Larry Gude
Strung Out
...4-12.
Maybe.
We start off the first half with 5 teams clearly better than us, Saints, Bengals, Falcons, Giants and Steelers, and 3 peers, the Vikes, Bucs and Rams. Maybe we steal one from the 5 and, at best, beat two peers. That could be it. For the season. Already, the Giants can't afford to be dicking around with us. The other 'peer' games are away except the Vikes here. We could be 2-6, easy.
Week 9 starts off with another peer, the Panthers but, it is home. Then, it's child abuse the rest of the way with the Eagles, Boys, Giants, Ravens, a break against the Browns but, it's away, and finish with Philly, away, and Dallas, home.
If we, finally, have enough LB's to run a 3-4, and we're not too vulnerable at safety AND Jenkins plays to a near pro bowl level, OK, the D might be good enough to give us a chance every week.
Add to that, maybe these youngsters on the O line play a bit above average and III doesn't end up in traction by mid season? Maybe the zone blocking and youth gives us a respectable running game?
Maybe Gano makes a bunch of clutch FG's and the special teams play solid?
No one is going to let Garcon beat them late and Griffin has GOT to play smart and not go Vick on us, ending up hurt week in and week out.
In any event, I think we might be competitive but, come on. It's the NFL. EVERYONE got better off season and most teams, especially our division, started the off-season better, much better, than us.
4-12 could be a good start to RGIII and a coming decade of being a regular in the playoff picture. If an awful lot goes really well, including, of course, injuries, 8-8 will be a special season.
HTTR
Maybe.
We start off the first half with 5 teams clearly better than us, Saints, Bengals, Falcons, Giants and Steelers, and 3 peers, the Vikes, Bucs and Rams. Maybe we steal one from the 5 and, at best, beat two peers. That could be it. For the season. Already, the Giants can't afford to be dicking around with us. The other 'peer' games are away except the Vikes here. We could be 2-6, easy.
Week 9 starts off with another peer, the Panthers but, it is home. Then, it's child abuse the rest of the way with the Eagles, Boys, Giants, Ravens, a break against the Browns but, it's away, and finish with Philly, away, and Dallas, home.
If we, finally, have enough LB's to run a 3-4, and we're not too vulnerable at safety AND Jenkins plays to a near pro bowl level, OK, the D might be good enough to give us a chance every week.
Add to that, maybe these youngsters on the O line play a bit above average and III doesn't end up in traction by mid season? Maybe the zone blocking and youth gives us a respectable running game?
Maybe Gano makes a bunch of clutch FG's and the special teams play solid?
No one is going to let Garcon beat them late and Griffin has GOT to play smart and not go Vick on us, ending up hurt week in and week out.
In any event, I think we might be competitive but, come on. It's the NFL. EVERYONE got better off season and most teams, especially our division, started the off-season better, much better, than us.
4-12 could be a good start to RGIII and a coming decade of being a regular in the playoff picture. If an awful lot goes really well, including, of course, injuries, 8-8 will be a special season.
HTTR
