I'm with The Outfield; I'm not sure we're going to get that elite #1 WR that most folks covet: we just don't get the targets and yards a guy like that really wants.
As for the OP, I'm with you in wanting to upgrade the OL, but it's going to come via the draft, and it's going to be more guys like Britt. Britt will get better, and we will all laugh about how much we didn't like him as a rookie. Thing is, the kid can run block like a mofo.
We won't be able to spend a lot on the OL. We'll probably say good bye to Okung unless he takes a value contract for us. With Russ's contract and the Defense we just won't be able to afford a lot on the OL (throw in a good WR as well, that'll cost us). I hear "fire Cable" a lot, and um,,well that's just not going to happen.
If I went to a HC and told him "hey, I can give you two borderline Pro Bowl players, and the rest it doesn't really matter...UDFA, 7th rounders, you name it, and I can craft you the #1 rushing offense in the NFL" and have a resume to prove it....how many guys you think would hire me ? EVERY one that values a running game. And EVERY one that doesnt' have an elite Franchise QB. There are guys that want to sling the ball more, but every HC in the league understands how important it is to run the ball.
That's why we have to pay Russ. He alleviates the need (and the cost) of having to have elite pass protection (hi Peyton Manning !). I don't like the one stat that the article threw out there, as it's to general. How many times have we seen IMMEDIATE (read: less than 2 seconds pressure) on him the last two years ? So if Russ counts "one thousand one" and has a 300 pounder in his lap, then he pulls the ball down and runs for his life, all the while looking down the field to make a play, well yea that counts as "holding the ball too long" and it probably goes over 2.5 seconds. It also likely isn't going to go well, as I don't know a whole lot of OC's that design a play to get your QB blown up immediately.
The other thing...what goes into that stat ? Does it account for all the times Wilson held the ball too long, then pulled it down and ran with it ? Running the ball won't make Wilson's QB Rating better, but it's a positive play, it kills the defense, and it usually moves the chains. Many times, it's an explosive play, one that doesnt' get counted in a QB Rating.
I definately think Wilson holds the ball too long at times. I also am in the camp of wanting at least one better WR. Either a bigger bodied guy that can make the contested catch, or a guy that creates quick mismatches with separation (think a Emmanuel Sanders or Antonio Brown guy). We need to have one guy that tilts the field, messes with coverage and creates a mismatch somewhere. We see what's possible with the stat from the article, even if I find it a bit misleading.
As for the OP, I'm with you in wanting to upgrade the OL, but it's going to come via the draft, and it's going to be more guys like Britt. Britt will get better, and we will all laugh about how much we didn't like him as a rookie. Thing is, the kid can run block like a mofo.
We won't be able to spend a lot on the OL. We'll probably say good bye to Okung unless he takes a value contract for us. With Russ's contract and the Defense we just won't be able to afford a lot on the OL (throw in a good WR as well, that'll cost us). I hear "fire Cable" a lot, and um,,well that's just not going to happen.
If I went to a HC and told him "hey, I can give you two borderline Pro Bowl players, and the rest it doesn't really matter...UDFA, 7th rounders, you name it, and I can craft you the #1 rushing offense in the NFL" and have a resume to prove it....how many guys you think would hire me ? EVERY one that values a running game. And EVERY one that doesnt' have an elite Franchise QB. There are guys that want to sling the ball more, but every HC in the league understands how important it is to run the ball.
That's why we have to pay Russ. He alleviates the need (and the cost) of having to have elite pass protection (hi Peyton Manning !). I don't like the one stat that the article threw out there, as it's to general. How many times have we seen IMMEDIATE (read: less than 2 seconds pressure) on him the last two years ? So if Russ counts "one thousand one" and has a 300 pounder in his lap, then he pulls the ball down and runs for his life, all the while looking down the field to make a play, well yea that counts as "holding the ball too long" and it probably goes over 2.5 seconds. It also likely isn't going to go well, as I don't know a whole lot of OC's that design a play to get your QB blown up immediately.
The other thing...what goes into that stat ? Does it account for all the times Wilson held the ball too long, then pulled it down and ran with it ? Running the ball won't make Wilson's QB Rating better, but it's a positive play, it kills the defense, and it usually moves the chains. Many times, it's an explosive play, one that doesnt' get counted in a QB Rating.
I definately think Wilson holds the ball too long at times. I also am in the camp of wanting at least one better WR. Either a bigger bodied guy that can make the contested catch, or a guy that creates quick mismatches with separation (think a Emmanuel Sanders or Antonio Brown guy). We need to have one guy that tilts the field, messes with coverage and creates a mismatch somewhere. We see what's possible with the stat from the article, even if I find it a bit misleading.