10-6 ?

[politicalfootball]

I see losses to the Rams on the road and the Chiefs at home and either the Packers or Vikings. This makes the Chargers a must win along with a Viking/Packers win.

Then we have to win the tie breakers to make it in as the wild card.

Next year we draft for defense, maybe LB or DE. Also corner. Our safeties are fine and haven't peaked in skills yet. If we do that successfully the sky is the limit.

[obiken]

Never thought I would say this but its possible.

[politicalfootball]

To make the playoffs as the wild card is academic as we would not have much chance at the Superbowl which is our goal but our offense is that great now and drafting for defense next year can net us the Superbowl. 10-6 is just to keep the engine tuned up so we don't go off the deep end and end up 8-8 or worse. So as I indicate I expect great things to happen next year.

[RiverDog]

Currently we look like a playoff team, but there's still over half the season left to play.

Oddly enough, we have the 6th ranked defense in the league and the 4th ranked points defense. IMO that's a testament to Pete's system, that he can lose as many players as we did yet he was able to put together a defense with that kind of ranking. But as noted above, we're still a long ways from the finish line.

[idhawkman]

Currently we look like a playoff team, but there's still over half the season left to play.

Oddly enough, we have the 6th ranked defense in the league and the 4th ranked points defense. IMO that's a testament to Pete's system, that he can lose as many players as we did yet he was able to put together a defense with that kind of ranking. But as noted above, we're still a long ways from the finish line.

Well he has been talking the last few year about how deep we were. Now I guess we are finally seeing it.

[NorthHawk]

The problem is our depth is now playing and there isn't much depth to fall back on currently.
We had a rough patch of drafts from 2013 to 2015 where we drafted poorly and they would be the types
to fill the depth as the guys in front moved up or keep the current roster as backups.
In a perfect world of drafts, we also wouldn't have had to make a couple of trades like we did for Richardson
and maybe even Brown (but that's improbable considering the lack of good LT's these days).

[NorthHawk]

This brings up another question that is a little ways away and that is what are the positions of need for next year?
The OL seems set with Jones and Fant as backups and maybe push for starting spots. The Guard positions are also pretty good with Posic being able to play
both Guard spots as well as Center, but Hunt didn't look out of place when Britt was injured.
TE? Maybe if Dissly shows some problems healing.
WR? Moore is pretty good and Baldwin and Lockett would be hard to replace. Perhaps a big WR?
Pass rush seems to be the spot where we really need help. Green will be better next year and Martin might take a big step.
Depth at a run stuffer or if a player that can collapse the pocket from the inside is available might be an option.
LB might be an area of focus especially if one of the better LBs in the draft are there. Wright is getting older and Wagner can't play as many snaps as he is.
CB we have Griffin and Flowers who should both be better but there isn't much talent left behind them.
Safety? I can see that as a possibility if someone they think fits their scheme.
Thompson and McDougald are pretty good, but someone to push both of them for starting positions can help. He would take a year to learn, anyway so
when the contracts are up there is someone who could fit in should either of today's starters decide to chase a larger contract.

As it stands today, it's a good year to not have a lot of picks, but I expect JS to trade down from the 1st round and get more anyway. I just wonder what their
focus might be going into next years draft? Hell, they may even be looking at QB in trying to hedge their bets about re-signing Wilson.

[Anthony]

We also have a few players to start thinking about signing:

Clark
Wagner 2020 FA
KJ
Flucker
Wilson 2020 Fa
Davis
Thomas?
Sweezy
Moore
Kendricks??
Just to name a few

Of these, I see 5 must sign at least counting the 2 2020 which might be better to sign early before the price goes up.

[politicalfootball]

11-5 is possible if we beat the Vikings and the Packers both but I am concerned about the defense whether or not we can hold teams to 1 or 2 scores I'm not worried about the offense.

We probably will be 10-6 and then we have the tie breakers to contend with. We Are good on strength of schedule and amount of points scored so we may get in as the wild card. Keep your fingers crossed the rest of the season.

[HumanCockroach]

Possible, depends on those bounces, health, and where the competition at the time is... certainly the enormous shift in offensive philosophy helps limit the opposing offenses opportunities to pick apart that young defensive backfield with the spotty pass rush....

Fortunately, with a pretty erratic NFC this season, the Hawks chances at past season have grown substantially.

[obiken]

Currently we look like a playoff team, but there's still over half the season left to play.

Oddly enough, we have the 6th ranked defense in the league and the 4th ranked points defense. IMO that's a testament to Pete's system, that he can lose as many players as we did yet he was able to put together a defense with that kind of ranking. But as noted above, we're still a long ways from the finish line.

Right River, I wrote this team O F F and its an amazing turnaround, plus losing ET, wow!

[NorthHawk]

A key injury like maybe to McDougald could change the direction of the year.
We aren't very deep any more so we have to stay healthy to continue to compete.

[RiverDog]

A key injury like maybe to McDougald could change the direction of the year.
We aren't very deep any more so we have to stay healthy to continue to compete.

I suspect that's true with a lot of teams.

[NorthHawk]

I'm sure it is, but 10-6 might be the max and if we lose McDougald or Carson, it could mean a losing season like 7-9 if an injury happened next game.

[politicalfootball]

Injuries are part of the game. Wilson had a knee brace for several months last season but if and injury takes you out of the game that's bad. Wagner also was playing hurt it seems that the real good players keep playing with injuries. You are right though our back ups could be better this year.

[NorthHawk]

Injuries are part of the game. Wilson had a knee brace for several months last season but if and injury takes you out of the game that's bad. Wagner also was playing hurt it seems that the real good players keep playing with injuries. You are right though our back ups could be better this year.

There's a difference between being injured and being hurt.
Everyone is hurt this time of year, but injuries are most often performance limiting or debilitating.
Our depth was hit from a series of bad drafts in previous years.

[politicalfootball]

We are relatively free from injury to our starters so can make it 10-6 and dare I say it 11-5. This next game vs the Chargers is a must win if we want to make the playoffs at 10-6 . To get 11-6 we must beat either the Rams or Chiefs. I would just be happy with 10-6.

[politicalfootball]

We are relatively free from injury to our starters so can make it 10-6 and dare I say it 11-5. This next game vs the Chargers is a must win if we want to make the playoffs at 10-6 . To get 11-5 we must beat either the Rams or Chiefs. I would just be happy with 10-6.