I thought we would be 0-5 right and looking squarely at 0-6 before the first win could come. This team is being built the right way. Pretty sure that we want to keep McCloughan.
The Pokes are going to get old very fast. Ditto for the Mara bunch. The Eagles - we can only hope that Chip remains as the HC, OC, DC, GM, water boy, cart driver, etc. In other words, we are being built the right way and for the duration.
At 2-3, with a reasonable chance at .500 (that could win the division???), we can be thankful that the team is being built and not filled with over priced divas. I can't hate on Callahan at all, but he will not wave a magic wand and make us Super Bowl champions this season. However, we can't deny that the line is vastly improved. Stay tuned, more to come.
Joe Barry is really doing a solid job as well. Yes, we've had a couple of games where it was less than perfect. Again, this was a 4-12 team last year and the improvement is obvious. Coach Barry will not lead us to a Super Bowl this year, but we can't deny that the defense is vastly improved.
We needed to do some tweaks on special teams and now we have a kicker and punter who excel with each passing week. Sure, it's still not where we want it to be, but it sure is better than last year.
How many of you wanted Alfred to have some adequate backup help last year? There was concern for the number of carries he received each game and we wanted to have another back or two to provide relief and be good runners themselves. Well, Chris Thompson steps up and then we add Matt Jones. What's not to like? We're not going to put up monster numbers each week and some defenses will do their best to shut down the running game.
In the next draft, we'll likely need to take a stud receiver in the first round and add a quality center in the third or fourth round. Think that might help?
In other words, this is still a rebuild mode and we will see some good games and some games where there are struggles. Heck, there are times when our better players have a less than stellar game. It happens.
As for Gruden, sure, we can fire him after this season and lose this staff. Bottom line is that it would put us back to square one and another re-start on another rebuild. Is that the right plan? Come on. If you can't be encouraged (I didn't say happy or elated) with the start this season and how the team is competing, then you won't be happy when they are 12-4 in two or three years.
Picking nits is easy, but realizing the big picture is difficult. But which one is more rewarding? Think about it.