgh. Is Jerrico signed for more then one year?

Our draft needs to focus on 2 of the same areas as last year: OL and DL. our third pick should be ILB to replace Farrior after next year.
If we aren't going to consistently run the ball, there is no reason why Mendenhall should get top RB $ from us. Let him walk, pick up a FA, and let Redman lead Moore, Dwyer, Batch, and whoever.

 

In most cases I don't like to see vets hang around longer than they should, but in Wards case I think the situation is different and I say we keep him. as for the others if we can upgrade to help the team then we should. I just don't think we should start dumping players if we don't have somebody better to replace them. I could see two of the four go, but i doubt they will get rid of all four.

 

I don't know how much we would save if hampton is let go or how much dead money we would suffer but nose tackles like him are the thing of the pass. He plays two downs and that's it. We need a nose tackle/defensive tackle type that can rush the passer. McClendon did a good job tonight and in the past. With Hoke gone and Hampton (hopefully) we will need some replacements.

 

I know this will be in the, don't blame BA blame the players refusal pile, but this is still how I feel. We don't know what we want to accomplish on Offense. I looked at my wife when we kicked the 2nd FG and said, we will lose this game. She wanted to know why. My response, because in the playoffs you can't leave 4 points on the field twice. If we go up 14 - 0, that game is different. We have no idea how to use running backs in the new NFL.

Pitt - 2 Targets, 2 Catches
NO - 14 Targets, 12 Catches

You see NO PLANS to use the RB pass as part of their gameplan. To BA they are a last resort dump off. They are just there as a safety net, we have to throw the ball down the field. You can look at other teams and see the same things. Often our RB isn't even covered and yet we still have to throw it 25 yards when we need 3. I just don't get it. We don't always need the big play, we need the first down.

I know that BA didn't fumble the ball today, or draft sucky Olineman which allowed Ben to get sacked, but if you know you have an Oline that can't protect, you must protect them. How many play action passes did we throw today? Can someone tell me? I truly mean that. We have a guy rush for 121 yards....did we take advantage of the PA pass? Our solution to eliminate people getting to Ben is the shotgun. How often do we actually freeze the LBs, continue to go to the pass, and then just dump it to the RB for 7-8 yards. Honestly, I would love to have someone tell me how many PA passes we did today.