CBS7 wrote:But management has decided to keep him and we are simply looking on the bright side. You are literally trying to blame 100% of the failures of this defense, and in turn this team, on one person.
I think it is unreasonable for anyone to think that if this team had been in better health, the defense would have been as bad. If the contract situation was similar to last year's, where 9 out of 11 defensive starters were coming back for one more year, I would see the logic in giving him one more chance. The only way you can really pull it off though this year with 7 out of 11 defensive starters coming out of contract this year is to only sign key FAs to one year contracts and to draft scheme neutral players so we'd have the flexibility to go with the best possible option when we get a conclusion.
I don't think this is ideal, but it sounds like the reality is Mel is coming back (I am in the acceptance stage). I would re-sign a lot of these guys to one year contracts if they'll take it and try to draft cover corners and good athletic safeties. I'd stay away from drafting a front seven guy unless it was a DE who could fit in any front. For DT... try to get either Ratliff, Melton or both back for one year. If things work out with this defense and the mobile, upfield DTs are the way to go... extend them or draft another. But if this doesn't work out and we decide to sniff around a 3-4 front (or a 4-3 front with the big DTs Jauron faovored), hopefully we'll have a chance to get a big space-eater in the 2015 draft.
As crazy as it sounds, for this offseason, the long term moves may be best reserved for the offense. The OL can still use some improvement, Garza and Slauson are FAs and Mills hasn't been outstanding... and we may also be interested in a developmental QB. At least we know this offense is here to stay and we have a blue print to buy materials for.
