How long should a successful rebuild take? (1 Viewer)

[saintfan1972]

As in Spencer rattler turning out to be a good qb on a rookie deal like the 49ers with Purdy ?

It would be helpful if he did. Not sure on that, but I would like to see more snaps for him.

 

[Icon]

My memory may be off. Perhaps it was 2015. But we got rid of a ton of starters, particularly on defense, changed coordinators and had 3 seasons of 7-9 while we rebuilt the roster.

Right.....2015 is the answer, but you're correct in the sense that the Saints moved on from multiple starters after 2013.

We were legit preseason favorites in 2014, because of supposed upgrades. Losing Will Smith wasn't supposed to really matter because Junior had a big season in '13. Losing Malcolm Jenkins wasn't supposed to matter because of Jairus Byrd. Losing Sproles wasn't supposed to matter because his stats had been steadily declining each season (in fairness, dude set the bar ridiculously high in 2011, there was pretty much nowhere else to go but down).

 

[Clintonrebel]

2005-2006 Saints took one year.

 

[St. Widge]

Bengals fans will tell you it takes more than just the right QB.

Kind of. That QB carried them to a Super Bowl already. Their issue is more that they couldn't sustain the initial success. But that's mostly an ownership issue and ownership is nearly as important as the right QB.

Regardless, you are right that it take more than the right QB, but it's a lot easier and faster once you have that QB and it's easier to sustain that success by keeping him long term. It can be done with a mi-tier QB, but you have to hit on a lot more players in the draft and mid-tier QBs tend to fall off quickly.

 

[Elvis]

3 years for most teams, 5 for this one. You have to be able get move off of bad contracts and old players to do it in 3, this team can’t do that.

 

[Icon]

I'm going to float the idea that Payton's second rebuild would have taken (at least) a year longer, if that 2017 draft had merely been "good" instead of legendary.

The Saints very much looked the part of those 2014 - 2016 teams in their first 2 games of 2017. But once those rookies started settling in, and Kamara got to fully show what he could do......there's a reason people were starting to wonder if the Saints were possibly a SB team right then.

 

[tinman]

2005-2006 Saints took one year.

The 2005 season was the biggest outlier in NFL history! Move the team headquarters out of state, play every home game NOT in the home stadium, every player dealing w/family/home uncertainty, a fan base that was still shell shocked by Katrina & a coach that knew the handwriting was on the wall!
In 2006 w had an awesome draft, a new coach & the best free agent signing in history of the game! The dome opener against ATL was a cherry on the top! After that season it took a couple more years to consistently get it going.

 

[Icon]

The 2005 season was the biggest outlier in NFL history! Move the team headquarters out of state, play every home game NOT in the home stadium, every player dealing w/family/home uncertainty, a fan base that was still shell shocked by Katrina & a coach that knew the handwriting was on the wall!
In 2006 w had an awesome draft, a new coach & the best free agent signing in history of the game! The dome opener against ATL was a cherry on the top! After that season it took a couple more years to consistently get it going.

I've always felt that way about 2005.

Worst case scenario under normal circumstances: probably another one of Haslett's 8-8 seasons.

If there's one thing that always irked me about the story of the post-Katrina Saints path to the SB title, it was the portrayal of the Saints being just a continual-loop episode of Football Follies until Payton and Brees arrived.......which of course is very easy to get away with following a 3-13 season.

 

[Saintstigerking]

3 years. Payton did it twice. He started in 2006 and won it all in 2009. They again tore it down in 2014 and was elite by 2017/8. The problem is the QB position.

Payton had a qb we dont. A rebuild starts when you get a qb.

 

[EASports24]

Payton had a qb dont. A rebuild starts when you get a qb.

He just got a rookie qb this year.

 

[AARPSaint]

Every rebuild is different, it could be 1 season to a perpetual rebuild status. Rebuilds also start at different points with different assets available.

There are a few recent rebuilds as examples; Detroit, Houston, Washington and Chicago.

Chicago thought they needed the right QB, so they made moves to posture themselves to get who they thought was the right QB. They loaded up on weapons, didn't address the O-line and added their QB. Was that the right answer and the right QB? TBD.

Washington did not have much in terms of weapons other than McLauren and Robinson, but they have a decent O-line and they knew they would get whoever fell to them so they concentrated on the line, defense and would add weapons later, but building the foundation for the QB was more important. Their QB is flourishing even without being loaded up with weapons. They are also headed to the playoffs 1 season after picking 2nd.

Houston had a good team with Watson, but his off the field stuff derailed it. They fell hard fast, but they did get some draft capital once they traded Watson, made the right hire for HC who brought a new identity and built around that identity. They built up the Defense, line and then took the QB that fell to them. The developed their WR1 in Nico Collins.

Detroit had pretty much nothing. They had to hire a HC who would bring in an identity and build around that. Campbell got rid of anyone who didn't fit his team build and Stafford who was being wasted in a rebuild. Goff needed to rebuild his career so it was a perfect match. That netted him some draft capital. He then built the trenches, with his guys. He drafted weapons on offense with the same mindset. Now, they are an offensive juggernaut in the image he wanted. Their defense is loaded with talent when healthy, but right now it's patchwork.

We have a young core of players to build around, the decision just needs to be made what will the team identity be and who fits that. This is where I believe Rizzi gets the job and KK stays as OC. This allows the offense to continue to build on what it has and they know what pieces they need. The defense is still TBD.

So, every rebuild is different. There’s no formula. It depends on what strengths the team has to begin with. Makes sense to me.

 

[Clintonrebel]

The 2005 season was the biggest outlier in NFL history! Move the team headquarters out of state, play every home game NOT in the home stadium, every player dealing w/family/home uncertainty, a fan base that was still shell shocked by Katrina & a coach that knew the handwriting was on the wall!
In 2006 w had an awesome draft, a new coach & the best free agent signing in history of the game! The dome opener against ATL was a cherry on the top! After that season it took a couple more years to consistently get it going.

Biggest outlier until….this years Broncos.

It can be done.

 

[Drunk Bucs Fan]

If you don't mind an outsider's opinion, the worst thing you can do is take a qb early because you need one. Yes, you can't win with a bad qb but drafting a bad one early is just desperation and sets your team back years.

My team's example is a couple of years ago the "experts" said the Bucs screwed up by not drafting Will Levis because we "needed" a qb. Instead we took Calijah Kancey. Aside from calf strains derailing the start of each season it's obvious my team made the right choice.

Bottom line, if the qb you believe in is there go get him. He is worth extra draft picks if needed. If not, do not reach. Draft the boring guys, build your lines and work with non-elite guys. Carr isn't superb, but if he had better tools he would be fine until you can get The Guy.

 

[sfidc3]

I don't really believe in "rebuilds" or "tanking".....In today's NFL a team can turnaround in 1 year.....with a new coaching staff and a good draft FA period.....we've seen it happen here.....and it happens in other places as well....

The key is loading up on good (cheap) talent.....

It's not the norm but it's very possible....