Offensively we SHOULD be a player or two away from a playoff type team. The problem is the defense and special teams needs a make over in the worst way...and upgrading our offensive line wouldn't hurt either.
Agreed. I think we're close offensively with the guys we have if we can add some pieces on the OL. Hopefully, we do that in the draft.
As for the defense, I think a coaching change goes a long way there. Everyone thought Dallas' defense was going to be a disaster this season. They bring in Marinelli and their defense is respectable. Still not great, but it's good enough. That's all we need. We don't need a top 10 defense to win games, no one really does in this league anymore. You just need a defense that can create turnovers and limit scoring chances. This defense still needs help in the secondary, but getting rid of Haslett may be the best thing they can do.
Hard to tell what will happen next season with this team. If Griffin can really focus and work in the offseason, the offense should be pretty good. I'm not saying this is a playoff team, but next year's team should have more than 4-5 wins. I could see them hanging around .500.
They actual do have a lot of talent still at the skill positions. There is no need to spend high round picks at this point on WR, TE or RB IMO. If you do happen to go offense: Line, line, line, line, line..
Regarding the most important skill position, even with all the questions, we should probably go into 2015 giving Robert one final chance. A few random thoughts on this:
1. I'm not entirely sold that he'll make it unless he learns to get rid of the ball faster, make faster decisions, etc. It should be a point of real emphasis.
2. He may be showing some minor signs of growing in that area. Observers thought he did well in that regard vs. Philly. I've heard some people take issue with the "he managed the game" quote by Gruden as a slight, but I do not agree. Actually, I think it's an acknowledgement that Robert is growing in just the area that he wants him to.
3. Could it be that Griffin is humbled? This would not be an entirely bad thing. Let's put an end to "the Griffin show" sponsored by Twitter, etc. Let's just try to survive and keep your job. That might be...good?
4. There is one other play that gives me hope. Vs. the Giants, on the play where he sprinted into the end zone and the robbed him of the TD. Since the first time since his injury, that play looked a little bit like "the old Robert" to me. Turn the corner, no time, but f it, I am better than you and I'm going to beat you to the end zone. And he did. And he was fired up about it. That was not tentative, indecisive Robert, but brash, confident Robert. I don't want him to be reckless, but that cocky burst at times also makes him special...and dangerous.
As for the defense, I won't even get into that. I actually like Haslett, but his units just haven't done well. I think maybe it's true a coaching change might help. Who would be the main candidates?