bloodsunday
10-02-2005, 02:35 PM
It's still early, but I said I wouldn't re-evaluate this team until after the Jax game. Here is my thoughts about the last three since the Miami debacle:
This D looks like its for real. They gotta find a way to combat the 3-step drop and free 5 yard crap, but other than that I can hardly complain. Even that is tough to be upset about simply because of the injuries at DB and Walls going south. Good to have the Coyer crap behind us.
The OL is coming around. I am extremely impressed by the last two games. Not sure why it takes them two games every season to get it warmed up, but they seem to have it figured out now. I like this thunder and lightning thing we got going on with Tatum and MA. I still think Tatum needs more carries, but MA is doing a fine job.
Jake is jake and far and away my biggest worry. We need a lot less of "Bad Jake" if we are gonna be a special team. Nonetheless, he has played under control and looked good in the last 3 games. Jake is fine, but I think we need to start consider some options for a franchise QB. With our draft picks and hopefully a bigger cap (projected to jump 15 million next year if they approve a new CBA), we could have some options to do just that. Maybe we'll have enough room to package our picks and move up (if it makes sense).
Play calling. I am not an X's and O's or game filme kind of guy, but I loved the play calling today. We got a good D on their heels and that 17 play drive was a thing of beauty. I thought the coaches mixed in Tatum well (he adds an awesome dimension with his speed that teams don't look prepared for) and Carswell is hilarious.
Passing game has been a bit of a disappointment. Smith is Smith but Lelie has been pretty quite. I am impressed with Adams, but he doesn't get many opportunities. The two tightends look like servicable guys. Sucks to see Watts regressing, hopefully he turns it around next offseason (his 3rd year).
The draft. I love Foxworth and Darrent, not sure how you couldn't. If we can find a way to stay healthy, we look to be in good shape for years to come with those two and Bailey. Not sure about Paymah yet. I still think that Mo was an unnecessary risk and I wish we could have found some OL or WR help, but that may being too picky at this point.
Special teams are okay. This thing with Elam has me a bit concerned. I am not sure if the holder is screwing him up or what. Nonetheless, he has been killing us because he can't kick off! At some point we gotta consider options here as well. He is expensive and not kicking off causes us to have to make funky roster moves. Sauerbraun is doing everything we ask. The coverage teams have been better. Darrent looks special as a returner but between injuries and his rapid promotion we haven't seen enough of him. We need to see him return at least 3 a game if you ask me.
All in all I'd give this team a B+ over the first quarter of the season. I'd give them an A, but that loss in Miami was bad. It's not that they lost the game, but they looked horrible. They got outplayed, outhustled and a looked unprepared. That said, they have turned it around.
I don't know what to expect next. This team looks to be improving, which is a good sign. The schedule is not shaping up as tough as expected, also a good sign. However, they look like they still have some offensive (redzone, third down) and special teams issues.
This D looks like its for real. They gotta find a way to combat the 3-step drop and free 5 yard crap, but other than that I can hardly complain. Even that is tough to be upset about simply because of the injuries at DB and Walls going south. Good to have the Coyer crap behind us.
The OL is coming around. I am extremely impressed by the last two games. Not sure why it takes them two games every season to get it warmed up, but they seem to have it figured out now. I like this thunder and lightning thing we got going on with Tatum and MA. I still think Tatum needs more carries, but MA is doing a fine job.
Jake is jake and far and away my biggest worry. We need a lot less of "Bad Jake" if we are gonna be a special team. Nonetheless, he has played under control and looked good in the last 3 games. Jake is fine, but I think we need to start consider some options for a franchise QB. With our draft picks and hopefully a bigger cap (projected to jump 15 million next year if they approve a new CBA), we could have some options to do just that. Maybe we'll have enough room to package our picks and move up (if it makes sense).
Play calling. I am not an X's and O's or game filme kind of guy, but I loved the play calling today. We got a good D on their heels and that 17 play drive was a thing of beauty. I thought the coaches mixed in Tatum well (he adds an awesome dimension with his speed that teams don't look prepared for) and Carswell is hilarious.
Passing game has been a bit of a disappointment. Smith is Smith but Lelie has been pretty quite. I am impressed with Adams, but he doesn't get many opportunities. The two tightends look like servicable guys. Sucks to see Watts regressing, hopefully he turns it around next offseason (his 3rd year).
The draft. I love Foxworth and Darrent, not sure how you couldn't. If we can find a way to stay healthy, we look to be in good shape for years to come with those two and Bailey. Not sure about Paymah yet. I still think that Mo was an unnecessary risk and I wish we could have found some OL or WR help, but that may being too picky at this point.
Special teams are okay. This thing with Elam has me a bit concerned. I am not sure if the holder is screwing him up or what. Nonetheless, he has been killing us because he can't kick off! At some point we gotta consider options here as well. He is expensive and not kicking off causes us to have to make funky roster moves. Sauerbraun is doing everything we ask. The coverage teams have been better. Darrent looks special as a returner but between injuries and his rapid promotion we haven't seen enough of him. We need to see him return at least 3 a game if you ask me.
All in all I'd give this team a B+ over the first quarter of the season. I'd give them an A, but that loss in Miami was bad. It's not that they lost the game, but they looked horrible. They got outplayed, outhustled and a looked unprepared. That said, they have turned it around.
I don't know what to expect next. This team looks to be improving, which is a good sign. The schedule is not shaping up as tough as expected, also a good sign. However, they look like they still have some offensive (redzone, third down) and special teams issues.