I just got back form Flagstaff after watching 7 different practices. After observing very closely some of the people we have come to know and watching the new additions I must say that overall I am very excited to see this team play.
Defense:
This "new" defense we have is realy going to be good IMO. I think they will be good enough and quick enough to keep us in most games this year. The additions of Berry, Dockett, Dansby, and the maturing of Pace is going to make for a nice year in the sack category FINALLY! Throw in the fact that we have two healthy and fast CBs with the return of Starks and the addition of Macklin. Both of which are having really good camps and can really play. I admit that Macklin is quite an upgrade from what we were used to. The LBs are solid. I really wish you all could see how Levar Woods has been playing.
Adrian Wilson! The guy has really come around in practice. I hope this carries to the field. His athletacism cannot be questioned. If he shows in the games the same mental awareness and play making ability that he has been showing in camp then we might finally have the star SS we need.
Overall the improvements are amazing. I know a lot of this has been said before. But this year there is something different about the D it cant be explained unless your watching it. I fully expect 45+ sacks and two CBs with more than 4 ints a piece. My only hope that is that Dexter Jackson is inserted back into the line-up. I just dont feel that Q. Harris is fully ready! Defense wins games. IMO we have one. Thats why I still have hope for this coming season!
Offense:
I really liked what I saw out of McCown. In the two previous camps it was questionable as to whether the guy even belonged in the NFL. This year the guy doesnt even look like the same person. All of his passes are strong, accurate, and confident. When I say accurate I mean they are hitting the guys right in the numbers constantly. Not like in past camps where stuff would sail on him. I really think Dennis Green knew what he was doing with Josh. He will still have some rough times and I expect that. But he will be very exciting to watch as well. I pray he doesnt come down with an injury as well. But with the OL problems and the scheme I dont see him lasting all year. I hope Im wrong. King is nothing special but he is serviceable. If McCown stays healthy all year and we get Anquan back by week 8 I could see him having 3500 yards 20+ TDs but 20+ Ints as well.
The RB by comittee that we will be running is a concern. Losing Shipp will hurt. But I feel that both Scobey and Anderson are fully capable athletes and will step in and perform well. They have to! Both look very good. I give the edge to Scobey but just slightly.
Losing Anquan has hurt no doubt. But with the addition of Fitz and with the scheduled return of Johnson before the season starts you still have to very big and strog WRs. All indications prior to his injury is that Johnson looks great. Many WRs have a tremendous jump in production in year 2. I still feel that the WR corps without Boldin can be formidable. Maybe not "GREAT" but good enough. Hopefully Kasper or Poole can unseat Williams as the 3rd WR. I think they bring more to the table.
Freddie Jones looks really good but doesnt do a whole lot on running plays. We are really going to need to finally see him be the pro-bowl caliber TE he is capable of. I also really like Diamond!
This O-line is a mess. Here is the inherant problem with this team and instead of a team that could be 8 and 8 or better. I see it as a 5 to 7 win team that will compete every week. Green has messed this up in a big way. I really cant stress how bad the interior line looked in camp. You constantly had DTs in the QBs face or blowing up running plays before they could even start. Stepanovich just isnt ready to start. Cameron Spikes was constantly getting beat by a variety of players. Reggie Wells has no consistency. I know its been hashed over enough but the current line should be Clement, Big, Kendall, Wells, Shelton. That would have been this teams best opportunity to win ballgames especially with the new coaching thats going on. Green gets a free pass on this and I understand why. But either way he made a mistake.
While speaking with Mike Jurecki, he stated that many players have bought into Greens system. He also said that many(he wouldnt give names) good players have not. He said that they are not buying what Green is selling. I hope this does not become a problem in the future or tear this team down the middle. Only time will tell.
Well I dont know if there is to much Kool-Aid in that or not. But thats how I see it shaping up this year. We will get our first game action to look at tomorrow and everybody will see this coming together. Hopefully in a favorable way!
Defense:
This "new" defense we have is realy going to be good IMO. I think they will be good enough and quick enough to keep us in most games this year. The additions of Berry, Dockett, Dansby, and the maturing of Pace is going to make for a nice year in the sack category FINALLY! Throw in the fact that we have two healthy and fast CBs with the return of Starks and the addition of Macklin. Both of which are having really good camps and can really play. I admit that Macklin is quite an upgrade from what we were used to. The LBs are solid. I really wish you all could see how Levar Woods has been playing.
Adrian Wilson! The guy has really come around in practice. I hope this carries to the field. His athletacism cannot be questioned. If he shows in the games the same mental awareness and play making ability that he has been showing in camp then we might finally have the star SS we need.
Overall the improvements are amazing. I know a lot of this has been said before. But this year there is something different about the D it cant be explained unless your watching it. I fully expect 45+ sacks and two CBs with more than 4 ints a piece. My only hope that is that Dexter Jackson is inserted back into the line-up. I just dont feel that Q. Harris is fully ready! Defense wins games. IMO we have one. Thats why I still have hope for this coming season!
Offense:
I really liked what I saw out of McCown. In the two previous camps it was questionable as to whether the guy even belonged in the NFL. This year the guy doesnt even look like the same person. All of his passes are strong, accurate, and confident. When I say accurate I mean they are hitting the guys right in the numbers constantly. Not like in past camps where stuff would sail on him. I really think Dennis Green knew what he was doing with Josh. He will still have some rough times and I expect that. But he will be very exciting to watch as well. I pray he doesnt come down with an injury as well. But with the OL problems and the scheme I dont see him lasting all year. I hope Im wrong. King is nothing special but he is serviceable. If McCown stays healthy all year and we get Anquan back by week 8 I could see him having 3500 yards 20+ TDs but 20+ Ints as well.
The RB by comittee that we will be running is a concern. Losing Shipp will hurt. But I feel that both Scobey and Anderson are fully capable athletes and will step in and perform well. They have to! Both look very good. I give the edge to Scobey but just slightly.
Losing Anquan has hurt no doubt. But with the addition of Fitz and with the scheduled return of Johnson before the season starts you still have to very big and strog WRs. All indications prior to his injury is that Johnson looks great. Many WRs have a tremendous jump in production in year 2. I still feel that the WR corps without Boldin can be formidable. Maybe not "GREAT" but good enough. Hopefully Kasper or Poole can unseat Williams as the 3rd WR. I think they bring more to the table.
Freddie Jones looks really good but doesnt do a whole lot on running plays. We are really going to need to finally see him be the pro-bowl caliber TE he is capable of. I also really like Diamond!
This O-line is a mess. Here is the inherant problem with this team and instead of a team that could be 8 and 8 or better. I see it as a 5 to 7 win team that will compete every week. Green has messed this up in a big way. I really cant stress how bad the interior line looked in camp. You constantly had DTs in the QBs face or blowing up running plays before they could even start. Stepanovich just isnt ready to start. Cameron Spikes was constantly getting beat by a variety of players. Reggie Wells has no consistency. I know its been hashed over enough but the current line should be Clement, Big, Kendall, Wells, Shelton. That would have been this teams best opportunity to win ballgames especially with the new coaching thats going on. Green gets a free pass on this and I understand why. But either way he made a mistake.
While speaking with Mike Jurecki, he stated that many players have bought into Greens system. He also said that many(he wouldnt give names) good players have not. He said that they are not buying what Green is selling. I hope this does not become a problem in the future or tear this team down the middle. Only time will tell.
Well I dont know if there is to much Kool-Aid in that or not. But thats how I see it shaping up this year. We will get our first game action to look at tomorrow and everybody will see this coming together. Hopefully in a favorable way!
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