LACowboysFan1
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Everybody knows this team was built to run the ball with Zeke - from personnel to coaching to the owner/gm.
Last night Zeke had zero ability to run the ball up the gut, none. Everything that went for more than a yard or three was outside.
Looney is improving, but he's no Frederick. Williams is improving, but he's no Leary. (Better than Chaz and the other scrubs they put there, though). Smith's mobility looks to be down from his back problems.
And Zeke isn't 100%, either, on most carries his takeoff from getting the ball wasn't smooth, he stumbled or had a "hitch in his get along", and that split second caused him to not break the long runs we're used to seeing. He went out of the game at least a half dozen times, he didn't used to do that.
To be fair Dak missed, as usually is the case, at least 3-4 easy throws, some of those he was under duress, but good quarterbacks block that out and make most of the easy throws.
The decision to punt in overtime was the usual dumb, too conservative, Garrett coaching. Even with those problems, with Zeke in there, just like on Dak's td throw, he's going to draw a lot of attention, seemed to me to be a sneak or outside bootleg opportunity for Dak, but apparently that wasn't even considered. Now we have to root for a Saints win, with the iggles and midgets losing, at least we're tied/ahead of them, and we've already beaten the midgets. First order of business in any season is to win the division, don't think it's going to take a 12-4 record to do that, 10-6 might do it.
Even with Dak's and the other problems, I do think it's too early to write off this team, as far as the playoffs go. A lot of the reasons for the loss last night was due to penalties and other mistakes by both the offense and defense. Those can be worked on. I have to look at this season as one of growth at the least, and re-building at the worst. I can't just watch expecting to end up 4-12 or such, I also can't expect 12-4 or 11-5, but it's only been 5 games, you never know what will happen in the weeks ahead.
As far as the end results of this season, I'd have to put the chances as:
SB - 1%
NFC Championship appearance - 5%
Division winner - 20%
Playoffs - 30%.
Or thereabouts. But that's the way I have to see it, not good odds but at least it's something to "hang my hat on"...
Last night Zeke had zero ability to run the ball up the gut, none. Everything that went for more than a yard or three was outside.
Looney is improving, but he's no Frederick. Williams is improving, but he's no Leary. (Better than Chaz and the other scrubs they put there, though). Smith's mobility looks to be down from his back problems.
And Zeke isn't 100%, either, on most carries his takeoff from getting the ball wasn't smooth, he stumbled or had a "hitch in his get along", and that split second caused him to not break the long runs we're used to seeing. He went out of the game at least a half dozen times, he didn't used to do that.
To be fair Dak missed, as usually is the case, at least 3-4 easy throws, some of those he was under duress, but good quarterbacks block that out and make most of the easy throws.
The decision to punt in overtime was the usual dumb, too conservative, Garrett coaching. Even with those problems, with Zeke in there, just like on Dak's td throw, he's going to draw a lot of attention, seemed to me to be a sneak or outside bootleg opportunity for Dak, but apparently that wasn't even considered. Now we have to root for a Saints win, with the iggles and midgets losing, at least we're tied/ahead of them, and we've already beaten the midgets. First order of business in any season is to win the division, don't think it's going to take a 12-4 record to do that, 10-6 might do it.
Even with Dak's and the other problems, I do think it's too early to write off this team, as far as the playoffs go. A lot of the reasons for the loss last night was due to penalties and other mistakes by both the offense and defense. Those can be worked on. I have to look at this season as one of growth at the least, and re-building at the worst. I can't just watch expecting to end up 4-12 or such, I also can't expect 12-4 or 11-5, but it's only been 5 games, you never know what will happen in the weeks ahead.
As far as the end results of this season, I'd have to put the chances as:
SB - 1%
NFC Championship appearance - 5%
Division winner - 20%
Playoffs - 30%.
Or thereabouts. But that's the way I have to see it, not good odds but at least it's something to "hang my hat on"...