From the outside looking in... (1 Viewer)

[Joe Schmo]

Started a thread a while back bemoaning what I viewed as a catastrophic weakness in my team's(Ravens) chances of winning the super bowl this year even though they have a good record and some of the best talent and better than decent organization in the league. I was rightly called to check by posters reminding me that as fan I live in a gated community and am worried about first world problems and that things could be Much worse. As a corollary, I was reading the Steelers thread and while I totally understand their frustration with their team I am still surprised some by the teeth gnashing exhibited toward a team that routinely, imo, over achieves based on the talent level and in particular the slings and arrows directed to Mike Tomlin and his ability to coach and lead the team. As on outsider, I view Tomlin as a true leader who players who value winning really respect and like playing for. Most teams would Love to have Tomlin as their head coach, imo.

Again, from the outside it seems like the Steelers will benefit more from finding the right talent(and qb) but already have in place the perfect coaching foundation and that shouldn't be messed with as you can have it much worse if you trade out Tomlin for Coach Unknown, imo.

I'm sure there are others here who read some team or player threads and scratch your head wondering "what are they thinking?" Sf, Philly, Dallas, Cincy all have great posters who sometimes let the bad overwhelm the good, imo. Heck, as Baltimore fan I can tell you my brother has a running tally of the times I've wanted to fire Harbaugh or Decosta and how I lament Lamar Jackson can't win big games and how Justin Tucker should be **** canned 10 games into this season, etc. All those are kind of out there views so it sometimes help when someone from outside offers some perspective to calm the nerves.

PS- another head scratcher to me is the Brock Purdy line of thought that some 49er fans don't want to lock him up cuz he's really no better than Daniel Jones or Trever Lawrence, etc but from the outside I say be careful what you wish for, qb purgatory is real. Ask both NY teams. And Purdy is way down the list of team problems, imo.

 

[-OZ-]

no better than Daniel Jones or Trever Lawrence,

Things we did not expect to hear a year ago.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

I'm also a follower of Baltimore, and I purposefully go into other team threads to keep my perspective. I think it's too easy to get into an echo chamber (not just talking about sports, but I won't go down that road) and see nothing but doom & gloom.

While I understand the psychology of some of the thinking for fans of struggling franchises, some of it is self-delusional. I get it. I do. When your favorite team has only won a couple of games, you need something/anything to look forward to. But "higher draft pick" or "trading a high draft pick for a haul" rarely work.

It's funny how teams that consistently draft in the bottom half of rounds keep reloading with good players, while teams that draft high in rounds every year keep drafting high every year - right?

Franchises like Pittsburgh, KC, Baltimore, Philly, GB, and a few others keep drafting good players regardless of where their drafts picks are slotted.

 

[BobbyLayne]

I'm also a follower of Baltimore, and I purposefully go into other team threads to keep my perspective. I think it's too easy to get into an echo chamber (not just talking about sports, but I won't go down that road) and see nothing but doom & gloom.

While I understand the psychology of some of the thinking for fans of struggling franchises, some of it is self-delusional. I get it. I do. When your favorite team has only won a couple of games, you need something/anything to look forward to. But "higher draft pick" or "trading a high draft pick for a haul" rarely work.

It's funny how teams that consistently draft in the bottom half of rounds keep reloading with good players, while teams that draft high in rounds every year keep drafting high every year - right?

Franchises like Pittsburgh, KC, Baltimore, Philly, GB, and a few others keep drafting good players regardless of where their drafts picks are slotted.

Detroit has strung together a series of good drafts. The haul from the Stafford trade helped, but give Brad Holmes full credit for a pretty incredible hit rate. Spent a decade as a scout and another 8 years as Director of Scouting (all with the Rams).

• Y1 - Sewell, McNeill, St Brown (6 starters in all)
• Y2 - Hutchinson, Jamo, Joseph (4 starters)
• Y3 - Gibbs, Campbell, LaPorta, Branch (4)
• Y4 - Arnold + several projects. Vaki is grading out as a pro bowl level STer, Mahogany started at LG last week & looks like a future starting OL.

He’s also done a great job bringing in vets without splurging in free agency. Carlton Davis, Kevin Zeitler, Tim Patrick, ZaDarius Smith this year. Even his UDFAs end up being contributors.

Obviously the draft is more challenging picking late but there are gems to be found on Day 2/Day 3 every year, regardless of draft position.

The other thing I like about the current regime in Detroit is player development. They don’t give up on guys, and it’s paid off with Y3/Y4 guys stepping up after being coached up the first few years. That kind of patience is rare - Ravens and 49ers do it, not too many others.