Look, I know we have had alot on our plate with the hurricane, west coast relocation, Jet lag (pun intended), and now facing a trip to London for our first "Home" game, but I think alot of this has been compounded by our flippant regard to the preseason.
I get it, Gase was gunshy after losing Tanny for the year and losing McMillan before he could play a meaningful snap on defense.
I get it, we need Pouncey to anchor this Oline, Gase wants him healthy.
I get it, why risk injury for meaningless games? Well ya know what, they AREN'T meaningless.
Our first two games have shown, this team is out of sync and out of shape.
Playing the starters for a series or two just isnt enough. They need to build chemistry.
Sure, if everyone was returning, if Tanny was healthy, maybe you go easier during preseason, the chemistry is there already, it just needs to be refreshed.
But Pouncey missed significant time, not only during his recovery, but limited practices and limited snaps during preseason. It shows. Our Oline looks like a mess and it is because they arent a unit yet, just five individuals.
Same can be said for Cutler. Look, I get it, he came in late, had to learn the playbook, and yeah, you dont want to lose another QB due to a preseason injury. But DAMN. Those snaps that he didnt take during our preseason games are killing us right now. Had he played more than a token series or two during PS maybe, just maybe, he would have been more polished coming out of PS. He would be more in sync with his receivers.
IMO, if we would have treated preseason games more seriously we would have been far better prepared to start the season, despite the adversity we have been facing due to Irma.
I get it, Gase was gunshy after losing Tanny for the year and losing McMillan before he could play a meaningful snap on defense.
I get it, we need Pouncey to anchor this Oline, Gase wants him healthy.
I get it, why risk injury for meaningless games? Well ya know what, they AREN'T meaningless.
Our first two games have shown, this team is out of sync and out of shape.
Playing the starters for a series or two just isnt enough. They need to build chemistry.
Sure, if everyone was returning, if Tanny was healthy, maybe you go easier during preseason, the chemistry is there already, it just needs to be refreshed.
But Pouncey missed significant time, not only during his recovery, but limited practices and limited snaps during preseason. It shows. Our Oline looks like a mess and it is because they arent a unit yet, just five individuals.
Same can be said for Cutler. Look, I get it, he came in late, had to learn the playbook, and yeah, you dont want to lose another QB due to a preseason injury. But DAMN. Those snaps that he didnt take during our preseason games are killing us right now. Had he played more than a token series or two during PS maybe, just maybe, he would have been more polished coming out of PS. He would be more in sync with his receivers.
IMO, if we would have treated preseason games more seriously we would have been far better prepared to start the season, despite the adversity we have been facing due to Irma.
