R I S E ___ U P ___ D A R K ___ S I D E (2024)

[BritCard]

There's actually a lot I like about this team. I don't think we are in Darkside territory at all.

Defense plays their asses off and are tough to play for any team. There's some good young talent all over the team. Several CB's, DTD looks like a potential great find, Stills was a great draft pick, McBride is a top 5 TE, Wilson is a dependable possession receiver, Benson could go either way but shows flashes when given a chance, PJJ, while poor yesterday, has been good most of the season and Marv will work out, he's too talented not to. This isn't a bad team.

And I like all the coaching staff, they are all still young and learning but clearly have talent.

If we had a Justin Herbert, CJ Stroud or even a Jalen Hurts, at Quarterback then this team likely finishes 10-7 and we're all deliriously happy, but we don't.

 

[DVontel]

There's actually a lot I like about this team. I don't think we are in Darkside territory at all.

Defense plays their asses off and are tough to play for any team. There's some good young talent all over the team. Several CB's, DTD looks like a potential great find, Stills was a great draft pick, McBride is a top 5 TE, Wilson is a dependable possession receiver, Benson could go either way but shows flashes when given a chance, PJJ, while poor yesterday, has been good most of the season and Marv will work out, he's too talented not to. This isn't a bad team.

And I like all the coaching staff, they are all still young and learning but clearly have talent.

If we had a Justin Herbert, CJ Stroud or even a Jalen Hurts, at Quarterback then this team likely finishes 10-7 and we're all deliriously happy, but we don't.

I mean, it’s still not all cookies & rainbows.

We still need an EDGE considering we can’t sack the QB unless it’s a blitz or coverage sack.

 

[Stout]

There's actually a lot I like about this team. I don't think we are in Darkside territory at all.

Defense plays their asses off and are tough to play for any team. There's some good young talent all over the team. Several CB's, DTD looks like a potential great find, Stills was a great draft pick, McBride is a top 5 TE, Wilson is a dependable possession receiver, Benson could go either way but shows flashes when given a chance, PJJ, while poor yesterday, has been good most of the season and Marv will work out, he's too talented not to. This isn't a bad team.

And I like all the coaching staff, they are all still young and learning but clearly have talent.

If we had a Justin Herbert, CJ Stroud or even a Jalen Hurts, at Quarterback then this team likely finishes 10-7 and we're all deliriously happy, but we don't.

I don't necessarily disagree here. I don't think it's quite this sunshiny, but a solid QB would make a big difference with this team and probably have us in the playoffs. That said, we will know a lot more about all of the above in the final run in.

 

[DVontel]

Also starting to get real concerned Paris will be just a “decent” OT at best & not on the level of a Wirfs(sigh) or Sewell.

 

[Stout]

Also starting to get real concerned Paris will be just a “decent” OT at best & not on the level of a Wirfs(sigh) or Sewell.

Me too. He's not been good recently at LT. Might be a great RT and not a LT?

 

[kerouac9]

Guys were missing that Zaven Collins has already set a career high in sacks. Four.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Also starting to get real concerned Paris will be just a “decent” OT at best & not on the level of a Wirfs(sigh) or Sewell.

Agreed. It was my concern when we traded down and drafted him. He was just going to be above average and not great. Which means if Robinson is likewise just above average we blew an opportunity for a difference maker. Two dimes for a quarter.

 

[Chopper0080]

Also starting to get real concerned Paris will be just a “decent” OT at best & not on the level of a Wirfs(sigh) or Sewell.

Keep in mind that this offense has limited his development as a pass blocker to a degree because of minimal reps. Also, it’s tough blocking for a non-timing/rhythm qb.

He might not be special but he will be very good. Still feel his floor is DJ Humphries.

 

[Chopper0080]

I mean, it’s still not all cookies & rainbows.

We still need an EDGE considering we can’t sack the QB unless it’s a blitz or coverage sack.

Yup. I expect this is addressed this offseason. The roster is getting better.

 

[BirdGangThing]

nah it's still dark side for me - had we won yesterday or at least competed we could've been a semi destination during free agency and not a last resort

that free agency was supposed to help catapult us further into relevancy - especially since we won't be drafting top 15

the only sooth im feeling is monti's ability to recognize talent - and rallis' ability to coach it - i think rallis is the real deal - if he had a premiere edge rusher .. forget about it

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Breaking news - garbage franchise is still garbage! We're rolling into year 10 without a division championship. Wheeeee!

 

[kerouac9]

Agreed. It was my concern when we traded down and drafted him. He was just going to be above average and not great. Which means if Robinson is likewise just above average we blew an opportunity for a difference maker. Two dimes for a quarter.

The bigger deal is that the marginal value between having the best LT in the NFL and the 12th best LT isn’t that great. The difference between those categories of pass rusher are profound.

 

[BritCard]

I mean, it’s still not all cookies & rainbows.

We still need an EDGE considering we can’t sack the QB unless it’s a blitz or coverage sack.

Sure, but this isn't the "It's all rainbows" thread. We ain't in darkside territory. This is a better team than anything Keim put together since 2016.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Sure, but this isn't the "It's all rainbows" thread. We ain't in darkside territory. This is a better team than anything Keim put together since 2016.

No it’s not. The 2020 team at least had a superstar WR, what looked like an ascending QB and a dynamic young pass rusher that finished with 8 wins. This team likely finishes with less wins, a QB we know stinks, no pass rusher and an overhyped WR that is light years away from superstardom.

The 2021 team had the superstar WR, another 1000 yard WR, a much better Kyler but with very big question marks starting to be asked and won 11 games.

This team has no pass rusher, a QB everyone agrees isn’t the guy, a mediocre o-line and a great TE that likely wins 7 games.

This current team is stuck in mediocrity purgatory.

 

[DVontel]

I’ll be honest, I don’t think we have had a legitimately great roster on paper since 2013.

2015 was a very high powered offense, but a defense which lacked a pass-rush.

2021 was more of the same thing.

 

[BritCard]

No it’s not. The 2020 team at least had a superstar WR, what looked like an ascending QB and a dynamic young pass rusher that finished with 8 wins. This team likely finishes with less wins, a QB we know stinks, no pass rusher and an overhyped WR that is light years away from superstardom.

The 2021 team had the superstar WR, another 1000 yard WR, a much better Kyler but with very big question marks starting to be asked and won 11 games.

This team has no pass rusher, a QB everyone agrees isn’t the guy, a mediocre o-line and a great TE that likely wins 7 games.

This current team is stuck in mediocrity purgatory.

The O line is better, the running backs are better, TE is better, QB is the same, the only spot you can argue those teams were better is at WR.

2021 defense wasn't stacked with talent. CJ was turning to dust. P2 was a ghost of his former self at CB. It's pretty much a wash for me.

They ended with a better record, but for me that's because Kyler played better football. He was on fire through the first half of 2021. Had he played to that same level this year we would have a similar record.

 

[blindseyed]

Sure, but this isn't the "It's all rainbows" thread. We ain't in darkside territory. This is a better team than anything Keim put together since 2016.

Well you're IN the Darkside thread so....lol

 

[Proteus]

I’ll be honest, I don’t think we have had a legitimately great roster on paper since 2013.

2015 was a very high powered offense, but a defense which lacked a pass-rush.

2021 was more of the same thing.

It'd be pretty nice if we currently had one side of the ball that was great or close to it.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

It'd be pretty nice if we currently had one side of the ball that was great or close to it.

Coming into the season what we heard most of the time was how stacked the offense was and that we were going to be in a lot of high-scoring shootouts because the talent on the defensive side left a lot to be desired. Then the defense goes out and plays well, kept us in games, held opponents to low enough scores (in all but a couple of games) that if our offense was even a little subpar, we still should have won games and MEH.

 

[MrYeahBut]

Coming into the season what we heard most of the time was how stacked the offense was and that we were going to be in a lot of high-scoring shootouts because the talent on the defensive side left a lot to be desired. Then the defense goes out and plays well, kept us in games, held opponents to low enough scores (in all but a couple of games) that if our offense was even a little subpar, we still should have won games and MEH.

I envy you having season tix and watching every game live. You also have my sympathy for watching every game live.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

I envy you having season tix and watching every game live. You also have my sympathy for watching every game live.

Well put, my friend.

 

[slanidrac16]

Coming into the season what we heard most of the time was how stacked the offense was and that we were going to be in a lot of high-scoring shootouts because the talent on the defensive side left a lot to be desired. Then the defense goes out and plays well, kept us in games, held opponents to low enough scores (in all but a couple of games) that if our offense was even a little subpar, we still should have won games and MEH.

The problem is we totally fell in love with the running game. As it turns out it’s because we have to because we have no passing game.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Coming into the season what we heard most of the time was how stacked the offense was and that we were going to be in a lot of high-scoring shootouts because the talent on the defensive side left a lot to be desired. Then the defense goes out and plays well, kept us in games, held opponents to low enough scores (in all but a couple of games) that if our offense was even a little subpar, we still should have won games and MEH.

I believe I was told our offense was more talented than the lions. Lol.

 

[blindseyed]

I believe I was told our offense was more talented than the lions. Lol.

And Murray would be fine because he's elite.....lol

 

[slanidrac16]

And Murray would be fine because he's elite.....lol

And some still believe it.