Larry Gude
Strung Out
...Ok, so, I'm a sucker. :shrug:
Today is the first day in several years, that I actually see reason for optimism; the O and D lines.
Most football people ALL say the same thing; you build a winning football team from the lines out. Peyton, Brady, Wilson, Big Ben, Flacco, in this QB era, NONE of them win WITHOUT at least GOOD lines, D and O, and great lines give decent QB's a chance. You can't win with great LB's, secondary and O skill people either absent at least good lines. The best LB does not make his line better. The best safety, running back, WR, none of them make lines better. It seems obvious but not so's you notice in Ashburn the last 20 year or so.
So, the Skins, Since Gibbs II, have had average at best to poor lines. In football, it's a force multiplier, both ways. It makes average units better or good ones worse. So, that's it. It ALL begins, and ends, with the lines.
Right now, the Skins look like the have solid starters on both sides and some depth which is critical. You can't have a couple stars and then hacks and no depth. You CAN have a bunch of above average guys and some depth.
This means, whatever our LB's turn out to be, they're a little better. Maybe a good bit better. A few more tackles for a loss per game. Another sack or two. And the DB's, with better line AND LB's, they become better, too. Add in a pic, a batted ball, forced incomplete. Same thing on O. If it helps Robert make a couple more plays, that turns the momentum. Momentum turns a couple MORE plays, confidence grows. Coaches can get a little more out of players and plays. That whole thing feeds on itself. Then, you get guys believing. You suddenly get lucky and that compounds the thing your way.
It is obviously way too early but if these two lines turn out to be solid to pretty darn good, this team is 8-8, easy. For most teams, that's never unrealistic. Even bad ones turn around quick. Not us. Maybe Mc however it's spelled actually has the team focused on the basics; build the lines FIRST.
Today is the first day in several years, that I actually see reason for optimism; the O and D lines.
Most football people ALL say the same thing; you build a winning football team from the lines out. Peyton, Brady, Wilson, Big Ben, Flacco, in this QB era, NONE of them win WITHOUT at least GOOD lines, D and O, and great lines give decent QB's a chance. You can't win with great LB's, secondary and O skill people either absent at least good lines. The best LB does not make his line better. The best safety, running back, WR, none of them make lines better. It seems obvious but not so's you notice in Ashburn the last 20 year or so.
So, the Skins, Since Gibbs II, have had average at best to poor lines. In football, it's a force multiplier, both ways. It makes average units better or good ones worse. So, that's it. It ALL begins, and ends, with the lines.
Right now, the Skins look like the have solid starters on both sides and some depth which is critical. You can't have a couple stars and then hacks and no depth. You CAN have a bunch of above average guys and some depth.
This means, whatever our LB's turn out to be, they're a little better. Maybe a good bit better. A few more tackles for a loss per game. Another sack or two. And the DB's, with better line AND LB's, they become better, too. Add in a pic, a batted ball, forced incomplete. Same thing on O. If it helps Robert make a couple more plays, that turns the momentum. Momentum turns a couple MORE plays, confidence grows. Coaches can get a little more out of players and plays. That whole thing feeds on itself. Then, you get guys believing. You suddenly get lucky and that compounds the thing your way.
It is obviously way too early but if these two lines turn out to be solid to pretty darn good, this team is 8-8, easy. For most teams, that's never unrealistic. Even bad ones turn around quick. Not us. Maybe Mc however it's spelled actually has the team focused on the basics; build the lines FIRST.
