Happier, but still not happy

xan · 11-05-2007, 09:35 AM

While I'm encouraged by this team's performance against a clearly powerful Jax team, there are some caveats to be taken from this game:

1) Another win against a team that is injured and confused. Without their starting QB, without their starting RT, without their big middle DT, their best starting CB injured and the distraction of two members arrested and suspended for the game, the Jags were not the same team as even last week, much less the 1st half the season.

2) Yet another no name desperation fill-in QB has a career day against the secondary, including 13 passes over 10 yards and 5 passes over 20 yards, including 80 and 56 yarders. He made a few rookie mistakes and a few bad luck plays (McKenzie's INT), but he played remarkably well.

3) Special teams has lots of problems. Missed FGs, poor KO coverage, lower than average returns of punts and KO's.

4) Poor play mix. 49 pass, 25 run is historically a poor mix and is not a long term successful strategy. The run is used simply to give the O-line's shin muscles a break from running backwards into pass protection.

5) There is no reliable running game and no real running attack inside the tackles. Jax did not pressure Brees like the Colts, Tenn, TB or Carolina, forcing some runs. Unable to compete on the edges and without the ability to open holes, a quality coaching staff with reasonably healthy players has exposed this persistant weakness.

6) The Rams are the only mortal lock left on the schedule, if there was one this season, but given this teams epic struggle against teams who are the most dismal in NFL history, next week is not a trivial enterprise.

7) Each team left on the schedule has a lot of pride and all but one are still in the playoff hunt. Three consecutive divisional games, 2 on the road, are still the pivotal points in the season, and there's only two weeks to come up with working solutions before these teams, who've seen us already, hit us with their version of why we're not as good as we'd like to be.

8) If we don't win the division, we won't be playing in January. GB and Detroit have cake schedules and probably won't finish less than 11-5. Dallas and NY are in stride and also are likely to finish 11-5. We're already at 4 losses, so one more and we're done for a wild card.

I'm not negative, just realistic.

11-05-2007, 09:35 AM	#1
xan Professor Crab and Site Donor 2014 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Princeton Posts: 3,372 Blog Entries: 34	Happier, but still not happy While I'm encouraged by this team's performance against a clearly powerful Jax team, there are some caveats to be taken from this game: 1) Another win against a team that is injured and confused. Without their starting QB, without their starting RT, without their big middle DT, their best starting CB injured and the distraction of two members arrested and suspended for the game, the Jags were not the same team as even last week, much less the 1st half the season. 2) Yet another no name desperation fill-in QB has a career day against the secondary, including 13 passes over 10 yards and 5 passes over 20 yards, including 80 and 56 yarders. He made a few rookie mistakes and a few bad luck plays (McKenzie's INT), but he played remarkably well. 3) Special teams has lots of problems. Missed FGs, poor KO coverage, lower than average returns of punts and KO's. 4) Poor play mix. 49 pass, 25 run is historically a poor mix and is not a long term successful strategy. The run is used simply to give the O-line's shin muscles a break from running backwards into pass protection. 5) There is no reliable running game and no real running attack inside the tackles. Jax did not pressure Brees like the Colts, Tenn, TB or Carolina, forcing some runs. Unable to compete on the edges and without the ability to open holes, a quality coaching staff with reasonably healthy players has exposed this persistant weakness. 6) The Rams are the only mortal lock left on the schedule, if there was one this season, but given this teams epic struggle against teams who are the most dismal in NFL history, next week is not a trivial enterprise. 7) Each team left on the schedule has a lot of pride and all but one are still in the playoff hunt. Three consecutive divisional games, 2 on the road, are still the pivotal points in the season, and there's only two weeks to come up with working solutions before these teams, who've seen us already, hit us with their version of why we're not as good as we'd like to be. 8) If we don't win the division, we won't be playing in January. GB and Detroit have cake schedules and probably won't finish less than 11-5. Dallas and NY are in stride and also are likely to finish 11-5. We're already at 4 losses, so one more and we're done for a wild card. I'm not negative, just realistic.
	Calvin: "I wish I was a Tiger." Hobbes: "Common lament."