How would you label this year's team?

[Skinzfan]

Every season there are phrases all the smart, snappy sports writers spew out in order to label each team; these phrases also help them justify their predictions of a team's success or failure each year. They mostly start by saying: "This team..." and ends with "beats the teams they should and loses against the teams they shouldn't", "is good on the road", "is lousy at home", etc.

They are the current season's trends considering every team is new each year - due to the change over in players and/or coaches and schemes.

So, which one applies to us - and why?

Do we "choke on Nationally televised games", "lose to teams we should win", "beat teams we shouldn't"?

Are we "lousy at home", "lousy on the road", "hot and cold", "a team playing above it's talent level", "unpredictable"?

Is it because "our QB is better than anyone ever believed", "has an Oline playing above expectations", "has too many/few turnovers", "has an injury depleted secondary coupled with too many injuries up front", etc?

 

[Fear The Spear]

How would I label this team ?

Easy.

"We go into any game, regardless of the opponent, knowing we can win it. And we go into any 4th quarter, regardless of the score, knowing RG3 can pull us through it."

 

[Henry]

This team can win any game or lose any game.

Why? Because we have a great QB and a terrible defense.

 

[tshile]

A work in progress.

 

[Lanky Livingston]

A work in progress.

Close the thread!

 

[Rymanofthenorth]

This team can win any game or lose any game.

Why? Because we have a great QB and a terrible defense.

this team is a classic overachiever on offence and a classic underachiever on defence, however with a few tweaks this is a team that can possibly go from being "terrible" to the superbowl in one year, literally we need a few upgrades and we WILL be good, as long as shanny doesnt screw it up.

 

[Fear The Spear]

this team is a classic overachiever on offence and a classic underachiever on defence,

I don't think Dejon Gomes, Reed Doughty, Madieu Williams, Cedric Griffin, etc in the secondary are "underachieving". And those are the reasons our defense is doing poorly, not because of the defens as a whole. Our defense might appear to be "underachieving" due to the great talent we have on our front 7, but not when you look closely and get specific. Our front 7 is not underachieving, because they are playing very well in their own right. And our DB's are not underachieving, because they simply don't have the talent, for us to have huge expectations from them.

 

[Jugband McGillicuddy]

One word: "competitive."

 

[SilentThreat]

One word: "competitive."

yupp, that's it

 

[Rymanofthenorth]

I don't think Dejon Gomes, Reed Doughty, Madieu Williams, Cedric Griffin, etc in the secondary are "underachieving". And those are the reasons our defense is doing poorly, not because of the defens as a whole. Our defense might appear to be "underachieving" due to the great talent we have on our front 7, but not when you look closely and get specific. Our front 7 is not underachieving, because they are playing very well in their own right. And our DB's are not underachieving, because they simply don't have the talent, for us to have huge expectations from them.

I would say that Kerrigan is underachieving and has regressed, Jenkins looks nothing like he looked before he got hurt, Cofield is play way worse than he did last year, London has lost a step, but thank he was so fast before that he doesnt look that slow, Bowen has played well in spurts but often gets caight up in the wash. Thats not achieving what they are capable of which suggest underachieving. only so much can be blamed on lack of top end talent, at some point its about coaching and getting the best out of what you have.

 

[McD5]

World champions.

 

[servumtuum]

I would say that Kerrigan is underachieving and has regressed, Jenkins looks nothing like he looked before he got hurt, Cofield is play way worse than he did last year, London has lost a step, but thank he was so fast before that he doesnt look that slow, Bowen has played well in spurts but often gets caight up in the wash. Thats not achieving what they are capable of which suggest underachieving. only so much can be blamed on lack of top end talent, at some point its about coaching and getting the best out of what you have.

A large part of Kerrigan's problem is the absence of Rak and Carriker. The consistent pressure of those two allowed Kerrigan more room and freedom to operate to pressure the QB, whether through actual sacks or through hurries. Pressure from both sides, especially if it gets in the peripheral vision and thus in the mind of a QB, can have an effect on the QB's quick-decision capabilities and make him less effective-he doesn't necessarily have to be touched to be disrupted. Sacks by themselves only tell a part of the story of a pass rusher's effectiveness.

 

[Rymanofthenorth]

A large part of Kerrigan's problem is the absence of Rak and Carriker. The consistent pressure of those two allowed Kerrigan more room and freedom to operate to pressure the QB, whether through actual sacks or through hurries. Pressure from both sides, especially if it gets in the peripheral vision and thus in the mind of a QB, can have an effect on the QB's quick-decision capabilities and make him less effective-he doesn't necessarily have to be touched to be disrupted. Sacks by themselves only tell a part of the story of a pass rusher's effectiveness.

absolutely, now teams can roll protections, chip and double team him with impunity, but I have seen him overrun plays, and flat out miss far more than he did last year. Its not all about pressure either, he simply looks like he has regressed as a player. he still goes all out, still shows that awesome motor, but he just isnt the difference maker he was last season, I think its the coach to be honest.

 

[Lanky Livingston]

I think its the coach to be honest.

Neo's favorite guy, Bob Slowik. A "coach" that should have been put out to pasture long ago.

 

[Rymanofthenorth]

yeah I was disappointed when spanos left because i thought he would be able to teach Rak some more moves and he seemed to really know how to get the most out of kerrigan who people forget was another former DE playing OLB.