Getting the right QB is critical, but if that's all you do, he's just another Leftwich/Garrard/Gabbert cautionary tale. 

 

The line has to be fixed.  Going to the zone blocking scheme has clearly hurt the interior of the line, although age and questionable talent hasn't helped much.  Guys are out of position, missing assignments, or just plain getting beaten off the line. 

 

We also need to see our young receivers step it up moving forward.  We've seen flashes from Shorts and Blackmon, but they both need to take the next step in their development.  I think Sullivan can get them there, but you have to worry constantly about when Blackmon will make the next big mistake costing him a season?  He really needs to mature as a man in order to realize his potential as a player.  Hopefully they can get him there.  Show him videotape of Jimmy Smith in his prime mixed in with booking photos, arrest videos, and the rest so he can get a good sense of what his future looks like if he doesn't get things right.

 

Despite the lack of depth/talent on the defensive side of the ball, I think they've actually shown consistent improvement from week 1 until now.  There are still mistakes where you're seeing guys running through the defense, or finding massive holes in the secondary, but that will take care of itself with time.  The youth in the secondary makes that unavoidable.

 

I honestly believe that if they get the right QB for this team, plug in the pieces they need to fix the line, and keep Blackmon focused, the product we see next year will be dramatically improved over the lousy team we're watching today.  And going with all of that youth?  It should pay off for them next year and beyond. 

---