Two-time Connacht title winner Cathal Cregg says adapting to the new rules and the rejuvenation of Roscommon's attacking power could set them up for a successful season.
But Cregg is cautious that younger, defensive players need to get more game time in the league to harden them for championship football.
Roscommon have adapted to the new Football Review Committee rules in swashbuckling fashion – they fired 3-21 against Down and shot 1-17 on the road against Louth.
Last year they reached the All-Ireland quarter-final stage with Enda Smith and Diarmuid Murtagh spearheading the attack but over the winter they were boosted by the return of talented forwards like Ciaráin Murtagh, Ben O’Carroll and Cian McKeon.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport in his role as an ambassador for the Electric Ireland Higher Education Championships, Cregg said there was no doubt that his county had the firepower up front, but needed more depth and experience in their rearguard.
"I probably think they have the forwards potentially to win an All-Ireland but whether they’re strong enough in other areas of the field, I suppose that’s to be seen.
"I think defensively they probably need to shore it up a small bit.
"From attacking perspective they’ll be fine, but when a good, attacking team goes at them, that’s the one area I have a question mark over. There are a lot of young players in their defence who need game time in the league.
"So we won’t know until Connacht championship time where we stand - but we have an attacking abundance and it’s good to see them put up a couple of big scores."
Roscommon host top of the table Monaghan on Sunday in what will be another test for their young defenders.
Cregg feels the new rules will provoke another enjoyable, fast-moving game.
"I’d have to be very positive towards them (FRC directives)," he added.
"I would have seen a few inter-county challenge games before the league kicked off and as a whole package we are seeing better football with more scores, less nonsense and less delays in games.
"When we get another two or three rounds under the belt, players and refs will be more comfortable and by the end of the league we will have a very good product compared to last year.
"I don’t see how anyone is giving out about them to be honest with you."
Meanwhile, Cregg who works as Connacht GAA Provincial Coaching and Games Manager, says that he expects the province’s Air Dome to be back up and running ‘in the relatively near future’.
Work has already begun to restore the €3.1m structure, which is used 52 weeks a year by the association but was recently levelled by Storm Éowyn.
The Sigerson Cup and Ashbourne Cup took place on the pitch in the last week the Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup final between DCU and UL will take place there on Saturday at 2:45pm. Cregg says that a lot of work has gone into the past two weeks, to get it back in operation.
"We don't have a timeline but hopefully in the relatively near future. It is fully insured, and it will take a period of time to rebuild.
"It was devastating news for us in Connacht GAA, but it has a big impact for schools, clubs, and counties around the province too."
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