[Master4Caster]

Going 0 for 4 is not a good predictor of how the team will perform in the regular season, in spite of what happened in '91. And yes, the whole preseason isn't a good predictor either. That cliche "It matters not if you win or lose, but how you play the game" was invented for preseason. How they are playing the game is the concern.

The coaches aren't game planning the opponents. They call plays to see how individuals cope in a game situation, situations they will never set up in a real game. They, and we, are looking for execution. I'm looking for blocking. Does the QB get 3 seconds to make a play? Do the running backs average 4+ yards per carry? Do the receivers hang on to the ball? Is the first team D near the same level as last season? Can the new guys in the secondary play? I'm not seeing a lot of that. I wouldn't care about 0-3 if I saw something. I don't see preseason play on a par with Dallas or Philadelphia. The Giants, playing poorly, did enough to win two games. McNabb, with no one to throw to, has a preseason 112 QB rating.

With this division this year, it helps to get off to a fast start. To get to the Super Bowl, you have to win the division and get at least one home playoff game. Yeah, I know, it didn't help the Giants last year; but they weren't the "real" division champs. So, that's my distress, that it looks like it might take some time to shake things out when I hoped for a fast start. Wide open offenses poorly executed won't get you points.

I like the encouraging talk, but it's cheap. What happened in '91 shows what can happen. That's no guarantee that it will. The best predictor is play in the field. The sky isn't falling, but the sun ain't shining either.

I probably sound like a P-O'd season ticket holder with 3 grand invested in this team.

"The past doesn't buy you much." -- Coach-in-chief Joe Gibbs