Commanders Coffee #4

[Canadian Hog]

Greetings all!

We come at you a bit later in the week with the 4th installment of Commanders Coffee, but waited it out as a result of the recent release of the 53 man roster. When Ron Rivera took over this team, it was easily a bottom 10 roster in the NFL. Today, we simply ask you to give our 53 man roster an overall grade going into the season opener? Where do we stand in year 3 of Rivera's reconstruction? Make your evaluation and debate away!

 

[Henry]

I'll vote for 7 wins until the team gets more than 7 wins.

 

[Om]

I went B-. Might have gone solid B except for the LB problem, which I think is a potential Achilles heel for this team.

Offensively, the roster on paper looks competitive. There are weapons, a creative OC, a QB who has shown he has at least NFL starter potential, a damn good OL coach keeping things from falling apart when the inevitable injuries start accruing.

Defensively? No effing clue. Doesn't seem unreasonable , on paper, to expect at least a top-half of the league unit, but given we are basically fielding the same D we fielded last year ... again, no effing clue.

Coaching? To me this is Rivera's prove-it year. If his message is going to get through and the "culture" takes, we'll know it by the end of the year. My real hope is that it's an actual winning season, regardless of playoffs, and that by the end of it we have no doubt we're on the right track and heading into 2023 with a chance to make some legit noise.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

I see about a 9 win team, which will probably make the wild card round and lose. A lot of power shifted to the AFC and I see a lot of mediocre teams in the NFC. That means if this team can win the games they should, they win about 9 games. A few upsets and maybe 10 or 11 wins. I’m sure they will best a team or two they shouldn’t, and lose to teams they shouldn’t lose to. I just think it evens out to just barely in the playoffs.

 

[Boone]

Me too Mark although I felt like even that was being optimistic. I think it’s super tough to buy in to the idea our roster talent has really improved when we let solid DL guys go and did next to nothing at LB and DB. Add in an uncertain return of Chase and I’m pretty worried.

 

[MikefromOH]

D.

I just don't look at anyone on this roster that can take over a game or excites me.

 

[Boone]

Jon Allen is an absolute beast. We don’t know what Young can be yet. Sweat could still turn out to be an animal. I think Phil Mathis may turn out to be a beast too. And Curl is pretty good. But a lot of question marks beyond those guys…

 

[MikefromOH]

Double Allen and we are left with "maybes".

I'm just concerned this team isn't pumped up for the season and just going to settle back in to it's normal mediocrity ways.

 

[SkinsOrlando]

I'm going C-, this will depend a lot on Wentz, if he plays at a top 15 level, this grade will move up as we're going to need to score some points to stay in games, the defense behind the front 4 scares me, instead of scaring opposing players.

 

[Lovin Cousins]

Jon Allen is an absolute beast.

Is he the one that will be going against Scherff in Game 1 ?
That will be an interesting battle to watch.
Not just because of the talent level, but their familiarity with each other

 

[Lovin Cousins]

Double Allen and we are left with "maybes".

I'm just concerned this team isn't pumped up for the season and just going to settle back in to it's normal mediocrity ways.

Don't forget the Z-Factor.
Coach Z.
I really believe he's an upgrade.
I expect a different Z-Line now.

 

[Knightingale]

I went with a C+

I like the weapons on Offense, but we're now waiting 4 weeks for Brian Robinson to play so here's hoping Gibson can keep the butter off his fingers to start the season. Also, Wentz is a HUGE question mark. I don't doubt he's an upgrade, but how much can he jumpstart us considering he's coming into a new offense with new players? I think our Offence could be pretty darned good but it may take a while to find its groove.

Defense is the biggest question though. I think on paper we have quite a bit of talent across the board (except maybe LB unless Davis REALLY turns a corner this year!) but it looked like the issue last year was getting them to play as a group. And I'm not sure that's fixed. I guess we'll find out on Sunday.