I earlier discussed the d.

now we/I must prognosticate the skinskins offense.

but first an update on the d.  I had said the team might be missing a true free safety, and doughty would probably get the start in that position.  in fact kareem moore is the favorite, and is considered a prototypical free safety.  moore was a 6th round pick in 2008 who has exceeded expectations and coaches are now high on him.

the o…

the o scored 42 points against the bills in the preseason opener.  it’s only the preseason.  but it does provide some feel-good for a team that has struggled to score in recent preseasons, nevermind regular seasons.

skins are thinnest at wide receiver.  but the bills made it appear like the team has an overabundance of options at that position.  that could be just the bills, or could be preseason, or could be mcnabb, or could be improved offensive line play, or could be better receivers, or could be a better offensive system.

the o line played very well against the bills, compared with their atrocious showing in the 2009 season.  and tho it’s just preseason, the o line has been bad in recent preseasons.   it was eerie, in this year’s preseason opener, to see QBs in the bugundy and gold uniform with time to throw and open targets, a rare sight in recent years.  bills pass rush is not the best, certainly, and they did not bring a lot of blitzes, I don’t think.  still, the o line in recent years managed to suck badly under the most favorable circumstances, and this line didn’t.  against the bills, the o line was without pro-bowl right tackle jammal brown, who is still getting back to full strength after missing all of 2009 as a New Orleans Saint.   he is expected to play this saturday against the ravens.  the skins are enormously upgraded at the tackle positions and slightly upgraded in the interior line.  depth is an issue, but o line depth is also an issue for the cowboys, and they are favored to win the division.  the skins starting o line may be better than dallas’ starting o line.

the skins’ two tight ends are both monsters.  perhaps the best pass-catching tight end tandem in the league.  perhaps in years.  not always the best blockers.

success of the offense will depend mostly on health of the o line, and whether some receivers can step up.  in recent years, the team was enamored with receivers who were fast and who looked the part.  but speed doesn’t necessarily mean separation.  there are other things involved in getting open, besides straight-line speed.  this year the emphasis is on getting open and then catching the thrown ball.  the guys who make the final cut may not be the biggest or fastest, but they will be guys who can, somehow or other, separate from d-backs and then make the catch.

offensive coaching is enormously improved.  you can’t possibly upgrade any more dramatically than zorn -> shanahan.

ravens will be a better test than were the bills.