First my hopes
- The defense plays like the defense we saw in the playoffs
- The offense plays like the offense we saw in the first 8 games last year
- McVay learns from his mistakes last year and continues to grow as a coach and as a playcaller
- Goff does what he has done for the last 7 years, and improves from one year to the next
- Noteboom and Allen play well. Allen proves to be an upgrade over an aging Sullivan, and Noteboom holds his own. (Saffold was playing amazing last year, esp in the run game, so I don't think it's fair to hold him to that standard.)
For what its worth, I think the above is possible. And if even 4/5 happen we have to be NFC champions
Now my fears
- The league really has figured out McVay's offense, and he doesn't have an answer.
- The offensive line takes a significant step back from what we have seen the last two years. Whitworth starts to show his age.
- There was a reason we could get Weddle and Matthews at a discount.
- Gurley really is not going to recover to anywhere near his previous physical ability.
- For the first year a while,we have multiple big injuries affecting core players.
- Notice that I don't have any fears about Goff. He has done nothing but improve every single year since he was a starter in college. I see no reason that will change.
If my hopes come true, I see a 14-2 season and a dominant run into the playoffs. My fears lead us to 9-7 versus a very difficult schedule and just missing the playoffs.
To me, the biggest wild card this year is the defense. If it continues to play as it did in the playoffs and the SB in particular, it is going to take a LOT to beat this team.
