Troll Hunter
Hall-of-Famer
Offline
There's been a 17-game season discussion, draft discussions, free agent discussion, etc. However, I don't believe there's been a discussion on what position or position group will be the most important going forward with a 17-game season. Removing a preseason game and adding a regular season game looks like the same amount of games on the surface, but the 4th preseason game barely ever had players who would be regulars in the regular season. This means that the main players starters/rotational players will have another game every season.
In the past 2 seasons our starting QB missed 9 games (5 in 2019/4 in 2020). In the past we have went/limped into the playoffs with a decimated WR corps, decimated offensive line, decimated defensive backs, etc. The seasons that jump out are the ones where the offensive line is decimated as it seems to have the largest impact as we've seen SP develop a game plan to win without RBs or with a stable of practice squad WRs.
We have a LT who has never played an entire season and in a 16 game season averages 11 games per season and if you exclude his rookie season he averages 11.85 games per season. That makes him available 75% or less of the time with a 16-game season and he's not getting younger while an additional game is added going forward.
Without a healthy MT, the WR corps can be taken out of the game as none of them are game-breakers. We have some guys and I think TQS and Callaway will develop more going forward, but they still won't be game-breaker WRs that demand double coverage. They are more complimentary pieces with their own strengths. I would love to be wrong on this and have both develop into studs.
Davis at LB is a stud, but he's also getting older and we are relying on the development of the young LBs unless we resign Kwon or sign another FA. Addressing this position in the draft is very possible.
CB is potentially decimated if Lattimore misses any time or if this leads to him not being resigned long term.
I know this didn't cover every position, but more of a hitting the wave tops on potential positions that would be important in a 17-game season.
So with that said, what position is the most important for a 17-game regular season which is the standard going forward?
Considering the impact on the game and wear and tear on the position, I think OT (OL) is may be the most important. Positional flexibility on the offensive line is also important. A C that can play G, OT that can play both sides, OG that can play OT and vice versa. I can see an argument for other positions, but a team will have a hard time being successful if it doesn't have a line through a grueling 17-game season. We know SP plays chess, did he draft Ruiz knowing that the 17-game season was going to happen and he was getting ahead on the interior line position flexibility knowing the importance? Resigning Peat a LG who can play LT in a pinch would also fit this strategy.
In the past 2 seasons our starting QB missed 9 games (5 in 2019/4 in 2020). In the past we have went/limped into the playoffs with a decimated WR corps, decimated offensive line, decimated defensive backs, etc. The seasons that jump out are the ones where the offensive line is decimated as it seems to have the largest impact as we've seen SP develop a game plan to win without RBs or with a stable of practice squad WRs.
We have a LT who has never played an entire season and in a 16 game season averages 11 games per season and if you exclude his rookie season he averages 11.85 games per season. That makes him available 75% or less of the time with a 16-game season and he's not getting younger while an additional game is added going forward.
Without a healthy MT, the WR corps can be taken out of the game as none of them are game-breakers. We have some guys and I think TQS and Callaway will develop more going forward, but they still won't be game-breaker WRs that demand double coverage. They are more complimentary pieces with their own strengths. I would love to be wrong on this and have both develop into studs.
Davis at LB is a stud, but he's also getting older and we are relying on the development of the young LBs unless we resign Kwon or sign another FA. Addressing this position in the draft is very possible.
CB is potentially decimated if Lattimore misses any time or if this leads to him not being resigned long term.
I know this didn't cover every position, but more of a hitting the wave tops on potential positions that would be important in a 17-game season.
So with that said, what position is the most important for a 17-game regular season which is the standard going forward?
Considering the impact on the game and wear and tear on the position, I think OT (OL) is may be the most important. Positional flexibility on the offensive line is also important. A C that can play G, OT that can play both sides, OG that can play OT and vice versa. I can see an argument for other positions, but a team will have a hard time being successful if it doesn't have a line through a grueling 17-game season. We know SP plays chess, did he draft Ruiz knowing that the 17-game season was going to happen and he was getting ahead on the interior line position flexibility knowing the importance? Resigning Peat a LG who can play LT in a pinch would also fit this strategy.
Last edited: