It is extremely exciting to see where the brass thinks this team is at. When Gute starts letting a bunch of his own draft picks go, shortens the leash on non-performers (especially kickers), and decides we don’t have as much roster room for UDFA project types, that tells me two things: one, the roster is full of talent to the point that even improving on the margins is getting tougher, and two, it is go time.
I expect a couple bumps in the early going as the defense finds its legs (I think we probably drop the opener in Brazil, and maybe even the home debut, too—don’t panic!) but if this team is healthy, they should be right where they need to be in December.