Coming into training camp I was, to say it best, enthusiastic about the new coaching regime pairing up with our veteran heavy team. All signs pointed to good things: West Coast Offense, new, BIG wide receivers, the possibility of Clinton Portis running wild on the ground and through the air, and more importantly a much more upbeat vibe at camp. Three weeks into the preseason and everything was looking wonderful. Hell, its the preseason, but I was one happy fan. Things were looking up.
Then there was Carolina.
For most of you, it was still preseason. For me, I live in North Carolina. Panther F****** Country (they all used to cheer for either us or the falcons...traitors). Mind you I spent my entire life ten minutes outside of D.C. in Virginia; NC just hasn't been the same. This also, by the way, was my bachelor party weekend. Going into it, I was talking high on my team, I mean come on, what Skins fan wasn't?! Needless to say, Saturday evening, night one of my supposed festivities, was abruptly put on a sour note thanks to a 47-3 spanking, and of course, a call from my boss (huge Washinglanta fan) to rub it in right after my first prayer to the porcelin (sp?) throne. Here begins my thoughts that things can't be right if this much can go wrong in what is to be MY weekend. Now realize, "MY weekend" means MY skins should succeed while I remember what I've eaten lately on an hourly basis.
From there we know what went down for the rest of the preseason. Thus, leading to massive concerns for the regular season opener to our dreaded rival (aren't all the teams in the NFC East people Skins fans want to replace our toilet paper with?), the NY (va)Giants. Questions were there, but I played them off. I had explanations; ex. No team starts out that well, without any mistakes, penalties, anything wrong, and then turn and smell like the stalls at FedEx Field by the fourth quarter. Zorn was testing the team, the punters even, to see how they could react.
And then there was tonight, September 4th, 2008.
I mean, I guess I should be happy right? We outscored ourselves for what we totalled in the final two games of the preseason. Then again, If Suisham got the P.T. of the rest of our team, we might have racked up 30+ points atleast in those games (mind you, the NFL allows forward progress on an onside recovery and Anthony Mix reappears to magically save the day). But no. I'm, well, to say it in a less sailor-ish way, PISSED! We keep the same running game, sure didn't look the same to me. And last time I checked, running on first and second down over and over is pretty damn predictable. Especially when our old boy Renaldo Wynn is sittin at DE and you see Justin Tuck lined up back at DT. Come on Skins. We got spanked by NE last year and they couldn't run or pass against that. Who do we think we are?! On that running point, we were down 9, with around 5-6 minutes to go and continued to run. Me thinks that we need to start getting points and passing would be key, especially from our own redzone. Yeah, I know that Zorn wasn't happy with Devin Thomas running a 6 yard route at 2 yards against Jax. So why in the hell were all the plays being called short of the sticks? Sure there might have been other guys deep, but the West Coast is all about quick reads, and if what's open is short, thats where Jason needs to and is going to throw (bad Zorn #1). Bad Zorn #2 should probably hit everyone in the face when the offense is walking around looking for a play on our final drive yet they should already have about 4 billion ready to go for the two-minute offense. Didn't we focus on that like the river card in the World Championship of Poker during training camp? Oh yeah, Zorn...We have a sick Pro Bowl TE by the name of Chris Cooley that would probably love some attention. Check last years stats, he had the most TD's and if I remember correctly, somewhere in the mid 700 yard range. Just a thought, but hey, what do I know.
But hey, I barely played football as a kid and sure as hell don't now as a washed up nearly 25 year old who's athletic endeavors involve surfing (barely anymore, who has time), golf, and bowling... that latter two involve beers for sure. Oh, I have a dog and we like some walking sometimes.
Anyway, sorry for the tangent. I've been rubbed off on in the wrong way by my college professors (I love stories about your kids but don't make me stay later than the class runs to finish the lesson because of them).
So here I come to our defense. I'm pretty sure Carolina cleared any doubts that your grandma and mine can rack up fantasy points out the wazoo on us. So bless the Jags for taking it easy on us last Thursday. But please, Blache had to realize we were facing the Giants Madusa head of running backs. I mean, last time I checked, 47 guys on their 53 man roster are RB's and about 45 of them had several TD's last year. Hell, Eli looked like LT on their first TD. I was just glad he didn't pop his elbow up and do the Nike commercial on us after that one. Why did we let Gregg Williams go anyway? Oh and press coverage is supposed to knock out short routes. Somebody forgot to tell that to Plax (who Skins fan or not, I will draft every year in fantasy until his cornrows get grayer than what Joey Galloway is rocking these days). I don't care if you don't have a TD, 133 yards on 10 receptions leaves a pretty solid average. Yeah, our D is a second half team these days, but that's not gonna cut it if you let up damn near 2o points in the first half.
I don't mean to bash because lord knows I'll die bleeding burgandy and gold (I figure I'll do something stupid that will call for blood). But hell, we need to lock it up. Colt Brennan will tell you, Mater Dei put up 46 on Wednesday, yeah they let up 43 too, but whoever has more points in the end still gets the W. So the way I see it is this, either we need to start putting up UH 2006-2007 C.B. numbers or our D better step up (speaking of which, I'm glad Jason Taylor got his umpteenth hundred consecutive start, but shit, you had Eli on that TD, dive and take it for the team. Plus your knee would have appreciated the extra stretch).
We have 10 days until the next game and I hope those ten days are like Navy Seals training in short. We better be covert on defense and strike fast and hard on offense or this season looks like one too continue looking over the fence at the neighbors yard (It might be greener, but then again, Mario Chalmers might not live next door either).
So with that I say welcome and I bid adieu and hope you keep checking back for more. I plan to post as much as I can and especially after games. Good comments, opinions, and F You's are always welcome. I just don't want anyone to take this as me being a fake fan, but as someone who is happy, worried, elated, or concerned. You can email me at tped12@gmail.com, however, please start your subject line with "SKINS: __________" otherwise I'll probably think it's spam and toss it.
Oh, I also want to point out that I'm not affiliated with any type of newspaper, TV program, or anything for that matter. I'm just a guy. But, If someone wants to hire me, you can email me to. I'd probably like that.
By the way, this bitch Hanna is supposed to hit where I live tomorrow, so who knows what the whole internet deal is gonna be for me, so if I don't get back to you this weekend, you know why. If that's the case, I'll get at you early next week or whenever Time Warner wants to stop monopolizing SE NC.
