More, less or the same?

Well...after tonight's pre-season game are you more optimistic, less optimistic or unchanged with regard to the upcoming season?

And why?

 

I don't put too much energy into making predictions from preseason games, but I sure didn't see anything to impress me much.

 

I thought the line looked pretty good early but also 2 of the giants starters were out. I'm definitely optimistic about Grad given Ben's history with getting injured. I also like the way LSH looked and maybe him and Bell can make a good 1-2 punch. I am worried about our cornerback situation though and special teams is still an absolute atrocity.

 

I realize its very early in the pre-season, but I have to say that I'm slightly less optimistic than I was before the game hearing the reports out of camp. The offensive line looked okay and LSH was a bright spot, but they didn't do a good job of pass protection and were spotty in run blocking. The first team defense was nothing special. No good pressure on Manning and he and Cruz torched our defense for the long TDs. Can we bring Amos back from Duke to coach the special teams, which continue to be cursed it seems. Certainly not calling in the season, but certainly not an ideal start to help build confidence.

 

I think I feel what we always knew going in: Our depth is a little suspect, especially due to the youth movement.

 

You're right, BFT, Grad was a bright spot along with LSH. Some other bright spots included Wheaton, Jarvis Jones (at times) and some of these backup linebackers.

 

Yeah I'm guessing that Tomlin will be more impressed with Jones than Worilds tonight even though Worilds had a sack. I think Tomlin just wants the guys to play disciplined.

 

LURSH!!!! Wheaton and some of the backup defensive players were good.
Most of the "special teams" looked like they were.........."special"

 

Yeah I'd say we've got some real special olympians on our hands. I really think we might take gold.

 

I see a team that could be good but that's probably a year or two away once the transition to the younger guys has been completed.

 

But time is running out for the core group of vets, including Ben. This game, even though it was pre-season, reminded me a lot of several games last year in which we came out flat.

 

T answer the original question, I'm more optimistic. I sure hope Troy and Clark can stay healthy and that we get rid of Gay!!

 

I like our young recievers, I think Wheaton and Brown are both going to be great.. I can see why the team are high on themj

 

I'm still kind of vanilla on the whole situation. LSH, Wheaton, Jarvis Jones, and Rolle, Wilson, and both Woods were all my bright spots tonight. But I guess I could say i'm unchanged. I need to see more of the 1st team. I'll tell you one thing though, I was unimpressed with Dwyer. Although he didn't get much 1st team reps, I was not impressed one bit.

 

Based on a limited sample of 1 game, I'm less optimistic.
I actually thought the special teams would improve, not digress.

IMO the +'s were: "Mr Clean", LSH, the backup LB's, Wheaton, and J.Brown
IMO the -'s were: special teams, 2nd/3rd team O-lines

I'd call the 3rd string QB "competition" pretty much a draw, perhaps a very slight edge to Landry Jones. At least he seems to scramble a bit better and seems willing to toss the ball away to avoid taking a sack.

The whole team seemed "flat" from the start, and I wonder if it wasn't somewhat due to Bell being held out at the very last minute.

 

JD Woods had a couple great catches. Best of all not afraid to take a hit. Nice undrafted pickup.

 

Yea, the "flatness" was a concern. First preseason game, you want to make a mark (at least the rookies), and for a team that was known for "flat" last year, that was disappointing. Still, it is preseason.

 

Both Dwyer and Batch did not look good. Did Dwyer run with many starters on the o-line (only watched a condensed version o the game so didn't see all of the substitutions)?

 

On that note, I thought Isaiah Green (39) looked good in coverage, for a guy I wasn't even aware was on the roster.

Confused the hell out of me when I thought I then saw him running the ball... until I realised we have two no. 39s at the moment.

 

I don't get the flatness that this team keeps coming to games in. An opener and a chance to show your fresh and/or new. Where is it?

It seems like our players focus on not making mistakes, which inevitably leads to them cuz you're trying to play safe, instead of just letting it fly.

Where's the fire?

 

That's an understatement.


Maybe his performance will keep Dwyer's yapper shut on Twitter for a day or two, but I seriously doubt it.

 

It's more odd given all the reports from training camp about the reinvigoration after missing the play-offs etc.

I'm having horrible flashbacks to the "unleash hell" period of a few seasons back.

 

Overall It was pretty much what I expected. I was a little surprised by the left side of the line. Foster might as well have been knocked out by the clubbing that DT gave him on Ben's sack. The depth of the o-line is a major issue which hopefully can be improved once cuts begin. Chromartie-Smith's whiff on the blocked punt still pisses me off. Jarvis Jones looked just ok. On a few occasions he was taken out of the play with relative ease by a single blocker. There was also at least one instance where he tried to go around a double team and gave up a 7-8 yard run. He ended up showing decent hustle by making the tackle, but it was still 8 yards down the field. Wheaton looked pretty good. I probably would have said he looked great if he had held onto that pass on the sidelines. I'll be pissed if we lose Brown and Moye. Put a few lbs of muscle on Moye and we could have a great RZ threat. I have a feeling Woods is going to give Fangupo and Ta'amu more than they can handle. If I had to guess Ta'amu ends up on the PS and Fangupo is back in street clothes.

 

im less optimistic than i was and i wasnt real optimistic... we need to cut landry and bath immediately... we are in real trouble ... the ravens scored like 44.. the bengals like 38 and we had our normal 10-20 point range game... thats not gonna win more then 7 or 8 games this season ...

HINES