Location: The Bay Area
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validation wrote: | so wait, is this going to be a "rebuilding year?" |
Sort of...I mean, traditionally, with this big of a changeover of front office and player personnel, you'd think 3-4 years, but just look at Atlanta after the Vick thing...new coach, new qb - in the playoffs the first year and best record in their conference by year 3 (they just happened to run into the Aaron Rodgers buzzsaw). I think the expectations are for a faster turnaround these days.
Even though H&H are in their 2nd year, this will be yet more turnover, with Pat Shurmur's offense and Dick Jauron's D...new systems on both sides of the ball, but if the players are good enough, they should be able to pick it up fast enough. I don't expect them to be playoff ready anytime soon, but now that the organization finally seems to have its shit together since coming back into the league (for real this time), I think they could at least be on the edge of greatness by the end of Shurmur's 2nd year. I hope that's the case, at least, cuz Holmgren hand picked this guy. I was skeptical at first, but after having listened to them both at the press conference, I think we got a good one....finally. I'd say year 3, to be honest and realistic...it takes time...think about Dungy/Gruden in Tampa Bay, Holmgren in GB, etc...teams with long cultures of losing need a longer time to come around.
On offense we now have an uncontested, legitimate starter at QB (first time since Kosar), All Pro Joe Thomas, Eric Steinbach & Mack anchoring the line, a capable receiver with a lot of upside in Massaquoi, and the most gruesome, bad ass runner since Earl Campbell in Hillis. If we get lucky enough to get AJ Green, I think the West Coast offense is going to flourish.
Defense could use some work up front. Haden is fucking sick and TJ Ward has lived up to reputation as the prototypical "hard hitting" safety, so that's nice, but the pass rush needs work...I really, really hope Jauron finally puts us back into a 4-3 and we draft a DE with our first or second pick, depending on how who's available. Could use an outside linebacker, too.
_________________ Sentience
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