In his TML post, Doc briefly touches on the NFL preseason. After correctly noting that paying full price for preseason game viewing is not worth the value to fans, Doc also adds that as far as gaining insight into how the regular season might go, the preseason really doesn't matter outside of the first part of the third game.
This point is often lost and I would even go farther than Doc does and say all of the games can matter, it just depends on who is playing in them (starters or backups). You often hear that the preseason is meaningless and has no predictive power of the regular season. It's easy to see why people think this when teams like the Lions last year go undefeated in the preseason and then lose every single regular season game.
That is because the win-loss record should not be the focus. The focus should be on how the starting lineups do when they are on the field. You can gain plenty of insight from that. You could certainly tell the Bengals would struggle on offense based on how miserably the offensive line performed last year.
So, no, the preseason is not meaningless. You just have to pay attention to when the first team goes at it. For a big question mark, like our offense, I bet you can learn a lot this entire preseason. So pay attention.
Hard Knocks. Awesome.
Agreed. It won't matter if DeDe Dorsey ends up leading all RBs in rushing through the preseason. It's Benson's yards per carry average and Carson's accuracy and health that are more important issues. I do think that strong performances from "backups" are needed as well, though. A lot of guys on the roster who are "#2's" at their respective position on the depth chart will be counted on to contribute heavily--Maualuga/Jeanty, Michael Johnson, Chase Coffman, Ndukwe, Caldwell, Henry, Brian Leonard, Bernard Scott/Dorsey and more.
Posted by: TheCarlPickensClause | August 12, 2009 at 02:11 PM
I'm more worried about the regular season games being meaningless.
Posted by: Rich | August 12, 2009 at 03:42 PM
I always watch pre-season Bengals games to see if they continue to miss tackles. They always do and it translates directlly to poor tackling during the regular season.
Posted by: Keith | August 12, 2009 at 03:49 PM
Not meaningless, just drug out, that's why you see starters and team icon/desperately needed players NOT playing or playing "one or two series" in the first pre season game. Three is a good number, plenty of time to evaluate talent and need, and plenty of time to shake the rust off and get up to real game speed. That said, I have bated breath about Friday night. Will Carson be upright (and not bloody) for his short stint? Will the O-line be anything approaching useful? How about Nate "worst player at his position" Livings? Will he play like he is described based on last year? What kind of rotation of the DB's, and Lb's/hybrids will be used? Will we come away healthy? Will Bernard Scott flash for us? Any others?
Posted by: CurseofBoJackson | August 12, 2009 at 04:56 PM
CurseofBoJackson:
Correction: "The worst player at his position" designation easily goes to Daniel Coats, hands down. Livings or Cook could be runners-up for the award, though.
Posted by: TheCarlPickensClause | August 12, 2009 at 06:06 PM