wackywabbit

Yea, I'm nit sure I'd it was his first year or second, but there was a brief period where Elam looked like a worthwhile pick.

I wanted to make a poll for this decision. I thought this would happen. Hard to walk away from the first round investment/athletic gifts. Also his (hypothetical) skillset is unique among the group. Going to be interesting to see how the final cut downs shake out. He could still be cut. The 650k could just be for a longer look.

He's already backed off the sitting out thing. TBH, this is the best thing for the Steelers franchise and totally unfair to Bell and any other RB in his situation. He is well worth the tag money on a year-by-year basis, but especially given his out of this world utilization, it's bad business to actually give him the long-term deal when trends point to a very sharp decline potentially early on in that deal. I was hoping he got paid. If I were Bell, I definitely would have taken 5 yr, $70M.

It's just as easy for me to say we we're increidbly unlucky to go only 9-7 given a +92 point differential, 7th overall DVOA, 2-5 record in one score games, and our own siginifant injuries... as this incredible luck/huge asterick talk because of opponents. Bottom-line is that a 9 win team isn't far from double digits wins. #math

I feel like a lot of times when people here say "9-7" they act like they just said "4-12"

"Basing that on my feelings about the Ravens" as opposed to my projections of 13 distinct opponents, which would be less informed and subject to larger variance. Basically, that statement was me saying that preseason strenth of schedules don't correlate much with actual SOS. I've already stated the reasons behind why I think the Ravens will be good: A deep and talented defense at every level, elite special teams, a head coach I am high on who nails situational game management better than almost every other coach, and an offense that manages to produce at a competent/average level whenever Flacco is healthy and behind decent protection. Oh, and now we have Lamar Jackson as a joker card to break out a new element IF the former isn't working.

The NFL will be better off for two weeks.

Considering our 3rd round rookie was already with the first-team at RT throughout OTA's, it's a safe bet Hurst isn't going to be the week1 starter there. The center spot or ILB next to Mosley will be the spots where the worst starter will likely be.

This line of thinking is in consistent with how you were knocking Lamar Jackson as the worst value pick. There was no value here. They paid full price and more. The number 6 overall, and 3 seconds (2 of them likely near the top) would have been an overpay by draft value for the #1 overall pick, and by the more modern draft charts a massive overpay for any pick in the draft. Which means that they were paying for a rare elite QB prospect. They could have gotten Josh Allen or Rosen at 6 and kept those 3 valuable picks, so a heavily-inflated ranking of Darnold as a prospect relative to those 2 is baked into the price.

White should definitely be on that list; it has to be an oversight on their part for that table. There is no reasonable criteria that would exclude him. But, it definitely seems like Humphrey was weirdly overlooked in terms of being a first round corner from that class who already is already playing at a top-tier level.

I didn't love or like the hire of Martindale. But, he had 1 season as a D-coordicator a long time ago. We don't need a coordinator to elevate the talent. Just one to let it play at the level it should. There should be enough DBs not to leave a easy matchup on the field, enough pass rushers to rotate in and keep the pressure on and you can count on Williams and Mosley to control the middle. We don't need a miracle worker.

Yea, I expect 10-12 wins. I'm basing that on my feelings about the Ravens. The perceived strength of schedule in June doesn't weigh in for me. Yes, the odds are a few of those 13 opponents won't be nearly as tough as you think. Some may be tougher. Just like last year and every year. But do we really need to rehash the debate about how lucky/unlucky we were last year? Tell me why this defense won't be good enough to carry a winning team?

Nah... but you have fun doing that. I have high expectations. We have talent throughout the defense at every level. I think we see the leap from Tyus Bower and/or Tim Williams being one of the big developments. Combine that with an elite special teams and, I'll confidently state, a top-tier head coach, and an average offense will hold up fine. The biggest gap on the team is still a lack of offensive playmakers, but the line should be good. I'm expecting a strong season from a motivated Flacco as long as he stays reasonably healthy, and even if not we have the fallback of unleashing LJ8 now.

High Expectations: Joe Flacco - He's going to kill it with the pressure on. Drafting Lamar after the ridiculously slow start last year was the perfect motivation for him. Tyus Bowser/Tim Williams - Two very talented pass rushers. One or both will break out in a big way now that Dean Pees is out of the picture. Low Expectations: Micheal Crabtree - The team never gets it right at this position. Crabtree at his peak was never a good #1, and now two teams have moved on him, so of course we pluck him off the scrap heap. I wouldn't have given that much $ to someone who can't separate. Alex Collins - He's fun to watch and I like his burst and vision, but I don't see a next level up. I think we just saw his best season.

I don't see a bottom-out season as likely at all. There is too much depth. The offense and close game luck could not have been worse for half a season+ last year and we still had a winning record. If things are that dire again, Jackson will come in with no tape on him and win games.