Last year, I didn't think they had a chance to make the playoffs and they came remarkably close.
I expect this to be a better team this year and I expect them to make the playoffs.
Now, when I say "better team", I don't mean that they're necessarily going to have better players. They may, or they may not. The loss of AJ and Myers hurts but I expect this coaching staff to get more out of the players they have. I expect the fact that the whole team has had more time learning the offense and defense is going to make the team stronger and more competitive. The fact that we now have a core group of players that know what the coaches want is going to make it easier for the coaches to do more and for them to bring new players in and get them up-to-speed quicker.
So I'm expecting playoffs and if you can make the playoffs, you've got a shot at the whole thing.
I'm just not that optimistic about the season .... for several reasons.
Lets start with QB , we replaced a career backup who had his best season to date with two guys who have to this point been career backups .... both coming off of injury with limited game experience. Both have had good & bad days on the field .... Huge questionmark there. Not even going to mention the guy behind those two .... he aint gonna save us.
RB .... Foster when healthy is one of the leagues best but he hasn't been able to stay on the field missing multiple games in back to back seasons. If he stays healthy they can make some noise , if not ..... they wont (add to that the QB has to play well too , that's a lot to ask). Blue is a decent backup but not starter material if Foster cant go.
WR , we cut the best player in the history of the team and replace him with what ?! (I know , the draft is ahead of us).
Damaris Johnson was Ok but not a game breaker .... Posey , Martin and Bonner , do they scare a good NCAA defense ?!
Center - We cut one of the better centers in the league and a guy who hasn't missed a snap since I dunno when and replace him with what ? Second most important position on the offensive side of the ball , another huge questionmark.
RT - Resigned Newton to an absurd contract for the production at least in my opinion. They got a lot of mileage out of running behind him but his pass protection is below average.
LG - What a mess with Ben Jones & Xavier Su'a-Filo. Man I was high on that guy after the draft last year. What a disappointment.
TE - The only thing Fiedorowicz could catch was the ref's dirty laundry last year. Graham & Griffin did ..... nothing.
NT - That jag is gone (he played relatively well), who ya got ?!
OLB - Lost Reed and Clowney is what exactly ?? At least Mercilus returns ....
DE - Watt and the .... jags.
ILB - Cushing and his cap hit + the jag's. Tarpinian .... I kinda like him but think the position needs an upgrade. Maybe Cushing returns to form ....
CB and the S spots I'm satisfied with believe it or not.
Just too many holes for me to be optimistic beyond the same expectations I had last year and if you recall , I stated the best case was ~9 wins if Fitz could limit the mistakes & the defense played very well .... I see this seasons best case scenario much the same as last years which just wasn't good enough to get into the dance.
If OB can get this team into the post season , he'll be deserving of the COY and a fat raise.