I dunno about that NY Jets front 7 (I remember them being pretty good), but I refuse to believe that The Skins are doomed out of principle.

Hard to get much worse.  I hope that we as fans remember that while positive yards/points/wins are nice, coaches specifically put players in tough positions in order to see if they can succeed.  I was getting a little flustered until I remembered that there's no Jordan Reed out there to keep defenses honest, no Trent Williams to keep defenses on their asses, and the center/left guard positions weren't static.

Yes because I don't want to think about the alternative.

I don't care about pre-season.  If I see, in the regular season, running on 70% or more first downs while averaging less than 2 yards a carry on first down runs, I'm going to lose my ****.   I know that I annoyed a lot of people the last 2 years in the gameday threads by predicting and then commenting on every 2-yard or less run on first down.  2nd and 8+ is a crappy place to be 90% of the time.  If that's going to be the results, just throw the damn ball on 1st down. If you complete 67% of your throws, then statistically you're in a better spot more often than banging your head against the wall.

I also never understood why it seemed that they were allergic to passing on first down and running on second.

Sheesh.  

For the Jets, I think it will be a little better, because I think they're going to "try harder" (ie: a little more game-planning) to run the ball a little better, just so they have something positive to point to.  

 I never understood putting Jones out there as the lead back so I think we have problems.  Running backs are a dime a dozen so someone looking to reinvent or revive their career would be worth looking at.  Not saying who but I have a couple on my radar.    

I think it will be better, but I don't think it will be better when it is first unit against first unit.  When you average less that 5 yards a completion, you don't really put the LB's on their heels.

Just preseason.

The Rook  (Nice to have the helmet, back)

Not giving up on MJones yet, but not sure he has the goods.  Don't know if CT is good enough between the tackles.  Not expecting much from Kelley or Marshall this year, but maybe solid depth.

Alf was the best back to wear the B&G in a while, and part of what made him good was his ability to get something out of nothing.  Or he could turn a TFL into a minimal gain.  Don't see that out of our RBs.  If they get hit behind the line, they're not getting back to LOS.

I'd still like to see us spread the defense out.  Go with 3/4 WR sets, with MJones or CT in the backfield.  Run and screen out of that formation.  Our heavier packages going back to last year look like crap.  

I'm not frustrated with it, as many here seem to be.  We got the same guys on the OL as last season, Lauvao having a ton of surgeries certainly makes it difficult to get back to where he was.  Another year in the system is helpful, but not a miracle worker.  

Hoping Reiter can step up and take Kory's spot.  Not counting on it, but it would be nice.  But who are we kidding anyway...we're gonna be chucking it on Sundays.

I would like to think the running game will improve. I think the the first preseason game was  a game where the Skins coaching staff was looking at other dimensions of the team, or working on route running with the receivers,. I was not able to see the game here in Florida, just some highlights.

What I did see was some pretty ugly blocking. If the Skins don"t show some improvement in the run game against the Jets, then yes Kurt Cousins arm will have to carry the season. Hail

I think the first string's run blocking may improve (even though the Jets front line is tough).  However, I've less confidence in Jones and Marshall being able take advantage of the openings the Skins O-line creates.

But I'm not projecting this trend in performance to the full season, just guessing what I think will happen in the Jets game.

That said, I AM starting to worry a little bit on how well the Skins RB coach is able to coach up his charges.  But I'll remain hopeful that the Skins RBs' play will improve this season.

25 minutes ago, Wyvern said:

I think the first string's run blocking may improve (even though the Jets front line is tough).  However, I've less confidence in Jones and Marshall being able take advantage of the openings the Skins O-line creates.

 

What openings? In the Atlanta game there was no place to go.

Doomed.  We just aren't very good right now.

Don't forget Mack Brown.  Hope he makes the roster.  He was the only carrier making some moves, and in the 4th quarter. 

If the game against Atlanta had been the second game, I'd really worry.

I voted we're doomed, but I don't think we are doomed.

I think we are intentionally looking bad... so as to catch early game opposition of guard.

13 hours ago, Veretax said:

I think we are intentionally looking bad... so as to catch early game opposition of guard.

The performance was so bad the first preseason game that it's not going to take a lot to show Improvement.

I'm with VoR (mostly) on this.  None of what we see here, production-wise, means a hill of beans.  Coaches are looking at position battles, mental acuity, & how guys react to pressurized, live, NFL game action vs practice.  

If i'm picking knits, there are some "little things" i would like to see improvement in.  Things like tackling, catching (especially well placed footballs in the end-zone....:: glares at Davis ::), & penalties.  Get better at those things, & stay healthy, & i'm golden until preseason.

Looks improved to me. The offensive line is doing a nice job opening holes and getting to the second level.

Matt Jones' injury is worrisome though. :(