I am still stubbornly hopeful for this season and remain really excited for 2017. Why?
1. The Ravens are two games better with 3 wins against the Browns and Jags. Think they can't drop 2-4 more games? They already lost to the Redskins and the Jets.
2. The "core" of the secondary (we can debate whether or not that is a good thing another time) has the following games of starting experience:
- Cockerell - 15
- Golden - 10
- Burns - 3
- Davis - 2
Pretty easy to see how and why all of those players do "stupid" things? It is still their rookie year. Weird.
The fact that Burns is being targeted by the opposition (seriously last 3 games that was almost the total plan in the passing game - throw at #25) and it isn't the shit-show it was when that plan was "target Blake" - I will take it.
3. Shazier makes a difference in this defense. So does Davis to a much lesser extent. Right now, those 2 are the only ones I see making plays behind the LOS. IF they both stay health and on the field, I think they can comprise quite the duo right down the middle of the defense.
4. Dupree. Dude simply stepping on the field and lining up SHOULD give Butler a bit to work with schematically. Provides the defense with an actual edge rusher that the offense has to bother to account for. Now, imagine if he is actually good...
5. Offense - well this is a dead horse at this point. If everyone is healthy and Ben plays well - then they can move the ball on anyone in the NFL.
6, Mitchell is employed by another franchise as soon as this upcoming off-season. We are now seeing why Mitchell was allowed to depart 2 franchises as a FA. He only really plays well when there is a solid to really good pass rush in front of him. Other than that, he is a mistake prone "meh" at safety. Oakland and Carolina knew it and now Pittsburgh knows it.