I have talked with friends a fair amount about this.. In my most rabid fan mindset, possible fueled by bourbon, that Maybe the Move here was Chess when we are all focused on checkers.
The 7 year contract may be setting us up for an early amazon approach. Where Bezos essentially told Wallstreet we are going to lose money to make money and be focused on reorganizing the company based on the future of where he believed retail was going - the beginnings of distributed sales via the amazon platform. If you look at some of the choices CGC has made, it kind of fits.. More so than you might originally think, CGCC building the program in his image of an "elite program" would include steps like:
1) Ignoring results on field early, focusing more on installs of his playbook 100%
DATA: We did a clean install of CDP's O and ate loss like a hungry dude at a buffet. We also have stuck with Jeff Simms regardless of on field results, despite some feeling like Yates could be a short term fix to our woes.
2) Playing guys lots of reps, with different line ups to get tape of them to make choices in the future for what they want to do scheme and package wise
DATA: The ATL Philosophy lines up clearly to this. As does some of the rotation choices we make about subbing so often. Granted this one is weak as CGC did the ATL thing in Temple too and we have shown a willingness to leave guys in who are clearly not getting it done - though in season 1 and 2 of his we did do more of this
3) Immense focus on integrating into the fabric of Atlanta. Marketing etc.
DATA: The 404 thing, tie outs to ATL UTD, ATL Hawks, ATL Falcons, Playing games at MBS, ATL Braves tie out, Tweets all the time about ATL. All of the social media and press inundations he has done
4) Almost an over focus on recruiting
DATA: We seem to have a lot of focus on building the roster, and revamping our culture, etc. All is focused on speaking to recruits. We don't seem to see much consequence built off players winning/not winning their individual matchups. Maybe that is tilting our hand to recruits saying come here, we will let you play your way into your growth not languish on the vine like at a factory?
I know it is a stretch, and still a gamble, but I find it easier to believe the program saying "Ok, CPJ retired, we want to go a new direction, time to circle the wagons, and make a long term play" as opposed to them just being clueless. It would also explain why there haven't been more directed or public statements made by ADTS in word or deed despite our SLOW (charitably) start, and goes a little further in explaining the length and structure of the 7 year deal. We give him more time, he give us a more school friendly set up.
Time will tell, and I hope in 2-3 years we are all talking about how we keep the momentum going from a real return to form.