Sammy Watkins' Rib

I'm a big Taylor fan. But knocking guys like Brady and Ryan because they have proven the ability to make quick reads and throws giving their receivers wide open running lanes to pick up big yardage is foolish. Can Taylor and this offense do that? It's yet to be seen. Taylor does things well in his own way. But I would be lying if I were to say I didn't also wish he could pick up some of that quick passing ability that Brady and Ryan show.

100% agree. Sure we don't really run that quick passing system. But is that because we choose not to from the coaching level or because our QB is incapable of running that kind of system.

I think we are all optimistic about the coaching change. That said, we have a heck of a tough schedule next year. This years competition compared to last years: Oakland (with Carr) = Pittsburgh K.C. > Baltimore Denver > Cincinnati San Diego > Cleveland Atlanta = Seattle Tampa Bay = Arizona Carolina > L.A. Rams New Orleans > San Francisco Notice the lack of "<" It also doesn't help that we have given Miami new confidence after they swept us last season. I also worry a bit about any downgrade in our offense just due to the system change. I know we have some pretty good pieces (when healthy) and an above average o-line. Just have to make sure that the system is still one they can run with success. Don't want a situation like when Rex came in and changed everything for the worse on defense. Yeah but it tends to equal out too. Even if we beat one or two of those good teams on paper (like the Cardinals and Pats last year), there is also a good chance we lose a couple that we thought we should have won (Ravens and Jets). Of course the schedule can be factored in even if only on paper. Example, what if we had a theoretical schedule that switch the Patsx2 out with the Browns x2? That would make a huge difference. Same thing can happen year to year depending on the division you are slated to play.

Our very own Bills won only 13 games in a five years stretch that spanned the AFL and NFL from 1968 to 1972, or also the five year stretch from 67-71. Those were 14 game schedules though.

He's not a HOFer but an honorable mention goes to Steven Jackson. He never made the playoffs with the Rams. And from 2005 to 2012 (throwing out his rookie season where he only started 3 games) the Rams won 36 of 128 games for a winning percentage of only 28%. Rams also probably have one of the worst ever five year runs ever between 2007 and 2011 (most of Jackson's prime) winning only 15 of 80 games for a .187 winning percentage. The Detroit Lions won 17 games in the five year stretch from 2005 to 2009, that includes their winless 2008 season. That is the next most futile five year stretch I have found so far next to the Rams 15 wins. Edit: Bucs won only 16 games between 1983 and 1987.

That is bad but Thomas' winning percentage through 10 seasons with the Browns is actually a tick worse at 30%. 48/160 And his rookie season in 2007 the Browns won 10 games missing the final wild card though. Throw out that first season and over the last 9 season Thomas and the Browns have a 26% winning percentage.

Deep into the 20's is their ceiling. They did reach that ceiling last season. But more probable is proably 20-24.

Sorry, I just now noticed your avatar. Going to be kind of hard convincing you otherwise. LOL

And that is putting it nicely. He's done next to nothing in this league IMO outside of play with a fantastic defense. He made Bradford look amazing when you saw the difference between the QB play between them. I guess we don't know if Bridgewater would have developed more and played better last year if he stayed healthy but I'm not betting that he would have.

You can throw all those theories out there but you know if any of these guys were legit prospects they would have been taken in the top five. Look at some of the recent drafts with QBs going #1 and #2 overall. Yet in this draft only one QB goes in the top 9 picks?

That's not a rigning endorsement yet that those moves were smart. Their were plenty of teams in the top six that desperatley needed QBs and they all decided to pass on Mahomes and Watson. That's not a great sign. Honestly, we have a brutal schedule this year. Realistically, there is a chance we are 4-5 win team or even worse. And I'm not usually a doom and gloom fan. But this is one of the first seasons in a while where I feel we might have a pretty big step back. Miami could sweep us again. Pats sweep us. Lose 3 out of 4 to the AFC West. Lose 3 out of 4 to the NFC South. None of that is out of the realm of possibility. And that's 10 losses right there. If we lose week one to the Jets we will all be screaming to tank the season.

He had one of his best years of his career last year posting a career high in YPC at 5.4 and totaling the second most TDs of his career. With this position though, once he hits that RB wall he will be cut quickly.

This was it for me. First three weeks were really good. Beat the Colts, lost to the Pats but then bounced back and absolutely crushed the Dolphins on the road. I thought we maybe finally turned a corner. We blew so many opportunities that year. The London debacle with EJ. The blown second half against Kansas City. Not at least splitting against Philly and Washington. We seemed to self implode in those games. Winning just two of those four games would have put us at 10-6.

One dimensional player? Hardly. Maybe it seems that way to you because he plays with a QB that is limited in his field vision and wiliness to throw into tight windows. But even with that limitation I can tell that Sammy has many dimensions to his game.

That's my point. Did we ever get a chance to see Mallet start a game for them? I don't think he we did. Had he, he probably wouldn't have been as bad as he was in Houston.

Raiders are getting better if you haven't noticed. Carr injury cost them the divisional title. So yes, I think it is very likely Chiefs don't advance as far in the playoffs. And if Denver improves on offense, which I think they will, that could make it harder for the Chiefs to even make the playoffs. Also, saying they will not draft higher than 24th is not that big of a leap. They could still make the playoffs and easily draft between 20-24. Basically that is predicting that they are one of the four wild card losers. Seems fair. They could over achieve and advance to a divisional playoff game again or they could get unlucky and miss the playoffs with Denver or Baltimore bouncing back.

I disagree mostly because he was never on anyone's radar. It would be different if Mahomes was considered a top prospect and half the fans wanted him. Think Cleveland passing on both Goff and Wentz last year. If either of those guys become a franchise player than that is something that would be hard to get over. Mahomes, if he becomes a franchise guy, would simply be like us passing on Carr, Wilson or Dak. And, by the time Mahomes develops into a franchise guy, we might have our own franchise QB too. And if that is the case, will anyone here care?

And we need more DBs. We still need another starting caliber safety IMO.

There is some truth to it. When is the last time the Pats had a bad QB in their system? Do they really draft better QBs then everyone else or do they also have a very good system that helps the QBs?

Doesn't that depend on a couple things. Like 1. If Taylor leads us to the playoffs and becomes our franchise QB. or 2. If not, what do we do with our 2 1sts in 2018?

I agree. They over achieved this year and picked 27th. I highly doubt they pick higher than 24 next year. Won't likely be below 16 but I could easily see it anywhere between 17-24.

We need the Bears to finish with a top three pick. They would likely be a willing trade partner for the right price. Maybe the Rams as well but they could also pull the plug early on Goff if he doesn't show any improvement.

It might even be 50/50 that Darnold even comes out. He could pull a Luck and stay. The other guys could flounder. It's not guarantee that the 2018 class will be as great as people think it will be. I do think Darnold will be special but again, he could stay another year. Especially if USC fails to make the playoff and that is something he really wants to accomplish.

And how would we accomplish this? Trading up to #2 giving up a fortune to get Turbitzky? Turbitzky fixes our problems? Staying put and drafting Lattimore fixes our problems? Taking Watson or Mahomes at #10 fixes our problems?

You know that is the complete opposite of what you are supposed to do right? If the separation between the #1 CB and the #5CB is not very much because the talent level is deep at the position then the value is to trade back, still get a really good CB and pick up extra picks.