So we're 5-5. Given the hot start, people are obviously miffed, but to be honest, the best I could see this team being at this point is 7-3 and realistically 6-4. Thinking we are in the upper echelon is simply hoping for progress too quickly. Look at our team unit by unit:
QB - TE has less than 20 career starts and has a rookie OC calling his plays. There has to be a learning curve to be taken into consideration. Calling for his head is being overly judgmental IMO.
RB/WR - Lynch is a beast, Jackson is a very solid back-up, Evans is great if he has a QB who can get him the ball (ie - won't make his own plays), and the rest of the guys are mediocre at best. We need a better TE corp, Hardy to develop, and more balance in play calling. Until then, I'm not surprised that this crew struggles to put points up consistently.
O Line - These guys are slightly above average on their best days, well below it on their worst. And therein lies the problem... if I have learned anything in following this sport for almost 30 years, it is that you can't be consistently successful without a solid O Line. We have some pressing decisions to make at just about every position on the line if we truly want to compete with the best next year.
D Line - Can't run a Cover 2 without a strong pass rush from the front 4. Period.
LB - See above.
DB - See above... although I will say that this unit is one of our strongest. Aside from Simpson/Scott, we are very strong at every position.
So there you have it. My 2 cents, for what its worth. When you see the team for what it really is - good in some areas, average to below average in most others - it isn't too surprising that we are at .500. In fact, if that FG in the last minute goes through the uprights last night, I'd say we're right where we belong (still on the outside looking in by the way). One more year... one more.
QB - TE has less than 20 career starts and has a rookie OC calling his plays. There has to be a learning curve to be taken into consideration. Calling for his head is being overly judgmental IMO.
RB/WR - Lynch is a beast, Jackson is a very solid back-up, Evans is great if he has a QB who can get him the ball (ie - won't make his own plays), and the rest of the guys are mediocre at best. We need a better TE corp, Hardy to develop, and more balance in play calling. Until then, I'm not surprised that this crew struggles to put points up consistently.
O Line - These guys are slightly above average on their best days, well below it on their worst. And therein lies the problem... if I have learned anything in following this sport for almost 30 years, it is that you can't be consistently successful without a solid O Line. We have some pressing decisions to make at just about every position on the line if we truly want to compete with the best next year.
D Line - Can't run a Cover 2 without a strong pass rush from the front 4. Period.
LB - See above.
DB - See above... although I will say that this unit is one of our strongest. Aside from Simpson/Scott, we are very strong at every position.
So there you have it. My 2 cents, for what its worth. When you see the team for what it really is - good in some areas, average to below average in most others - it isn't too surprising that we are at .500. In fact, if that FG in the last minute goes through the uprights last night, I'd say we're right where we belong (still on the outside looking in by the way). One more year... one more.
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