What we need to see moving forward...

game is shut down. Probably be under some pressure too. If Pyne can't do that (and I'm not sure he can), then we are in trouble against good teams.

Good D's will shut down the run, keep Pyne in the pocket, collapse it around him, take away the short stuff and force him to try to make difficult throws downfield that require a hell of a lot of zip on the ball, timing and accuracy all the while in the pocket surrounded by people that tower over him. I like Drew Pyne. Drew Pyne is a winner. But I honestly don't think Pyne is good enough to do that. I'm not sure our WRs are good enough for when that happens either. And I'm not sure how you fix that.

On Saturday, we saw the team finally starting to take shape, and it all started with the offensive line.

The line held its position solidly, opened up some very nice running lanes for the running backs, and pass protected very well. Pyne had plenty of time to make reads, and make the throws. There were only about 2 or 3 times that he faced serious pressure, and when he has time, it does appear that he can make the medium range downfield throws reliably.

At least we stepped up from being purely a dink 'n dunk team, into something that resembles what we were able to do in 2020 with Book at the helm, since we do have some downfield passing threats.

On the flip side of things,

Lorenzo Styles had a decent day, but there were a few times that Pyne missed him being wide open, especially on that play where Pyne short hopped the ball to Mike Mayer. Styles was wide open streaking across the middle, and would have easily scored a TD. There's no doubt that Lorenzo Styles is by far, our WR1, and it's good to see that he's seizing the opportunity.

I just hope that someone can honestly step up and be a solid WR2.

If Saturdays performance and game plan can be executed against a decent D, we may have a chance not to have a horrible season.

Does the consistency of offensive drives get better? (Drastically more drives of >6 plays or result in points)

Can we consistently move the chains?

Can we consistently run for 4-6yds per carry?

Are we in a favorable 3rd down distance more often than not?

Are we converting a higher percentage of third downs (a percentage that winning teams achieve)?

Are we converting drives to TDs and Field Goals?

Can we play fast, the way the game is played today? But also play slow if needed?

Are we able to beat everyone we should beat? More often than not, understanding that upsets do happen from time to time, but not consistently.

Are the plays and schemes putting us in position to have success more often than not? Do we see the same mistakes over and over or the same drive killers (flaws) over and over?

I lived thru Faust, Davey and Willingham and survived just fine.

But my hopes are exactly what you outlined.