I_Like_Dirt wrote:If you want to play the semantics game about #1 rather than just top 5 or whatever, that's up to you,
I do, because there's often a pretty significant difference in quality in that range, and it was related to consideration for DPOY. Top 5 would be very different for voting purposes than first overall, which is why I was being picky in responding to the particular comment made, not because I wanted to throw shade at our defense.
but the Raps are currently 10th in drtg in the league (showing how quick the sample sizes of the first couple games can swing) and have been trending up as they get used to playing with each other. And they have some room to grow there as CMB gets more acclimated and Jak gets healthier.
Sure. And I've already acknowledged that we can be better than we are, that was never a point of contention. I don't think we'll end the season at this particular slot because, as you capably noted, there's a lot of variance at this stage of the season, but I agree that we are also likely quite a bit better than our crappy start. We were projecting improved defense from last year in the offseason, and of course Yak was unhealthy/out for the first couple games, CMB is still finding his groove, Scottie wasn't fully there defensively early on, etc.
We're definitely not apt to end up as a disaster defensively by season's end. Could we be top 5? Maybe. I want to see more of what we look like, but it isn't my early feeling. But considerably better than last year, for sure, and that's comforting.
