FanPost

Biggest Concerns for 2023

We thought the period between the end of the season and free agency was slow for news... and it was. After free agency, we had a lull before being thrust headlong into the draft. The mocks and debates over which QB we were getting, provided enough conversation to get us to May. Now, we have another one of those gaps in content that either allows us to step away for a while and do yard work, or in my case spend a little more time trying to coax some of my students into finishing strong for the school year, or screw the work and make some shit up to talk about.

Apparently, I am choosing the latter on this day. I’m going to list my concerns, give a little opinion and then rank them in order of importance (to me).

1. Is our QB ready for prime time?

Okay, we didn’t trade for Rodgers or Jackson and are not in Super Bowl or bust mode. Instead, we have a rookie with 13 college games under his belt. Hey, maybe we get the same results as 2012 and see three rookie QBs take their team to the playoffs? It will be tougher with three of them being all in our division, but we’d have to be stoked about a rookie season comparable to Luck, RGIII, or Wilson. Hell, a Tannyhill or Cousins would at least get you off the merry-go-round.

The optimist in me says that AR5 is going to work so hard that he’ll overcome any shortcomings and start realizing his potential early enough for us all to know that we got exactly what we needed with the pick. Glass half empty guy knows that the NFL can sniff out weaknesses and I have to be aware that there will be weaknesses.

2. Are Nelson and Kelly done, or just needing to re-engage?

Kelly might be done, but Nelson can’t be, can he? My mind can’t divert from Q asking Reich on the sidelines after something like 20 straight passes, "Can we have, like you know, a running play next series?" I think that a fresh voice in the OL room and at the head of the table will see him get back to mauling.

3. Are Raimann and Fries improved enough to let the offense be all it can be?

Raimann and Fries must have some trust in the building. "Projectable" assets were all that were drafted, including Ekiyor. In my mind none are any further along than Pinter was, coming into the league, so if we are still weak at LT and RG, we’re hurting. My Spidey Senses tell me a vet is in the works, but until then, yea, I’m concerned.

4. Can any of the TEs block well enough to become "That dude!"?

Well, aside from Granson, they are all certainly large enough to be effective blockers. I think Mawae was coaching them at the end of last year, but he may have been part of the whole OL coaching room problem as well. It can’t be that tough? Become a good blocker and see 90% of the snaps, or decide you are a diva WR and see the field for 30 - 40% of the plays.

5. How screwed are we if Taylor has to sit for any extended period of time?

If a RB is good enough to be in the league, he is good enough to get you 100 yards on any given day. However, only Taylor offers that quick strike and 50 yard play. Anyone we put back there might be able to keep a defense honest, but you definitely take a hit. I guess it is not a huge concern to me, as I never really saw Hines as capable in that role either.

6. Are we going to see any open receivers, with largely the same personnel?

I am hoping that we get guys as open as opponents appear to be when we are on defense. I know that getting separation is tough when your QB is ducking and chucking (or is the other way around? I know both are bad) and I feel that we have been drafting guys with the ability to make contested catches, but hopefully a guy like Downs sees the entire WR corps benefit.

7. Is Steichen ready to be exactly what we are hoping for?

I have a lot of confidence in Steichen’s Philly squad. I mean our D held them in check for nearly the entire game, but they were good. I have confidence that he is leaps and bounds better than Frank. But, there is a long list of coaches who got a job based on the situation that they came from and nearly as long of a list that could not translate that to their new team.

8. Can we generate enough pass rush to help rookie CBs look capable?

It seems a little strange to worry about a unit that "on paper", was fairly successful getting after the QB. It could be that I expect everyone we face to be under as much pressure as our QBs have been over the last couple of years. We wound up 11th in sacks, which is not the end all stat, but generally how pass rushers are graded and rewarded. Our total was 26 behind the leader, so that is likely 26 more opportunities to get the offense off the field. We may have got a push when we compare our players lost to players obtained. I’m not blown away by any of our guys after their 21 turnover performance last year, but we should get our leader back.

9. Can rookie CBs be capable enough to let us get there with four rushers? (I know, chicken or egg)

You have to expect some growing pains, I mean you have to? I’m not sure that the mantra of "Sometimes they are too big and too fast to fail", is all that accurate. There is also a phrase that has been around much longer, that goes "Looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane." Bradley and Co. have their work cut out for them. We may eventually call this unit the backbone of our team, but it is not likely to happen in 2023.

10. Will The Maniac get back to wrecking havoc?

All signs of him being healthy are good. We are talking about a back surgery, to repair a leg problem, so I’d say we were in a little uncharted territory, at least as far as professional athletes are concerned. No one has had an effect on a game or an entire defense to Leonard’s level since (hands held together, head pointing skyward) Bob Sanders. I think of Blazing Saddles and the crowd echoing "Randolf Scott". We have guys that can play the position, but we don’t have guys who can turn things in our direction, with one swift punch.

There may be more, but I don’t want to make this too difficult. If I was rating my concern level from highest to lowest, it would be something like this:

1. Is our QB ready for prime time? (How could it not be #1? You know it is CB's.)

6. Are we going to see open receivers with largely the same personnel? (Throwing to guys who are not open, when you are working on your accuracy is spooky)

3. Are Raimann and Fries improved enough to let the offense be all it can be? (Do we only like them because they were an improvement over their predecessors?

9. Can rookie CBs be capable enough to let us get there with four rushers? (CBs historically have growing pains, even the elite ones)

2. Are Nelson and Kelly done, or just needing to re-engage? (I’m counting on a couple of millionaires to become hungry again)

10. Will The Maniac get back to wrecking havoc? (One tweak away?)

8. Can we generate enough pass rush to help rookie CBs look capable? (Until we are no longer at the bottom of the league in blitzing %, this looks like a continuing problem)

4. Can any of the TEs block well enough to become "That dude!"? (someone has to be able to teach one of these guys to get their big ass in the way of that other big guy.)

5. How screwed are we if Taylor has to sit for any extended period of time? (It wouldn’t be optimal, but I think it could be managed)

7. Is Steichen ready to be exactly what we are hoping for? (my disdain for Frank had me believing that a guy who couldn’t win in high school could do a better job)

In all honesty, I’m pretty concerned about all but the last 3. But hey, it’s early!

Feel free to give me your order, or a top 3 - 5 if you are not as wordy as me. Or, give me good reasons not to lose any sleep over my concerns. Hell, who am I kidding? I drink enough that sleeping is not a problem.

Cheers!



This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors.