Maine-iac

No problems with Cooper coming back if the price is right. Mike Williams or Noah Brown might be a bargain veteran at the outside WR spot. Otherwise I'd hope for another 4th or 5th round find like Gabe or Shakir. We don't necessarily need a superstar just someone who can keep the defense honest when they play single high or cover zero. Be able to run a route or beat one guy down the field.

Trade back for picks and take Alfred Collins and Mukuba in the second.

The whole idea that the line has to not only pass rush like they're only job is to pass rush but also hold up against the run while we play light boxes behind it is (in my opinion) a major contributor to this problem. We've had impressive seasons from DT's. Kyle Williams, Jordan Phillps (2019), and Oliver have all had good seasons under McDermott but being susceptible to teams that run the ball well is almost a staple. That said it was usually great coverage behind it and a calculated weakness. this year was frustrating because the coverage behind it was didn't hold up in almost any of the games we played and we either created a turnover or they scored.

Bargain (relatively speaking) bin shopping. BJ Hill at 10 mil a year would go a long way toward fixing some problems Mike Williams could probably do enough Amari Cooper things at half the price (10mil) Chase Young combines great size, speed, and strenght and if spotrac is right he only has 6 starts and no injuries in the last 2 years. If we can sign him to an AJ like contract I'd do it (if?). Julian Blackmon good size and speed and has a history at CB. Might be too rich for my blood of a FA signing but he could be a starter. Hopefully him and Bishop. Not throwing too much bank at anyone and we still have draft picks for more needs.

Lyles is known for his closing speed but working on his get off he actually beat Coleman last february in a 60m race. Tyreek's speed on the field is amazing and it's respectable on the track but Lyles is possibly best in the world at 3 different distances.

I mean if he asks for 15 and signs for 10 to 12 probably everyone is happy.

I think the biggest thing that can't be said enough is that he is taken off the field when pass protection is critical. If he was on the field in any situation, pass blocking, making critical catches, and using his running ability and speed there might be an argument. That said he comes off the field in many situations and in that respect somewhat hard to compare to upper echelon RB's despite his ability.

Cook goes out with an injury and Davis goes off for 97 yards rushing and 55 receiving. I love Cook but it's not a 15 million a year love. Johnson and Davis could get it done and finding RB's is much easier than cover corners or edge rushers.

Truth is the defense couldn't stop anyone most of the season. We outscored most teams and got some turnovers. No offense to Bishop but we need two safeties that played CB at some point and someone who plays every down on the Dline like his hair is on fire.

Honestly can't believe the Chiefs didn't even try to run. Defense was keeping them in it for a while.

Guess a 290 pound DT can be effective.

Never would have thought we'd see Kenny Pickett playing QB and the Eagles win.

Is that the one where we had the lead and Thomas lost his helmet for a quarter?

We just both want to win. Can't hate on that.

Thought Barkley would run all over them.

Your not wrong. It's like playoff football they stop calling everything and let the players play. Letting posters post? Think I'm venting a bit. Been a long season and this is an unsatisfying end.

Did you miss the rest of what I said or chose to ignore it? We're already scoring 30 points a game. Thinking you can just score another 10 and that's going to fix not fixing the defense is no better an answer than saying we need to fix the defense. Sometimes answers are not easy and what you want to hear. Sometimes they are complicated and not what you want to hear. I don't know how they will do it. I could ramble on with my thoughts, but clearly it's the defense that NEEDS to get better. The offense essentially as good as you are going to get against SB worthy teams. You might as well say we need to get lucky because it's probably the same chances of scoring 40 a game in the playoffs against Spags.

xavier bubadar's not going to be happy

Well the offense hasn't done it either. We've "statistically" had top offenses and defenses and neither has beat the Chiefs in the playoffs. I'm with you in questioning if a McDermott team can actually be a team that can get after QB's. Get a better DC, I'm not sure, but our offense is essentially playing as well as you are going to against Spags and our defense is without a doubt the part that needs to get better.

I have to give the Chiefs credit in that I thought Jalen Carter would be killing them but that said Sweat is owning their right tackle. Chiefs making it easy in some respects by not running at all. Not sure why they are getting so much pressure off the right side when our best (?) player was absolutely invisible off that side.

Yet every KC SB loss is essentially because the defense played well.

Eagles completely overhauled their defense in essentially one off season. Not sure our line is going to be there in one off season but our secondary actually being able to cover would go a long ways toward our line getting to the QB more often.

Bengals (I think)

It wouldn't be a reach to say Jones typically plays 3 quarters or more of the snaps in the playoffs. Pretty much the same for the last 3 regular seasons as well. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JoneCh09.htm#all_snap_counts https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JoneCh09/gamelog/2024/

We should have signed Mooney last year. Middle of the road money, great route runner with very good speed.