MrEpsYtown

For those worried about him being Jewish (which is a really ridiculous concern btw): Interview question in bold: Your high school coach said you're also curious about religion, and while you're Jewish, you attended Mass every Sunday. That's right. I went to a Catholic school, and it was cool to learn. You have to have an open mind. It'd be naive to think you're just born into the right religion that will get you into heaven. My opinion will evolve and grow. Where do you sit on it? I'm Muslim by heritage, and I used to attend Mass too, but it was partly to impress a Catholic girlfriend. Now I'm agnostic. [Laughs] Same. But agnostic and atheist are loaded words -- people get scared, like, "Whoa!" Look, I don't know, and I don't think it's possible to know. Don't tell me how to live my life, but I'd love to hear about how you live yours.

"In a game, if the window's closing on your receiver, sometimes you need to dial it up and say f--- that, I'm going to get the ball in there. I'm supremely confident in my abilities as a quarterback." Love it

The one thing that Castillo is known for is developing young players. There were a bunch of reports in Baltimore that the linemen were not happy with what he had them doing. That he was too regimented and things like that. I believe that he is not well liked by veteran players who are set in their ways. Across the board his strength seems to be molding and developing young lineman...case in point Dion Dawkins. It is possible guys regressed last year because they did not buy in. Vlad was one of his guys and that is why he played imo. Here is what Bryant McKinnie said about Juan a few years ago: "Juan likes to develop young players, because that's what he did in Philly," McKinnie said. "He is a good coach and he does help you with your technique, but he wants it done a certain way. My thing is everybody doesn't have the exact same talent or learn things the same way. I don't feel like you can coach everybody exactly the same, not everyone is going to react the same. Five individuals can't do the same thing instead of trying to make everybody a robot. You need to learn about your players and know their strengths and weaknesses and coach them that way. Juan is highly rated, but it takes time to adjust to what he's looking for." Guys like Kelechi Osemele (2nd round), Ricky Wagner (5th round), James Hurst (UDFA and Bodine college teammate) and Ryan Jensen (6th round)...all guys who developed under Castillo and now have big contracts. You have guys he developed from scratch in Philly like Jermaine Mayberry, Hank Fraley, Tra Thomas, Todd Herremans, Jason Kelce and some (at the time) younger veterans who he took to the next level like Jon Runyan, Jason Peters, Evan Mathis, even Marshal Yanda. My point is that maybe guys like Glenn, Richie, Wood didn't love playing for Castillo. I am optimistic that he can mold and develop young talent that has been otherwise overlooked. Guys like Groy, Bodine, people they draft. I really don't like that our line regressed under Castillo, but I do think we are in a position now to get guys that fit and we can really see him do what he is actaully good at.

We honestly don't know what is going on with him, but if he is making a decision with his health as his best interest, who can hate on that? We can't be mad at him saying he screwed the Bills and stuff. Maybe he took the pay cut with the idea that he would play one more year and after meeting with doctors decided it wasn't worth it. We can't assume that there is hate, intent, and Russian Roulette type stuff going on. I am never going to hate on a guy for deciding to retire for his own health.

Do you think he said something derogatory about Asians on his way out?

I'm thinking Luke Joeckel, but there isn't much there in FA. I actually really like Ryan Groy as a replacement for Richie. He isn't going to give you the same production, but he has potential and is on the roster. I really don't think we are in dire straits.

I think you are looking at Ryan Groy as a left guard, possibly signing a guy like Luke Joeckel. Newhouse also has some versatility and can play guard. Bodine can play center and guard. This is a very big loss, but we still have options.

From Cali, USC, and a ginger! the odds are certainly stacked! He's clearly Todd Marinovich.

Absolutely. Sam needs probably two years on the bench, but that probably won't happen. If he goes to the Browns and starts right away, I think he will bust. I think they will be smart about it, the way Hue Jackson and company kept Carson Palmer off the field a few years back. Pretty much no matter what, they did not let him start for that entire year. With Tyrod Taylor and Drew Stanton, they can keep Darnold on the bench. Will they have the patience and focus to do that? Who knows, but scouts see an underdeveloped Andrew Luck . I do think it makes sense for him to be in the NFL developing under Hue and Todd Haley rather than back at USC developing with Tee Martin and Clay Helton's son. To me, there are two quarterbacks who can start right away in the NFL and those are Baker Mayfield and Josh Rosen. That doesn't mean that they can start and be good, but they are the most NFL ready. I don't love Mayfield, but I could see a team altering their offense for him like Bill O'Brien did for Watson and him having success early. But this is what happened with RG3 and Kaepernick. They lit the world on fire running college plays, and then when they were asked to do NFL quarterback things, they were terrible. That's what I foresee for Watson, and probably Mayfield as well. Early success and then flame out. Teams are going to blitz his balls off. To me , Rosen is the one with the best combination of physical traits, arm talent, football IQ, and projectability. But I would not be upset with any of Darnold, Rosen, Allen, or Mayfield.

Nobody thought Greg Robinson and Tunsil were going to bust. Robert Gallery was the safest player in the draft a few years ago and he busted. Same with Aaron Curry. None of these things have anything to do with the other, and certainly have nothing to do with Darnold. That said, I don't love Darnold, but everything he does is very projectable to the NFL. The plays he makes and teh throws he makes are some next level stuff. The turnovers are a problem, but that is one of those things that can actually be improved. The guy is only 20 years old, and I think one of the reasons we are seeing guys who we can say "there is no history of success for his type" is because dudes are starting as true freshmen, and college teams are changing OC's every year. Josh Rosen had three different offensive coordinators in three years. Back in the day, and even pretty recent history, almost everyone took a redshirt year, and there was not so much coaching turnover. Darnold took a redshirt year, but really only played for two seasons. Additionally, he only started one season in High school. We are talking about a guy with a true lack of experience, but a lot of talent. Conversely, people like Mason Rudolph because he seems more mature and ready...he's 22 going on 23 years old and started for basically 3.5 years. Ofcourse he is more mature. But at the end of the day, he doesn't have the athletic ability or arm talent as what he does well is not really projectable. Baker Mayfield turns 23 next week and is a redshirt senior who has basically 4 years of starting experience at two different schools. The difference between a 23 year old and a 20 year old is pretty significant. It could be argued that Mayfield and Rudolph don't stand to get much better than what they are right now, whereas Darnold and Rosen are very young and have the size, athletic ability, and arm talent that scouts love. With quarterbacks it has become much more about projection of skills and talent and that is why it has become riskier than ever.

Yes we definitely overpaid, but you are 100% right. Part of the risk of free agency is signing a guy and not knowing the person and how he fits. Kind of like Osweiler with the Texans. For our brain trust to know Star as well as they do, there is significantly less risk because they know exactly what they are getting. There is a trust factor there so the chances of signing an Albert Haynesworth are significantly lower.

With all that cap space next year, you never know. It would be a dream to come away with Khalil Mack and Zach Martin. Dallas will not be able to franchise both Martin and DeMarcus Lawrence. That would be cool. We are in a good place to grab some big time players next off season, especially if we have a quarterback on a rookie deal.

Maybe Lamar Jackson's mom...or Master P

It's amazing. How could a guy possibly be that bad? So bad that they wouldn't play him at all? He was a three year starter at Penn State and a five star recruit. It's really amazing and strange that he is that terrible.

They did not deserve extensions. Strange decision. They have not been good.

I love this and I tend to believe it. if you don't want a quarterback, having 12 and 22 in a class with about 50-60 really good players and about 20-25'true first rounders is better than having one pick. The key is, it has to be a team who doesn't want a quarterback, and that is 50 million dollar quaestion.

Hmm so we could save our 12th pick because Mason Rudolph will be available as a fee agent. Good news

You mean like Mayock talking about bubble butts and hand size obsession? As well as talk of penetration and tight ends?

Okay will do. Thanks!

So no Mason Rudolph right?

And he still technically took the wrong guy!

I do love his hipster hair, but he did have some did velocity numbers. I thought he looked really good in the East West game. Could be an interesting late round guy.

Love it. I was thinking Josh Rosen orders a salad. And Lamar Jackson's mom orders for him.

I definitely have some bias, but I think they need to get one of those top two guys. I've made it clear that I love Rosen and I really don't like Rudolph. I actually do like Mayfield, but you are certainly taking a risk by drafting him, and if he fails, you look like an idiot. I think teams are going to blitz the balls off of Mayfield and he is going to struggle. I just don't think this regime is going to bank on all of that. I actually don't love Darnold, but you can't argue the upside for a guy who is only 20. but I do think they should draft Darnold or Rosen. I guess I should change the world "failure" to huge disappointment. To have all of the "draft capital" and not getting a top guy would be very disappointing. The biggest difference between these two is that Snead found the quarterback and Whaley struck out. Snead hasn't been the greatest drafter, but found a couple of great players. Generally speaking, I really liked a lot of what Whaley did but he could not get that quarterback, and when he did take a shot, he took the wrong guys. And now he is out of the league. That is why this draft is so important to this regime and finding the right quarterback is #1 priority by a long shot.

I dunno. The link is asking me to subscribe.