zchurch74
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Is there a single player who is still available and we can afford who you would say, “Now we are a contender” or “Super Bowl or bust”.
TwistedHusky":1abwvln3 said:Playing the way Carroll likes to play?
Probably Clowney.
Obviously, if we massively upgrade the line we would be contenders too but that would require more than one player.
Even a great CB won't fix the problems we have now, but decent corners and a much better DL line might. We might have that or be close on that now.
Clowney isn't a great fit most places but he is stellar here, because he is one of the better guys against the run and tends to blow up plays. He also shows out a bit for us in the playoffs.
We would be an easy dark horse contender with Clowney and probably do well in any playoff game we did not have to play the Rams in.
HawkinNY":3w0zzpmk said:I think we would need more than one. So no. We are not a contender this coming season. Russ will light it up for 6-8 weeks then we will be one and done in the playoffs. Unless we have a top 5 running game and D this is what will happen every year.
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HawkinNY":3s02xzjn said:I think we would need more than one. So no. We are not a contender this coming season. Russ will light it up for 6-8 weeks then we will be one and done in the playoffs. Unless we have a top 5 running game and D this is what will happen every year.
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Dont forget that we don't play the AFC and NFC Easts like last year, which had a combined one good team out of 8.TwistedHusky":1w2cgaez said:To be a contender you have to be a threat in the playoffs.
And some of our 12-4 last year (and likely the division win) was due to one of the best, if not the best, team in the division blowing a tire (or all 4 tires) midway through the season last year. That likely won't happen again, unless maybe if they roll with a rookie QB.
To be a contender we need 2 things to happen:
1 - We have to miss/avoid the Rams in the playoffs entirely. Any head-to-head matchup is a loss.
2 - We have to play better defense in the playoffs or focus more on offense in the playoffs.
#1 is just luck. The latter part of #2 is not going to happen, so the only option is build up our defense.
Last year our run defense was spotty. Good at times, but completely inconsistent for the most part. Clowney is a great defender against the run, especially backside pursuit. And he is amazing at blowing up run plays in the backfield. Finally, while not an A+ pass rusher, he is streaky and has a small history of being great in the playoffs for us.
If we fixed the DL with him, to at least close up the run weakness and shore up the pass rush - we would stand a puncher's chance. Otherwise, we have no shot. (not really true, if we actually got rid of Pete Ball we could be a force in the playoffs, but we won't so it does not matter what we 'could' do.
There are plenty of great players that would make this team so much better, but they are not available. The only one that looks somewhat available and would have this impact is Clowney. We probably could not afford him, but with him, we could be dangerous in the playoffs (as long as we missed the Rams.)
Pete might actually be too conservative and old at this point to win in the playoffs past the wildcard game anyway but if there is an option, it would require someone like Clowney to fix that DL.
pittpnthrs":3h0vixmd said:People still being fooled by that 12-4 record.