Rocky Landing

Then I wish they would stop wasting reps on their presumptive third-stringer.

At some point, the question has to be: When is enough, enough? How long does this three-way competition go on for? Personally, I would sure hope that they at least have it pared down to two by the third preseason game. If the coaches have it in their minds that one guy is behind the other two (be it EJ, TT, or Cassel) the they should start treating that guy like he's third string. This isn't about being fair, or who "deserves" what. It's about moving this football team forward. First team reps will have been wasted on the guy that ends up third string. The coaches need to make the decision already!

From Webster's Dictionary: distinction noun dis·tinc·tion \di-ˈstiŋ(k)-shən : a difference that you can see, hear, smell, feel, etc. : a noticeable difference between things or people You have made a statement without saying anything. I always find it weirdly amusing when someone mistakes their own ignorance for insight. If you truly think that there is no difference between the three QBs, their abilities, or their potential, then you either haven't paid much attention, or there is much you don't understand about football. Not having an opinion on who gives us the best chance to win (or whatever other criteria one might have for preferring one QB over another) does not put you up on those that do-- quite the opposite. One game in a 16 game season can easily be the difference between playoffs, and going home. That there are three QBs who are still vying for the starting position, each with their nuanced differences, makes for a far more complicated TC and preseason than what is the norm in the league. Each QB makes our offense distinctly different. If that isn't adequate grist for 30 pages of football discussion, I don't know what is. And, I doubt you do either.

Underrated: EJ (not as bad as many make him out to be) Fred X (perennially) Urbik at center (that's right, I said it) Corey Graham (The idea that he may not start is, to me, bizarre) Overrated: EJ (not as good as many make him out to be) Cordy Glenn (a Cubic Zirconia in the rough) Duke Williams (that's right, I said it) Shady McCoy (I know he's good. But, is he our savior?)

If you say things like, "I think EJ has the highest ceiling..." you might be a fanboy. Be that as it may, intentional or not, this thread has become like a small life-raft for those with a stubbornly inflated opinion of EJ, to cling to in their belief that he is somehow larger than the sum of his parts. Fan guy??? I troll, I troll!

Denial! Bargaining! Acceptance!

I think this is accurate.

I think this three-way competition has been distracting enough. If the coaches feel that they know enough to turn this into a two-way competition, or even declare a starter, they should. If they're considering EJ as being in third place (as has been suggested by numerous outlets), then start treating him like third string. We have to start preparing for the Colts.

I think we should be trying to accumulate late round picks we could bundle together to trade up in the first round, 2016, for a QB-- like Cook or Goth. We may also be able to get out from under some contact money, conceivably (I think?).

Someone who is good at navigating this site could put together a chronological list of EJ Fanboy Threads, and we could see the evolution of EJ fandom, which has led us to this thread-- CONSPIRACY!!! When (and IF, of course) EJ gets cut, I assume there would be five more threads on the subject, vaguely following the five stages of grief: Denial Anger Bargaining Depression Acceptance Although, that last one may be a long time coming...

As opposed to the guys who troll endlessly, and never leave...

I have noticed that often, on crossing patterns, EJ hits the receiver in the shoulder which results in dropped passes.

Because a team like Carolina, who are desperate, and paper thin at WR, may not want to roll the dice on whether they can get them. If we can't make a trade, then we don't (obviously), but if we can make a trade for someone who won't be on the team in September anyway, why wouldn't we?

Show their hand to whom? The Colts? We should be shopping anyone we are willing to cut or who won't make the 53, and collecting late round draft picks so that we can trade up in the 2016 first round for Connor Cook, or Jared Goff.

Oh, I'm completely guilty of that. Honestly, I don't know how his blocking ability stacks up against Thompson, or Davis (although he is definitely better at it than Goodwin). But, I have seen him used that way more than once during this preseason, and I suspect this would be a requisite ability for a slot receiver in Roman's offense. I also think that Thigpen's, and Harvin's running abilities from behind LOS would be valuable in Roman's offense. My point is that the traits that separate WRs that are further down the depth chart may not be as noteworthy as things like speed, height, highpoint ability, or other such flashy attributes.

I really don't know the answer to that question. But, I'm not sure how it's relevant. I think the question has to be how he fits into this offense. He proved his reliability with his production last season, IMO. This preseason, I've watched him in both games line up in the slot, and shift to the inside right before the snap and block. And, he's good at it. You've made the point that a WR at his depth needs to provide something special. Hogan's blocking ability might not be a particularly flashy trait, but it's certainly valuable.

I think a better word than "special" for what qualifies a WR to be on a team would be "valuable." Hogan has reliable hands, is a precise route runner (according to Lal), and works well in the slot. As Gunner has pointed out, he has improved every season. These things are just requisite for a successful WR, of course. But, Hogan is also an exceptional blocker, which would certainly be valuable in this offense.

As Clint Eastwood said, "deserve's got nuthin' to do with it..." One thing I did notice about EJ in this, and last weeks game was that he is late on crossing routes. He needs to put the ball out in front of the receiver, but more often than not hits them on the front of their shoulder, or even on their pads. That has resulted in several dropped balls-- at least one from Hogan, Thompson, and Grey that I can recall (IIRC). But, he has gotten better. Just not quickly. IMO, Taylor really was better last night. We shouldn't cut EJ. But, if Taylor has achieved the "separation" we keep talking about (and he has) let's not pretend that the separation has to be monumental to start treating TT like a starter. It's time.

Honestly, I thought our first team D front line looked lazy, last night. At least, they didn't look like they were willing to hurt themselves.

Is it me, or did our first unit D (at least the front seven) look downright lazy last night? (Which I have no problem with, btw)

Not necessarily. Hogan is an exceptional blocker, plays ST, and offers more versatility than Thompson. Just because a player gets targeted more in the preseason, does not ipso facto, put them up on the depth chart. That being said, I do believe this injury put him more on the bubble than he was, and Goodwin has been much improved in the last few weeks. Add Thigpen, who is becoming a ST fixture, and has RB experience, and I think Hogan may be gone. Which, as a Hogan fan, makes me sad.

Well, look at it this way: For Rex Ryan, there is little to no benefit to having Percy play one single snap in the preseason, and considering the injuries we have sustained at RB, plenty of reason to keep him in "bubble wrap," (as they say) until the season opener. Remember that Ryan played him at RB last season, as did the Seahawks. And, to Ryan, Percy is a 100% known commodity. There is nothing for Rex to learn by playing him.

I'm starting to form the opinion that Urbik should start at center, and Miller, and Incognito at OG. Put Wood at backup center. That would be the conventional wisdom. But, it's hard to deny Wood's decline over the past couple of seasons. I remember him literally flinching across from Suh last season. I don't think Urbik has played center since 2011. If he is better suited at center, is it outside the realm of possibility that he has improved (while Wood declined) since 2011? I re-watched the Bills/Panthers game last night, and watched Urbik specifically on rewind. He was in at center for Taylor. I thought he looked pretty good. He doesn't have the quick, lateral moves required for a guard, but at center, he got up real quick after the snap, and held his ground really well, and balanced his protection between the two guards. I know there's a lot more to the position that you can't even see-- communication, etc, but he looks the part, and has the size. I'm trying to keep an open mind.

I re-watched the Bills/Panthers game last night, and I'm starting to lean towards an opinion that will probably not be very popular. I think that Urbik is a better center than he is a guard. And, I think that Urbik may be a better center than Wood. Am I crazy? Edit: I may come back after Thursday and just completely rescind this post.

I think the league actually has more to "risk" (and I think that's a loose term) by settling under Brady*'s terms. By standing firm that Brady* at least knew that balls were being deflated (a fairly obvious assumption, imo), the worst case scenario for the league is that Brady*'s suspension is overturned. And, so what? In that case, they still get to say that they stood firm in defending the integrity of the game. What do they really care if Brady* plays, or not? Conversely, if they concede to Brady*'s claim that he knew nothing, and did nothing regarding deflated balls, and was only uncooperative, the league concedes to being petty, and vindictive, and ultimately uninterested in the game's integrity. I have to believe that public perception of the league is far more important to them than whether or not they lose this appeal.