Quote:Nine rookies are starting and/or rotating in on the offense for eleven positions.

 

As Phil Simms(?) said, you know what happens when you play so many young players?  You lose.

 

Why did he say that?  Because young players make mistakes, and a league of star veterans will make you pay for every single one.

 

Experience can be a hard learned lesson.  We can only hope that learning happens.  Lord knows we've lost plenty of games, at least squandered opportunities, due to mistakes.

 

It's not just the 9 rookies on offense.  It's Joeckel coming back from an injury instead of doing the kind of off season conditioning that should have been done to bulk him up and prepare him for the starting LT role.  He'll get the opportunity to do just that barring injury over the next 2 games, and we'll get a much better sense for what we have in him next year.  He's got to get better, and I am hopeful that happens.

 

The progress for guys like Gratz and Cyprien is tough.  I think Gratz will benefit greatly from having Colvin and McCray out there in the starting CB roles.  He's better suited to be the nickel guy.  Cyprien needs to get smarter on the field.  For every good play he makes, there's a mistake waiting to happen right now.  The game is still not slowing down for him.  That has to happen this off season. 

 

Youth and inexperience makes for a painful process for sure, and we're trotting out the youngest roster in the league, and asking a lot of some very young talent.  Things should get better.  Next year will be a critical time for this team. 

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