Honestly curious what you're basing the 'whole is greater than their parts, team talent' confidence on? Other than perhaps sheer optimism.
Especially in a group of guys that have never played a real game together who are under a HC who's never so much as been a coordinator before.
I'd much rather answer this in 3 weeks when we have the starting 22 tied down. But, I'm considering the starting talent we have at each position and, just as important if not more so, the coaching changes.
James Campen is a difference maker as the OL coach.
Lovie Smith is a difference maker defensively.
With Watson's departure, our offense is going to switch from a deep passing game to a more evenly balanced run-pass game. Tyrod Taylor is well suited for this style of offense and in the short to intermediate pass game, there will not be much of a drop off in the offence from the loss of Watson as QB, whose strength was in the deep vertical game.
In the past, our QB was under pressure from the middle. Nick Martin was a liability. This year that problem will be addressed from improved play by Justin Britt who is an anchor.
It's looking like there may be a change with Tytus Howard moving to LG. If this happens, I'm seeing an excellent left side with Britt, Howard and Tunsil.
The right side is still in flux, which is why I'd like to wait three more weeks. But the reports are that Heck has shown more progress during this off-season than any other player and is impressing. We'll have to see how he looks the next two pre-season games, but it's looking like he could win the starting RT position (which allows Howard to move to the left side). But we also have veteran Marcus Cannon.
At RG, Max Sharping is performing better in camp and is showing improvement over last year. But we also have veteran Lane Taylor; and if Heck wins the RT spot, Cannon can play RG as well.
Receivers? Cobb, Conley, Cooks, Coutee, and rookie Nico Collins. (Look at that, all last names starting with C. The 5 amigos?)
Tight ends? Akins and Brown are solid. (Looks like our receivers could be the A, B, C's)
Running Back? We're six deep, all fighting to make it, but Lindsey and Johnson make a strong tandem.
Special teams? If Green Bay is any indication, Desmond King and Tremon Smith performed well in the absence of return specialist Andre Roberts.
Defensively, the make over to a 4-3 is going to pay huge dividends.
For whatever reason, our defensive linemen were miscast in the 34 and are natural fits for the 43. Blacklock, Greenard, Mercilus and Omenihu are all going to benefit from the change. We also added Maliek Collins, Jorden Jenkins, Shaq Lawson, Vincent Taylor and DeMarcus Walker. We will have a much improved pass rush and will be better against the run. And Roy Lopez is looking like a 6th round steal at NT.
At LB, we added speed. Of course, Cunningham is back. And we added Kamu Grugier-Hill, who flashed against Green Bay. As well as Kevin Pierre-Louis, Christian Kirksey and several others. We'll have to wait and see who starts but it should be a good group with the speed that the 43 requires.
Defensive backfield is going to benefit from an improved pass rush and pressure on the QB.
Justin Reid is a starter. Eric Murry and Lonnie Johnson are in the mix to start opposite Reid. At CB, there's Bradley Roby, Desmond King, Vernon Hargreaves, Terrance Mitchell. Again, this is another position we'll have to wait and see who starts.
Although none of these players are elite, with the exception of Tunsil, this is a veteran group who have produced well in past seasons; and I'm expecting Campen and Smith to coach them up into a cohesive unit which is going to surprise.
You can call it "sheer optimism" but I'm looking at the individual pieces/players that Campen and Smith have to work with and am trusting that our coaches are going to bring out the best.
I'm really looking forward to Dallas and Tampa, the return of our veterans who did not play against Green Bay, and further evaluation of our offense and defense.