This year is done. 8 losses, countless injuries, heartbreak in the clutch, lack of mental and physical toughness from players and coaches.
However, from an individual standpoint, I'm very optimistic about future. As I've mentioned several times over the last few weeks, our declining performances from late 2012 through today is the result of failed drafts from 2009-2012. The 2013-2014 drafts have so far proven reasonably fruitful with starters that include Odell Beckham Jr., Jonathan Hankins, Justin Pugh, Devon Kennard and UDFA pickup Larry Donnell; part-time contributors such as Andre Williams, DaMontre Moore; and potential promising future contributors in Jay Bromley, Cooper Taylor and Nat Berhe; We've cut only two players - both of whom are still with the organization - in Bennett Jackson and Eric Herman. Compare that with 2011-2012 where we had busts in Marvin Austin, Jayron Hosley, Jerrel Jernigan, James Brewer, David Wilson (injury) and others. We've so far had some improvement in the draft, as I can tell so far.
From a Salary Cap standpoint, we're in excellent shape, we've cleared out contracts of long-time vets such as Boley, Canty, Snee, Baas, Tuck, Osi, Webster, McKenzie, Diehl, Bradshaw all who were great giants and big contributors but were never going to continue to play at a high level. We now only have a few major contracts: Eli, Beatty, Rolle, DRC compared to our height of big contracts in 2010 when we had major committments to Eli, Jacobs, Snee, McKenzie, O'Hara, Diehl, Canty, Tuck, Osi, Boley, Rolle, Webster, etc.
We can spend freely this off-season and should have a high draft pick. We have a franchise quarterback in place , 2 number 1 receivers (if cruz comes back healthy) a couple of pieces on the o-line and d-line (although we need major support there) and a solid secondary. We have a good core in: Eli, Beckham Jr., Cruz, Donnell, Beatty, Pugh, Richburg, JPP (if re-signed), Hankins, Beason, DRC, and Amukamara, you add 2 dynamic players in FA and a 2 in the draft, get everyone healthy and add a few players and we're not in that bad a shape.
But I think we'll make the playoffs next year.
The biggest issues are on D. We need a DE, DT, and two linebackers (MLB and WLB). That's 5 players including LG. We sign Suh and a LG. We draft a DE in Round 1 and linebackers in Rounds 2-3. If we can do those things and draft competently, we could be a solid team next year. However, Fewell must go.
And the other thing is, for some some of the guys that you mentioned as making some contribution..such as Moore...you have to keep in mind that they're having difficulty breaking into the starting lineup of a 3-8 team. This isn't the Lombardi era Packers we're talking about.