... we have about a 3TD lead in the first half and the game is in the bag (tongue stretches cheek like a baloon about to burst) just like we did against the Falcons. Then, if he didn't jump from unprepared to game speed we could blame him for a loss.

Much as I'm itching to see my Montana players (Hardy, McCutcheon) on the field, I have to say "not yet." Play them when they're ready or needed - not before, and not to develop them. Only when you're sure they'll help you win.

I'd much rather have a smashmouth short yardage 3rd down running back and enough protection for Stafford, however achieved, to keep him upright and keep the D honest. As-is, if he had DJax and Tyreek Hill both going deep in slow-developing plays and were throwing from a supine position, it wouldn't help.

I think (and hope) we can find some lunchpail-type vet OL players (maybe Oday is one) and a servceable thumper at RB; with those sorts of additions I think we could win with Higbee, AR and Kupp catching passes along with whoever isn't hurt in the backfield. The thumper RB, when used on short yardage 2nd or 3rd down, opens play-action when he's in - IF the holes are there when he carries.

Long-term, I'd like to see a balance between the capacity to play grind-it-out hardnosed football and what I'd call the expected McVay offense, even if it meant taking a few plays out of the playbook. In any event, it all begins with the O line.