Me and my pal Wist (or, worst Training Camp EVER!!)

[bobblehead]

So, I was optimistic coming into camp, but at this point I find myself near wistlike in my pessimism. The Bulaga injury coupled with Sherrod not being ready has really dampened my enthusiasm.

Our OL is in disarray, and as much of a homer as I am, I can't see anything good of Bacteria and Barclay against the niners front. Coming in I thought EDS was our weakpoint, now he will be the "middleground" of talent. We like to be optimistic, but the OL injuries are a disastor waiting to happen. Even though some around here think the RB makes the line, you will find out quite differently when Lacy gets about 12 yards against the niners. What follows is predictable, MM stops trying to run, the OL has no shot against a D with their ears pinned back.

On D, I like the talent, but again, wist is right about one thing. We are in love with the 2-4. The depth and talent of the D is the Line, and the weakness is LB's not named Clay. I would rather run a 3-3 every single time. Collapse the pocket against mobile QB's and have one roving LB spying. A 2-4 creates too many size mismatches and leads to 2nd and 19 conversions with screens, scrambles and draws.

We are pathetic at ILB. I don't even want to get into it.

Basically lets look at what DIDN'T happen in TC. McMillan never came on like we hoped. Perry hasn't looked like a good complement. Our deep CB crop has been hurt all TC long. Sherrod didn't come back, Bulaga isn't the cure at LT, and our "deep" RBs have actually looked like shit (because its about the OL). We could have covered for Barclay at RT, but not BOTH tackles. Finally the injury bug that bites this team has grown new teeth and a resistance to all known medicines.

To top it off our WR starting studs will both be rusty and hobbled come week 1, and we don't even know who will be kicking the game winner if by some miracle we are in that position.

Lord I pray that I am wrong on all this, but things do not look good.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I wouldn't write off Perry yet. He looks like a stud on run defense. I think he'll be difficult for OTs because of his combination of speed and power. That's never been my big concern. He still loss lost in space though. I share your pessimism at OL and with McMillian. Also, with injuries and Crosby. Not so much with ILB. On the plus side, Lacy looks legit, Hyde is intriguing, the DL looks much improved, w might have a legit backup QB. There have been some real positives.

[denverYooper]

I agree about the OL. After watching the 9ers 1st string DL demolish the Vikings 1st OL yesterday, I had Very Bad Feelings. Those feelings were only mitigated somewhat by the fact that Ponder without AP looked dead in the water and that the Vikes line is built to run block. Also, St. Louis and Seattle have very good DLs themselves and GB's 1s didn't turn into a tire fire vs those units. Still... I'm not feeling very good about that matchup in week 1.

I am excited about the DL. They've given me reason to believe that they might be finally hitting their stride as a unit -- good mix of core vets and young talent. I feel like it'll translate to more competent looking D, even if the LB corps is mediocre (outside of CM3) right now.

[Bossman641]

I have already prepared myself for the experts and haters to have written this team off by the week 4 bye. With the injuries and youth I think it will take this team a while to hit their stride. Still feeling good about the season though - my concern over the OL has been matched by my optimism over the DL.

[Tony Oday]

Watching Klusternuts at QB against a pathetic secondary of the Vikes makes me wonder what the plus minus is on ints 3-4 would be my guess.

[mraynrand]

I have already prepared myself for the experts and haters to have written this team off by the week 4 bye. With the injuries and youth I think it will take this team a while to hit their stride. Still feeling good about the season though - my concern over the OL has been matched by my optimism over the DL.

1-2 at the bye, sky is falling, etc. etc. Team is destined for 10-11 wins, but will get stronger as the season progresses. Likely Divisional round loss again and no chance for title unless someone emerges at O-tackle and two on defense (two of D.Jones, Perry, Hayward) play at pro-bowl level. Of course, all this goes out the window with excessive injuries.

[Pugger]

I truly don't know why we are even bothering to play this season. Maybe we should forfeit until we get an O line so Rodgers will see his next birthday seeing our team is crap without him.

/sarcasm

[pbmax]

I agree about O line. ILB not so much. Jones looks like he has adapted well, but that hammy cannot take a month to heal. Still don't trust Lattimore or Francois full time.

Defense will be better and my only concern is CB depth. Need Hayward back to make it official, otherwise there is a lot of pressure on Hyde. Hopefully House renders Hayward's recovery moot but we'll see.

Rust will last 2 games. Not too worried about slow start as its a difficult part of the schedule. If Offense is firing on all cylinders by end of November for Vikes and Lions, going to be OK.

[Brandon494]

-You do realize that our O-line down the stretch last season was Newhouse/Lang/EDS/Sitton/Barclay right? So in a way we are improved with Bakhtiari at LT. The O-line is not as bad as everyone thinks, we are just lacking on depth which hopefully Sherrod will provide later in the season.

-Its the preseason, teams aren't going to show their hand for their week 1 opponents to get tape of, I'm sure you'll be seeing a different defense when the season starts.

-Perry will be an improvement over what we had last season

-We are still a top 5 team in the NFL

[cheesner]

Its nice to be in Clowney sweepstake. Can't wait till next year.

[pbmax]

-You do realize that our O-line down the stretch last season was Newhouse/Lang/EDS/Sitton/Barclay right? So in a way we are improved with Bakhtiari at LT. The O-line is not as bad as everyone thinks, we are just lacking on depth which hopefully Sherrod will provide later in the season.

I think its an open question about whether it will be improved*. Lang <--> Sitton is largely musical chairs, whatever run blocking edge Sitton has is offset partially by Lang's advantage in pass blocking. Bach has to accomplish something rarely done to make that group better. If he should fail, we go back to last year's lineup and we will get a true test of whether its the back or the O line that matters most.

My pessimism largely stems from the lack of depth, lack of EDS improvement and Tretter's injury. Sherrod being available would make the Tackle situation much more stable. But that is an open question.

*though to be fair that was the lineup for the best running of the year.

[MadScientist]

Our OL is in disarray, and as much of a homer as I am, I can't see anything good of Bacteria and Barclay against the niners front.

Neither of them are Marshmallow Newhouse, so that's good.

Every single stinking year the OL starts out like complete dog shit. Either TT and his scouts are the worst evaluators of OL talent in the history of the NFL or James fucking Campen is a shitty coach who can only be surviving on blackmail pictures.

[Zool]

EDS whiffs on a significant amount of blocks. He and Lang together are not playing well at all.

[bobblehead]

Neither of them are Marshmallow Newhouse, so that's good.

Every single stinking year the OL starts out like complete dog shit. Either TT and his scouts are the worst evaluators of OL talent in the history of the NFL or James fucking Campen is a shitty coach who can only be surviving on blackmail pictures.

Or we drafted the tackles of the next ten years and neither of them likely sees the field this season.

[Upnorth]

It looks like the line has regressed from last year, in particular EDS. I was expecting a big upgrade in the center of the line, but EDS is hesitant and pushed of the block compared to last year and Lang looks out of place on the right so far. On the bright side we can only get better most likely...