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toooverbearing
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First of all, I didn't think I'd come around to this because I don't think he's a great qb or a championship caliber one. When I heard there was a market for him, I thought "great, we may be able to get a 4th round pick for him and move on" but now I'm hearing that we'd have to give up a pick or a draft slot to unload him (Profootballtalk.com). Here's why I'm beginning to think that even if we could net a pick, it's a bad idea to get rid of him.
Here are the big variables:
1. We are looking for a new coaching staff that can get us not just to the next level, but get us to the championship level.
2. The qb market is terrible this year. The third qb in the draft is not an upgrade, in fact, it is probably a player we're looking at replacing again with a high pick two years from now.
3. Cutler was not as good as anyone was saying he was last year, but he's not as bad as those carrying the torches and pitchforks are saying this year.
4. The defense is not only terrible talent wise, but it has no identity and will actually lose more talent this year.
5. The offensive line needs two upgrades (center and RT). Kromer turned out to be absolutely toxic to the team and needs to go, but we also have to remember he was a great OL coach with the Saints and a turnaround artist with the line last year. He's going for sure and he should go, but we're probably going to get exposed a bit in the one area where he added value.
6. We could use a WR to complement our big pass catchers to keep defenses from sitting on their routes... a speedster to take some attention upfield.
If I'm a quality HC candidate, I would look at how we could make the biggest difference for the team. Improving the D is probably that area. We are probably installing a new defense and need to find that next generation captain of it. We need talent on all levels. If we take the third qb in the draft with our first round pick and start addressing defense later, we're probably getting worse at qb and only marginally better on defense. Even if we decided to put our resources into the OL and that one speed WR/KR we would probably net more improvement in those areas than we would putting the same resources in finding a new QB.
Cutler probably should be a placeholder for the next qb. In 2015 he'd have an opportunity to prove to an open minded coach that he would be the guy, otherwise he'd be the placeholder until we got to a draft or FA situation that was more opportune for getting the right quarterback.
But if I'm Nick Saban, Jim Harbaugh, Mike Shanahan, or anyone else that is considered "championship caliber" as a coach, and I heard that we are going to have Jimmy Clausen, Matt Shaub, Ryan Fitzpatrick or Matt Cassell as our qb next year and we'd be chasing a qb prospect in the draft with our biggest resources instead of getting me some blue chip talent on defense or the OL, I would assume the team be destined to too low of a ceiling for at least five years. But if the plan is to build everywhere else and ramp up the other areas which in the short term are more improvable and keep feelers out for a qb until the moment is right to get a game changing prospect in... I'd feel that it may be worth a shot. Cutler may be good enough to live with and win some games with until we get to that point. I just don't see Andrew Luck falling into our laps this draft.
Focus on defense. That is the area where our resources can make the biggest difference right now. Chasing the next QB when there is really nothing there will just set us back further. It sucks, but the more I think about it, that is probably the best way forward.
I reserve the right to repeatedly change my mind on this. These are very confusing times.
Here are the big variables:
1. We are looking for a new coaching staff that can get us not just to the next level, but get us to the championship level.
2. The qb market is terrible this year. The third qb in the draft is not an upgrade, in fact, it is probably a player we're looking at replacing again with a high pick two years from now.
3. Cutler was not as good as anyone was saying he was last year, but he's not as bad as those carrying the torches and pitchforks are saying this year.
4. The defense is not only terrible talent wise, but it has no identity and will actually lose more talent this year.
5. The offensive line needs two upgrades (center and RT). Kromer turned out to be absolutely toxic to the team and needs to go, but we also have to remember he was a great OL coach with the Saints and a turnaround artist with the line last year. He's going for sure and he should go, but we're probably going to get exposed a bit in the one area where he added value.
6. We could use a WR to complement our big pass catchers to keep defenses from sitting on their routes... a speedster to take some attention upfield.
If I'm a quality HC candidate, I would look at how we could make the biggest difference for the team. Improving the D is probably that area. We are probably installing a new defense and need to find that next generation captain of it. We need talent on all levels. If we take the third qb in the draft with our first round pick and start addressing defense later, we're probably getting worse at qb and only marginally better on defense. Even if we decided to put our resources into the OL and that one speed WR/KR we would probably net more improvement in those areas than we would putting the same resources in finding a new QB.
Cutler probably should be a placeholder for the next qb. In 2015 he'd have an opportunity to prove to an open minded coach that he would be the guy, otherwise he'd be the placeholder until we got to a draft or FA situation that was more opportune for getting the right quarterback.
But if I'm Nick Saban, Jim Harbaugh, Mike Shanahan, or anyone else that is considered "championship caliber" as a coach, and I heard that we are going to have Jimmy Clausen, Matt Shaub, Ryan Fitzpatrick or Matt Cassell as our qb next year and we'd be chasing a qb prospect in the draft with our biggest resources instead of getting me some blue chip talent on defense or the OL, I would assume the team be destined to too low of a ceiling for at least five years. But if the plan is to build everywhere else and ramp up the other areas which in the short term are more improvable and keep feelers out for a qb until the moment is right to get a game changing prospect in... I'd feel that it may be worth a shot. Cutler may be good enough to live with and win some games with until we get to that point. I just don't see Andrew Luck falling into our laps this draft.
Focus on defense. That is the area where our resources can make the biggest difference right now. Chasing the next QB when there is really nothing there will just set us back further. It sucks, but the more I think about it, that is probably the best way forward.
I reserve the right to repeatedly change my mind on this. These are very confusing times.