Digressed huh? hahahaha. I would suggest we haven't even REgressed. An inspired finish by a team not expected to go to/win the Super Bowl, followed by 15-1, followed by an injury-plagued 11-5 with a playoff loss to a 49er team playing out of their minds who then proceded come back down to earth against Atlanta and Baltimore.
I hate defending Ted Thompson. I got fried in the other forum for suggesting he was not quite a "great GM". Most of the original post of this thread is valid. Yet we still have a great team, possibly the best in the league. If Sherrod and Perry and Bishop come back and play as they were expected to play, then things will be fine. Thompson in fact has upgraded RB, WR, CB, and arguably OT and OLB if Sherrod and Perry do the job. Safety also we may already have the pieces in place. Center also, the jury is still out, but EDS may well be a long term solution. That basically leaves the D Line, and hopefully that is addressed in the first round this year.
Originally Posted by: texaspackerbacker
Regressed. Yes. And we did. If you couldn't see that amidst our 15-1 run ending in a loss at home in the playoffs to the NYG, breaking records, NFL records for all-time defensive futility in 2011, well...
Lets add into the equation other defenses took most of that season to figure our offense out, and our own staff failed to adjust since. I'd say this team has regressed overall. Our defense improved greatly in 2012, in some respects, and got worse in others. Sacks & INTs improved, as did a drop in explosive plays via the pass. But, our run D set NFL records for futility.
Regardless, I agree with you that we are not too far away from being a good team again. It's weird. We are in a spot with some big unknowns that could factor in to our benefit, if some of these players return healthy. Perry, Bishop, House, Williams, Bulaga, Benson. I don't hold out much hope for DJ Smith, Worthy or Sherrod. But Quarless could help, Jordy could stand a fully healthy year.
Get some players back healthy, add 3 or 4 who really contribute via the draft, and we can compete. I would add, change the toughness mindset with some better coaching and play calling, and we could be back in this thing.
I appreciate your take and I agree with you quite a bit.