What might a 2-0 start mean

For this team, …

2-0 would be an enormous propellant toward competitiveness and excellence.

Of course, they have to play the game. And this game has all the hallmarks of the banana skin hazard for a team trying to take the step up. The situation and the perceived level of the opponent all pull toward the team tendency to sloppiness and erratic execution. And they were plenty sloppy and erratic in Week 1.

I couldn’t begin to assess where the team is. I will not be surprised if they slide back toward their comfort zone. This team has been comfortable losing for a decade.

But, they have a lot of hungry vets and at least 2 emerging leaders in AD and Foles. I think Cignetti gives us an edge we didn’t have before. So, there are reasons to be hopeful that the team will sustain its focus. And I figure a focused, intense Ram team will be too much for WASH.

At any rate, this is a crucial test. Pass this test, and I think they will be operating at a different level, in part because of the general trend you mention, but even more so because of who they have been. This team at 2-0 would become a player in the league race to post-season.

If it fails the test, I think we’ll know they aren’t really ready to be winners.

It’s a big, big game. Bigger than the Steelers game the next week or the GB game. It could mark a turning point in the season, one way or the other.

Comfort zone: can they move their CZ up into the level of actual competitors? We’ll see.

nittany ram wrote:

Don’t think this current team is ready to finish 14-2 like that team did but 2-0 would still be a nice start.

Agreed. Their ceiling is not where it was for the ’01 team.

I’m thinking that, if they pass this test and go on to play tough all year, they’ll have a realistic shot at 10-6 and maybe a playoff win. That’s being competitive.

If they fail to capitalize on the SEA game, I see them more at the 8-8 stage, on the verge of competing, but not really getting there.

rfl wrote:

nittany ram wrote:

Don’t think this current team is ready to finish 14-2 like that team did but 2-0 would still be a nice start.

Agreed. Their ceiling is not where it was for the ’01 team.

I’m thinking that, if they pass this test and go on to play tough all year, they’ll have a realistic shot at 10-6 and maybe a playoff win. That’s being competitive.

If they fail to capitalize on the SEA game, I see them more at the 8-8 stage, on the verge of competing, but not really getting there.

Yeah, I think 10-6 is a realistic goal for an emerging team like this one. I think they have better than 10-6 talent, but youth and inexperience on the o-line is going to hold them back some. Plus, there are emerging stars on this team who will backslide from time to time even though their trajectory is on an upward trend overall.