What NFL team do you follow?
DressHerInWhiteAndGold: Turning to the Pros, who do you favor?
Ben: I don’t follow the NFL much anymore, but when I did, I was a big Falcons fan. Over time, though, I just began to enjoy the NFL less and less and just drifted to barely even following the team anymore.
Logan: I’ve never been a big NFL fan so I don’t really have a team. I have always had a soft sport for Minnesota because I feel like their color scheme is pretty unique. I guess I’m a Lions fan this year because I love a good underdog story and they have a habit of drafting good GT players.
Jack: I have lived and died and died and died and died and died as a Falcons fan, and I will continue to die until the day I die.
Yeller Bug: In the off-season:
1) What’s the biggest need in player personnel?
Ben: Defensive line and speed on defense. We can’t get to the QB very well at all, and we just don’t really have any “dudes” on the defense that are going to go out and be playmakers. It always seems like we’re a step behind.
Logan: It’s definitely D-line. I think we also need improvements at linebacker and in the defensive secondary, but D-line is such a glaring weakness it’s like staring at the sun whenever this question comes up.
2) What’s the area requiring the greatest improvement?
Ben: As I alluded to in my last response, speed on defense. Our defense is a liability against mobile QBs, and there were too many times our DBs got beat by WRs in the bowl game.
Logan: Ben pretty much nailed it. I guess you could also say strength or size on D-line, but speed would be paramount for us against mobile QBs.
3) What can coaches do to improve game management strategies and tactics?
Ben: Same thing the players do: review the tape. I’m sure they can study game management strategies from other coaches/teams/whatever, but at the end of the day, you have to review your own tape and constructively critique how you can improve. Now, that requires a lot of self-awareness, but I think it can be done.
Logan: I think the self-awareness part is key to what Ben is saying. People can justify a lot of questionable decisions; you have to be willing to actually dispute your own decision making if you want to improve.
DressHerInWhiteAndGold: Golden Age of Streaming TV, what are you watching/waiting for the next season?
Ben: Right now, I’ve been watching Skeleton Crew (the new Star Wars streaming show), and it’s just been a lot of fun so far. The next show I’m waiting on is Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. I know at first, it was supposed to be a prequel to the MCU Spider-Man, so I’m curious what they’re going to do with it now. Looks like a lot of fun, though!
Logan: Creature Commandos on MAX has been good but depressing, also its a cartoon which is not for everyone. Shrinking on Apple TV is hilarious and has a lot of heart. This one came out a while ago, but Nobody Wants This was a great romantic comedy and one of my favorite shows of the year on Netflix. Skeleton Crew is really good, basically the goonies in space. Say Nothing was great on Hulu for more of a historical drama about the Troubles. The Man on the Inside was a great comedy on Netflix… There’s plenty of good things out there right now to watch.
Jack: Severence comes back this month (Apple TV+)! One of the best I’ve seen in the last year or so. I also am on Skeleton Crew, and that has been a fantastic breath of fresh air in the Star Wars context after some weird decisions in recent shows. Andor also comes back this year which was hands down my favorite show of 2023.