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Building a successful team isn’t what it used to be. The only modern example in the NFL I can remember where it was a complete “out with the old, in with the new” plan was enacted in Dallas when Jimmy Johnson took over. Remember though, and this is key, that was still before the salary cap. Even on bad team you just don’t ever see the wholesale changes like that any more. It’s not necessary.
In the salary cap era there are no great teams. If a team starts to get really good the system is set up to bring them back to the pack. The teams who are consistently good (not great) have a couple of things in common: A decent QB and front office that is able to identify and bring in good talent from the draft. When Shanahan took over we had neither and we had question marks all over the place.
McNabb has been a solid addition to this point and I expect him to remain that way. It was a lot smarter getting him for what we had to give up versus what it would have cost to acquire Sam Bradford, who while playing well at this point, is still an unknown commodity.
The big challenge, at least in my mind, is establishing the pipeline of talent from the draft. If we can’t do that well then we will never be a serious contender, at least for more than a one year fluke here and there. All bets are off if the salary cap goes away because that changes everything.
In the salary cap era there are no great teams. If a team starts to get really good the system is set up to bring them back to the pack. The teams who are consistently good (not great) have a couple of things in common: A decent QB and front office that is able to identify and bring in good talent from the draft. When Shanahan took over we had neither and we had question marks all over the place.
McNabb has been a solid addition to this point and I expect him to remain that way. It was a lot smarter getting him for what we had to give up versus what it would have cost to acquire Sam Bradford, who while playing well at this point, is still an unknown commodity.
The big challenge, at least in my mind, is establishing the pipeline of talent from the draft. If we can’t do that well then we will never be a serious contender, at least for more than a one year fluke here and there. All bets are off if the salary cap goes away because that changes everything.
