Rod Gardner released

We have fewer attempts than last year, assuming we don't throw the ball 115 times this week.

 

Then focus on the fact that Proehl and the RBs have a far lower percentage of the team's receptions than they did last season. Whether you want to admit it or not, it's pretty obvious that Jake has been horrible about going through his progressions this season. He's done better in recent weeks, which is encouraging, but he's still not back to where he had been and it continues to be a problem (even against Dallas he was pretty clearly locking onto Drew Carter on some plays).

 

Keep in mind we were much more of a passing team last year. 55.9 percent last year we passed, compared to 48.5 this year. With Smith getting his numbers and being featured as he has, numbers will generally be down.

Jake has his problems, holding on to one is one, throwing off his back foot in another. And he's made bad decisions. 16 picks is more than I want, and most of those are on him, and a few have been mind numbingly dumb.

He's also been able to throw 22 TDs, with only one consistent offensive weapon, a couple of shaky tackles and no running game in a run centric O. So no, he isn't a bad quarterback.

 

See above. Nor does that change the fact that you can watch him lock onto a particular receiver during the games (it doesn't only happen with Steve Smith, and is sometimes the cause of those stupid interceptions).

That's debatable, but he definitely isn't one of the worst QBs in the NFL. He has his positives, but any time you can legitimately argue that a quarterback has lost his team more games than he's won them (whether or not people accept that argument), that casts doubt on the assertion that he definitively isn't a bad QB. Regardless, I don't think there is anyone left who thinks that Jake is worth the $9+ million cap number he'll be carrying next season.

 

So those years he was the #2 WR he was because nobody else could do the job? Ok, that works for me, those #2 WR numbers are a helluva lot better than any of our #2,#3,#4,#5 or whatever options at this point or through the year.

What's so different here? Was there an injury since then? The coaching staff never really pointed a finger at him, or not much of one considering what he had done in his past or was expected of him.

That brings another point, if they didn't expect much from him, then why the hell was he here in the first place. Seems like a lot of money to throw at some guy on hopes and dreams, with already knowing what he has done for 4 years.

As Piper said Proehl has played the same role his entire career, so that's why he isn't our #2 or Foster is our RB. Well Proehl doing what he has done over his career, being the veteran that he is, I would think he would be the logical choice at some point this season(midway or later) to try as the #2. Sure he isn't the long term answer, we all can agree on that one, but somehow I have to believe he can do better than what Colbert has done this year.

Maybe I am trying to read more into this than there really is, just very frustrating playing small ball with the problems we have had this year and hoping we make less TO's/errors than the other team as our only way to win.

Not trying to argue on this, but things just don't add up to me for some reason on this.

At what point was Carter able to play?

 

He's damn decent. He makes mistakes, and sure, it seems there's a share of people that aren't happy with him. Fuck it, I'll defend a pro bowl quarterback any day over a guy who started 15 games and didn't catch a ball in 6 of them.

 

Gardner was a #2 for those seasons because he's insanely talented and should be a much better receiver than he actually is. Now he's not as explosive as he once was, while possibly being even more lazy. And as for the money, we had to take on his existing contract from Washington. Considering that we had the cap space and it only cost us a low draft pick, it was worth the risk even though we ultimately got nothing out of him. Regarding Proehl, he's not physically capable of being the flanker for 40+ snaps, and he's better suited for the slot role anyway.

 

Proehl's last year - 10.9% of receptions. This year? 8.8%. The problem with saying stuff like "far lower" and "vast majority" is that it's gotta actually line up that way.

#1 receiver, 2004 v/s 2005? 30% v/s 37%. Colbert? 15% v/s 9.2%. Fairly equitable.
So, basically, a subpar receiver lost some looks to a Pro Bowl receiver. Jake locks on, but he's not at fault for Colbert playing like ass.

 

All year. It's not like he was hurt this year, he just didn't dress. Gardner didn't dress for a fair portion, depending on TE health.

 

Well all said and done, we should have let Gardner go middle of the season and bring Carter on up. I like what little I have seen of Carter over Colbert.