Dorkington

That, seeing what they have and resting RGIII to properly heal all combine to make sense.

As we deserve. Especially when we lose out the season.

Mediocre (so far) QB, sketchy offensive line, WRs who have their own individual issues, a TE who is a bit soft and is starting to become unreliable, and an offensive coordinator who's offensive plan is a bit questionable as well. It all adds up pretty quickly. What's unclear to me is how our defense is still struggling... sure it's better than last year, but overall fairly average other than sacks and INTs. Most people would agree that the individual players on our line are pretty good, as well as our MLB. Also most seem to think our two starting CBs and Safeties are pretty good too... So, is Pettine overrated? Or are the talents of our individual players?

I agree that the best way to build is through the draft. But with our drafting record, I'm not convinced that we'll fill the possible holes listed above properly. You guys are way more optimistic than I am... I've just seen a FO for the last 14 years not really worry about putting a competitive team on the field. Generally it's enough to sell hope (tickets), but in the end it falls short. Edit: Want to clarify, I don't think anyone we could lose over the offseason is irreplaceable. But I'm of the opinion it's better to keep your decent/good players and ADD to that, rather than lose your decent/good players and have to replace them.

You think we'll fill holes over the off season, I assume? I think, just like current history, we'll lose a couple key pieces (don't ask me who), so that even if EJ develops, we'll still struggle as a team. Guess we'll find out.

I agree to a point... but only if the QB is one of those top 5 guys destined for the HoF. Do you seriously expect EJ to be that? I certainly don't. So I'd like to see our team be as complete as possible just in case EJ isn't destined for greatness, as that'd give us the best opportunity for success.

It almost looks like a designed pass/screen to the RB. So the WRs were blocking for that. Who knows. But yes, our Offense kinda sucks, and so does EJ.... right now. Hopefully that changes sometime, heh.

I thought we were something like $20 million under this year? And don't we have glaring holes at guard, tight end, wide receiver and linebacker? Anyways, the point is, it really doesn't matter if EJ develops or not, we seem to have a problem developing a complete team. Whenever we improve one part, we let another part go free with holes.

EJ only throws the ball once he *sees* an open WR, which is often times too late. He needs to get better at predicting open WRs, or throwing to a spot and trusting his WR.

I really wonder if they should have delayed his comeback a few weeks.

I'm not optimistic about EJ, but I'll certainly give him another year. It's not like a HoF QB is going to fall in our laps, and it's not like our FO will fill all the holes on our team, or spend to the cap.

I suspect Hackett and Manuel will get another year, and if they stink it up, both will be replaced. And then if we still stink the third year, Marrone will be let go.

There's a game this weekend?

The rules are WAY more in favor of QBs now, and yet EJ still can't out play QBs of yesteryear. Pretty telling.

As long as they make a profit, they won't listen to a single thing the fans want. And they certainly won't care about putting a winning product on the field.

Heh, now the Bengals are an "ok team".

He's aggressive and hits the wrong hole sometimes. He also misses tackles from time to time. But other than that, he's played damned well for a rookie MLB, imo. I'm fine with him so far.

And would probably be more successful with a real coaching staff and offense.

Heh. ok

And we theoretically have more talent on our team. Says a lot about our coaches, and QB.

He may not be a hall of famer at the moment, but he's certainly better than EJ.

I feel like some of our strongest games have come when we put the QB under center and run more power formations.

I'm sure we'll pick a 6-7th round talent with our first pick... likely an undersized CB who can "return punts", but when we field him, he'll fumble or get hurt or something. Yup. We got one starting caliber player out of the 2013 draft.

We're giving up more points than we are scoring. Pettine isn't immune from criticism in this. We tend to give up very large chunk plays... I call it feast or famine. Edit: To clarify before someone has a heart attack. I think Pettine is a better DC than we've had in a while. Our defense is improved. But I still wouldn't qualify it as a "good" defense.