Do you agree with this assessment of the Skins?

[Beemnseven]

Well said, SC. Everyone assumes the offensive line play will improve. Apparently, all they need to do is call more running plays and the line will be instantly better. I certainly hope it's that easy. We'll see.

I'm as psyched about Sean Taylor as everyone else, but some people were pretty high on Mike Rumph too. Now certainly, Taylor is touted as a much higher prospect than Rumph was. But again, we'll see.

The other aspect I'm mildly concerned about is what dropoff we'll see in pass coverage with Shawn Springs. And Fred Smoot, while a charismatic, dependable and gutsy player, will still have his fair share of passes completed against him.

Maske is correct to point out the defeciencies at D-line, but I still feel many of us are glossing it over and hoping for the best -- which is exactly what we did last year. Phillip Daniels and Cornelius Griffin are improvements to our D-line the same way Republicans are improvements over Democrats. It just isn't much different if you ask me. And there are those who say that our LB's are better -- so that means the pass rush will be just fine! .... Right?

We'll see.

I'm still optimistic, like I am every offseason, but the defensive line could prove to be more of an Achilles Heel than many people expect.

[JoeRedskin]

I agree with the assessment of the team, but I don't think Maske is "mainstream press". He's a Skins homer. He may have hated Spurrier but, if you felt like the team you loved was being screwed by the coaching, wouldn't you bash the coach too?

Bottom line- Let's see what things look like when the scores count. If (I mean when) Gibbs starts winning quickly, the mainstream press will fall in love with him all over again - You'll be surprised how many of them start trying to say "I believed all along".

[MTK]

Griffin if properly motivated could be a really nice pickup. He killed us in a game two years ago, had something like 10 tackles and 3 sacks and he was in the backfield all day. He could be a force. Or he could be a disappointment as he's been thus far in his young career. We'll see.

I think there's a June 1 cut out there waiting for us on the DL.

[SKINSnCANES]

I assume we will get atleast one more player from free agency, they really want to build the team as much as they can this year. With Moore being cut, possibly Wynn if we get another linemen, mabye Fiore if he retires...We should be able to free up some money.

I think the offense is pretty much set for next year. All we need to do is figure out the backups at running back, and the depth chart at receiver. I think our dline is goign to get more pressure no matter what this year, even if we had the same players, jsut because of the motivation and new revived team spirit.

[sportscurmudgeon]

Beemnseven:

After watching Mike Rumph get burned over and over again in one game, I gave him the nickname Mike Rumph "Roast". I haven't seen any reason to change it yet. Didn't the Niners trade up to get Rumph because they projected him as a "shut-down corner"?

That's why I am perfectly willing to be very optimistic about Sean Taylor becoming a premiere safety in the NFL, but I'm going to wait before I call him "great".

[kingerock]

I think it's right on. I think the jury is still out on Taylor as with any rookie, but i expect him to have a great rookie season kinda like Williams had over in Dallas. I was saying almost the same thing about our corners in Smoot and Springs to a Cowboy fan the other day. I hope our unsung heroes this season is our dline though.