Bigger Surprising Start To the Season?

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by SC Skins Fan

Yeah, the defense is the real key to their turnaround. Kyle Orton is getting a lot of credit, but if you actually watch the games he is the same quarterback he has always been. Lacking any physical gifts (i.e. arm strength), often lacking in the nuances of the position, and not particularly accurate with his throws. Brandon Marshall has bailed him out more than a few times this year. The offensive system and Brandon Marshall's talent are really making him look like a much better player if you only look at the statistics. He will likely end up with a comparable year to Matt Cassel in 2008. But neither Cassel or Orton is a particularly talented player.

The rapid decline in Eddie Royal's production has everything to do with the change from Cutler to Orton and very little to do with Eddie Royal. Granted, I did not finish watching the game last night, but I just don't see how you (general you, not you GTripp) can rave about Orton if you have actually sat down and watched the Denver games this season. He's just not impressive.

But credit McDaniel for being able to implement a successful system and for identifying an adequate quarterback who could run that system. As you say, though, the bigger credit should go to Mike Nolan.

Orton also has major ball holding problems, which behind a line that good is inexcusable. Cutler, for all of his faults, was a lightning-quick decision maker (if not a good one).

Marshall's leap from talented underachiever to legitimate number one receiver is probably the biggest reason for their offensive improvement from last year. Cutler targeted Marshall more than 10 times per game last year, and wasted way too many plays in doing so. He's (Marshall( grown a lot as a player (but not as a person) in the past year.

I'm glad they are getting Scheffler involved again. He's the AFC's version of Cooley, but was taking a serious backseat to Daniel Graham in the first four games.

[GMScud]

I'm going with Denver for sure. Even though Tennessee looked solid last year, I don't think they were as good as their record (if that's possible). Their offense is so one-dimensional, and their defensive collapse is a real testament to how great Jim Schwartz is (and to a lesser extent Albert Haynesworth).

During the offseason I thought Josh McDaniels was in way over his head, and was going to be a total trainwreck. Fast forward to week 6... wow. He looks like a man in complete control of his team, and his special teams and defensive coaches have done a phenomenal job too (good for Mike Nolan).

Full disclosure- I was one of the many people around here who laughed when McDaniels made the Cutler trade with Chicago and not the Skins because he wanted Orton over Campbell. Ha. Boy do I feel dumb. Orton looks like a pro-bowler.