Donks at the 2017 Bye – Home Sweet Home

After 4 weeks, it’s really too early to draw any firm conclusions.  That said, perhaps the Donks are just a hair better than I expected, capable of lurking around and perhaps sneaking just over .500 and into the last playoff spot.

As usual, the story is in the defense.  Whilst Tubby Wade is off to replicate his glory in RRRRRRRRRRRRRAM IT!!! country, Joe Woods and the rest of his former charges haven’t missed a beat.  In fact, a new element has emerged with a killer run defense to join the No Fly Zone.  Somehow, Todd Davis has moved from “special teams guy promoted to starter because, hey, somebody’s gotta” to “run stuffing beast at ILB.”  Our Equine Lord and Saviour’s policy on never drafting ILB talent with real draft capital keeps working, despite my constant consternation.

Offensively…there are still more question marks.  The only real “WOO!!” performance was against the Cowboys at home, and early returns indicate that is likely a highly replicatable event (OBJ-lacking Giants nowithstanding).  But overall, Siemian is doing what Vance Joseph wants him to do – not fuck up.  And the running game is clicking at high efficiency, whether it’s CJ, Jamaal, or even the newly returned Devontae carrying the ball.  It’s pleasant to watch when it goes right.

Denver only has the one road fixture to analyze, and it was a not-too-shabby performance at Buffalo, v. a 3-1 Bills side that is a lot tougher than anyone anticipated.  More data, please.

What’s next?  Coming off the bye, a nice SNF date with Elisa and pals offers a great chance to get to 4-1.  Then…the gauntlet.  @ Shitty Clippers, @ Chefs, @ Iggles, v. Pats, v. Bungles, @ Raiders.  Ouch.  3-3 would be a damned-near miracle, and a realist would take 2-4 and be pretty happy with it.

In any event, it doesn’t look like a Donks side that will roll over and play dead during the hard part of the schedule, and that’s all a fan during a soft-rebuild can really ask for.  Fight and compete, and keep me watching with pride and a little hope.  All good in my book so far.  TRUST THE HORSE.