Woke up this morning in that familiar stupor of defeat... but have to admit it wasn't as bad as usual.
I think I've reached a realistic place with this team this year.
What I'm seeing is a team that seems close to turning the corner, but isn't there just yet. And I'm happy to accept that after the crap we've had to put up with lately.
So far this season it is very easy to say we could have our record reversed. We could very easily be 4-2 if the Dolphin and the Falcon games had gone slightly differently. But honestly 2-4 is about where I expected this team to be. Before the season if you'd have asked me I'd have said we were a 5-11 team and that was optimistic.
I never expected us to beat either Atlanta or the Jets to be honest. The fact we took the Falcons to overtime showed real progress, and holding onto the Jets for the first half was more than I expected yesterday.
Atlanta were undefeated and were used to racking up points on opponents. They only just beat us.
Jets were coming off a bye week rested and healthy, playing at home with a 3-1 record after pretty much whupping Miami, Cleveland and the Colts. The only thing that gave me a smidgen of hope was that as teams go they weren't super intimidating (like for instance the game with the Patriots will be!) and that the Eagles beat them. I thought beating them was a long shot so I was encouraged by our having them tied at the half.
So we're where I thought we'd be pretty much. I like that our Defense shows spirit and grit. I like that the O-Line (when healthy and complete) looks great (Only 7 sacks conceded in 5 games, which is pretty darned stingy when you think back to previous years and that horrific Detroit pre season game). I like the direction Special Teams is heading in and Hopkins is the business! I like the moves that McLoughlin made in the off season and think we're heading in the right direction at least. So I'm willing to pace myself through this season in the hopes that better years are ahead. Oh and I'm VERY happy with Breeland!!!! Also, and I don't know whether this is an anomaly for this game, but no penalties in the first half, and only 3 pemalties for 15 yards total! Turning the corner? Or a blip? Oh and we're winning the Turnover battle.... just. No help from Capt Kirk!
We've been hit pretty bad by injuries it's true. Especially on the O-Line and at TE. I'm actually amazed at how well we're coping with back ups and scrubs off the practice team. If and when we get our starters back we should be back to looking pretty good.
But.....
Here's the kicker on Gruden.
Personally I hate the instability at key positions. The best teams have continuity across the skill positions and the last couple of years it was a carousel of QB's and this year it's RB's. Factor in the inability for Reed and Jackson to stay on the field and by default we have a rotating line up of Receivers and Tight Ends too. I know every team has to adjust to injuries, but I don't think Gruden helps himself sometimes with the constant tinkering. I freely admit I'm a Griffin man, but I'm happy enough with Kirk if he sticks to his guns and allows him the whole season at least under centre and doesn't chop and change again. I'm sick of that. And I get that he's trying our Thompson and Jones because Alfred may not be here next year, but dammit I wish he'd just let the Offense have continuity across as many areas as possible.
As my wife is a Green Bay fan I watch ALOT of Packer games too, and that team just looks familiar and in a groove. that team just looks like a team that has played together long term and KNOWS each other and they have just settled into a groove. Even when they have to spot out Lacy with Starks, or when they lost Nelson and brought back James Jones to fill the spot, they all look just familiar with Rodgers and the system. It shows so much, watching the Skins game and the Packers game back to back yesterday the difference is night and day.
I don't care if this is a losing season this year, I'd just like to see us try and establish that groove ourselves. Cousins doesn't have to be Aaron Rodgers, he just needs to learn and grow, stop making the rookie mistakes and manage the games. Just let the team play together, take our lumps.
As has been said above, problem is that after this year we're in trouble again potentially...
Morris and Cousins are free agents. Morris probably won't get the money he wants from us and will move on. Cousins likewise may well get offered a role at another club where they desperately need a QB who can manage games, and I doubt the Redskins will stand in his way of leaving. Which means potentally a new QB/RB combo next year. (I doubt we'll fall back to McCoy or Griffin now!). Plus if we bomb this year then Gruden may be gone too and then bang goes all our continuity hopes.
Biggest issue I feel is with the Offense and especially the 3rd quarter woes. I can't blame injuries for that, we're generally pretty good in Q1 and Q2, so it's not the personnel. But when it comes to being fired up after halftime and to making game adjustments.... gotta put that on Gruden.
Sorry.... I rambled on there....
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