Good is the Enemy of Great

Doubt it will stick, because it just doesn’t scream catchy. It’s no ‘Just win baby’ but it’s definitely a quote I’ll be using in future..

It all comes down to MR at the end of the day. We aren’t gutting the whole team just mostly the D. If the D is slow to transition it still would be better than BVG’s D. If Dirk and the new QB coach can get MR head right. We could make some noise next year.

Think about it. Arthur may be mad…but I don’t think he’s going to gut Smitty and Dimitroff after the consistency they have brought to Atlanta. He’s smart enough to know that their may be a learning curve year one. I could be completely wrong…but blowing up what we’ve built so far at the top won’t be a wise move imho. I think the pressure is on to minimize that adjustment period with smart coaching, but it took more than one hall of fame coach several years to bust through in the playoffs.

I have to agree that good is the enemy of great for our team. I think the switch to new coordinators is extremely good and something we badly needed last year. Now, while I think everyone is excited about our new DC (there seems to be some debate on OC) I’ve been reading some of the posts and a lot of the comments, and I’m more than a little confused by some of it. A lot is great stuff, but some just confuses me. Here’s a not-so-brief breakdown of what I see and what I think.

1. We are not converting to a 3-4 – I wish some of you would share the stuff you are smoking because I just don’t see how this will happen. We don’t have the players necessary to run a 3-4 and we don’t have the depth necessary for a 3-4. We would need more linebackers and we don’t have any DTs capable of being consistently good NTs, let alone anyone who could even be a back up NT. We just have to many needs to fill on other parts of the team to make the necessary acquisitions to switch. As Nolan has already said, this team is build around the 4-3 and will continue to use that most of the time. That doesn’t mean I would be surprised to see some situational 3-4 packages, but a wholesale switch isn’t going to happen, at least as long as Smith is our HC.

2. O line is our biggest problem right now. – We have no real option at RG and we have a journeyman LT at best. This is where FA will be our biggest splash I believe. The Comrade always seems to address our biggest needs with free agency and I don’t really see that pattern changing. I expect us to make a serious run at Carl Nicks and learn to live with Svitek at LT. Probably using TEs to help block on that side when needed.

3. No more softzone. – This one is pretty obvious and I think everyone agrees with me on, but it will impact the players we decide to keep and how we draft in April. I think this is the best thing to come out of BVG leaving since the soft zone effectively killed any chance of a good pass rush as well.

4. No sacred cows indeed. – Here’s what I think of our current crop of FAs:

Time to Say Goodbye:
Grimes – While I don’t see a schematic switch to a 3-4, I do see a move to a tighter defense, especially in coverage. This means Grimesy might not fit into our system anymore since he excelled in a soft zone coverage, but most likely wouldn’t do so well in bump-and-run coverage against stronger and bigger receivers. This combined with the payday I’m sure he’ll be looking for might mean we have to part ways.

McClure – Let’s face it, he’s old now. Hawley may not have excelled (or even passed) at playing RG, he’s natural position is C and he played decently there. Given what we might try to do in FA, McClure would just be too expensive to keep around and we’re not going to want to sign him to any sort of long term deal anyway.

Douglas – Given the receiver depth on our roster, I can’t really see why we would sign him to a new contract given the production we got out of him and the amount of time he stayed injured. I expect our front office will want to give Kerry Meier and some of the other guys a shot.

Snelling – I think he’s going to want a long term deal with a significant increase in playing time. Not sure we’re ready to give that to him given Rodgers soon-to-be increased role in the offense and the continued reliance of Turner as our primary means of ground transportation. He’s a nice player who’s good at everything, but unfortunately excels at nothing.

Peterson – He’s been good to us, but he’s also ancient by NFL standards and I think given the contract we signed with Nicholas, and adding Dent last year that this is the end of his tenure in Atlanta. This could possibly change if he decides on signing a one year, relatively cheap deal before retiring.

Here to stay.
Lofton – I don’t think I even need to discuss this one. He’ll be back definitely.

Weems – I think the front office already tipped their hand on this one and given that we don’t have any other clear option on special teams, I think we’ll resign him. He may also find more life on our offense as I don’t expect to see Douglas stay.

Sanders – I think he played himself into a new contract, especially since he was the only player to put up points against the Giants. But more than that, he played solidly the whole season when asked and probably won’t be too expensive. He’ll add depth to an extremely thin part of our roster.

Beirmann – While not spectacular, he’s shown consistent ability to penetrate the offensive line but just doesn’t have the speed to get there and get the sack. This is where I think the tighter coverage will help a lot. If our DBs can get receivers off their routes, then I think Beirmann will have enough time to get to the QB. He’s also not going to be too expensive, has other ties to Atlanta, and is still young.

RFAs – I don’t think any teams out there will try and outbid us for any of these guys and I fully expect Michael Palmer and Vance Walker to get a new (albeit none too expensive) deals.

God only knows.
Abraham – Most people think he won’t be back, but I think this will come down to a deicision by Nolan. JA55 probably should have had most sacks last season and came close any number of times, but soft zone coverage gives opposing QBs the ability to throw the ball away quickly. I don’t think it would be strange to see him signed to a new short term deal if he fits Nolan’s new system, but he may want to try and find something better instead.

DeCoud – This is also a slight puzzler. He put of decent numbers, but also made too many mental mistakes for a veteran player. Depending on how he fits our new defensive system and what kind of money he wants, we might just let him walk.

Redman – He knows the Atlanta system well, but that system is about to change and Koetter may feel like bringing in a back up that knows his style a little better and can help Ryan pick up the new playbook a little faster.

That’s it…… for now.
I’m sure there are plenty of people who disagree with me, and I’ll even admit some these are a little out there (except the 3-4 switch, just give up on that), I think this is a pretty decent picture of where we are. Now feel free to politely discuss my ideas rip into it and see if you can’t make me cry.