I'm willing to take a step backwards offensively next year if it means finally getting the defense fixed and the future years bring playoff caliber teams. With that being said, unless the next coach wants to go strictly to a power game, which hardly ANY NFL team does nowadays, I think there's enough talent here to still have a pretty potent offense - regardless of scheme or coach. Foster is power+speed, AJ is AJ, and I doubt any coach is going to replace Schaub anytime soon. The only major change a new HC would probably make personnel-wise on offense is the interior OL and who would have a problem with that? As for the playbook, come on, these guys are big boys and can learn it (I would hope).
I hear a lot of people saying the offense isn't a problem and doesn't need change. Really? Then why has it struggled all season coming out of the gate? Also, these guys still struggle mightily against aggressive defenses most of the time. If we have the talent, then could it be numbskull coaching?? The big numbers this year are mostly due to this team being so far behind and having to play catch up against defenses that have softened up a bit. Obviously the defense is awful and puts them in a hole, but the offense (at least in the first half of games) and return game hasn't helped much.
Aside from the oddball game-plans and idiotic coaching at times, this offense needs a solid #2 and #3 WR (can we please see Dorin Dickerson?), major improvement at G and C (I've seen enough of Meyers getting tossed around), solid TE play (been 2 years now and we've drafted a gazzilion TEs - goodbye OD, let's see Casey/Graham/Hill), and a decent NFL-worthy backup QB. IMO, Kubiak and Smith have done an awful job filling the gaps around AJ, Schaub and Foster and have left the offense very thin at critical positions. If any of the big 3 went down this year, we would have been screwed. Well, worse than we've already been screwed...
If Kubiak isn't fired this year, then McNair needs to step in and demand he hire a top defensive coordinator. There should be a few available such as; Marvin Lewis, Wade Phillips, potentially Lovie Smith, Singletary, John Fox, Leslie Frazer just to new a few. IMO, he should also pull the reigns on Kubiak having final say on personnel. Not that Smith would be any better, but let GM be GM and the HC be the HC. If Kubiak doesn't like it, well then step down.
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