Someone once told me, if you don't expect much you won't be disappointed. Not really a philosophy that I have ever been able to embrace.
This team right now, there are a few things:
1) There was hope/expectation that the OL would improve significantly this year. So far after two games against top 5 (in the NFL, NOT NFC) front 7s, it doesn't look better. The worst part of it is that they will face one of those defenses again and another top 5 front 7 twice (Philly if you are not sure). Maybe those of us who had expected rather than hoped for the OL to be able to hold their own against a top defensive front are a victim or our expectations
2) The defense has been worse than most hoped/expected. As mentioned above, its a young group. I have been disappointed by the tackling, but I was expecting a certain amount of mental mistakes. The IDL is still solid, but the groups around them seem to be inconsistent at best. For me the key is whether the rookie CBs pan out. If they do, there is a lot of potential with a guy like Dex up front. And like the OL, this D faced two really solid offenses with good OLs in 2 of three outings. And again they will also face one of them again and Philly with the best OL in the NFL twice.
On the topic of defense I also wonder if the aggressive style needs to be reigned in some. I get wanting to blitz on 3rd and 15 or 3rd and 13. Of course when you have been blitzing all game and the offense expects it, they will run plays that will be short, quick and give them the opportunity to make one guy miss to get a 1st down. Backing out of a blitz and playing zone here or there to create some element of surprise probably wouldn't hurt.
3) Getting behind every game. Some of this goes back to what I just mentioned about the aggressive defensive style. But the bigger issue IMO here is scoring a total of 6 first half points in 6 quarters of first half play. I don't think my expectations are the issue here. I don't think it's out of line to expect a touchdown or two in the first half of the first 3 games of the season. Not sure what it is about this team, but they look completely overwhelmed in the 1st half of games. How are the game plans that poor? Or how are they being executed that poorly?
This team right now, there are a few things:
1) There was hope/expectation that the OL would improve significantly this year. So far after two games against top 5 (in the NFL, NOT NFC) front 7s, it doesn't look better. The worst part of it is that they will face one of those defenses again and another top 5 front 7 twice (Philly if you are not sure). Maybe those of us who had expected rather than hoped for the OL to be able to hold their own against a top defensive front are a victim or our expectations
2) The defense has been worse than most hoped/expected. As mentioned above, its a young group. I have been disappointed by the tackling, but I was expecting a certain amount of mental mistakes. The IDL is still solid, but the groups around them seem to be inconsistent at best. For me the key is whether the rookie CBs pan out. If they do, there is a lot of potential with a guy like Dex up front. And like the OL, this D faced two really solid offenses with good OLs in 2 of three outings. And again they will also face one of them again and Philly with the best OL in the NFL twice.
On the topic of defense I also wonder if the aggressive style needs to be reigned in some. I get wanting to blitz on 3rd and 15 or 3rd and 13. Of course when you have been blitzing all game and the offense expects it, they will run plays that will be short, quick and give them the opportunity to make one guy miss to get a 1st down. Backing out of a blitz and playing zone here or there to create some element of surprise probably wouldn't hurt.
3) Getting behind every game. Some of this goes back to what I just mentioned about the aggressive defensive style. But the bigger issue IMO here is scoring a total of 6 first half points in 6 quarters of first half play. I don't think my expectations are the issue here. I don't think it's out of line to expect a touchdown or two in the first half of the first 3 games of the season. Not sure what it is about this team, but they look completely overwhelmed in the 1st half of games. How are the game plans that poor? Or how are they being executed that poorly?