FanPost

No more excuses




OK boys and girls here we go, and September 10th is just around the corner. The biggest question is "are we regular season ready?" My answer is a resounding hell no.

Last year our offense won games while the defense gave them away. This year it has flip flopped and there are areas and personnel to blame. But here's what I see happening that isn't being addressed.

Defensively, without the loss of Taylor, we now look competitive, and I truly believe players like Marley will eventually make their way into starting packages. I have been critical of Norman all last year and against Cincy this year he got owned by A.J. Green, but what I did see was no penalties. You know-the dumb ones like "hands to the face". However our defensive line got called for some stupid penalties that resulted in sustained drives, that resulted in points for the other team. This has to stop! I am still torn about Moreau. He's a beast on special teams but has been beat constantly in pass coverage. I do think he will be a top defender but he's not ready to start yet.

Offensively I think Callahan is failing miserably at preparing this O-line. We were weak at running the ball last year, and were pretty good in pass protection but now we suck at all levels. And it just isn't one person-it's all of them. I can't put my finger on it because we really didn't lose much on the O-line except for getting another year older. What happened? Heading into the regular season this is what scares me the most.

Coaching-Gruden stated that he was pretty good at play calling. I laughed when he said that, but one thing that he has improved since last year is getting the plays in on time. Last year we burned time outs during the first possession because Kirk was getting the plays too late. Now here's where Gruden needs to change. Quit telegraphing your runs, and please quit running dives right and left on third and one and fourth and one. YOU HAVE NO POWER RUNNING GAME! Tomsula has impressed me with the pressure but there have been let downs by having the corners play soft and calling off the blitzes that were working in the first half. We MUST keep the pressure on at all times. God knows we gave away too many games last year.

Another thing Gruden failed to do was put Perine with the starters. When you drafted him you pretty much blamed Kelly for your running woes. Now we all know it wasn't Kelly but a lackluster O-line. You also drafted another TE with Sprinkle. I hardly saw him on the field during preseason games, even though you constantly praised him. So shouldn't we get to see your new toy?

WR's. The timing isn't there between Pryor and Cousins. I love Cousins but his terrible preseason is due to timing and happy feet. He's nervous because he's getting the hell beat out of him. And Doctson is a joke. If he doesn't play this year get rid of him. Back in the 70s this guy would have been cut over his soreness. We need men-not promising wimps. Like in Zombieland "time to nut up or shut up", so he needs to play every game and learn to play with pain.

Special teams. We had a discussion on a punt returner earlier about Crowder. Well, what's wrong with Harris? Have we quit looking? Our kicking and punting looks stout even though Hopkins brain farted last night, but he looks improved from last year, and Way has leg and placement down.

Running backs-doesn't matter who it is. The O-line is the problem. Some people were talking about Jones last night but that was against second and third string guys. He's still running straight up and not powering through once contact is made.

So there you have it, my thoughts, and with what I've seen in preseason we are going to have a very tired defense. They will spend the most time on the field because the offense will have too many three and outs and won't finish drives. I'm really concerned that we will be cellar dwellers if the O-line stays as is. It will be a very long season, and at best I see us 6-10. Callahan and Gruden-it's on you! Get the O-line ready and we could easily win the division!