Quote:Winning these "meaningless" games really bugs some folks, but in the end, they're not meaningless. These games we're winning are giving us an indication of where the team is at currently on the player and coaching side of the equation.


We're identifying young core talent that we can continue to build around. Those are the building blocks for the future. The more we can identify now, the better, and winning games now shows the talent is developing.


From the coaching perspective, to see veteran players like MJD and Marcedes Lewis really buying into what Bradley is preaching is an important thing to note. Drew's comments yesterday about wanting to stay here beyond 2013 are encouraging. His steady improvement as the season has progressed is also a good thing. Same with Lewis and the way he's been playing of late. The guy looks like he's in beast mode at times out there.


If you look at the progression of the offense, they were installing so many changes to start the year that it was bound to be tough out of the gate. But, since the bye week, we've seen a lot more production, and more importantly, more creativity in the play calling. We're also finding talent, and catering the play calling to make sure those new play makers like Ace Sanders are given every opportunity to thrive. Fisch deserves a lot of credit for that. He got hammered early in the year for the play calling, but I honestly think it was just a matter of allowing the players to become more comfortable in the offense. Even with Henne at QB, they're showing they can move the ball and make plays. They need to build on that with consistency, but I'll take the progress we've seen so far any day.


On the defensive side of the ball, Andre Branch is another guy who has clearly bought into the Bradley plan, and he might wind up being one of the better reclamation projects of the 2013 season. The guy was practically invisible, but something has clearly clicked for him, and I think it's a matter of coaching. He looks like a different player out there.


Since the bye week, the defense as a whole has started to show signs of significant improvement. Bob Babich has been bashed here by the usual suspects, but again, I think it was about players becoming comfortable in the system. The defense is playing at a significantly higher level recently, and I think a lot of that comes back to coaching, and Babich should get some credit in that regard. They've gotten more creative with the play calling on that side of the ball as well, and we're seeing them manufacture a pass rush despite a lack of real pass rushing talent.


I always wonder why people don't bother to have a little more patience? We were seeing threads about Gus Bradley being on the hot seat a month or two into the season. Same with the coordinators. Anyone who dared to point out that the team gutted the roster and it would take time to see benefits from those moves was summarily dismissed. But, we're starting to see the kind of improvement you'd expect to see from a young team as things start to gel late in the season. So now, those same people who were ready to dump a head coach after half a season are complaining because he's doing what they wanted, winning games and getting this team on track.


Go figure.


Leaving the stadium after a win, ANY win, is a far better experience than walking out after another ugly loss.