The vets were on the age cliff and I think everyone knew Ragnow and decker were reaching the end, except Holmes and he did not do a good job anticipating this.
Additionally, on paper and when healthy are great except when they aren’t healthy anymore. So saying Gibbs alone is better than two players is kind of a fallacy because if he goes down we have nothing. In my opinion the roster is too heavy where we do have some excellent vets in key positions, but questionable depth behind them.
I would also argue Kalif Raymond, stbrown and Reynolds and Jamo then were better than Jamo and st brown now. TeSlaa until he proves otherwise is a downgrade from Raymond, again another guy we let go.
When ragnow was playing on one foot for the last couple years and decker was requiring more and more injury management during the week, I think it is fair to question why more potential development was not added to the team sooner. We only really replaced ragnow this year and were caught off guard last year.
We were both caught off guard AND tried to address it. Ratledge was Hank’s pick to take over for Frank, and I still think he could make a good center. But we also thought we had time to blood him at guard for a year while he learned from Frank, and we did not. It left us without an immediate solution, and without being able to use Ratledge going forward at center this year after what we experienced last year. I STILL wouldn’t be surprised if he’s the long-term plan at C, but that won’t be until he’s replacing Mays now.
You think so? I don’t think the RB position is better without the 1/2 punch of Gibbs and Montgomery. I’m not sure the WR group is better than that year; it’s basically the same. OL is worse right now than that team. The CBs are not better really or the safeties. Maybe the current team is deeper?
In fairness they were able to replace Decker on time with Miller this year too. With ragnow though, I just felt fans were always waiting for the retirement shoe to drop ever since it came out his toe was inoperable.
Without going back to look I’d just like to assume there was an opportunity to find backup linemen to potentially develop into starters in previous drafts, instead of drafting/trading picks for guys like Manu, TeSlaa, Martin etc. to be better buffers.
No GM is perfect, and I’m not saying Holmes needs to be fired, but he is open to questioning and criticism just like everyone else.
I feel better about the potential of this team now than I did this time last year, I really like the look of the 2025 and 2026 drafts but until those guys come of age it’s a lot of ifs. The offensive line is filled with youth for instance but Miller and Ratledge are going to be very good if not pro bowl level players eventually but with youth there will be bumps in the road. Same with the defensive line outside of Hutch and Alim, lots of good young talent bubbling up but still mostly potential, secondary as well and Teslaa at receiver.
I think there’s lots of potential across the board there but some growing pains will ensue before they establish. The core is good enough to keep the team competitive until the youth starts making meaningful impacts. How well the 2025 and 2026 draft picks develop will determine if this team becomes a Superbowl contender or a bubble playoff team. Also really need Branch to come back healthy, Kerby is toast and I can’t wait for his contract to become cap space eventually.
Right, but the way Frank approached that whole thing made it very difficult. No shade on him - he’s allowed to decide exactly how he wants his career to go - but after that first offseason when he returned, I do think it lulled the brass into a false sense of security. Especially when it happened a second year. I remember thinking Rat was a good succession plan when I heard he was Fraley’s chosen replacement - it didn’t strike me as being too late or anything - but then Rags surprised us by retiring post-draft.
I also wonder just how - and when - Frank managed to get such a terrible hamstring injury. There’s been no real word on it - nor should there be what with HIPAA and all - but the whole thing is really strange. Did he get a grade 3 tear while he was retired? And decided to come back anyway? Did it happen after he announced he was coming back when he tried to do his first squat? Or is there something more to it?
I agree, that whole return thing was so bizarre. We’ll probably never hear it but there surely has to be way more to it.
I mean if he came in with the hamstring tear, isn’t that something you would definitely and painfully know about? Just so strange he would walk in and want to return and not even be close to football shape.
Anyway, good thoughts and info - always appreciate your posts, insight and knowledge!
Ragnow discussed his comeback at an event a few months ago. He said he felt guilty watching the team struggle, so he tried to return but ended up hurting himself just before he was set to take a physical with the team. He had never suffered a soft-tissue injury, so he was surprised by the severity.
Kerby, Branch, and Ragnow may have been the best players at their positions in the entire NFL. We have replaced them with guys that are just not very good.
