At the end of the day it is up to the team to change that perception. Right now we are stuck in sub-average mediocrity. There are some positives about this team, but it is up to them to win.

That perception has already been changed for me. As I see it, we were previously in sub-average mediocrity. Perception is individually based. Every person has their unique way of looking at things. Some of us choose to embrace the positive. Others choose to wallow in negativity. And others are somewhere in between.

It is not about embracing positive or negative. It is about giving as realistic an opinion as you can with the data you have. The whole concept of ignoring the negative and only focusing on the positive is actually beginning to show that nothing improves. I don't feel like digging out the articles, but you should search around a bit. I am just being honest with what I have to look at. We have a chance at the playoffs this year. lot is going to hinge on our dline and run game, IMHO

Oh, believe me. I have read every single article. Many of the "authors" are too lazy to research themselves. Those are the ones that base their view upon what happened in the past without recognizing that those issues, and others they were not even aware of, have been addressed. If absolutely nothing had changed from the past I could understand your concern. But, that isn't the case. I honestly feel there have been a large number of positive moves made this off-season and that makes me extremely optimistic for 2017.

If you ever notice when I write on here I always talk about possible this or possible that. I don't pretend things are absolute. You consistently talk as if things are a forgone conclusion. The problem is no one knows that right now. Even the coaching staff doesn't know. There is certainly potential, but until a down is actually played we can't be certain of a thing. YOu keep saying this has been addressed, that has been addressed. There was an attempt to address things, but we have no idea how any of these moves will pan out. These guys have even put a pad on yet.

Exactly! And that the whole reason I am positive and excited about the potential. And the front office has absolutely addressed the issues, without a doubt. I choose to believe those moves will be successful. That's being positive.