Defining a Successful Season

I'll say... overall, it was a step in the right direction. No more, no less. That's keeping it simple.

But this offseason and next season will tell us a lot more. I can see how some are optimistic, but just as easily see how some are pessimistic. That's why next season will tell us more about where we're at.

Can we build on this season? For those in love with the 13-win regular season, what does that look like? For those who want to win in the playoffs, regardless of the regular season win total, what does that look like? Win at least two playoff games?

Anyway, I saw this recently:



I also saw that San Fran only made the playoffs six times since 2000. So, all six times they at least made it to the NFCCG. That's pretty effing amazing.

...let the quality versus quantity debate live on!

Spence? I liked all the exciting games but the writing was on the wall with the new defense early and it eventually killed us. It was very irritating watching Ed Donatell's D.


Sure why not? Hiring the right DC and cutting the fat will be tricky. Once that's done Kwesi and O'Connell must add better players ASAP! IF they make some good moves this offseason the team should be in a stronger position at the start of the 2024 season. 2023 could be rough but that's the way it goes sometimes.


Overhauling this unit is a must!


That will soon change. That stuff ebbs and flows.


Yeah right!! You of all people are the expert on all things Wilf....

13 would be wildly optimistic imo. But 8-9... very kirkmanlike, err, make that workmanlike.

yeah, we overachieved, so expecting 13 is pretty unrealistic unless Kwessi and KOC do a bang up job this offseason. With 5 picks in the draft, they don't have a lot of capital, so that pretty much means that they have to hit a home run with their DC who can get Cine, Boothe, and Asamoah to be avg to above combined with some decent FA pickups and hitting on at least 2 of those draft picks... I'd add that while the offense was good and as FSUVike has noted, could be top 5 if KOC got a little mentoring/OC help, there are still some big holes, particularly with the IOL as well as a WR that can really stretch the field. To me, that's a pretty tall order when you take into account the schedule that we're going to have next season.

I would be pleasantly surprised with a 10-11 win season thinking it through, because I think that is a step forward. It likely means we're beating some good teams, but I wouldn't be surprised at all if that's a 2nd place finish and another one and done. Maybe we advance a round with a playoff win before being booted, but I still think that's not likely. And I don't think that's the Cousin's gravitational pull if we finish .500.... I think it has more to do with just how tall the order is to fix what's broken on this team.

I know you hate Cousins, but your hate for him is clouding your own judgment. The top 5 teams you listed don't fit the qualifications you specify in this line. The only elite QB here is Mahomes and maybe Allen. Burrow is moving in the right direction. Goff and Hurts? Not yet and probably not ever. Some of these QBs are more products of their offensive lines, which I do agree with you on that, and that's a place where we could use some help. As it was, we were up there in offense this season despite having quite a bit of room for improvement, so yeah, I do agree with FSUVike when he says that we could be top 5 IF, key word IF, they do things right... and a big part of that is getting KOC some help on the play calling side and probably some sort of help on the IOL... I don't think you can replace all 3 spots there, but I have to think that at least one of three gets upgraded along with some improvement from the others.

How is me being realistic mean my judgement is clouded? I didn't say Burrow and MVP candidate Jalen Hurts were elite, but both are better than Cousins and both have significantly better weapons. On top of that, Hurts has a much better Oline. We can't compete with their talent on offense or defense. Detroit is a little closer like I said, but we are still a long way off from having the Oline they do, and that position group will see very little change.

The Vikings, with their QB, receivers and Oline are a borderline top 10 offense if Andy Reid is calling the plays, and we better hope KOC is not the problem or I will question why he was hired in the first place.

All things considered, it was a successful regular season. First year coaching staff showed some positives and room for improvement. We all want them to get to the next level no doubt. Onward and upward