Even before the draft, we were due for a rebound year.
In 2018, we won most of our close games.
In 2019, it was the exact opposite.
Just by the law of averages, that should even out.
IMO, two reasons why we sucked in close games:
First, the defense could not get stops when they needed to. Why?
1. We could not get turnover to save our lives
2. We were really bad at defending the run. In '18, besides Indy and LA, we were actually really good against the run. The run game allows you to manipulate the clock in crunch time. Smart coaches will use that to their advantage. Garrett was HORRIBLE at late-game clock management
The second reason, why we sucked in close games? This is just a theory, but I think it makes sense.
In '18 Scott was completely in charge of calling plays, and as bad as he sucked at times, it made for consistency.
In '19, Moore called most of the plays, but then in crunch time, Garrett became more involved. Remember the head-scratching decisions at the end of the games at Minny, NE? I also think he was much more involved directly in the game plan for the second Philly game, and then he let Moore go at it in Washington since it did not mean anything. We all know what happened in those games.
In summation, the law of averages, trading Cobb for Lamb, a much better run defense, a defense that seeks turnovers, and trading Garrett for MM, means I think we are due for a major rebound.