TJSweens
Posts: 38743
Joined: 7/16/2007
Status: offline
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We really .... REALLY ... need the middle of both of our lines to surprise the hell out of us. Misguided or not, I really expect the corner play to be significantly improved this year. This will take some pressure of the safeties. I expect the LB play to be solid. I expect. Ngakoue and Odenigbo to generate pressure from the edges. If the guys in the middle of the d-line don't step up, the defense could get picked apart by Erin Rodgers, even with strong play in the other areas. Without an inside push, Rodgers will have escape lanes when the ends get up field. If the tackles can't contain the inside running game, Rodgers will have an easy day. I expect we will be fine at receiver. Bisi has supposedly taken the next step and Jefferson will be a good one. I expect Smith and Rudolph to be a formidable TE tandem. Bitch about him all you want, Cousins is a good QB. Here is the problem, and it's big one, Dozier, Bradbury, Elfline. We hope that Bradbury is stronger in year 2 and that playing at the NFL level is more second nature. Scouts billed him as the best center prospect in 10 years when we drafted him. Hopefully he lives up to billing, unlike the best LT prospect in 10 years we drafted several years ago. Elfline? Will moving to the right side really make that much difference? Maybe it is something as simple as flipping the footwork. He too was a highly regarded prospect when the Vikings drafted him. He was supposed to be an absolute steal in the 3rd round. I think there are a lot of things to really like about this team going into the Puker game. Unfortunately, it can be badly undermined by the middle of both lines.
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"The eternal fate of the noble and enlightened: to be brutally crushed by the armed and dumb."
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