Magox

The lack of production from Clay, the emergence of DT and the need for DB's made him expendable.

It's not ideal but based on the players available to them, they went with the best players they thought could win that game.

Shady has grown into a good man. Love that guy!

Sometimes you gotta know when to fold'em.

Just goes to show you how important of a player Gaines has been for this team. I think it's safe to say that he has been a more valuable member of our defense than the guy we traded him for has been for his offense. Without Gaines the defense has suffered. We really need to address the DB position this next coming season.

Here is another gem .

I would say that is their calculation. By no means is it their ideal situation but considering all the players that are available to them on this roster, that is their next best option.

Oh, I suppose we should automatically discount PFF and go with Lurker's grading system. Or should we discount them for popular belief among arm chair analysts who visits message boards on a daily basis?

Because he's only been playing one reserve guard per game. That guard has been Groy. The guard that has been sitting game to game has been between Vlad and Miller. I guess this is yet another decision that McD made that went against popular belief that has been correct.

This is a new team, a new era.

That is better news than I expected

It's not about "ego".

It's two things, A) you had Winston and their skill receivers hitting on all cylinders in the pass game and B) the starting players are quality and what we've seen is a healthy group up until now. Lack of depth is an issue and won't truly be addressed until next year.

The big guy played well yesterday. He wasn't a dominant force where he constantly penetrated but he was a contributing member that helped shut down their run game.

It wasn't an "A" game in the classical sense. Where they dominated both sides of the ball. But what was an "A" game aside from their offense today was their character, their grit. I think many of us fans thought we were going to lose once the score went 27-20. This team fought through it and made plays when it counted. Winston looked like an All Pro yesterday, the guy was on fire. We really went up against an offense that was hitting on just about all cylinders in the passing game. To come away with a victory was damn impressive.

Yeah, I'd be extremely surprised if they went after Bryant. He does not fit the profile of what this organization is trying to build. Pass

The team is ahead of schedule from where I expected them to be. The goals that I had for them were modest which was mainly to clean up their penalty issues, play good disciplined football and improve as the year went on. There are plenty of talent deficiencies on the team but what they have is discipline, character and fight within them. Next year with all those high draft picks and cap room I expect the team from a talent perspective will be considerably better than this year. I think they will pick up some key DB's, WR or two, RB and Guards. Possibly QB as well.

I expect a major revamping of the LB unit next year. Also, I think the way Milano is playing there is a chance he will get a shot at being a starter for this team over the long term.

Don't expect the cavalry to come in until next year. Depth wise it will be a patchwork group until we address it in next years draft and FA.

I'm not so sure about that. He's played well but my guess is that they will want someone a little faster and more instinctual vs the pass.

Actually in fact, it was good enough.

The first touchdown run we had the FB in and Demarco threw a key block and flattened a blitzing Buc.

He's quickly turning into one of my favorite players on this team.

No offense KTD, but the thought that some fans that you went to a bar with put more thought into their DB issue than Beane/McD/Frazier is a bit silly. I suppose you didn't come away with the impression that I did with Beane/McD when they were hired. These are very detailed natured guys, they are very meticulous and process orientated. You nor I are part of their meetings but if I had to bet my last bottom dollar I guarantee you that they went over their lack of depth DB issue with a fine comb. That they went over and over and decided that they didn't have enough confidence to go with some of their other DB's that are on the practice squad and made the difficult calculation that they believed that Poyer and Hyde would be better suited playing man to man on certain formations than the guys they passed over. And if they could have gotten someone that they thought fit into their long-term views who could immediately contribute off of waivers or some other team's practice squad I believe they would have done that. Everything that you brought up, they know full and well that this is an area of concern and for now they will go with patchwork solutions until they address next year in the draft and F.A. At this stage, it's hard for anyone to make a compelling argument against McD/Beane. They've impressed with their decision making and have the results to back it up.