Schedule

running the ball should be doable. And I don't mind our depth on the OL, it lacks experience but has talent. As much talent as we had before or better - the three backups last year were a walkon fighting for his job in camp, a 5th round pick who never played when starters were healthy, and a vet who couldn't make the Cards' roster after starting a year before. They all served us well last year and none of them did us any favors before. IN comparison, this year's group is backing a line that's much better regarded than where we were last year, and those backups lack experience but don't have less talent than what we put out there last year. It'd be great to pick up a tackle or guard with some experience but I'll guarantee that those same experienced players would still be there week 4 if we hit an unlucky streak.

It's the DL that's the worry. I need to stop pretending I'm worried about end - I'm worried about DT. And if the ends choke down trying to compensate we'll lose the additional rush ability we picked up. Alternately, all this "run to the ball" shit won't matter if the LBs run there and have two blockers on them while DTs are on the ground.



As to the schedule - the week of the game s when that shit's important. Remember last year, everyone looked at those late-year GB and NYG games as backbreakers? The week of the GB game they were crap and people didn't put much stock into them, and we had to have heroics to win. We should've beaten the shit out of NY and GB easily.

Get to those games and then that's how hard they are. It sucks that so many teams on this year's schedule had a winning record last year, but it stands to reason that not all of them can be good this year, just as it's certainly no guarantee we will be.

 

2 cents

there always seems to be a few surprise teams in both directions.
i don't think we go 12-4 this year, unless we are incredibly fortunate, and as eric davis once said, “well our mascot is a black cat.”

dline is paper thin.

 

DT is paper thin, at end our theoretical bottom of the depth chart is a guy who had 6 sacks in limited time.

 

specifically, yes.
but aside from the lb corps. there are real questions across the d.
i am content with o, although i don't feel comfy with what we have beyond jake.

the scary thing about the schedule is taking a look at the offenses we have to stop, and at this point wondering how in the hell that's going to work with the defense that was on the field last season, and is very nearly the same this year. i don't have a similar uneasiness about our offense.

if you want to go with a trend with fox's teams that is just as real as 1 season up, 1 season down, then go with him getting the best out of the team when the rest of the football world has discounted them. aints, falcons and eagles have been the belles of the nfc ball so far.

 

Something about wossa fucking fancy.

 

Most parts of the D are static - you can imagine that Harris won't be hurt, that Johnson, Godfrey will be improved and anticipate those things rationally. You can be less optimistic about the health for Lewis, for instance. But for the most part, most of what we have is coming back and what they expect was the worst parts, those parts are gone.

The D's young, especially compared to two years ago. Gamble is suddenly the senior defensive back, we have one LB with five years' experience. I'm certainly hopeful that next year will bring DT youth.

I don't think we tinkered with as much as after 03, after 05. And, since I've brought up 03, 05, you could've easily said "we can only win in odd numbered years." Nothing guarantees you anything.


I think we did a good job recently of refreshing what we have. We got younger on D a little slow and a little awkwardly, but we brought a lot of youth and strength quickly on offense - it's been what's ben worst more often. Now, it's fine, but we're not dumb enough to rest on that. I like that. We didn't have to add a back with breakaway ability or receiving skill.

 

I need the other 3 and the powerball. Those 2 alone won't do me any good.

 

I know the schedule is a bitch.

I know that the Panthers have never had back-to-back winning seasons.

Peppers was a distraction for about 8 months, but it seems to be behind them now.

Some folks think the defense will struggle in a new system...but Meeks has great experience, and he could be a breath of fresh air for the D. Besides, we were all ready to get rid of Trgo anyway. He sucked.

Some think that Jake won't shake off a bad playoff game -- or that other teams will learn from AZ's game plan and shut him down the same. I say bullshit because Jake has dealt with a lot worse in his career. He's a pro and will not even think about it any more.

Kemo and Lewis are the only DT's on the roster with more than 1yr experience. -- That's a problem.

 

Experience at DT isn't the problem but ability is, there are plenty of crappy veterans out there if we want them.

 

Youth is always a concern for me. I don't care how 'gifted' they are. If they haven't learned how to play in the NFL - just how good are they then?