How do you feel, the season is upon us.

While I am very excited to see what a healthy RG3 can do, our bottom of the barrel secondary and no RT will be insurmountable. We finish a distant 4th with a 5-11 record.

While I love the idea of d jax, he was not a need and this team still has glaring needs. We should have used that 10 mil per to sign the FS out of carolina and the RT from the bucs. If we had a legit FS and legit RT, we would have a legit chance.

signed,

broken record

My recollection is that we made good runs at FS Mike Mitchell and OT Donald Penn. Mitchell strongly preferred to play in Pittsburgh and Penn preferred to stay at LT rather than move to the right side. He's now with Oakland. I agree that they would have helped us but they were free to choose and they chose to play elsewhere.

Some of the other desirable FA's at those positions were gone quickly, signing very lucrative contracts with other teams.

I was proud of Bruce Allen for husbanding our cap space rather than throwing it away by signing people at those positions who probably wouldn't have been upgrades.

As for DeSean Jackson, signing him did not affect our ability to sign a FS or RT. The hunt for a FS and a RT were over with and the dust had settled before we had the chance to sign him. That's because he was cut by Philly late in FA.

Can't quick fix everything. It's not like we didn't make moves at RT and in the secondary. I don't see how the secondary can be anywhere near as bad as last year, especially with a better pass rush and the growth of guys like Amerson.

the better pass rush should allow Haz to go man on the corners (like pundits have sd he likes to do) ... but if that pass rush doesnt get there on any given play we will be vulnerable. hopefully our strategic gamble that a great pass rush will assist the secondary will pan out.

i feel me slipping to the darkside. i used to be more positive.

i just need me some healthy RG3 to get back on track.

We made moves to fix the OL and secondary, drafting two OLers and one CB before the 4th round was over. Problem is, we have to wait for these rookies to be ready for prime time.

But if it all works out, we have a new right side for the OL and two good young corners (counting Amerson) for years to come.

the better pass rush should allow Haz to go man on the corners (like pundits have sd he likes to do) ... but if that pass rush doesnt get there on any given play we will be vulnerable. hopefully our strategic gamble that a great pass rush will assist the secondary will pan out.

i feel me slipping to the darkside. i used to be more positive.

i just need me some healthy RG3 to get back on track.

http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view/634016/kool-aid-man-family-guy-o.gif

I'm calling it here, 5-10 read-options Sunday to slow down Watt and Clowney. Make them choose who they go after, Morris or Griffin. After they choose wrong enough to start hesitating, we go play action deep to DJax and/or Roberts. Fitzpatrick gets sacked or picked all day. Redskins 24 Texans 13. As for the rest of the season, let me see how this projection plays out. I may be euphoric Sunday afternoon or hugely depressed. I'm guessing I won't be in the middle.

I'm calling it here, 5-10 read-options Sunday to slow down Watt and Clowney. Make them choose who they go after, Morris or Griffin. After they choose wrong enough to start hesitating, we go play action deep to DJax and/or Roberts. Fitzpatrick gets sacked or picked all day. Redskins 24 Texans 13. As for the rest of the season, let me see how this projection plays out. I may be euphoric Sunday afternoon or hugely depressed. I'm guessing I won't be in the middle.

Yeah, this is my feeling as well. I was thinking 28-17. Houston defense is tough but I have a feeling Morris is going to get in three times (one of those being a short field generated by a TO forced by the defense). RG3 throws 1 TD 1 pick in a very pedestrian outing. Fitzpatrick throws one to Andre Johnson and Arian Foster picks up another but our defense holds them to 17 tough points and generates 2 TOs.

My biggest concerns for the year:

The right side of the offensive line. Chester was horrible last year, likely the worst year of his career. No reason to expect him to be any better. Polumbus, meanwhile, may have fancy stats and grades that say he's a solid blocker, but the eye test says "nope". We can only hope that Long, LeRibeus, or Moses is ready at some point in the season.

The corners. Hall is coming off the best season of his career, but he's almost 31 and in his 11th season. He's going to start declining at some point. I love Amerson, but he's a 2nd year corner. Really, really doubt he's ready to match up with Andre Johnson, Dez Bryant, or even Fitzgerald or Reggie Wayne.

Griffin. I think he'll struggle early on and we'll have to lean on the run game. I'm expecting that. But he needs to start picking up steam around the Arizona or Tennessee game to keep my hopes up... and the receivers happy.

Health of the defensive line. Hatcher, Cofield, Bowen, and Golston are all 30+. I know Hatcher is the only starter out of that group, but we need to get younger here next offseason.

Jay's playcalling. Bengals fans talk about how he always went away from the run, and with a runner like Alfred Morris and a developing QB like Griffin, he needs to be a run-first playcaller, especially in the first several games.

Jordan Reed's health. If this guy stays healthy, he'll be a huge, huge help to Griffin.

My biggest concerns for the year:

The right side of the offensive line. Chester was horrible last year, likely the worst year of his career. No reason to expect him to be any better. Polumbus, meanwhile, may have fancy stats and grades that say he's a solid blocker, but the eye test says "nope". We can only hope that Long, LeRibeus, or Moses is ready at some point in the season.

The corners. Hall is coming off the best season of his career, but he's almost 31 and in his 11th season. He's going to start declining at some point. I love Amerson, but he's a 2nd year corner. Really, really doubt he's ready to match up with Andre Johnson, Dez Bryant, or even Fitzgerald or Reggie Wayne.

Griffin. I think he'll struggle early on and we'll have to lean on the run game. I'm expecting that. But he needs to start picking up steam around the Arizona or Tennessee game to keep my hopes up... and the receivers happy.

Health of the defensive line. Hatcher, Cofield, Bowen, and Golston are all 30+. I know Hatcher is the only starter out of that group, but we need to get younger here next offseason.

Jay's playcalling. Bengals fans talk about how he always went away from the run, and with a runner like Alfred Morris and a developing QB like Griffin, he needs to be a run-first playcaller, especially in the first several games.

Jordan Reed's health. If this guy stays healthy, he'll be a huge, huge help to Griffin.

Not a bad list, but Im not worried about the Corners nor the D Line. Staying healthy is tough at any position, really out of our control.

My biggest worries going into the season:

1. Making sure I have enough Burbon for game day. ABC is closed on Sunday and Ive noticed whether we are losing or winning im drinking about the same amount, out of dismay or joy.

2. My neighbor last year would start cutting his grass around Sunday kickoff time, 1 on the east coast. He has 2 acres and a big ass riding lawnmower. I dont know if i can bring myself to tell him to quit, he doesnt say much, icy stare and is neanderthal-ish. He is the hermit, strange dude on the block. Probably take the "wont start no ish, wont be no ish" approach with him.

3. I dont want to hear about the Name controversy once the season starts, thats offseason fodder, not inseason. Especially from the folks commentating the game.

My concerns are Griffin and the right side of the line. I just see both struggling. Maybe it was the pre-season that's giving me these thoughts. I hope I'm wrong.