gulp

The first three exhibition games have given our regular season  opponents an easy recipe for shutting down our offense:

1. Stack the box on first down, because we always try to run the ball, and our O-line can't impose its will on your defense, unless your D-linemen and linebackers are apt to do roofies and Ecstasy before kickoff.

2. Blitz like crazy on 2nd and 3rd down, because our line can't protect our quarterback, and because T-Jack's vaunted mobility means nothing when the pocket quickly collapses into a claustrophobic alveolus that makes an infant's nostrils seem roomy. Moreover, Jackson lacks the height, fast thinking and quick release that allow some quarterbacks to punish blitz-happy defenses.

Saturday's debacle in Denver confirms that our offense is in trouble.

In a desperate bid to instill some confidence in our first unit, we kept our offensive starters in the game even after the Broncos installed their backups.

Our only offensive touchdown drive--late in the 3rd quarter--proved that our starting O-Line can blast open running lanes and provide adequate pass protection anytime it has the good fortune to be pitted against a mediocre team's second unit. It showed that Tarvaris Jackson can dissect a backup defense when he's throwing to first-string receivers.

Unfortunately, there are no JV teams on our regular season schedule.

Contrary to the claims of other analysts, Jackson's achievement on that scoring drive cannot be compared to Whitehurst's record of success in our first two preseason games. Scoring on backups with a supporting cast of starters is not the same as leading your second unit on several scoring drives against other teams' second strings.

Jesus of Clemson did not walk on water on Saturday. He remains generally accurate--throwing very well under pressure at one point--but missed an opportunity to win the game when he overthrew a wide-open Golden Tate.

Starters seldom play in the fourth exhibition game, though Seattle's coaches may wish to make an exception this time, given our O-Line's catastrophic failure to gel, coupled with T-Jack's total inability to establish any semblance of rhythm.