Retool or Rebuild for 2022?

I am hoping they have not been puppets either. That might mean KOC and KAM have a plan, even if it meant keeping the highest paid guy on the team, with the highest cap (and not playing like he earned that). They might have a plan to trade Hunter (seriously doubt this) and used the first draft pick on a edge in the draft and using the cap space for a few good CBs and paying some rookies.

I think we should retool.

Don't buy it at all.

They could easily draft a quality receiver with their first pick and have the same coaches and systems.

We haven't fixed the biggest problem on the OL (Bradbury) and have a brand new coaching staff with new systems.

this a million times over.  I've been singing this from the rooftops since the beginning of the off season.  Since we had practice squad level depth outside a few positions, I bet other teams were pretty good at strategizing on how to force as many of those guys on the field as often as possible.  

I would be curious about the ratio of 10/11/12 personnel we faced relative to other teams.  Not sure if that's something even recorded.  And maybe that's not even relevant when you've got substantial weaknesses all over the field.  

I'm speculating that we probably faced a higher ratio of 10 which probably could have been the reason for a bunch of unblocked sacks.  

But does that help explain why we were so bad against the run?  Or was that just a lack of talent?  It's sort of a chicken and egg thing but I think the early focus with the additions of Phillips and Hicks is being better in that regard.  Is it a good or bad sign that our secondary graded out well vs. the run.  Dantzler, Smith, Bynum in limited reps.  Whereas our front seven was pretty much atrocious at it.  Does that mean we had the DB's cheating for help on a regular?  

Anyway, the point is that I think we're gonna see a continued focus on the front seven stopping the run and then DB depth so it's not scorched earth outside of your top 1 or 2 guys in the secondary.  

And as an aside, I think the way teams attacked us on D is gonna be how they strategize to make the IOL better with similar personnel.  Making the offense less predictable.  Run more out of 10's and pass more out of 12's or 11's so the defense never knows exactly who to put on the field.  Which creates more opportunities to effectively run block when the other team doesn't have their run stopping packages in and better pass blocking because the defense doesn't have as many pass rushers in.  I think that's what KOC means when he talk about giving teams different looks and disguising your play calls better.  

PFF coverage grades aren't the most reliable. #1 CBs are always graded lower when they shadow top receivers, Breeland and Alexander were so bad that QBs were forcing the ball into their coverage and meant that Dantzler wasn't getting picked on as much. Yes, I think Dantzler can develop into a #2 CB, but I don't think he's there yet - and I've been one of the more positive critics on him. If he's taking Peterson's role of handling other teams' top receivers, he's going to get roasted play in and out.


On paper, perhaps, but so was the 2021 unit and they weren't having a complete paradigm shift into a new system with a new DC - who has had a up-and-down career as a DC. It really depends on injuries, but I wouldn't be surprised if the defense is worse. Of course, let's see what happens come draft day and what they do with their little cap room.