kungfoodude

Yep. All these discussions are academic until the reps mean something. We aren't going to know anything about Darnold until we see him in the actual games. I will make this semi-hyperbolic statement, if he doesn't come out of the gates swinging against his old team in Game 1.....I don't think that will bode well for the future.

I mean, I am taking a negative take and thinking we suck at LT. I suppose maybe he could all of a sudden ball out.

In think in the preseason, Tampa has to be the heavy, heavy, heavy favorite. I too have been predicting Tom's demise but he seems to defy the odds. He will falter at some point but I am done predicting it. The Saints are the obvious #2 IMO, if they figure out their QB situation. I think with Jameis they are gonna be tough to play. With The Golden Calf of Bristol-light, they will start to fall apart. I think Payton's ego gets the best of him and he tries to use Hill to prove he is a genius. Atlanta is tough on paper. But....aren't they every offseason? Falcons gonna Falcon.

He retired.

Agreed. I love having a deep DL rotation. It seems like our most successful defenses were when we had depth on the DL.

He was also playing next a one of a kind freak in Donald and on a pretty stacked line.

That would be 7D chess.

Our FA signings as a whole were a little head scratching. But our DL signings were fantastic. It's hard to not be excited about what that unit could look like this season. If guys like Perryman and Reddick work out.....look out. Those dudes are going to start racking up the sacks.

That's a "we are in deep poo" starting lineup at OL, IMO. If our new FA signings can't beat out Little and Daley, we are fuged.

Yeah and they were a far more seasoned team than this one. One of the biggest factors that probably goes against us is how unbelievably young as a team we are. It's going to take time to learn how to win and be successful in the NFL. TBH, that is why I would like to have a few key veterans to mentor some of the younger guys. Especially with a staff that is also learning how to win and be successful in the NFL.

Darnold shows why he was a top 5 pick. The offensive line gels and plays well as a unit. Our free agent signings and draft picks ball out. Our defense gets mature fast. We are one of the least injured teams all year.

Yeah, a buddy of mine was at the game. Crazy stuff.

Todd Sauerbrun would have ripped his arm right out of his socket in his prime.

I think most of us at the time wanted to keep Bradberry, especially after seeing his deal versus Shaq's.

Our depth is better than last year, on paper. I think LB could be a weakness but I don't think it will be the dumpster fire it was last season.

So close though....so fuging close.

@The Huddler is a VT fan who warned us about Slye when we signed him. He pretty much called what we are seeing.

I did too. I never understood the hatred for the guy at all. He evened out his game losing kicks with crazy game winners. The most I could criticize about him was he was bound to whiff 2-3 XP's a season. Other than that, he was a very good kicker. We have missed him since he was gone.

The frustration with Gano was honestly pretty stupid. He was a very good NFL kicker. Slye is unlikely to develop into an average NFL kicker, IMO. I think next year we will be looking a lot harder at that position in free agency.

David Duval and Ian Baker Finch say hi.

His issues are between his ears. Sometimes that gets fixed, sometimes it doesn't. Usually for kickers, once that goes(or if you just don't have it) there isn't usually a recovery. Like pro golfers that suddenly get the yips and never recover.

Especially with such a shaky kicker like Slye.

Perryman's issue is if he can stay healthy long enough to matter. He may be 2021's Russell Okung, if not.

I don't think we need to worry about him leaving unless he doesn't show up for mandatory stuff. OTA's are voluntary.

Yeah, if nothing else you have a very athletic special teams guy that can provide depth.