2014-15 NFL Offseason Thread (Non Draft Edition)

[Abe Sargent]

Good luck Jack DR. Welcome back to the (head) coaching ranks buddy!

[Chief Rum]

I question whether that is a good hire.

Del Rio wasn't a trainwreck at Jacksonville; he was actually moderately competent. But he didn't show me he could take a team to the next level, being a playoff contender. And when his defense last weekend needed to show up and prop up Manning's flagging O, it failed pretty miserably.

I think Del Rio could be a good HC with an organization with a history of strong support and scouting, a good front office and a strong owner. I don't know that the Raiders have any of that.

[BillJasper]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

I question whether that is a good hire.

Del Rio wasn't a trainwreck at Jacksonville; he was actually moderately competent. But he didn't show me he could take a team to the next level, being a playoff contender. And when his defense last weekend needed to show up and prop up Manning's flagging O, it failed pretty miserably.

I think Del Rio could be a good HC with an organization with a history of strong support and scouting, a good front office and a strong owner. I don't know that the Raiders have any of that.

I completely agree with you.

But I'm not sure the Raiders could do any better with all the uncertainty surrounding the organization.

[albionmoonlight]

NFL Network had an "Inside Jaguars Training Camp" show years ago. It was basically Hard Knocks before Hard Knocks. I watched it and, as a result, have always liked Del Rio (and, randomly, the Jaguars's kicker--Josh Scobee) from that show.

I hope he does well. With Carr and that cap room, the Raiders could be a serious contender sooner rather than later.

[Kodos]

Peyton Manning should not retire; he was likely playing hurt | The MMQB with Peter King

[stevew]

Jack Del Rio is the perfect type of second tier recycled aging garbage to coach the raiders. Bravo, Raiders gotta Raider

[bhlloy]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

I question whether that is a good hire.

Del Rio wasn't a trainwreck at Jacksonville; he was actually moderately competent. But he didn't show me he could take a team to the next level, being a playoff contender. And when his defense last weekend needed to show up and prop up Manning's flagging O, it failed pretty miserably.

I think Del Rio could be a good HC with an organization with a history of strong support and scouting, a good front office and a strong owner. I don't know that the Raiders have any of that.

Can somebody remind me how Del Rio "failed pretty miserably" giving up 24 points to one of the best QB's in the game? What does that mean for New England's D who gave up 31 to Flacco?

[Galaril]

Report on Yahoo says Gary Kubiak to be named Broncos head coach.

edit: I am not able to find any other sources so must have been bogus.

[Galaril]

Originally Posted by bhlloy

Can somebody remind me how Del Rio "failed pretty miserably" giving up 24 points to one of the best QB's in the game? What does that mean for New England's D who gave up 31 to Flacco?

First time all year he moved Talib to only guarding the slot guy in this case Ty Hilton when all year it has been Chris Harris who is at present even better of a CB at least in that role. Also he puts his defense in exclusively a zone coverage mopst of the game and did not move the rushers around nor was quick to make adjustments when thos rushing lanes were not open or effective.
Also, as usual he was not willing to add in blitzs enough and gave Luck plenty of time.
Like Fox the team accomplished what they did this year in spite of Fox and JDR not because of it.

[Buccaneer]

Yahoo? Bogus? No way.

[Galaril]

Originally Posted by Buccaneer

Yahoo? Bogus? No way.

Haha yeah no kidding.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by bhlloy

Can somebody remind me how Del Rio "failed pretty miserably" giving up 24 points to one of the best QB's in the game? What does that mean for New England's D who gave up 31 to Flacco?

Actually, on a per play basis, Indy was a solid, but not spectacular offense in the regular season. Denver had one of the statistically best defenses in the league. Denver has excellent personnel for putting pressure on and Indy was the most turnover-prone team in the playoffs, but the Broncos didn't play to their strength and force Indy to make plays under pressure. A very good Denver D should hold a just good offense at home to less points than 24.

But again I still will note most of the blame for the loss is on Denver's offense. But the D doesn't have a torn right quad to blame their problems on.

[Arles]

Originally Posted by Galaril

First time all year he moved Talib to only guarding the slot guy in this case Ty Hilton when all year it has been Chris Harris who is at present even better of a CB at least in that role. Also he puts his defense in exclusively a zone coverage mopst of the game and did not move the rushers around nor was quick to make adjustments when thos rushing lanes were not open or effective.
Also, as usual he was not willing to add in blitzs enough and gave Luck plenty of time.
Like Fox the team accomplished what they did this year in spite of Fox and JDR not because of it.

Del Rio and Gase combined for one of the worst off/def gameplans in a playoff game that I've seen in a while. In addition to putting Talib (slower, press corner who shades WR to the middle) on a quick slot WR who runs crossing patterns (mind boggling), playing a ton of zone with no blitzing (even Dalton could have hit some of the open seam routes) and lining up his pass rushers in the same spot the entire game - he also had the LBs way too deep for many obvious running plays. It was a brain dead effort by a DC. From the 2nd quarter on, the Colts had just one 3-and-out with 4 of the 7 total drives ending between 8 and 12 plays and resulting in 24 points. The colts punted twice (one on the final drive when they were killing clock) in the final 3 quarters.

When you look at the talent on the DL (Knighton, Ware), LB (Miller, Marshall) and DB (Talib, Harris, Ward) - that seems awful to me. This was a top 5 defense playing at home against an average OL, no real RB and 1 legit receiver - and they mustered 0 sacks, 4 QB hits and 3 punts (not counting the final drive). Why they didn't start blitzing Luck and mixing up coverages after the first quarter is beyond me.

[BillJasper]

Has there ever been a time where a head coach got fired but both of his coordinators got hired as head coaches in the same season?

[SteveMax58]

I'd just like to thank John Elway....

John Elway says he'd like to thank 'John Elway' | Watch the video - Yahoo Sports

[BillJasper]

Originally Posted by SteveMax58

I'd just like to thank John Elway....

John Elway says he'd like to thank 'John Elway' | Watch the video - Yahoo Sports

I imagine the Broncos will be thanking John Elway for all his hard work he in a season or two when they introduce his replacement.

[Galaril]

Originally Posted by BillJasper

I imagine the Broncos will be thanking John Elway for all his hard work he in a season or two when they introduce his replacement.

I doubt that.

[Kodos]

Me too.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by BillJasper

I imagine the Broncos will be thanking John Elway for all his hard work he in a season or two when they introduce his replacement.

Hmm, assuming Manning retires (which is a big leap) I'd say three years.

[Logan]

Niners are promoting Tomsula to HC, according to Schefter.

[kingfc22]

Originally Posted by Logan

Niners are promoting Tomsula to HC, according to Schefter.

Also sounds like Fangio is going to leave and still doesn't address the offense...

EDIT: Reportedly they are going after Trestman for OC

[Vince, Pt. II]

The 49ers front office has earned quite a bit of trust for putting together the team they have for the last four years. This offseason, however, the coaching staff moves are head scratch worthy. If the 49ers don't have a very good season next year, many 49ers fans will be calling for the heads of the front office staff.

[Thomkal]

Colts linebacker McNary charged with rape | NFL | Sporting News

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by Thomkal

Colts linebacker McNary charged with rape | NFL | Sporting News

Odds that he plays in the AFC Championship game?

[Thomkal]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

Odds that he plays in the AFC Championship game?

If the Players Union has anything to say about it, I'd say very likely

[miami_fan]

Nothing prevents the Colts from just making him inactive a la Trent Richardson.

[Racer]

Originally Posted by Thomkal

If the Players Union has anything to say about it, I'd say very likely

I'm guessing low. He's a backup. He played 262 snaps during the regular season. Colts don't need the distraction given that level of player.

[DaddyTorgo]

To be clear - I wasn't trying to say anything about the Colts organization, but more about what the Commissioner's response might be.

[Danny]

Very happy with the del rio hire. Is he more than a decent head cosch? I don't know but he's easily the best one they've had since gruden. Hoping for mike smith as dc and trestman as oc.

[Abe Sargent]

I've seen more Del Rio pressers and interviews as a Jags fan, watching draft videos, game videos, and more, for years of my life. Let me tell you, I've always liked him. No matter what.

Welcome to a real coach! Him being in Oakland raises my feelings for the team considerably

[albionmoonlight]

Lack of activity by the Saints is not a good sign. The team clearly had some locker room/attitude/maturity/leadership issues this season that caused them to underachieve. I was hoping for more than a couple position coaches being fired.

I didn't want the team to let go of Rob Ryan or Sean Payton. But I really wanted enough other coaches let go to bring in some new blood and shake up whatever complacency got into the players/coaches.

[Buccaneer]

But wasn't the animosity between Payton and Ryan the source of leadership problems?

[albionmoonlight]

Originally Posted by Buccaneer

But wasn't the animosity between Payton and Ryan the source of leadership problems?

This is just my opinion, but I do not think that the real problem was with Payton and Ryan. They butted heads on the sideline, but that tends to happen with a head coach and a coordinator of a bad unit.

I think that the real problem is that Payton brought in some assistant coaches with him when he came to the team (Vitt, Bill Johnson, some others I might be missing) that are clearly "his guys." And these guys are never held accountable for anything and seem to have a free pass to coach underachieving units year after year. They have survived every D-coordinator switch since Payton got there.

And, in my opinion, those guys should get the ax. As position coaches, their units underachieve. And firing them would send the "no one is safe" message to the team. And Payton is a very good coach, but clearly a set-in-his-ways coach. Bringing some new blood and new perspectives and new voices into the locker room and the coaches meetings can only be to the good.

[Buccaneer]

Thanks for your insight.

[BillJasper]

Cardale Jones to make NFL draft announcement at 3 p.m. | ProFootballTalk

Somebody is going to turn Jones into a fullback or tight end.

[stevew]

With the upside of Cam Newton type or even that of a Big Ben, he'll need a few years to mature. I could see him going in the 3rd or so.

[BillJasper]

Originally Posted by stevew

With the upside of Cam Newton type or even that of a Big Ben, he'll need a few years to mature. I could see him going in the 3rd or so.

I don't know? You only have him under contract for four years. Maybe he ends up as practice squad fodder. I think he'd be better off staying in school and developing more.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by BillJasper

I don't know? You only have him under contract for four years. Maybe he ends up as practice squad fodder. I think he'd be better off staying in school and developing more.

So he either transfers or potentially goes into a 3 way battle for the QB job? He has nothing to gain by returning. Although if he wanted to transfer OSU should have let him out for services rendered

[JonInMiddleGA]

Looks like a major mistake to me but maybe he just doesn't want to play school?

[BillJasper]

Originally Posted by stevew

So he either transfers or potentially goes into a 3 way battle for the QB job? He has nothing to gain by returning. Although if he wanted to transfer OSU should have let him out for services rendered

If he doesn't think he's talented enough to win the job at Ohio State, what makes him think he's talented enough to stick on an NFL roster?

[ISiddiqui]

WOW! That's a crazy add decision!

But maybe this means Braxton Miller decides to come back to Ohio State.

[EagleFan]

Originally Posted by stevew

With the upside of Cam Newton type or even that of a Big Ben, he'll need a few years to mature. I could see him going in the 3rd or so.

Any team taking him in the 3rd round would be insane.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by BillJasper

If he doesn't think he's talented enough to win the job at Ohio State, what makes him think he's talented enough to stick on an NFL roster?

Is it that simple? College QBing and pro QBing are two totally different beasts. Maybe he hates school? ESPN guys have him as a day 3 type pick but I bet he can get someone to fall in love with him. We're talking about someone who potentially was never going to play at OSU cause the other two QBs did OSU type stuff better than he did. Not sure what he'd have to gain by playing next year at juco type place and potentially transferring somewhere else in 2016

[JPhillips]

I'm afraid he'll get exposed in workouts and then up up a day three pick. After a couple years of not playing he'll say or do something stupid and end up out of the league.

I hope it doesn't turn out like that, but that's my guess.

[BillJasper]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

I'm afraid he'll get exposed in workouts and then up up a day three pick. After a couple years of not playing he'll say or do something stupid and end up out of the league.

I hope it doesn't turn out like that, but that's my guess.

He has the physical tools, there is no question. But how is he going to hold up under constant scrutiny by the media, meetings with NFL teams and the Wonderlic?

I could see a scenario where the guy goes undrafted.

[BillJasper]

Originally Posted by stevew

Not sure what he'd have to gain by playing next year at juco type place and potentially transferring somewhere else in 2016

Experience?

[Buccaneer]

Maturity?

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by BillJasper

He has the physical tools, there is no question. But how is he going to hold up under constant scrutiny by the media, meetings with NFL teams and the Wonderlic?

I could see a scenario where the guy goes undrafted.

I can't imagine he would go undrafted. This is a terrible year for QBs. After the top two - who have question marks of their own - there really isn't much at all.

Someone will draft him. I'd go so far as to guarantee it. Heck, I'd rather have Cardale Jones than poopy Dan Orlovsky. Then again, I can't stand Dan Orlovsky. He sucks the joy out of everything.

I really do hope than no one hires Teryl Austin to be their head coach. While, I would be happy for him, I would be sad and unhappy for me.

[Honolulu_Blue]

I do hope Cardale Jones declares for the daft. I'll enjoy (to a point) the endless speculation, and I don't think OSU needs anymore super good QBs at the moment.

[stevew]

I guess he grew up super poor and has a kid. Maturity and experience are awesome but he could be the 3rd to 5th QB off the board if if he impresses in drills.