Why shouldn't we be optimisitc??
It's all a matter of what could be
There is no reason to believe that Ricky can not gain 20 pounds in the next four months. As also noted on this site, experts agree he will ragain his size in time. So then it gets down to just how bad does he want to play. The way I see it is Ricky didn't have to come back. He is back because he wants to play. His good friend Jim Brown has also confirmed this. So there is no reason to expect that Ricky will be anything less than a 1000 yard caliber, perhaps more.
Then all that has to happen is for Brown to live up to his billing and #2 status. Many here thaught he was sure fire stud prior to RW returning, that doesn't change now.
So in the end it gets down to this.
Best case scenario: Ricky does return full force and Brown is a stud. Then you have one of the most dominant backfields in history.
Possible scenario: Ricky comes back as a strong back, Brown is very good and will grow. The result is a top ten rushing attack and we still benefit.
Least likely scenario: Ricky changes his mind, but Brown is the stud he is billed as. We still have a respectable running attack and Ricky is of no consequence, because we were not counting on him anyway. So we really lose nothing by taking him back.
Worst case scenario: Ricky does not return or gets injured. Brown bombs are does gets injured.
So that's it. Either way we have shot at some really top talent in our backfield. The variable in it all is Nick Saban and the coaching staff. I choose to believe they will get the talent in and make it work.
So sit around and complain about your half empty glass. from where I and a lot of people sit, there is plenty to be jacked up about.