I haven't read the whole thread, but as of right now, I can agree with the title for the most part.
It is hopefully a work in progress, though. Running the football doesn't take a seasoned qb, so much as it takes a tough o-line with the talent & desire to move the chains.
Stopping other teams, and not getting steam rolled by a college offensive formation has nothing to do with the qb either, except for the fact that too many unsustained drives gets your tired defense back on the field too soon.
I still think 10-6, maybe 11-5 is there for the taking, but it's hard to ignore that:
a. Acknowledging the shocking loss of TfB, the Pats still only squeaked by the worst team in the AFC.
b. Barely put away the NFL equivalent of the Keystone Cops.
c. Got blown out by a team who just last year, seemingly traded off anyone worth a darn, and won only 1 game.
As impressive as our offense was last year, if you compare personnel with some of the better offenses early this year, we don't look that hot.
a. Moss can stretch the field, but isn't well suited to the short, controlled passing stuff Cassel needs.
b. Wes Welker is one of the top slot guys out, so we got most teams here.
c. Gaffney is solid, but not physically imposing by any means.
d. Our TEs can't seem to stay healthy, and aside from Watson aren't all that great.
e. O-line is banged up and not big enough to push teams around.
f. RB by committee. We've got lots of depth, but they're only as good as the 5 in front of them.
When you compare that to the teams who look to contend this year, our offense as it sits needs to evolve.