How much have we improved player personnel?

[KI Skins Fan]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Just trying to bring the conversation back to reality is all. We get a little armchair GM this time of year because we make a lot of assumptions like 'we currently stink at RB'. You sure about that? Will it be that way in September 2016, or will Matt Jones be The Man?

Miles to go before we sleep. That's all.

Reality is that we have no backup for Matt Jones. If he gets hurt, Thompson and a 7th round rookie won't be able to carry the load on 1st and 2nd down. I don't recall anyone saying we stink at RB; however, I said we're weaker without Alfmo and I'm pretty sure we are unless Thompson grew 4 inches and added 40 pounds in the offseason.

I'm not worried because I'm confident that Scot will do something to fortify the RB position, but right now we're weaker than we were in that area last season.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by KI Skins Fan

Reality is that we have no backup for Matt Jones. If he gets hurt, Thompson and a 7th round rookie won't be able to carry the load on 1st and 2nd down. I don't recall anyone saying we stink at RB; however, I said we're weaker without Alfmo and I'm pretty sure we are unless Thompson grew 4 inches and added 40 pounds in the offseason.

I'm not worried because I'm confident that Scot will do something to fortify the RB position, but right now we're weaker than we were in that area last season.

I don't agree, I think Alfred was awful last season. And the Cowboys aren't exactly counting on him for much - they just drafted Zeke, and that was after Jones said that McFadden would be their #1.

So they have AlfMo at #3 on their pecking order.

I don't think he's worth a hill of beans anymore, to be frank. I don't think we lost much. If we pick up Pierre Thomas we'll be just as good as we were last year at RB, and better if Matt Jones makes improvements.

[30gut]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

I don't agree, I think Alfred was awful last season.

If Alfred was awful then what do you think of Matt Jones? He was worse in every category compared to Alfred.

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RE: DL

I agree that we don't have "true" NT on the roster. But, Berry doesn't play a 2-gap 34 and therefore we don't need a 2 gapping NT. Last year Baker played a bunch of snaps at NT due to Knighton's migraines etc and he was good.

And according to the last presser from Scott, Matt Ioannidis will play some NT in base.

So the base package 34 could be: DE-Ricky, Paea and NT/DE-Baker, Ioannidis

Ricky--Baker-Paea..........and/or...........Ricky--Ioannidis-Baker etc..


Projecting some possible line-ups:

........................................FS-Hall, (Bruton, Duke)

.................................................. ................SS-Bruton,Duke,Su'a

....................................WILB--Riley-----SILB--Foster/Daniels

...............ROLB-Gallette......RE-Ricky......NT-Baker......LE-Paea....LOLB-Ryan Kerrigan

CB-Breeland.......................NB-Fuller........................................CB-Norman

Nickel/Sub package DL: DE-Junior-DT-Preston--DTBake/Ioaniddis--DE-Ryan

The pass D is much improved.

Rush:

Adding Junior Gallette in addition to the return of Paea and the addition of Ioannidis should at least match if not improve upon the pass rush from last year and the pass rush last year was imo the strength of the defense.

Coverage:

CBs-
Breeland + injured/underperforming Cully, journeyman guy Blackmon, thrown in rookies transitioning to the NFL Kysheon and Dunber....to: Breeland + Josh Norman and Kendall Fuller is a HUGE jump up in coverage

SAF-
Hall was decent in his first year at S and should only improve, imo Hall is made for FS
Moving on from Dash to Bruton/Duke/Su'a should be a clear upgrade

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by 30gut

If Alfred was awful then what do you think of Matt Jones? He was worse in every category compared to Alfred.

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Did you include the receiving statistics in there? Because I recall Jones breaking a few big screen passes for fairly long gains. Never see Alfred do that.

Both were rough, though. Mainly because of poor blocking. Jones had much more of a fumbling concern, but he's much much faster than Morris.

We need improved blocking up front to really make the run game go. Reality is, if the blocking was better then either Jones or Morris would be adequate. Jones's speed though gives you the possibility of a big gainer.

And he's only a rookie, so figures to have a shot to improve. We know what Morris is. Fights very, very hard for yards but very little explosion. And a ton of tread on the tires.

[30gut]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

...Both were rough, though. Mainly because of poor blocking....

We need improved blocking up front to really make the run game go. Reality is, if the blocking was better then either Jones or Morris would be adequate. Jones's speed though gives you the possibility of a big gainer.

And he's only a rookie, so figures to have a shot to improve...

You got me there, outside of receiving Morris was better at everything then Jones. And of course I agree that Jones has a chance to improve.

I don't think blocking is the issue with the run game though. I think the issue is scheme and commitment. Jay's focus is on the passing game and there is a trickle down effect that impacts the run game. I am not saying there is anything inherently wrong with being pass focused. I don't care about style run/pass doesn't matter to me. Be efficient and score points. I think barring landing an elite RB the run game here will always just be meh.

[SCRedskinsFan]

Originally Posted by 30gut

You got me there, outside of receiving Morris was better at everything then Jones. And of course I agree that Jones has a chance to improve.

I don't think blocking is the issue with the run game though. I think the issue is scheme and commitment. Jay's focus is on the passing game and there is a trickle down effect that impacts the run game. I am not saying there is anything inherently wrong with being pass focused. I don't care about style run/pass doesn't matter to me. Be efficient and score points. I think barring landing an elite RB the run game here will always just be meh.

If I remember correctly, our running game was outstanding early last season until injuries decimated the offensive line. So I'm not sure that it is impossible to have a good/great running game under Jay, but the line has to be there...

And we have the right offensive line coach to make all that happen. I'm also thinking (hoping) that the cap room we just created might help us acquire a quality veteran running back. We'll see...

[30gut]

Originally Posted by SCRedskinsFan

....I'm also thinking (hoping) that the cap room we just created might help us acquire a quality veteran running back. We'll see...

Would love to add another back to the roster (at a practical cost/skill level).

If I remember correctly, our running game was outstanding early last season until injuries decimated the offensive line. So I'm not sure that it is impossible to have a good/great running game under Jay, but the line has to be there...

And we have the right offensive line coach to make all that happen.

I remember it differently, but it doesn't matter. I don't want to have a knock down drag out over this....... So how about this ........IF Jay's forte is the passing game then there are limits to how good the running can get with him at the helm of the offense. I don't think the problem with the run game was personnel. Let's say you could give all Jones carries to Morris, I think the run game improves. But, an illustration of my point here is the difference between the run games with Jay vs Hue in Cinci.


Anyhow, to avoid making yet another post, lol.

I think the area we improved the most is on defense. But there were some key additions on offense with Vernon Davis and Josh Doctsun. Doc was my #1 WR and a player I had my eye on during this draft process. With a receiving corps of Jackson, Reed, Garcon, Doctsun, Vernon Davis, Crowder and Niles Paul and Chris Thompson I think the offense should be pass focused.

[DYoungJelly]

Originally Posted by 30gut

You got me there, outside of receiving Morris was better at everything then Jones. And of course I agree that Jones has a chance to improve.

I don't think blocking is the issue with the run game though. I think the issue is scheme and commitment. Jay's focus is on the passing game and there is a trickle down effect that impacts the run game. I am not saying there is anything inherently wrong with being pass focused. I don't care about style run/pass doesn't matter to me. Be efficient and score points. I think barring landing an elite RB the run game here will always just be meh.

Early in the season, if you look at the play calling when the game was within 10 points with reasonable time left, I don't believe the stats will support your theory.

Of course the team was pass happy when trailing watching the clock wind to zero.

I think toward the end of the year when the passing game was the only thing clicking, it seemed like the team was too committed to calling run plays on 1st down.

[30gut]

Originally Posted by DYoungJelly

Early in the season, if you look at the play calling when the game was within 10 points with reasonable time left, I don't believe the stats will support your theory.

Which theory? That Jay is pass focused? I don't think that theory is bold or ground breaking in any way.

...I think toward the end of the year when the passing game was the only thing clicking, it seemed like the team was too committed to calling run plays on 1st down.

Being predictably (and imo wrongly) run heavy on 1st down doesn't equate to not being pass focused when the remaining downs are passes. Its just bad playcalling.

I know you like to disagree with me just to disagree but do you really think Jay isn't pass focused?