I view it as a subtle push for Losman. Nothing makes a young guy works harder than competition. Think of Brees in San Diego.
Realistically, you don't expect to sign a starting QB with $1 million per year. That's backup money. But I'm pretty sure they promised a competition for the starter job. That is a big departure from the previous regime.
Noone know for sure of the Levy/Jauron plan, but we can tell a bit from the little things they've done so far. They have a clear defensive and offensive plans. They cut older guys who they think are not good fit for their schemes. They are only interested in young FAs who have been exposed to their scheme. With the overall theme of youth, competition is heavily promoted. They have said on many occasions that all positions are open, including QB. Nalls fits right into that mold.
As far as Losman being shopped around? I don't believe it for a second. He's the youngest QB we have right now and he hasn't learned/played the new offensive scheme like everyone else. He has to be one allowed to compete for a job. In fact the kind of wide receivers they get so far indicates Losman is the kind of QB they'd like to see winning the job.
If nothing else, I see this regime being careful not repeating the mistakes of the previous regime, like announcing a virtual rookie being the new QB starter, irking all the veterans on the team.
That being said, I have to think that 2006 will not be a pretty year. Youth is being served, but with youth comes growing pains. This just might be such a year. A year for the kids to grow, a year for players to mesh, a year for the management to filter out unwanted parts.
Think about it, we are going to field an O-line where no one has been with this team for more than two years! I know people are pining for a Bentley or Runyn (sp?) or whoever. My opinion is that none of them can fix our problem immediately. By the time the line gets jelled and performing, those guys need to be replaced because of age. Besides, I don't know if they fit into the system McNally wants to run.
Despite the "win now" words coming out of Levy, his action clearly indicates they are taking the old traditonal approach. They want young players who can mature and still be together in 4 years down the road. The best way to find the right ones are competition.
btw, I somehow see them taking a linebacker in the draft because we don't have a lot of youth there. SS to me is the biggest hole in this defense and no cover 2 defense is successful without an outstanding safety.
Realistically, you don't expect to sign a starting QB with $1 million per year. That's backup money. But I'm pretty sure they promised a competition for the starter job. That is a big departure from the previous regime.
Noone know for sure of the Levy/Jauron plan, but we can tell a bit from the little things they've done so far. They have a clear defensive and offensive plans. They cut older guys who they think are not good fit for their schemes. They are only interested in young FAs who have been exposed to their scheme. With the overall theme of youth, competition is heavily promoted. They have said on many occasions that all positions are open, including QB. Nalls fits right into that mold.
As far as Losman being shopped around? I don't believe it for a second. He's the youngest QB we have right now and he hasn't learned/played the new offensive scheme like everyone else. He has to be one allowed to compete for a job. In fact the kind of wide receivers they get so far indicates Losman is the kind of QB they'd like to see winning the job.
If nothing else, I see this regime being careful not repeating the mistakes of the previous regime, like announcing a virtual rookie being the new QB starter, irking all the veterans on the team.
That being said, I have to think that 2006 will not be a pretty year. Youth is being served, but with youth comes growing pains. This just might be such a year. A year for the kids to grow, a year for players to mesh, a year for the management to filter out unwanted parts.
Think about it, we are going to field an O-line where no one has been with this team for more than two years! I know people are pining for a Bentley or Runyn (sp?) or whoever. My opinion is that none of them can fix our problem immediately. By the time the line gets jelled and performing, those guys need to be replaced because of age. Besides, I don't know if they fit into the system McNally wants to run.
Despite the "win now" words coming out of Levy, his action clearly indicates they are taking the old traditonal approach. They want young players who can mature and still be together in 4 years down the road. The best way to find the right ones are competition.
btw, I somehow see them taking a linebacker in the draft because we don't have a lot of youth there. SS to me is the biggest hole in this defense and no cover 2 defense is successful without an outstanding safety.
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