I'm certainly not going to argue with any of the comments regarding how disappointing this season has been to date, and how badly the next two games could go. But, once you go through the mental triage on 2012 and start contemplating 2013, there are a few things that are cause for optimism:
1. The number of players getting into the defensive line rotation is a good thing and bodes very well for the future.
2. Ditto the above for the defensive backfield and the offensive line.
3. All three starting linebackers (love them or not) and their backups are back.
4. Kickers and punters back after doing as well as can be expected or better in 2012.
5. A bigger pool of players with experience in the offensive backfield, so perhaps we will have the numbers to overcome the dreaded injury/transfer storm that always seems to ravage us each off season.
Beyond that, it is above my pay grade as a fan. If the coaching staff wants to ignore the evidence in front of it that 2012, "the year of the horizontal offense" was an unmitigated disaster and press forward with the same philosophy, all the reasons above as cause for optimism will once again be negated.
So, that's my .02 cents on how to spread the manure, it is no fun while it is manure, but hopefully next spring something better comes from it. [insert happy face]