Octopus Overlords

So, your team didn't make the playoffs. Boo-hoo. What changes are you looking forward to so they might not suck in 2016?

With his 3 interception performance, Cutler might have prevented his offensive coordinator from becoming a head coaching candidate elsewhere. Since there's not really much in the way of NFL ready QBs in the draft, the Bears are expected to stay with Cutler, which is probably a good move, he had a decent season. Forte is likely a goner, questing for one last payday while the young'uns, Langford and Karey, have proven they could carry the load. The interesting question is whether or not Bennett will be back...the current administration doesn't like clubhouse whiners, and he doth protested too much. I hope they can sign Jeffery, I can't believe he's already a FA. Otherwise, they need another receiver and a lineman (preferably a right tackle so Kyle Long can return to his Pro Bowl right guard spot). The rest of the effort should go into defense, at least another reliable pass rusher and someone with some talent in safety or CB.

I hope for some organizational stability this offseason. Obviously Rex and the GM are safe (they've already been told publicly that they are safe). I would like to have one more year of Greg Roman as the OC. The offense definitely progressed this year (although it was not without its problems).

I am happy with Tyrod going forward although they need a better backup QB. And find me a right tackle. Other than that - any defender that isn't willing to get completely on board with Ryan's defensive philosophy needs to get kicked to the curb.

Ryan is a lot of things - but his defensive scheme works. If it's not working - it's your fault, not the scheme. So bye bye Mario Williams.

This team needs consistency. Hopefully year two under the same systems will provide that.

Niners just made their first year coach as their scapegoat for how their season went. But in reality it wasn't the coaches fault, it was ownerships decision and the inability to get along with Harbaugh.

Mike Holmgren has expressed interest in returning, but we all know they will hire Chip Kelly. Because, well, we're the new Raiders. We gotta fuck everything up.

Called it!

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/20 ... the-49ers/

Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter 15m15 minutes ago
Mike Shanahan scheduled to meet Tues with Miami Dolphins, as @alexmarvez said. Will be Shanahan's 2ND interview with Miami. Also met Dec. 22

That would be an interesting hire. Can't see it working out, but it would definitely be entertaining.

The Lions are in an interesting situation. After firing Mayhew, Lombardi and Lewand, the Lions turned their season around and went 6-2 in 2nd half. Considering that 3 losses had major ref screw ups involved, the Lions could have easily made the playoffs this season. But NFL apologies do not win games so the record is what it it. Anyway, the question is should the Lions retain Caldwell? After a 1-7 start, he was universally considered a dead man walking but the team supported him vocally and publicly and rallied behind him. The Fords have also stated that they would like to see him stay but since they will be hiring a new GM, they plan on leaving personnel decisions up to whomever they hire.
Personally, I think Caldwell has earned the opportunity to stay on with the team. The team support and the fact that they rallied so well in the 2nd half is only part of the reason why though. I like that Caldwell has changed the culture and atmosphere in the locker room. Last off season is the first time I can recall where player arrests didnt dominate the news. He has instilled a sense of responsibility and accountability into this team, that was absent under Schwartz. Its looking like Lombardi and the Amazing Predictable Offense, were a big reason for the Lions failing early on. Once J.B. Cooter stepped in things really turned around. Of course, Caldwell takes some responsibility for Lombardis ineptitude but he also should get credit for the turn around as well. Anyway, I think he has earned a reprieve and besides I really dont see anyone else out there that is available and would improve the coaching situation in Detroit. Unfortunately, it looks like they may lose their defensive coordinator, Teryl Austin, as both the Browns and the Eagles have requested interviews with him already and he is considered the new hot commodity for a head coach position. It seems inevitable that the Lions will be looking for a new D coordinator very soon.

The main thing I want in San Diego is for them to stay in San Diego. If they do I'd like for them to get healthy receivers (as well as other positions), improve the offensive line, and improve the defensive line. If they get rid of McCoy I want them to do it soon but I'd prefer he stays for at least another year.

If they move to LA and change the team name I'm probably done. I can't imagine rooting for an LA team.

naednek wrote:Niners just made their first year coach as their scapegoat for how their season went. But in reality it wasn't the coaches fault, it was ownerships decision and the inability to get along with Harbaugh.

Mike Holmgren has expressed interest in returning, but we all know they will hire Chip Kelly. Because, well, we're the new Raiders. We gotta fuck everything up.

Called it!

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/20 ... the-49ers/

Chip Kelly will go to Tennessee and succeed. We're not the new Raiders, we're worse, we're the new Browns, and we're not getting any better until the Yorks are gone, or until they need a new stadium again.

That article completely ignores the fact that the 49ers will be cutting Kaepernick loose so that they don't have to pay his contract. Kelly will sign him as a backup to Mariota in Tennessee and get a steal for his offense.

All I know is that I'm glad I'm not a Jets fan. I just knew that they would choke in the end. At least the Giants were kind enough to give us no hope. Eli actually had a very good year by the numbers, but the defense. OMFG... I don't think they have ever fielded a worse one.

EvilHomer3k wrote:The main thing I want in San Diego is for them to stay in San Diego. If they do I'd like for them to get healthy receivers (as well as other positions), improve the offensive line, and improve the defensive line. If they get rid of McCoy I want them to do it soon but I'd prefer he stays for at least another year.

If they move to LA and change the team name I'm probably done. I can't imagine rooting for an LA team.

Your wish is granted!

Ian Rapoport ‏@RapSheet 3m3 minutes ago
The #Chargers will retain coach Mike McCoy after meeting with him today, source said (as @UTgehlken said),

Pyperkub wrote: That article completely ignores the fact that the 49ers will be cutting Kaepernick loose so that they don't have to pay his contract. Kelly will sign him as a backup to Mariota in Tennessee and get a steal for his offense.

I would be very surprised if he doesn't get multiple offers to be a starter. If he does go somewhere as a backup, it will be to a team unstable in that position where he stands a good chance being elevated to starter sooner than later.

And the wheel turns...

Ian Rapoport ‏@RapSheet 4m4 minutes ago
The #Giants will not retain Tom Coughlin, source said. (as @AdamSchefter reported). The biggest opening yet.

What are the chances Kelly ends up there? I still think Tennessee makes the most sense, but I don't know if they'll even look at him.

EvilHomer3k wrote:The main thing I want in San Diego is for them to stay in San Diego. If they do I'd like for them to get healthy receivers (as well as other positions), improve the offensive line, and improve the defensive line. If they get rid of McCoy I want them to do it soon but I'd prefer he stays for at least another year.

If they move to LA and change the team name I'm probably done. I can't imagine rooting for an LA team.

They won't be called the Chargers? Interesting since they started as the LA Chargers. How about the Los Angeles Road Rage?

stessier wrote:And the wheel turns...

Ian Rapoport ‏@RapSheet 4m4 minutes ago
The #Giants will not retain Tom Coughlin, source said. (as @AdamSchefter reported). The biggest opening yet.

What are the chances Kelly ends up there? I still think Tennessee makes the most sense, but I don't know if they'll even look at him.

TC officially stepped down. There was just no way they could bring him back after all the mistakes this year AND the fact that he's almost 70.

Putting the zombie coach down for the count.

If Oakland moves again, the metro area (11th overall) will still have a team. If either San Diego (17) or St. Louis (19) move, they will replace Los Angeles as the largest city without an NFL team (on that list, I don't really consider Riverside/San Bernadino a metro area separate from Los Angeles/Anaheim; although the linked list does). Markets smaller than St. Louis include:

Baltimore (20)
Denver (21)
Charlotte (22)
Pittsburgh (23)
Cincinnati (28)
Kansas City (29)
Cleveland (31)
Indianapolis (33)
Nashville (36)
Jacksonville (40)
New Orleans (45)
Buffalo (50)
Green Bay (157)

Tampa (18) is smaller than San Diego. It's interesting to note that Los Angeles (2) and suburban Los Angeles (Riverside/San Bernadino/Ontario (13) are the only markets in the top 23 without a NFL team. Moving anyone but Oakland will just create another vacuum that begs to be filled.

While for historical purposes, Green Bay certainly isn't going anywhere, Indy, Tennessee, Jacksonville, New Orleans and Buffalo better keep butts in the seats to justify having teams over larger markets.

Jaymann wrote:

EvilHomer3k wrote:The main thing I want in San Diego is for them to stay in San Diego. If they do I'd like for them to get healthy receivers (as well as other positions), improve the offensive line, and improve the defensive line. If they get rid of McCoy I want them to do it soon but I'd prefer he stays for at least another year.

If they move to LA and change the team name I'm probably done. I can't imagine rooting for an LA team.

They won't be called the Chargers? Interesting since they started as the LA Chargers. How about the Los Angeles Road Rage?

I don't know if they have to but they could.

Subsequent legal actions saw a unique compromise that would later set a precedent in American professional sports: A relocating franchise would keep its existing personnel, but such personnel would form (and thus become) an entirely new, separate franchise (in this case, the Browns' original personnel becoming the Baltimore Ravens). The relocated franchise's original heritage would stay in its original city, with new personnel eventually reactivating the officially suspended franchise, thus becoming the new personnel of, and officially continuing the supposedly relocated franchise.

rshetts2 wrote:The Lions are in an interesting situation. After firing Mayhew, Lombardi and Lewand, the Lions turned their season around and went 6-2 in 2nd half. Considering that 3 losses had major ref screw ups involved, the Lions could have easily made the playoffs this season. But NFL apologies do not win games so the record is what it it. Anyway, the question is should the Lions retain Caldwell? After a 1-7 start, he was universally considered a dead man walking but the team supported him vocally and publicly and rallied behind him. The Fords have also stated that they would like to see him stay but since they will be hiring a new GM, they plan on leaving personnel decisions up to whomever they hire.
Personally, I think Caldwell has earned the opportunity to stay on with the team. The team support and the fact that they rallied so well in the 2nd half is only part of the reason why though. I like that Caldwell has changed the culture and atmosphere in the locker room. Last off season is the first time I can recall where player arrests didnt dominate the news. He has instilled a sense of responsibility and accountability into this team, that was absent under Schwartz. Its looking like Lombardi and the Amazing Predictable Offense, were a big reason for the Lions failing early on. Once J.B. Cooter stepped in things really turned around. Of course, Caldwell takes some responsibility for Lombardis ineptitude but he also should get credit for the turn around as well. Anyway, I think he has earned a reprieve and besides I really dont see anyone else out there that is available and would improve the coaching situation in Detroit. Unfortunately, it looks like they may lose their defensive coordinator, Teryl Austin, as both the Browns and the Eagles have requested interviews with him already and he is considered the new hot commodity for a head coach position. It seems inevitable that the Lions will be looking for a new D coordinator very soon.

And considering the slate of opponents for next year, I think it feasible he'd go 11-5 (and inexplicably raise all our hopes again).

freep wrote:Along with their usual home and away games against their NFC North rivals, the Lions play all the teams in NFC East and AFC South next year, plus crossovers against the St. Louis Rams and New Orleans Saints.

crossovers against the St. Louis Rams and New Orleans Saints.

There isn't some mystical formula for "crossovers".

NFL Operations

Every team plays its remaining two games against teams from the two remaining divisions in its own conference — one game at home and the other on the road. The matchups are determined by where the teams finished in their divisions in the previous season. For example, a team that finished the previous year in third place in its division will play the third-place teams from the two other divisions in its conference.

Which is exactly where all three of those teams finished.

Oh, for anyone that's curious, every team's opponents are already set.

Isgrimnur wrote:Oh, for anyone that's curious, every team's opponents are already set.

Not every game - they have the 2 games determined by a team's standing in the previous year. That's how the Pats kept playing Manning for all those years.

Which would be my post prior to the one you quoted.

One wonders how Jeff Fisher stays employed with 6 winning seasons out of 21, and 4 straight losing seasons with St. Louie.

Mike Shanahan sounds like a serious candidate for the Dolphins job. His offense with Tannehill and those receivers could make the Dolphins legit.

Jaymann wrote:One wonders how Jeff Fisher stays employed with 6 winning seasons out of 21, and 4 straight losing seasons with St. Louie.

Never understood the appeal with Fisher either

Jaymann wrote:One wonders how Jeff Fisher stays employed with 6 winning seasons out of 21, and 4 straight losing seasons with St. Louie.

It might help that the team is attempting to move. None of the three relocation candidates are changing coaches.

Brian Urlacher now has hair and it has created a bit of a stir. And then Lance Briggs wins the day.

Don't understand any of the Chip Kelly love, nationally. His offensive is childlike and predictable, the defensive coordinators have caught up to his play calling and the defense gets worn out because it's on the field forever. The o has been on a rocket sled to the basement and he *does*not*adjust* to the other team's adjustments.

We've lived with him. All he does is drink our beer and clog the toilet. :eyeroll:

Bleeding Green

SSeveral NFL teams have already been rumored to be interested in former Eagles coach Chip Kelly. But according to a report from NFL insider Jason Cole, not all teams are so impressed with him.

“In talking to two NFL owners over the weekend, the impression that they gave is they were simply not that impressed with former Philadelphia Eagles coach Chip Kelly and the work that he did. It was not so much the X’s and O’s part, those owners talked about, it is the executive function Kelly seemed to lack.

And one of the things that they came away with was that the statement from Kelly last week, where he talked about how much he loved his players, was a clear indication of how he didn’t understand it. It came off as basically Kelly having to beg for a job to tell owners ‘Oh, I really do know how to handle this.’

In other words, what they see is a coach who does not know how to relate to players at the professional level, does not understand how to motivate players at the professional level, and ultimately might be a better fit back at the college ranks.

Default wrote:Don't understand any of the Chip Kelly love, nationally. His offensive is childlike and predictable, the defensive coordinators have caught up to his play calling and the defense gets worn out because it's on the field forever. The o has been on a rocket sled to the basement and he *does*not*adjust* to the other team's adjustments.

We've lived with him. All he does is drink our beer and clog the toilet. :eyeroll:

A lot of that has to do with not having a decent QB to run the offense. Look at what manning did in his drives Sunday. If (when) he goes to Tennessee with Mariota and gets Kaepernick as a backup/1a,I expect to see a dramatic improvement.

Ravens have plenty holes to fill and need to get their cap number down. Flacco will count 28 mil against the cap and I believe the organization is still carrying significant dead money against the cap. Sadly, Flacco doesn't have to re-negotiate his deal. If he isn't so inclined then the Ravens will be limited in what they can do


Anyway, having the 6th Pick is nice for a change. I don't have to watch the entire draft like in previous years when the normally pick in the high 20's. Hopefully, Ozzie doesn't trade down for more picks


Oh, the NFL keeps trying to shove a team into LA and it always seems to fail. I guess a third time is a charm, huh?

Pyperkub wrote:

Default wrote:Don't understand any of the Chip Kelly love, nationally. His offensive is childlike and predictable, the defensive coordinators have caught up to his play calling and the defense gets worn out because it's on the field forever. The o has been on a rocket sled to the basement and he *does*not*adjust* to the other team's adjustments.

We've lived with him. All he does is drink our beer and clog the toilet. :eyeroll:

A lot of that has to do with not having a decent QB to run the offense. Look at what manning did in his drives Sunday. If (when) he goes to Tennessee with Mariota and gets Kaepernick as a backup/1a,I expect to see a dramatic improvement.

Why do you think Kaepernick is going to be a backup with so much suck around the league?

Pyperkub wrote:

Default wrote:Don't understand any of the Chip Kelly love, nationally. His offensive is childlike and predictable, the defensive coordinators have caught up to his play calling and the defense gets worn out because it's on the field forever. The o has been on a rocket sled to the basement and he *does*not*adjust* to the other team's adjustments.

We've lived with him. All he does is drink our beer and clog the toilet. :eyeroll:

A lot of that has to do with not having a decent QB to run the offense. Look at what manning did in his drives Sunday. If (when) he goes to Tennessee with Mariota and gets Kaepernick as a backup/1a,I expect to see a dramatic improvement.

Didn't Kelly hand pick his QB this year?

tru1cy wrote:
Anyway, having the 6th Pick is nice for a change. I don't have to watch the entire draft like in previous years when the normally pick in the high 20's. Hopefully, Ozzie doesn't trade down for more picks.

It seems like the generally wise thing to do - aside from a few "sure things" (a la Manning) draft picks are inevitably crap shoots, so it seems generally better to have several picks rather than just one.

Of course, it ultimately depends on what other teams are willing to offer for the 6th pick. But it would be crazy for Ozzie to not shop it around, at least.

El Guapo wrote:

tru1cy wrote:
Anyway, having the 6th Pick is nice for a change. I don't have to watch the entire draft like in previous years when the normally pick in the high 20's. Hopefully, Ozzie doesn't trade down for more picks.

It seems like the generally wise thing to do - aside from a few "sure things" (a la Manning) draft picks are inevitably crap shoots, so it seems generally better to have several picks rather than just one.

Of course, it ultimately depends on what other teams are willing to offer for the 6th pick. But it would be crazy for Ozzie to not shop it around, at least.

Oh, It is a wise thing but it's just novel for this team to get a top ten pick (hindsight, very few top 10 pick are impact players). Also, with the misses Ozzie has been getting it might be wiser to trade out, honestly, for more picks

tru1cy wrote:

El Guapo wrote:

tru1cy wrote:
Anyway, having the 6th Pick is nice for a change. I don't have to watch the entire draft like in previous years when the normally pick in the high 20's. Hopefully, Ozzie doesn't trade down for more picks.

It seems like the generally wise thing to do - aside from a few "sure things" (a la Manning) draft picks are inevitably crap shoots, so it seems generally better to have several picks rather than just one.

Of course, it ultimately depends on what other teams are willing to offer for the 6th pick. But it would be crazy for Ozzie to not shop it around, at least.

Oh, It is a wise thing but it's just novel for this team to get a top ten pick (hindsight, very few top 10 pick are impact players). Also, with the misses Ozzie has been getting it might be wiser to trade out, honestly, for more picks

Yeah, I get where you're coming from. The Patriots perennially trade down as well (as again, that is the smart thing), but it's always more exciting to use a high pick rather than trade it, so I also wind up hoping that they'll use it, even while knowing that it's generally better to trade down.

Though I do wish the Patriots drafted Dez Bryant instead of trading down that year.

ImLawBoy wrote:

Pyperkub wrote:

Default wrote:Don't understand any of the Chip Kelly love, nationally. His offensive is childlike and predictable, the defensive coordinators have caught up to his play calling and the defense gets worn out because it's on the field forever. The o has been on a rocket sled to the basement and he *does*not*adjust* to the other team's adjustments.

We've lived with him. All he does is drink our beer and clog the toilet. :eyeroll:

A lot of that has to do with not having a decent QB to run the offense. Look at what manning did in his drives Sunday. If (when) he goes to Tennessee with Mariota and gets Kaepernick as a backup/1a,I expect to see a dramatic improvement.

Didn't Kelly hand pick his QB this year?

From the limited pickings available. His number one option was to trade to draft mariota but Tennessee wasn't budging.

Jeff V wrote:

Pyperkub wrote:

Default wrote:Don't understand any of the Chip Kelly love, nationally. His offensive is childlike and predictable, the defensive coordinators have caught up to his play calling and the defense gets worn out because it's on the field forever. The o has been on a rocket sled to the basement and he *does*not*adjust* to the other team's adjustments.

We've lived with him. All he does is drink our beer and clog the toilet. :eyeroll:

A lot of that has to do with not having a decent QB to run the offense. Look at what manning did in his drives Sunday. If (when) he goes to Tennessee with Mariota and gets Kaepernick as a backup/1a,I expect to see a dramatic improvement.

Why do you think Kaepernick is going to be a backup with so much suck around the league?

Because of his growth curve. Plus Kelly's offense involves more risk to qbs, and thus backups will get more pt.

El Guapo wrote:aside from a few "sure things" (a la Manning) draft picks are inevitably crap shoots

And you don't even know he's a "sure thing" until well after the fact. Remember, there was serious debate at the time over whether Manning or Ryan Leaf should be the first pick in the draft that year.

Pyperkub wrote:

Jeff V wrote:

Pyperkub wrote:

Default wrote:Don't understand any of the Chip Kelly love, nationally. His offensive is childlike and predictable, the defensive coordinators have caught up to his play calling and the defense gets worn out because it's on the field forever. The o has been on a rocket sled to the basement and he *does*not*adjust* to the other team's adjustments.

We've lived with him. All he does is drink our beer and clog the toilet. :eyeroll:

A lot of that has to do with not having a decent QB to run the offense. Look at what manning did in his drives Sunday. If (when) he goes to Tennessee with Mariota and gets Kaepernick as a backup/1a,I expect to see a dramatic improvement.

Why do you think Kaepernick is going to be a backup with so much suck around the league?

Because of his growth curve. Plus Kelly's offense involves more risk to qbs, and thus backups will get more pt.

He's not going to sign a big contract to be a backup. And he's going to sign a big contract because plenty of teams with shitty QBs will pay him, assuming this year's suckage was a symptom of a dysfunctional team. Until Cutler put together a pretty decent season, there was speculation he might be a starter here.