For the Great Unwashed

All of you who read 18to88.com regularly know what we think about the state of the team. For everyone else, it requires some explanation.
Here’s one of my two interviews through MVN. I do my best to cut through the usual sound bite nonsense and illuminate what’s really going on with the Horse. I really think that it’s tempting as fans to get tired of talking about injuries becuase we have had such a nightmare 12 months. Just because we are tired of saying it, doesn’t change the fact that this team isn’t close to healthy and it shows. It’s not an excuse; they HAVE to find a way to get it done. But let’s not go all crazy if they don’t. Sometimes you just don’t have the horses on the field to win. It drives us nuts when Tim Jennings gets four penalties in one game, but it shouldn’t surprise us. He’s a below average nickle back. When he’s on the field more than usual, he’s going to look awful. Same with CJ, and Session (who has improved a lot actually), and the half dozen rookies that have started on offense.
By the way, we haven’t really talked about it much (at all), but 18to88 is now part of the MVN Network, at least in theory. There have been platform problems that have delayed the launch, but eventually, we will re-launch 18to88 as one page instead of the site/blog division we have now. Someday, you’ll just head straight to 18to88.com for everything. That day was supposed to happen several times now…but hasn’t. They are having problems importing all the blog/website archives into the new format. Anyway, we’ll keep you posted.
Also many of you may have realized that 18to88.com has a Facebook presence. Feel free to look up Demond Sanders (they wouldn’t accept Deshawn Zombie as a screen name), and befriend us if you are in to that kind of thing. There is also a group called “Friends of 18to88.com“.
Demond Sanders: You’re right about the injuries. It is that simple. They need Ugoh back at his 2007 level or better. He was very solid last year, both run and pass blocking. This season has shown us that having healthy playmakers (Wayne, Harrison, Gonzalez, Clark) does not trump having healthy linemen.
Is there reason to panic? Yes, in the sense that they are playing a MUST win game tomorrow night. I think the worst part is that we have no idea what to expect from the team on a given Sunday. They have to win these next two, at a minimum. If they can do that they’ll be right back in the playoff race, if not the division. I’m rooting for the Bills and Steelers to trip up today.