Realistic Expectations
 

All things considered, I think the LBs and D-line has played as well as could be expected. The D-line is very good when healthy. Howard, Grant, Sullivan, and Whitehead are fierce. The linebackers aren\'t talented, but they\'re playing average, which is all you can expect from mediocre players at best. The corners are all over the hill. We knew that coming in. No, on the defensive side of the ball the safeties are definitely the most disappointing to me. Tebucky and Mitchell were supposed to be the strength of the defense, instead one is hurt and the other sucks. Despite good play by Green and Bellamy, this is the most disappointing position on the defensive side of the ball.

On O, which is where most of the problems lie, pick your poison. Frankly, considering the injuries, I think the O line has played well. It\'s not like they haven\'t opened plenty of holes for Deuce or given Brooks time to throw on the majority of the snaps. They don\'t get a ton of push in short yardage, and they certainly have breakdowns, but I have a hard time pointing at them. No my finger keeps switching back and forth between our receivers (who have been banged up mind you) and Brooks. Brooks has been smarter in his decisions, more efficient, a better leader (yes, he has been), but the bottom line is that he still hasn\'t arrived as the top five QB we\'re paying and expecting him to be. The three or four mistakes he makes a game continue to cost us games. The Eagles scored 14 points off of Brooks\' fumbles today, and one of them took 7 off the board for us. He doesn\'t take care of the ball and doesn\'t play with the urgency necessary to keep us in the game.

Of course, it\'s a toss-up between the O and special teams as to who the biggest disappointment is. I place the special teams blame square on Al Everest\'s shoulders. How is it possible that through 11 weeks, you are yet to run a single return to the middle? You\'re setting Lewis up to fail. I think Lewis might have played over his head somewhat last year, but Everest is hurting him a lot this year.

Overall, I agree Gator. Teams that lead the league in fumbles do not make the playoffs. Teams that can\'t go three plays without a penalty don\'t make the playoffs. Teams that can\'t get on the board without first going down by a dozen points or more don\'t make the playoffs. The sad thing is, nothing will change. EVERY person on this board said \"NO EXCUSES\" this preseason. Now, they\'ll all listen to Haslett and Co.\'s excuses and we\'ll see the same thing next season. VERY few people on this board predicted 9-7 or worse this preseason, but now when we end up exactly that, 9-7 or worse, they\'ll all forgive the coaches, hold no one responsible, and nothing will change. My prediction for next season: 8-8.