PRESEASON WRAP - Pros and Cons

[Okeana]

(09-04-2015, 10:58 AM)Luvnit2 Wrote: Concerns - our center position as Bodine still not playing well and Johnsons is a horrible backup center
Staying healthy and not having major number of injuries like we did a year ago at LB and WR/TE
AD - he has show in the regular season he can great games or stretches of great games. But, he has also shown extremely poor games like Cleveland so he needs to eliminate the extremely bad games in 2015.
LB's - I am still concerned with no Burfict to start likely. I like the potential of Dawson, but he seems to be to be a major liability right now defending the pass so hopefully he develops

Positives

Return to form of Geno - you have to have your studs deliver and in 2014 he was a bad DT. I think he's back
I think our DL overall is closer to the 2013 group or better than the 2013 group
I like our CB's and safeties
I like McCarron to keep getting better, but watching hi last night showed he has a long way to go to be a solid NFL QB in my opinion. The positive is I think he will improve quickly and like his skill set.
Love our running game and RB's/ I think Burkhead will add to an already very good group

I think we have a solid roster again so now the coaches need to coach them up and the players need to get better each practice and each game. The players are paid a lot of money to play a game, so they need to be motivated every practice and every game, I don't feel grown men should need the coaching staff to motivate them, that is 100% on them as professionals paid a ton of money.

Lot of great points.  I did skip over Bodine, but I give the guy a break because he just looks good enough when he's playing with starters.  He looks very bad when playing with even 1 backup because the entire line just crumbles.  That said I think the guy has potential and he's our best option atm.  

I just couldn't disagree with you more about AJ McCarron in the 4th game.  What you saw as failure I saw as complete and utter success.  They put him in literally the worst possible position and he limited mistakes and made plays.  Sure we didn't get any touchdowns, but that Offensive Line was such a failure on all levels that you just can't expect more out of the guy.  If you think Dalton would have done better you're absolutely out of your mind and with that squad of players AJ played an admirable game.

I appreciate your opinions and love the discussion.