You said with Dane we are in "win NOW mode," but maybe just as important, we opted for good experienced vets on the O line (especially center) to give JJ the best chance at early career success as he learns his role? No one knows more than KO how a quarterbacks career can be derailed early. Perhaps these moves are also to mitigate that possibility.
Going old on the OL makes perfect sense to me. Want to start JJ out in a good spot, OL take a few years to develop sometimes, and you can’t go with a platoon approach on the OL. If the rookie stinks at run blocking, you can’t only put him in on passing downs. DL is the opposite and you can rotate younger guys in if they still need to round out their game in certain spots, so I expected them to go younger there. Going old everywhere was unexpected for me at least and definitely says they’re thinking “Win Now” in my book.
As Bruce Arens once said "No risk it, no biscuit." The NFL is no place for the weak or timid. When you have the means, key players and coaches in place you play to win now, not for next years draft picks. That's a losers mentality. I have zero fear J.J. will fail. Are they going to go 14-2? Nah. But I'd rather have the team fail boldly than squeak by doing things half-assed.
Definitely a little worried about signing so many older guys, especially a guy like Allen who seemed like he had fallen off a good bit even before his injury. But we are always trying to get this team to put the pedal down and take the higher risk, higher reward path that might actually get you over the Super Bowl hump, and this feels like exactly that. They have to be feeling pretty dang good about McCarthy to be making these moves. If he’s as good as we think he is and they hit on a difference maker in round 1, I don’t care how tough the schedule is, its go time.
The biggest red flag is that DC/Quinn chose to get Javon freakin' Kinlaw instead of keeping Allen. Presumably the Vikings prefer Allen, I certainly do given what they've each shown they can do. But, Quinn's informed opinion clearly differs. As always, we'll see.
For what it's worth Washington fans on the Athletic are mentioning Quinn prioritized run-stopping and went with Kinlaw for that reason. Which jibes with points from Palazzolo and Monson that Allen is better at pass-rushing at this point in his career. Again, Washington fans comments--while they get the economics of Allen's departure, they feel they downgraded in moving to Kinlaw. I mentioned this yesterday, but will say again, if all of these IDL players can play fewer snaps, that should make them better all-round players. As Coller's mentioned several times, Harrison Phillips has to be commended for playing what's not his natural position and so many reps, but he'd be better if he's in a platoon and his total snap count drops a couple hundred a season. Ditto Bullard, Allen, and Hargrave.
Yeah, could just be an age and money thing there for them. I’m concerned, but I’ll be over it by the weekend. Too many highlight reels to grind to be worried about these moves now that we gotta seriously consider every position round 1, lol.
The Allen K is a useful microcosm. It's announced Allen signed a 3 year, $60 K--thanks "insiders". It's actually 2 years, $33, with a $5 dead cap hit in 2027. I would have preferred trading a 7th, getting Allen at 1 year/$17 and the option to tag for another year at $25. But, 2 years at $38 is cheaper than 2 years at $43, and if Flo/the medical staff are confident, this is a good deal.
More broadly, the problem is this isn't the only such deal. To have a good roster year over year, there needs to be a balance of players who outperform their contracts with those who perform them, and there will always be some who underperform them. It's much, much harder for UFAs to outperform their contracts, and it's also hard for top-of-the-market extension players to do so. Things shift as the cap and market increase (e.g. when Chase makes $40/year, JJ at $35/year is a bargain), but extensions go to players who have already performed here, while UFAs are unknowns. Nnamdi Asomugha on the Eagles ended in tears.
In short, if someone needs to spend $30/ea for *six* bottles of water, it's perfectly fair to ask why the organizer--in his fourth offseason--was leading a desert hike without having planned ahead and brought at least more water. Cap dollars and actual cash have two things in common: they have value and are finite.
You said with Dane we are in "win NOW mode," but maybe just as important, we opted for good experienced vets on the O line (especially center) to give JJ the best chance at early career success as he learns his role? No one knows more than KO how a quarterbacks career can be derailed early. Perhaps these moves are also to mitigate that possibility.
Going old on the OL makes perfect sense to me. Want to start JJ out in a good spot, OL take a few years to develop sometimes, and you can’t go with a platoon approach on the OL. If the rookie stinks at run blocking, you can’t only put him in on passing downs. DL is the opposite and you can rotate younger guys in if they still need to round out their game in certain spots, so I expected them to go younger there. Going old everywhere was unexpected for me at least and definitely says they’re thinking “Win Now” in my book.
As Bruce Arens once said "No risk it, no biscuit." The NFL is no place for the weak or timid. When you have the means, key players and coaches in place you play to win now, not for next years draft picks. That's a losers mentality. I have zero fear J.J. will fail. Are they going to go 14-2? Nah. But I'd rather have the team fail boldly than squeak by doing things half-assed.
Definitely a little worried about signing so many older guys, especially a guy like Allen who seemed like he had fallen off a good bit even before his injury. But we are always trying to get this team to put the pedal down and take the higher risk, higher reward path that might actually get you over the Super Bowl hump, and this feels like exactly that. They have to be feeling pretty dang good about McCarthy to be making these moves. If he’s as good as we think he is and they hit on a difference maker in round 1, I don’t care how tough the schedule is, its go time.
The biggest red flag is that DC/Quinn chose to get Javon freakin' Kinlaw instead of keeping Allen. Presumably the Vikings prefer Allen, I certainly do given what they've each shown they can do. But, Quinn's informed opinion clearly differs. As always, we'll see.
For what it's worth Washington fans on the Athletic are mentioning Quinn prioritized run-stopping and went with Kinlaw for that reason. Which jibes with points from Palazzolo and Monson that Allen is better at pass-rushing at this point in his career. Again, Washington fans comments--while they get the economics of Allen's departure, they feel they downgraded in moving to Kinlaw. I mentioned this yesterday, but will say again, if all of these IDL players can play fewer snaps, that should make them better all-round players. As Coller's mentioned several times, Harrison Phillips has to be commended for playing what's not his natural position and so many reps, but he'd be better if he's in a platoon and his total snap count drops a couple hundred a season. Ditto Bullard, Allen, and Hargrave.
Yeah, could just be an age and money thing there for them. I’m concerned, but I’ll be over it by the weekend. Too many highlight reels to grind to be worried about these moves now that we gotta seriously consider every position round 1, lol.
The Allen K is a useful microcosm. It's announced Allen signed a 3 year, $60 K--thanks "insiders". It's actually 2 years, $33, with a $5 dead cap hit in 2027. I would have preferred trading a 7th, getting Allen at 1 year/$17 and the option to tag for another year at $25. But, 2 years at $38 is cheaper than 2 years at $43, and if Flo/the medical staff are confident, this is a good deal.
More broadly, the problem is this isn't the only such deal. To have a good roster year over year, there needs to be a balance of players who outperform their contracts with those who perform them, and there will always be some who underperform them. It's much, much harder for UFAs to outperform their contracts, and it's also hard for top-of-the-market extension players to do so. Things shift as the cap and market increase (e.g. when Chase makes $40/year, JJ at $35/year is a bargain), but extensions go to players who have already performed here, while UFAs are unknowns. Nnamdi Asomugha on the Eagles ended in tears.
In short, if someone needs to spend $30/ea for *six* bottles of water, it's perfectly fair to ask why the organizer--in his fourth offseason--was leading a desert hike without having planned ahead and brought at least more water. Cap dollars and actual cash have two things in common: they have value and are finite.
I like Keenan Allen if they can get him at a reasonable price.