Which should give way to a few more wins than our last year’s record…
Not since 2001, has our Strength of Scheduled been as low. Our opponents, mostly n the AFCE, which we play twice a season, have been one of the main reasons why. The 2005 upcoming SOS, based on the 2004 Season Standings is at 0.514 (a 51 winning %).
Based on the Season’s Standings in the last 2 years of JJ’s tenure, our SOS’s were 0.531, and 0.541 (98-99 respectively). Under DW they have been 0.489 (2000), 0.510 (01), 0.541 (02), 0.546 (03), and ending at our toughest scheduled in at least the past 7 seasons, with a 0.567 (04). The strength of our opponents last year was one of the main reasons for our lack of success, especially with all our problems along both the Defensive and Offensive side of the ball. The only part of our team that actually shined was our Special Teams.
Why do I think we should win more games this year? The optimist and the pessimist will see different views, it’s a part of life, but the facts cannot be discounted. These are just a few, and you are all welcome to add yours:
Let’s start with what was last year’s Mini-Camps and Training Camps- We had our 1st OC coaching roulette. DW’s command and control structure was set in place and he would not relinquish command of the Offensive plans. As the Titanic sailed into history in it’s voyage, on a collision course with an iceberg, in the icy waters of the North Atlantic (I am not making fun of loss of life), our beloved Fins entered our historic 2004 Off-Season, which also held numerous obstacles, that ended with the ill-fated sinking of our beloved team.
1- From the QB shuffle, Jay (Dave’s favorite) really had more of command of the game plan than AJ (who Dave developed a rift with). Our highly dramatized 3rd stringer from Phili was not in favored with his HC, especially when he criticized the Offensive game plan. Bottom line was that we never really gave any of our QB’s a wall of protection to be able to execute, and went into the last game of the Pre Season without naming a starter, shows how disorganized this past coaching staff was.
2- The Offensive line was, plain offensive, sort of speaking. With changes just in about every position, with a mixture of veterans and young guns, they lacked leadership and organization for most of the year. League wide, it was noted and made fun of, which the stats at the end of the year confirmed its place in either last or close to last in Rushing Yards, Sacks Allowed, Passing Yards per Attempt, etc. The Offensive plan and execution began with the OL, it’s blocking scheme, was for the most part weak and none existent, just like the Titanic’s hullplates, that received that ice-berg’s death blow so many years ago.
3- Then the injuries to our latest WR (D. Boston) acquisition right before the Pre Season. We would never know how last year would have panned out with Boston, but will hopefully get to see that what if, this year.
4- Then that ill-fated day when Ricky decided to retire, due to his decision to stop taking his medication. We all know the rest, we then went scrambling for star-power Running Backs, a few weeks before the season began. Our FO did what was expected, gave up allot to acquire, what has been our Offensive game-plan for the last 2 years. With little time to learn the schemes, and injuries befalling all those RB’s we acquired, we did what we would have expected to do early in the year, which is to struggle Offensively.
5- Then early in the season we lost what was our Defensive epitaph for our opponents for quite a few years, that was our run-stopping ability. We lost both T. Bowens and L. Chester. Later in the Season we also lost Junior as well, and Zack and Surtain for a few games. Opponents found it easier to game-plan against us, now we would not only bend, but break at inopportune times.
Now, I believe that we have substantially improved in all areas pointed above, starting with the most important ones, a new HC, coaching staff, and game plan. They have brought in talented players, through the draft and Free Agency, as well new schemes. The core players remaining form last year seemed excited and motivated something that the team may have been lacking for a few years.
So in closing, our opponents are the weakest they've been for quite a few years, will they play by the stats? Will we play better than last year and squeak out a few more wins? I cannot be sure; my crystal ball went down with the Titanic…
Not since 2001, has our Strength of Scheduled been as low. Our opponents, mostly n the AFCE, which we play twice a season, have been one of the main reasons why. The 2005 upcoming SOS, based on the 2004 Season Standings is at 0.514 (a 51 winning %).
Based on the Season’s Standings in the last 2 years of JJ’s tenure, our SOS’s were 0.531, and 0.541 (98-99 respectively). Under DW they have been 0.489 (2000), 0.510 (01), 0.541 (02), 0.546 (03), and ending at our toughest scheduled in at least the past 7 seasons, with a 0.567 (04). The strength of our opponents last year was one of the main reasons for our lack of success, especially with all our problems along both the Defensive and Offensive side of the ball. The only part of our team that actually shined was our Special Teams.
Why do I think we should win more games this year? The optimist and the pessimist will see different views, it’s a part of life, but the facts cannot be discounted. These are just a few, and you are all welcome to add yours:
Let’s start with what was last year’s Mini-Camps and Training Camps- We had our 1st OC coaching roulette. DW’s command and control structure was set in place and he would not relinquish command of the Offensive plans. As the Titanic sailed into history in it’s voyage, on a collision course with an iceberg, in the icy waters of the North Atlantic (I am not making fun of loss of life), our beloved Fins entered our historic 2004 Off-Season, which also held numerous obstacles, that ended with the ill-fated sinking of our beloved team.
1- From the QB shuffle, Jay (Dave’s favorite) really had more of command of the game plan than AJ (who Dave developed a rift with). Our highly dramatized 3rd stringer from Phili was not in favored with his HC, especially when he criticized the Offensive game plan. Bottom line was that we never really gave any of our QB’s a wall of protection to be able to execute, and went into the last game of the Pre Season without naming a starter, shows how disorganized this past coaching staff was.
2- The Offensive line was, plain offensive, sort of speaking. With changes just in about every position, with a mixture of veterans and young guns, they lacked leadership and organization for most of the year. League wide, it was noted and made fun of, which the stats at the end of the year confirmed its place in either last or close to last in Rushing Yards, Sacks Allowed, Passing Yards per Attempt, etc. The Offensive plan and execution began with the OL, it’s blocking scheme, was for the most part weak and none existent, just like the Titanic’s hullplates, that received that ice-berg’s death blow so many years ago.
3- Then the injuries to our latest WR (D. Boston) acquisition right before the Pre Season. We would never know how last year would have panned out with Boston, but will hopefully get to see that what if, this year.
4- Then that ill-fated day when Ricky decided to retire, due to his decision to stop taking his medication. We all know the rest, we then went scrambling for star-power Running Backs, a few weeks before the season began. Our FO did what was expected, gave up allot to acquire, what has been our Offensive game-plan for the last 2 years. With little time to learn the schemes, and injuries befalling all those RB’s we acquired, we did what we would have expected to do early in the year, which is to struggle Offensively.
5- Then early in the season we lost what was our Defensive epitaph for our opponents for quite a few years, that was our run-stopping ability. We lost both T. Bowens and L. Chester. Later in the Season we also lost Junior as well, and Zack and Surtain for a few games. Opponents found it easier to game-plan against us, now we would not only bend, but break at inopportune times.
Now, I believe that we have substantially improved in all areas pointed above, starting with the most important ones, a new HC, coaching staff, and game plan. They have brought in talented players, through the draft and Free Agency, as well new schemes. The core players remaining form last year seemed excited and motivated something that the team may have been lacking for a few years.
So in closing, our opponents are the weakest they've been for quite a few years, will they play by the stats? Will we play better than last year and squeak out a few more wins? I cannot be sure; my crystal ball went down with the Titanic…
