Quentin Jammer

[RoaringRiot]

All fine answers.  Trust me....I'm extremely optimistic, but it's with caution.  Until we can prove that we can close games then we're not a playoff team.  Going against our schedule next year, there's no way you can assume we're a top 8 team.  Especially when you would assume that SF-Seattle are both getting in.  That leaves our division and then a Wild Card.  From 7-9 to 13-3 to catch ATL is a long way to go.  Hell....10 wins didn't even get teams in last year.

 

[MadHatter]

All fine answers.  Trust me....I'm extremely optimistic, but it's with caution.  Until we can prove that we can close games then we're not a playoff team.  Going against our schedule next year, there's no way you can assume we're a top 8 team.  Especially when you would assume that SF-Seattle are both getting in.  That leaves our division and then a Wild Card.  From 7-9 to 13-3 to catch ATL is a long way to go.  Hell....10 wins didn't even get teams in last year.

Can't know how hard the schedule is until the season starts to play out.

 

I have seen seasons where the hardest schedule turned out to be middle of the pack.

[RoaringRiot]

Cam fumbles or Nak does not brain fart.....we beat Atlanta.

 

Smitty does not fall down after we dominated Chicago all day....we beat Chicago

 

Cam does not throw the 4yd pass into the dirt instead of to a wide open Hartsock...we beat Seattle

 

Rivera does not brain fart and play prevent against TB (while up by 11 with 3 min to go)...we beat TB

 

 

This team was easily a 10 win team last season...plain and simple.

 

If we would have won 2-3 of those fluke games, we would be considered a contender this season.

 

Yes...but we DIDN'T win those games.  For two years now we have not won those kind of games.  So you're assuming that none of those teams had "shoulda-coulda" instances in their loses?  

[top dawg]

i see people say this about players already on the team quite often and i've even said so myself in the past, but i'm more concerned with getting the best players on the field and winning than just seeing what some unknown commodities with promise have.

 

i'm more interested with winning than i am appeasing my curiousity re: young players.

 

if he's affordable and he can make us better....go get him. if the young guys can't beat him for a spot, move along.

 

Your last point shouldn't be understated. Young players need to step up and move the old guys out the way if they want to play. If they can't, then they need to continue to hone their skills with the second team, and learn from the sidelines.

[RoaringRiot]

Can't know how hard the schedule is until the season starts to play out.

 

I have seen seasons where the hardest schedule turned out to be middle of the pack.

 

yeah man...I hear ya.  But I feel pretty confident that it's going to be a brutal schedule.  The most winnable games are early - we haven't started out fast the past two seasons.  

[TripleTrouble]

Cam fumbles or Nak does not brain fart.....we beat Atlanta.

 

Smitty does not fall down after we dominated Chicago all day....we beat Chicago

 

Cam does not throw the 4yd pass into the dirt instead of to a wide open Hartsock...we beat Seattle

 

Rivera does not brain fart and play prevent against TB (while up by 11 with 3 min to go)...we beat TB

 

 

This team was easily a 10 win team last season...plain and simple.

 

If we would have won 2-3 of those fluke games, we would be considered a contender this season.

 

Exactly.  I'm sure every team had a game or two where 1 play was the difference between a win or a loss.  We had 4.  On top of another record year for injuries.  This is a good team that needs to learn how to finish.  They finished games down the stretch last year.

[RoaringRiot]

  They finished games down the stretch last year.

 

And until they start finishing games when they matter, then we can't just say they're a playoff team.  The talent is obviously there.  Now show us some pudding.  

[MadHatter]

Exactly.  I'm sure every team had a game or two where 1 play was the difference between a win or a loss.  We had 4.  On top of another record year for injuries.  This is a good team that needs to learn how to finish.  They finished games down the stretch last year.

 

Not like the Atlanta, Chicago, and Seattle game.

 

Those were more than making a play for a win.  Those were absolutely unlucky fluke plays that all went against us.

 

But, my point is still valid.  This team is talented and very close to the playoffs.  They are not a talent depleted team who is lucky to win 6-7 games.

[RoaringRiot]

I agree....I think we can lock in 9-10.  But 9-10 doesn't get you in the playoffs in the NFC right now.  

[MadHatter]

I agree....I think we can lock in 9-10.  But 9-10 doesn't get you in the playoffs in the NFC right now.  

 

I still think 10-11.....and right there for a WC spot.

[DaveThePanther2008]

yeah man...I hear ya.  But I feel pretty confident that it's going to be a brutal schedule.  The most winnable games are early - we haven't started out fast the past two seasons.  

Lets put the schedule crap to bed.

 

We are ALWAYS going to be near the top in the hardest schedule when we are in the NFC South. As long as these 4 teams beat up on each other it will be that way.

 

Take the NFC South out of the equation and we are middle of the road. 

 

3 - 3 last year and should be no less than that this season. 

[RoaringRiot]

Lets put the schedule crap to bed.

 

We are ALWAYS going to be near the top in the hardest schedule when we are in the NFC South. As long as these 4 teams beat up on each other it will be that way.

 

Take the NFC South out of the equation and we are middle of the road. 

 

3 - 3 last year and should be no less than that this season. 

 

 

Why would you put the "schedule crap to bed" when you're talking about the team making the playoffs?  That makes zero sense.  If we're fighting for a Wild Card spot (and it seems like that's our best shot - on paper) then it has all the relevance in the world.  If we got to play the Rams and Cardinals twice a year then wouldn't you say that would increase our chances on making a Wild Card?  

[RoaringRiot]

Plus if you're giving us 3-3 in our Division this year...that only leaves 3 more games we can lose to match last year's bottom Wild Card team.  And 10 wins isn't even a guarantee.....ask Chicago.  So again....the schedule is absolutely relevant.  

[DaveThePanther2008]

Why would you put the "schedule crap to bed" when you're talking about the team making the playoffs?  That makes zero sense.  If we're fighting for a Wild Card spot (and it seems like that's our best shot - on paper) then it has all the relevance in the world.  If we got to play the Rams and Cardinals twice a year then wouldn't you say that would increase our chances on making a Wild Card?  

 

Because as long as you play in the NFC South you are going to have one of the toughest schedules.  Unless someone goes 2-14 like we did.  When teams are neck and neck like we are the schedule is going to be tough.

 

Plus the schedule is based on the previous season and how often do we have a turnaround in the playoffs.  So while you say so in so is a tough team.  In the end you have to base your team off this year NOT LAST YEAR. 

 

The toughness of schedule is nothing more than the medias way of trying to figure out who will be where. 

 

I can guarantee you the coaches and players could give a rats ass about the toughness of the schedule.  In fact, it is IRRELEVANT.

 

You use schedule to justify why you think we will win or lose this season.  What you should be doing is going down the rosters of the teams we are playing and seeing what they added and what they lost to give yourself a better determination on who is tough.  Not last season record.