Think about this. Since 2011 when Eli still had to overcome a bad offensive line, he was able to do so with the help of a healthy Cruz and Nicks along with a serviceable TE in Ballard and a good combo of RB's in Bradshaw and Jacobs. Since then, Eli has had AT MOST one legit threat for an entire season to help him out.
2012
OL: BAD
RBs: Bradshaw for 14 games(in and out of lineup), and nothing else
WRs: Cruz and nobody else. Nicks hurt in the 2nd game, never the same since.
TE: Bennett (used to block a ton because of the state of the OL)
2013:
OL: VERY BAD
RBs: NOTHING. Got so bad we had to lure Jacobs back who was finished.
WRs: Cruz for 14 games and NOBODY else. Nicks was a shell of himself and has shown this year that that is still true.
TE: Brandon Myers. That is all.
2014:
OL: Improved, but still well below-average
RBs: Jennings has played half a season, and Williams is a rookie who cannot create on his own.
WRs: Cruz for 5 games. Beckham missed 4 of those. Now we only have Beckham and Randle (underwhelming at best)
TE: Practice squad player in Donnell who has played well in about half the games and disappears in the others. Hardly an impact player.
So as you can see, in the past 3 years since Eli's best season, we have never given him:
A) More than a below-average OL
B) 2 above-average receiving targets at the same time
or
C) A serviceable RB throughout a whole season
Not sure what QB would have been able to succeed given all of that. We are seeing now what Eli can do with a little time and 1 super-star weapon. Beef up the line a little more, get Cruz back (even at 80% of what he was), Donnell improves even a little, have a little bit of luck with health in regards to the RB's and you have yourself a very dangerous offense with a QB that has PROVEN he can succeed when given some help.
1) Will his big cap number frustrate the team's efforts to rebuild around him?
2) Does he have enough prime years left to outlast the rebuilding process?
Among fans of other teams, the perception tends to be more along the lines that his recent struggles are not inconsistent with his wider body of work. (In other words, a lot of people think he has always basically been an erratic mess, who got hot a couple of times in the playoffs.) That view isn't altogether baseless.
If you want to argue the point with those who disagree with you, here's a link:
The intellectual center of the universe. - ( New Window )
Agreed. For one reason or another, the OL has been below-average since 2010. That much cannot be debated. Injuries and lack of talent have both contributed to that.
OBJ showed his YAC ability this past game. We need players who can catch and get yards. I am not sure we can sustain 12 + play drives consistently. We need to hit more big plays. Throwing a 5-10 yard pass and have a WR run a big chunk really can help us.
I hope we add more talent to this offense.
OBJ showed his YAC ability this past game. We need players who can catch and get yards. I am not sure we can sustain 12 + play drives consistently. We need to hit more big plays. Throwing a 5-10 yard pass and have a WR run a big chunk really can help us.
I hope we add more talent to this offense.
Well I think you will be in the minority because so many people think we will be just fine with one WR and another coming off a major knee surgery that might never be the same player again.. and Randle..
Apparently we should just draft OL exclusively so Eli will need all day to throw because no one will be open....
I hope we add more talent to this offense.
They'll draft a WR with their first round pick this year.
Quote:
want more weapons for him. Right now it's 1 WR and no one else. Get more skill players that can fit the system, and get YAC. Cruz for twice. Once against the Falcons, where he got caught from behind. The other was against the Texans where he stopped on a dime and score.
OBJ showed his YAC ability this past game. We need players who can catch and get yards. I am not sure we can sustain 12 + play drives consistently. We need to hit more big plays. Throwing a 5-10 yard pass and have a WR run a big chunk really can help us.
I hope we add more talent to this offense.
Well I think you will be in the minority because so many people think we will be just fine with one WR and another coming off a major knee surgery that might never be the same player again.. and Randle..
Apparently we should just draft OL exclusively so Eli will need all day to throw because no one will be open....
While I don't think we should use a high draft pick on a WR, I think we should definitely take a chance on one post Round 3 and/or find a reliable WR on the FA market that won't cost a ton. Need some insurance for Cruz.
I don't know why. It's not like we are loaded. RR will be in his contract year and isn't really a fit for this system that predicates itself on YAC. Parkler I am not thrilled about. Our TEs are useless.
It comes down to Cruz. I need to see him play. Other than that we have no one.
Just take this example. Even when Eli has time to throw no one gets open or gets separation. There was a period in the game when the redskins players were getting separation and making plays and running after the catch. Granted our defense sucks, but we could use guys who can get open, when Eli does have time.
Quote:
want more weapons for him. Right now it's 1 WR and no one else. ...
I hope we add more talent to this offense.
They'll draft a WR with their first round pick this year.
Well Cooper will probably be off the board. Not sure who else is worthy of our pick. So if that's the case then let's see what OL prospects fit that draft slot range.
I still think we need to add a lot more talent on offense. Maybe add speed to the RB position, where a speed guy can catch the ball and make some plays. I like Jennings, but can he stay healthy? I am not thrilled with the talent we have on offense right now. It's basically a 1 man show.
Well Cooper will probably be off the board. Not sure who else is worthy of our pick. So if that's the case then let's see what OL prospects fit that draft slot range.
I still think we need to add a lot more talent on offense. Maybe add speed to the RB position, where a speed guy can catch the ball and make some plays. I like Jennings, but can he stay healthy? I am not thrilled with the talent we have on offense right now. It's basically a 1 man show.
Which gives reason for optimism. We have a one of the most dynamic players in the league already there with a good qb to throw it to him. 4/5ths of the line in place. Now keep adding a piece or two over the next 2 offseasons and you have the makings of a very good offense.
Quote:
In comment 12038369 BillT said:
Well Cooper will probably be off the board. Not sure who else is worthy of our pick. So if that's the case then let's see what OL prospects fit that draft slot range.
I still think we need to add a lot more talent on offense. Maybe add speed to the RB position, where a speed guy can catch the ball and make some plays. I like Jennings, but can he stay healthy? I am not thrilled with the talent we have on offense right now. It's basically a 1 man show.
Which gives reason for optimism. We have a one of the most dynamic players in the league already there with a good qb to throw it to him. 4/5ths of the line in place. Now keep adding a piece or two over the next 2 offseasons and you have the makings of a very good offense.
Our OL still isn't good. We still need upgrades and depth after that. Let's see first how we draft and who we sign in FA. Then, pray they all stay healthy. We signed people this off season, and they all got hurt. So frustrating to see that.
Ownership must be deaf, dumb, and blind.
Randle HAS to be the 3rd WR, for now. we can't spend our now middling pick in the 1st round unless all the OL's and LBs have been taken.
i don't trust TC to take advantage of an extremely athletic TE, not his style... so i feel like it has to be OL unless they are all gone and not worth
His 2nd pick of that game was his last pass. When he threw the ball way too early , with no pressure in his face, before rb even had a chance to turn around. He got picked again.
That was a brutal start to an even more brutal year in 2013. And part of the problem was Eli , he was awful last year.
Now he has rebounded nicely this year. But we need to give big props to McAdoo , that guy has turned Eli around.
Reese and Ross need to go
Reese and Ross need to go
So you just happen to know already that Richburg will not be a good C, Schwartz is just not good (you dont know what spot he will even be put in), and the future pieces that we havent even added yet will not make for a decent OL. You sir, have some incredible foresight.
Unless we find a "Beckham II" in the draft, I wouldn't go there with the first pick. The OL needs to be improved not just for the remainder of Eli's career, but beyond as well.
The loaded 2015 free-agent WR class - ( New Window )