We aren't playing our best football, but it is no reason to worry
 

I think having no preseason hurt this team a lot. One thing our team has consistently done in the years under Payton is really find diamonds in the rough to make the roster very cohesive and complete. Our roster tends to always have several key changes whether it be substitutions or role players. Having Michael Thomas out has been a very but thing, BUT I've seen some good things from Tre'Quan Smith and Emmanuel Sanders and I believe that MTs return will just open up things more for them. Brees doesn't look like he's in decline to me. Maybe a tad bit rusty, but he still seems like he's in control back there. I think one of the key things that got screwed up coming out without a preseason is play calling. While many think the preseason is a time for players to get ready to play or guys trying to make the roster, it's also a time where coaches tweak their playbooks and try to figure out what is working for what they have and what isn't. It's also a time to find a rhythm in play calling. I told my dad a few weeks ago that I wouldn't be surprised if we lose to both LV and GB(I didn't expect to lose to TB because they have too many new things going on). We're going to eventually get things together and turn on the burners and roll off several wins in a row. It still wouldn't surprise me at all if we ended up at 13-3 or 12-4(or maybe even 14-2).

Tl;dr version: I'm not worried at all right now. I wish we still had Bell instead of Malcolm Jenkins. To me, that was a huge downgrade. We still have a lot of talent on the defense and the offense. We're going to get our **** together.

Re: We aren't playing our best football, but it is no reason to worry
 

Right now Mr. Clowney and Mr. Davenport have the same number of sacks 0!

Re: We aren't playing our best football, but it is no reason to worry
 

Having MT out has been a huge problem, he's a target that draws multiple defenders trying to cover him.
It appears that the last two games SP went vanilla and paid the price.
I knew going in that GB was a problem but no way should we have lost to the Raiders. Need to get a clean win in Detroit and as Hitta said we need to get our act together.

Re: We aren't playing our best football, but it is no reason to worry
 

But are sacks everything for a DE?

Through 3 games Cash Money has registered 7 tackles, 2 TFLs & 6 QB hits.
Source : https://www.pro-football-reference.c...C/ClowJa00.htm

More importantly, he's suiting up every week and contributing. Meanwhile Mr. Gingerbread man is still nursing a sore elbow and in street clothes not helping his team win games.

Re: We aren't playing our best football, but it is no reason to worry
 

At least Clowney is suited up and giving himself and his team an opportunity.

Re: We aren't playing our best football, but it is no reason to worry
 

Unfortunately it’s used, but it doesn’t always pass the eye test. I’m following several national threads discussing the “decline” of Cam Jordan. “bc..., stats”. But, I saw him get double teamed, shed one completely with the other OL’man draped around his legs and Jordan still stuffed Jones for only a one yard gain. (2d quarter, iirc) in the GB game. First thing that popped in my mind was how important a stop that was, and how nobody will remember those type plays, “bc..., stats” and it won’t register.

But it is truthful, very truthful, to say, as another did here but in a different thread:

“The best ability is “avail” ability”. It doesn’t get much truer than that, lol.

Re: We aren't playing our best football, but it is no reason to worry
 

I can't even be mad at Cameron Jordan in 2020. No sacks however he's still good against the run. He's played ELITE ball throughout his entire NFL career. He's been one of the best and most productive defensive linemen in the league (against the run and pass) for a long time.

It's time for others to step up.

Re: We aren't playing our best football, but it is no reason to worry
 

Why worry, playing bad football is now a good thing

Re: We aren't playing our best football, but it is no reason to worry
 

No reason to worry...we just need to pay the officials more than Godhell so we'll get some favorable too. Or at least get fair calls from the refs.

Re: We aren't playing our best football, but it is no reason to worry
 

Good news. It’s all manageable and under the team’s control.