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

[denverYooper]

Crazy enough, Mike Tanier lists EDS as a possible breakout player in this column (http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/58388844/).

The FO guys usually do pretty good work, but honestly, this one has me scratching my head. Was EDS just that much better than Saturday last year that he looked like a gem?

[MadScientist]

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

That doesn't help, but going back as far as '07, the line looked unprepared at the start of the season. It's more than just the personnel, the coaching just isn't good enough.

[RashanGary]

Lacy and Rodgers will make you a believe in the playmaker theory, bobble. Our DL looks stout as hell. Now we just need to get a little healthy and we have the makings of a SB team.

[mission]

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.

This. I wouldn't be surprised with an 0-2 start to the season and everyone will be freaking out (myself a little bit). Just think it will take some time for MM to establish the right offensive identity and the defense to gel. We'll be fine. 11-5, I say.

[wist43]

Our DL looks stout as hell.

You mean when both of them are out there??

Seriously, I haven't even looked at players on defense - what's the point when your DC is playing unsound alignments?? People used to talk about Ed Donatell's defensive system being unsound - but what Donatell designed was the Rock of Gilbralter compared to what Capers is doing.

You can't play a 2-4 base and expect not to get run over; and when Mr. Spraypaintedhair should be playing nickel, he's playing dime; and when he should be playing dime he goes to a 1-5; and when he does all these things, he's only a brain fart away from completely abandoning the middle of the field. It's mind numbing to watch.

I don't know if he thinks he's "ahead of the game" - the wave of the future, or what; but the alignments he puts on the field are much more of an issue than the capabilities of the players. The players are being put in positions to fail - when they fail, you guys will blame them.

I go back to Sun Tzu - eventually the responsibility has to lie with the General.

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As for the players, the only one I've looked at individually much has been Bacteria. He looked okay against Ari and the Rams, not great, but okay - he looked completely overmatched against the Seahawks.

The OL is a mess - but that all goes back to TT and MM's philosophy of drafting "versatile", mobile OL that can play all 5 positions, but can't run block to save their lives - or at least run block in terms of getting movement one-on-one.

MM's run game is based on movement - no power allowed. All of the OL are underpowered by NFL standards - and it is Lacy who will be in for a rude awakening when he realizes that getting hit 2 yds behind the LOS makes it pretty tough to be busting off those 19 yd runs he was so used to at Alabama.

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By the by, welcome to reality Bobble... on this website?? it can get lonely over here

[wist43]

This. I wouldn't be surprised with an 0-2 start to the season and everyone will be freaking out (myself a little bit). Just think it will take some time for MM to establish the right offensive identity and the defense to gel. We'll be fine. 11-5, I say.

So, if we start 0-2... you have us going 11-3 the rest of the way?? Have you looked at the schedule??

We're going to lose more than 1 division game this year; we play @ Cinn (a very tough team - some are picking them for the SB); @ NYG (we simply don't match up with them); @ Baltimore; Atlanta at home...

That's a pretty tough row to hoe - to go 11-3.

I suspect we beat Washington, but if we don't, our season is in big trouble - which wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing if it gets rid of Capers, and shakes some sense into MM concerning the running game.

[pbmax]

Crazy enough, Mike Tanier lists EDS as a possible breakout player in this column (http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/58388844/).

The FO guys usually do pretty good work, but honestly, this one has me scratching my head. Was EDS just that much better than Saturday last year that he looked like a gem?

He graded out last year well and was an obvious upgrade. But he has had some prodigious whiffs in the preseason. Kinda depends on if he cleans it up, esp. in the run game which is where he was clearly superior to Saturday.

[Tony Oday]

We will sweep the North, crush the aging Giants, out shoot the Falcons and the Bengals will again fail to impress. I love how you are impressed by the crap out there and not the team with the most wins the last three years. Seriously stop shaking your cane at the kids in your yard.

[pittstang5]

The Smith boys have to be licking their chops about going against Bak. Bak has looked better than a rookie 4th round pick, but he's still a rookie. Mulligan will probably be on his side to help block, i guess.

[mission]

So, if we start 0-2... you have us going 11-3 the rest of the way?? Have you looked at the schedule??

We're going to lose more than 1 division game this year; we play @ Cinn (a very tough team - some are picking them for the SB); @ NYG (we simply don't match up with them); @ Baltimore; Atlanta at home...

That's a pretty tough row to hoe - to go 11-3.

I suspect we beat Washington, but if we don't, our season is in big trouble - which wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing if it gets rid of Capers, and shakes some sense into MM concerning the running game.

Well, we can't lose EVERY game against a decent opponent. I disagree with you on where this team is at and I can see them having a couple nice streaks on the year.

Losing to the Redskins is a reach... for some reason I was thinking it was Seattle, but that was a temporary brain fart. The point remains -- we'll struggle early and the forums will be a shitstorm. That I do expect.

For the record: I'm not a Capers fan and would be fine replacing him as long as we don't go to a 4-3. Base personnel isn't the problem... Capers just isn't very smart IMO .

[wist43]

I have us in the 10-6 to 11-5 range... and I think we beat the Redskins; but don't think that is a given.

We went 5-1 in the division last year... 4-2 is more likely this year.

SF is a penciled in L, 4-2 in the division has us at 3 losses right there. Don't like our chances in NY - that's 4 losses... and we're always good for an Indy Colts, 2nd half hairball every year...

10-6 sounds about right - and an early playoff exit sounds about right.

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If not for the OL, I'd say we're a legit SB contender - however, and it is a huge HOWEVER - Capers kills our chances.

We have enough talent on defense to contend, but I see Capers as being such a disaster that any chance we have is right out the window.

JH says he really likes the DL - well, this is supposed to be a 3-4 defense, with strength at the LB position. We suck at LB. We're pretty good on the DL - yet Capers plays a 2-4?? What's wrong with that picture??

If the strength of our defense is on the DL - what good are most of them going to do on the bench when it's "Moneyball" time??

[wist43]

The Smith boys have to be licking their chops about going against Bak. Bak has looked better than a rookie 4th round pick, but he's still a rookie. Mulligan will probably be on his side to help block, i guess.

MM isn't in the habit of giving OT's help... he'll let Bacteria flail around over there for the 1st half, and only after Rodgers is nearly decapitated will he do something about it at halftime.

Bacteria was awful against Seattle... my guess is Rodgers will be looking over his shoulder and bolting the pocket b/4 we get to the 2nd quarter.

[pittstang5]

MM isn't in the habit of giving OT's help... he'll let Bacteria flail around over there for the 1st half, and only after Rodgers is nearly decapitated will he do something about it at halftime.

Bacteria was awful against Seattle... my guess is Rodgers will be looking over his shoulder and bolting the pocket b/4 we get to the 2nd quarter.

Sadly, I think you are right.

[denverYooper]

What a bunch of pussies.

[pbmax]

MM isn't in the habit of giving OT's help... he'll let Bacteria flail around over there for the 1st half, and only after Rodgers is nearly decapitated will he do something about it at halftime.

Bacteria was awful against Seattle... my guess is Rodgers will be looking over his shoulder and bolting the pocket b/4 we get to the 2nd quarter.

McCarthy has come out chipping with backs and TEs before, but he clearly prefers not to. He isn't going to do it if he thinks the O line should be able to handle the DEs alone and he is not in the habit of junking game plans before halftime. He also expects them to adjust to him and not the other way around. Remember the adjustments that came in 2009 in the Cowboy game, long after most had given up hope of the situation improving.

That said, against the best rush teams (San Fran and Seattle, I would not be surprised to see early help). He helped the OTs in the playoff game though they are more dangerous stunting with Justin. He clearly thinks you can pass on the Seattle secondary and I don't think he would let a question of chipping DEs get in his way since he clearly believes they can be roasted in the air.