I see last year as a springboard toward an even better overall team.
Can’t guarantee a better record, of course. But I do foresee a better overall team.
Coaches will have had a year’s experience together with each other and their individual players. They will better know the exact strengths and weaknesses of each player. Better know which ones are needing upgrades. I’m not too concerned about losing Olsen and LaFleur to promotions elsewhere. This is an outstanding staff. Jimmy Johnson said it was the league’s best, in fact.
Players that remain should benefit from last year’s experiences in their respective systems. Just common sense.
I think Snead demonstrated that he can be a terrific talent evaluator absent any Fisher influences. Snead and McVay work together like hand in glove. If he can have another successful offseason anywhere close to last year via FA and draft then we should see some positions upgraded on Wade’s D. A top 5 D might not be a stretch.
Health is an unknown. It would be hard to replicate last year in terms of good player health. But these coaches do know how to “rest” their older players to good end. And I expect improved depth coming aboard this offseason via lower tiered FA’s and some of the lower draft picks. Like they did last year.
As to other teams having film on McVay’s O and our players? So what? Hard to stop a talented O or D that executes well. For example, how would you like to simultaneously defend weapons such as Gurley, Watkins, Woods, Kupp, and a TE tbd thrown to by the emerging Goff? For play after play?
Last year was not a fluke, y’all. This team has the fundamentals in place. I see ‘18 as fine tuning of an existing playoff caliber team.
Again, not predicting a better record, necessarily. Just predicting a better overall team.