We're making the playoffs

[*ochocincos*]

(09-27-2024, 12:21 PM)PhilHos Wrote: I can see that optimism trying to get out. Let it out, bro. The truth will set you free!

Oh it's not tryin to get out.

I'm firmly in the 8-to-9-win camp now because of two unexpected losses.
Because I think to get into WC will need to be 10 wins, that's why I said "season over" before.

Just because there's a possibility of still getting 10+ wins doesn't mean I have any optimism of it happening.

I like what I've seen from the offense with Pitcher now going into his 4th week as OC, but when are the defensive guys coming back, and will they be markedly better than what we saw from them before they went down?
Case in point - Hill and Rankins were not doing overly well before they got injured. Rankins hasn't been an above average DT since 2018. Hill's most efficient year was when he was in a rotation with Ogunjobi. Getting a bulk of the DT snaps after that, he's been just ok.
We haven't seen enough of Jenkins or Jackson to give comfort about one of them playing a bunch more snaps at one of the DT spots.
In a perfect world though once everyone is back healthy (whenever that will be), Hill and Rankins will rotate with each other and Jenkins and Jackson will rotate with each other.
Hubbard was not doing well at all to start this year and now we found out he has a Grade 3 hamstring injury, which is not minor. He needs time to rehab, but the backups for him haven't looked good either. Murphy might based on last year, but he's out for at least another week.

Saying all this to say I think 8-9 wins is what I predict even if the rest of the guys were healthy moving forward. I could see fewer than that if the defense continues to struggle like it has these first few weeks and injuries keep the better players from being on the field.