On to next season

Coaching

 

DL/pass rush that allows this defense to get pressure without leaving guys open, aka requiring extra blitzers.

Interior OL. I'd say C first, but we need G and depth.

I wanted to say Safety to replace Cyprien but I'll be honest, he sometimes plays really well, but other times he's downright awful.

LB that can cover. I saw Williamson on the field last night and that always feels like a liability to me.

 

I change my initial response to this.

 

need a real RB
need an interior DL presence, Casey isn't the guy.
need a complimentary safety to Byard
need another CB
NEED AN ILB

 

1. Coaching philosophy overhaul...move into the 21st century offensively
2. Need interior Oline help
3. Interior D line and LB help that can cover as well
4. Good blocking TE...
5. Complementary RB for Henry
6. Secondary depth....actually, depth in general.

 

#1 Coaching. Our offense at least would be completely revamped for the better. We've got the talent, Corey if he's healthy can be a legitimate #1 receiver. Rishard is already a respectable #2 receiver with Robiskie. Our offensive line is good when played right, although we could use improvement in the interior.

The only thing I would do is maybe make some small adjustments to the interior line. I also think we should try to go for Graham in the off season. Delanie is slowing down, and Jonnu hasn't shown enough to pass on a guy of Jimmy's caliber. Mariota needs a good TE again to bail him out of bad situations, and he's starting to lose that.

I'm not a fan of Henry either, and Murray is getting too old/injury prone at this point to be reliable. He was terrible last season, and Henry was inconsistent as hell like every other Bama back has been in the NFL. I'm willing to give him a year under a proper system, but if we have a chance to get Bell, even if it is a bit overpriced, I'd like us to go for it. The guy is a game changer like no other back in this league, and his presence alone last night could've very well won us the game.

It's very obvious we need to continue to focus on our defense though. We've largely ignored it in drafts, that can't continue to happen. We haven't ignored it in free agency, because we've managed to be cheap and pay mediocre players what still amounts to more money then they are worth. J-Rob can't keep making bad free agency choices. Our pass rush on the outside is slowing down. Our line is awful outside of Casey which makes our LBs even worse. Our ILB are inconsistent generally leaning towards not doing anything. A'doree is improving although I'm still not sold he can be a top CB in this league, we're paying Logan and will have to settle with just being average at that position for now considering the needs elsewhere, but we've got to still get more depth there still. We've got to get another safety outside of Byard who is forced to do too much too. Hell I want to even replace Succop to be honest.

 

QB - Need a backup. Cassell is done. I actually like the idea of Greg Ward Jr because he can also return kicks and gives us a scat back, fast WR. Versatile backup with some street.
ILB - Wouldn't mind a big, fast, and clean haymaker.
SS - Cyprien ok, but not superbowl caliber. He was isolated yesterday intentionally. And it hurt.
WR - I'd seriously consider playing Jackson 2 ways. We need separation out there. Dekker, Matthews, and crew are all backups. Need a true #2 and #3.
TE - Get rid of all of them and force MM to throw downfield. And I'm near dead serious. Belichek doubled our average TE because frankly, the offense doesn't look anywhere else. And it worked.
RB - Murray lost his burst. Reminds when CJ lost a step. He's a backup now. DH can start. But we'll need some depth.

 

I think we can also declare that MM is not a bust. He won a playoff game. And he's not miserable. Lets just see if he can elevate into the top 1/3. Right now I don't have faith when he lets it's go that it will be completed. I worry. I want to have that faith.

 

Speed RB..Jerick McKinnon FA? Draft?
True DE that can get to the QB
More depth around but especially on OL
CB depth

New Staff or at least OC