Things to be grateful for:
1) Russell: Russell looking more like Russell we know. I am not worried about the fumbles going forward. This is the first game he really tried to be himself, it will get better. (I *AM* worried about him more because of that o-line......)
2) Jimmy: Evolution of Jimmy: I expect an up-and-down process as Russell and Jimmy figure things out. As long as the baseline continues to increase. In this case, I am looking for awareness on Jimmy's part during scramble time. I don't think he can do a scramble drill, just not accustomed to it yet. And awareness on Russell and Devell's part on running some very quick plays to Jimmy and let him go for the ball. On both parts I expect it to get better. That's awesome. (still worried that O-line can't even get Russell 2 seconds - maybe with some quick passes to Jimmy that'll settle things down more).
3) Receiving Corps: besides the fumbles, Russell had a great game. And it's because all the guys can run a scramble drill. Looking more like the Patriots working in the entire receiving corps.
4) LOB: Kam and Earl - Amazing, and still getting in their groove. And Sherman/Williams. For Sherman: I think two receivers got two on him. That's really not a whole lot for what amounts to a gunslinging passing offense. For Williams, I think he slipped on one or two. But again for a gunslinging offense, they got less yardage then the run-happy Seahawks. That really says something
5) Wagner and KJ: making lots of plays, wow. Wagner is so good
6) D-line: Bennett and Avril especially. WOW. And what about rookie Frank Clark, I think I read some people saying he's still has a ways to go, but come on he's a rookie that is getting double teamed. Meriting a double team leaves it open for some of our other guys like Wagner.
7) KILLER DEFENSE: Okay I have already named everyone, but let's state it again. Pretty close to a shut-out if you minus Russell's very uncharacteristic fumble turnovers. How many fumbles did he have last year? And how many did he lose? I think the announcers said he lost 0 of 11 fumbles last year?
8 ) Hauschka: MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!
9) Jon Ryan: over-the-shoulder punt, fumbled into the endzone...WHAT?!
10) Tyler Lockett: so blatantly punting and kicking away from him? After the fumble touchdown by the Lions, on the following kickoff did you see that the kicker even slipped and fell on his butt trying to keep the kick away from Tyler? Tyler getting into these guys heads doing things they don't normally do will pay off. When a single player forces the other team to strategize based on that single player, you already are in their heads.
11) A WIN with an asterik: because I want something to keep the chip on our shoulder and to draw attention away from all the things to be grateful for. I'm sure I'm being optimistic but if others around the league focus on an asterik win: that we should have lost because KJ batted the ball out illegally (correctable) or that we almost blew the game because Russell fumbled (correctable) then the focus won't be on the fact that Russell and the receivers looked good, and the defense looked nigh nvulnerable.
That's it for now