YA-NFL-T

[Deeko]

I was under the impression the Ravens just drafted a young guy to start in a few years. Is Boller a bad backup? No. Is Leftwich a better backup? Absolutely. If he can be had for a decent price, why not?

The NFC East is crap, no way they all finish with winning records like that. Detroit wont' get anywhere near the 10 wins Kitna promised. Their defense sucks. GB offense still sucks. The Vikings can't cover anyone and their offense isn't close to being fully developed.

I'm going out on a limb and saying you meant nfc north

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: ThePresence

Originally posted by: Mursilis
The Ravens are one McNair injury away from 9-7 or worse. The offense was only 17th last year even with McNair, so imagine if Boller has to come back in. They'll be watching the playoffs from home.

Well, rumors have them signing Byron Leftwich shortly, if they haven't already.

replacing one injury-riddled QB with another? :thumbsup:

although, I happen to really like Leftwich--big "heart" factor. sucks his career is dogged with injuries.

I think the Ravens won't match last year's record, and are the likeliest team to endure the biggest disapointment this year.

I'm picking SD all the way.

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: ThePresence
I'm happy there are no expectations for the Giants.
They may actually play well.

with Eli at the helm?
:thumbsdown:

also, apparently Tiki Barber's recent calling-out of Coughlin is not an isolated event in the league. It seems there are a large number of players that absolutely hate playing for the guy. While Tiki's comments may be a little immature and off the wall ("robbing him of his one true love?" c'mon...), don't underestimate the effect of team-wide animosity towards the coach.

like all of Coughlin's previous teams, the Giants have seen a tremendous decline in overall performance during his reign, despite their ability to make the playoffs.

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: krunchykrome

Originally posted by: Deeko
Cut Boller, sign Leftwich, keep Smith. With an injury-prone starter (even if he didn't get hurt last year, come on, he gets hurt all the time), having Leftwich would be a great insurance policy. I think he could start for a lot of teams out there.

Boller is an excellent backup and he knows the system well. We have no need for another backup.

We've got our starter, we've got our backup, and we've got a guy who we'd like to groom.

What we should be looking for is a young guy who will be ready to start within a few years.

wouldn't that be Smith, in your estimation? why even look for a QB, then?

 

[TangoJuliet]

Thanks for the replies guys. Just remember these are just my opinions. If you don't agree with them dont blast me saying I dont know anything about football. Every year there is a suprise team in the league (last year NO). I'm sure nobody thought NO was going to be as good as they were.

My 2 suprises this year are DET and STL. I think BAL will have a lot of problems this year. McNair will finally get hurt and the O will be in Boller's hands. McGahee is a good back but he doesnt catch enough passes out of the backfield. He's basically a younger Jamal Lewis. Their D can only do so much when the offense gives up field position over and over again. Yes, there has been rumors of Leftwich going there but Newsome already said he probably wouldnt play this year.....as McNair will turn 35 next year and Boller will be a FA plus they drafted Smith to be groomed the starter.

 

[dmw16]

your predictions are not very good. Philly @ 8-8 and Dallas at 10-6? Come on now?

 

[krunchykrome]

Originally posted by: zinfamous

Originally posted by: krunchykrome

Originally posted by: Deeko
Cut Boller, sign Leftwich, keep Smith. With an injury-prone starter (even if he didn't get hurt last year, come on, he gets hurt all the time), having Leftwich would be a great insurance policy. I think he could start for a lot of teams out there.

Boller is an excellent backup and he knows the system well. We have no need for another backup.

We've got our starter, we've got our backup, and we've got a guy who we'd like to groom.

What we should be looking for is a young guy who will be ready to start within a few years.

wouldn't that be Smith, in your estimation? why even look for a QB, then?

That's what everyone is hoping. But I would not put weight of the Raven's future on this young man. He has potential, but thats all he has at this point. McNair is gone in two years. I'd like to see the Ravens deveop some interest in a more proven QB that can definetly lead a team, rather than put their hopes in Troy Smith.

Keep Boller as backup.
Groom Troy Smith for posibble starting position.
Look for established and proven QB to take McNair's spot, in case Troy Smith doesnt live up to his hype.

 

[ThePresence]

Originally posted by: zinfamous

Originally posted by: ThePresence
I'm happy there are no expectations for the Giants.
They may actually play well.

with Eli at the helm?
:thumbsdown:

also, apparently Tiki Barber's recent calling-out of Coughlin is not an isolated event in the league. It seems there are a large number of players that absolutely hate playing for the guy. While Tiki's comments may be a little immature and off the wall ("robbing him of his one true love?" c'mon...), don't underestimate the effect of team-wide animosity towards the coach.

like all of Coughlin's previous teams, the Giants have seen a tremendous decline in overall performance during his reign, despite their ability to make the playoffs.

Tiki is a tool. He's trying to show how much he's now a media guy and no longer a player. He enjoys creating controversy. Great player, but he needs to sit down and shut up now.

I disagree that Giants declined at all under Coughlin. I think they're a good team with a few glaring issues, but overall good. I also don't think there's teamwide anomosity towards the coach. I follow the Giants very closely. There are several players who do not see eye to eye with Coughlin, sure. He does not handle egos well. But I don't think it's a teamwide problem.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Originally posted by: Deeko
Cut Boller, sign Leftwich, keep Smith. With an injury-prone starter (even if he didn't get hurt last year, come on, he gets hurt all the time), having Leftwich would be a great insurance policy. I think he could start for a lot of teams out there.

I don't know about a LOT of teams... I can think of Chicago, Minnesota, Atlanta, Washington and MAYBE Kansas City...

But that's about it. And Washington & KC are kind of a stretch.

That said there are a TON of teams that would probably love to have him as a backup.

 

[Deeko]

These are teams I think could use Leftwich as a potential starter....

Chicago
Minnesota
Detroit
Atlanta
Tampa Bay
Miami
Baltimore
Kansas City
Houston
Jacksonville (yea, I said it)

 

[krunchykrome]

Atlanta should be inquiring about Leftwich more than any other team.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

Originally posted by: krunchykrome

Originally posted by: Mursilis

Originally posted by: krunchykrome

Originally posted by: dbot

Originally posted by: alkohoLiK

North

*CIN 12-4
*PIT 10-6
BAL 7-9
CLE 3-13

East

*DAL 10-6
PHL 8-8
NYG 7-9
WSH 7-9

North

*CHI 11-5
*DET 10-6
MIN 9-7
GB 9-7

West

*SEA 10-6
*STL 9-7
SF 8-8
AZ 7-9

Wow, baltimore finishing 3rd in the north. St Louis finishing second, and Detroit making the playoffs.

Don't quit your day job.

Seriously, it's not that I can't accept another person's opinion about my team, but this guys predictions are ridiculous.

How can we go from having the best defense in the league and a record of 13-3 to a poor 9-7?

The Ravens are one McNair injury away from 9-7 or worse. The offense was only 17th last year even with McNair, so imagine if Boller has to come back in. They'll be watching the playoffs from home.

Thats what everyone said last year, and he was fine. Our offense might not have been impressive, but our defense held teams by their balls.

Yes, you remember the 2006 season, but did you conveniently push out the 2005 season from memory, 6 and 10 ring a bell? The season prior the Ravens wen 9-7...the year before that they did make the playoffs @ 10-6 (and promptly lost at home, big surprise, seems to be a trend) but the year before that they went 7-9. Nice roller coastering there with that vaunted defense. Seems like the key is to have a solid offense in order to expect stable results. McNair didn't fix anything.

 

[krunchykrome]

Originally posted by: bunnyfubbles

Originally posted by: krunchykrome

Originally posted by: Mursilis

Originally posted by: krunchykrome

Originally posted by: dbot

Originally posted by: alkohoLiK

North

*CIN 12-4
*PIT 10-6
BAL 7-9
CLE 3-13

East

*DAL 10-6
PHL 8-8
NYG 7-9
WSH 7-9

North

*CHI 11-5
*DET 10-6
MIN 9-7
GB 9-7

West

*SEA 10-6
*STL 9-7
SF 8-8
AZ 7-9

Wow, baltimore finishing 3rd in the north. St Louis finishing second, and Detroit making the playoffs.

Don't quit your day job.

Seriously, it's not that I can't accept another person's opinion about my team, but this guys predictions are ridiculous.

How can we go from having the best defense in the league and a record of 13-3 to a poor 9-7?

The Ravens are one McNair injury away from 9-7 or worse. The offense was only 17th last year even with McNair, so imagine if Boller has to come back in. They'll be watching the playoffs from home.

Thats what everyone said last year, and he was fine. Our offense might not have been impressive, but our defense held teams by their balls.

Yes, you remember the 2006 season, but did you conveniently push out the 2005 season from memory, 6 and 10 ring a bell? The season prior the Ravens wen 9-7...the year before that they did make the playoffs @ 10-6 (and promptly lost at home, big surprise, seems to be a trend) but the year before that they went 7-9. Nice roller coastering there with that vaunted defense. Seems like the key is to have a solid offense in order to expect stable results. McNair didn't fix anything.

Did you forget about the acquisition of Trevor Pryce in 2006? The drafting of Dawan Landry and Haloti Ngata in 2006? The way Bart Scott exploded as one of the better linebackers in 2006? Our defense went through some very very good changes in 2006.

 

[Deeko]

(he left out the emergence of Adalius Thomas as one of the league's most versatile defenders. I wonder why?)

 

[krunchykrome]

Originally posted by: Deeko
(he left out the emergence of Adalius Thomas as one of the league's most versatile defenders. I wonder why?)

Damn, why is everyone hating on the Ravens? Yes, Adalius left us. Yes, he was an amazing linebacker. Yes, I was sad about his leaving. But all of these linebackers that leave the Ravens as stars, end up be washed up players on other teams. (ex: Ed Hartwell, Jamie Sharper). We breed linebackers out of bums and turn them into stars. How do we do this? The Ravens have defensive leadership that very few other teams have. Look at who we have in our LB depth now; Prescott Burgess, Antwann Barnes...these guys will be players to watch in the next few years.

Adalius won't be the same player on the Patriots that he was on the Ravens.

 

[Deeko]

I don't hate the Ravens. You might recall from my predictions thread, I have them going 12-4 and winning the division. I'm pointing out that they aren't perfect, and that they'd be better with Leftwich than Boller. That's all.

And I wouldn't count out Thomas on the Patriots. Its not like he went to the Falcons like Hartwell did. The Patriots are known for hybrid defensive schemes and using versatile players all over the place. He fits in there perfectly.

 

[Mursilis]

Originally posted by: krunchykrome
Did you forget about the acquisition of Trevor Pryce in 2006? The drafting of Dawan Landry and Haloti Ngata in 2006? The way Bart Scott exploded as one of the better linebackers in 2006? Our defense went through some very very good changes in 2006.

So? While that wonderful defense (and I'm not arguing it's good) held Indy to 15 in the playoffs (decent, given how great an offense Indy has), McNair and that offense managed only 6 points against Indy's mediocre D. So guess who sat home for the big show? Baltimore has got to learn to play on both sides of the ball if they want to compete for the AFC crown again. Oakland managed a top 3 defense last year too. How'd that work out for them? And how'd that "great defense, bad offense" formula work for the Bears in the Super Bowl? The rules favor the offense - learn it, live it, love it.

 

[krunchykrome]

Originally posted by: Mursilis

Originally posted by: krunchykrome
Did you forget about the acquisition of Trevor Pryce in 2006? The drafting of Dawan Landry and Haloti Ngata in 2006? The way Bart Scott exploded as one of the better linebackers in 2006? Our defense went through some very very good changes in 2006.

So? While that wonderful defense (and I'm not arguing it's good) held Indy to 15 in the playoffs (decent, given how great an offense Indy has), McNair and that offense managed only 6 points against Indy's mediocre D. So guess who sat home for the big show? Baltimore has got to learn to play on both sides of the ball if they want to compete for the AFC crown again. Oakland managed a top 3 defense last year too. How'd that work out for them? And how'd that "great defense, bad offense" formula work for the Bears in the Super Bowl? The rules favor the offense - learn it, live it, love it.

Sadly, Im afraid I have to agree with you. Im optomistic this year though. I have high hopes for our slot WR Demetrius Williams. Im not sure how I feel about McGahee though.

 

[TangoJuliet]

anyone else care to comment

 

[thepd7]

Ravens Suck!

Discuss.

 

[krunchykrome]

Originally posted by: thepd7
Ravens Suck!

Discuss.

That burns.....

 

[TangoJuliet]

Ravens looked great the other night :roll:

Just read that instead of signing Leftwich they just gave Boller an extension. Trust me - its going to be a loooong season for them.

 

[Garet Jax]

Originally posted by: thepd7
Ravens Suck!

Discuss.

I wish I could argue that...

 

[TangoJuliet]

AFC

East

*NE 11-5 / 16-0
NYJ 9-7 / 4-12
BUF 5-11 / 7-9
MIA 5-11 / 1-15

North

*CIN 12-4 / 7-9
*PIT 10-6 / 10-6
BAL 7-9 / 5-11
CLE 3-13 / 10-6

South

*IND 10-6 / 13-3
JAX 8-8 / 11-5
TEN 6-10 / 10-6
HOU 6-10 / 8-8

West

*SD 12-4 / 11-5
*DEN 10-6 / 7-9
KC 6-10 / 4-12
OAK 3-13 / 4-12


NFC

East

*DAL 10-6 / 13-3
PHL 8-8 / 8-8
NYG 7-9 / 10-6
WSH 7-9 / 9-7

North

*CHI 11-5 / 7-9
*DET 10-6 / 7-9
MIN 9-7 / 8-8
GB 9-7 / 13-3

South

*NO 12-4 / 7-9
CAR 9-7 / 7-9
ATL 4-12 / 4-12
TB 3-13 / 9-7

West

*SEA 10-6 / 10-6
*STL 9-7 / 3-13
SF 8-8 / 5-11
AZ 7-9 / 8-8

So my overall standings were a little off. In the AFC I had picked NE, CIN, PIT, IND, SD and DEN to make the playoffs. JAX and TEN actually made the playoffs while CIN and DEN were terrible.

In the NFC I had picked DAL, CHI, DET, NO, SEA and STL. My picks turned out to be terrible as CHI, DET, NO and STL were not very good but most of that can be blamed on major injuries. The Giants really suprised me as I didnt think they were going to be competitive this year. Green Bay was a lot better then anyone could imagine and I was wayyyy off with Tampa.

Overall I only picked 3 teams with exactly the same record: PHL, PIT and SEA. I picked 5 of the 8 division winners while I got zero of the wild cards correct. Congrats to the Pats on an amazing season while I hope my Jags can upset them.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: alkohoLiK
...
Congrats to the Pats on an amazing season while I hope my Jags can upset them.

Given what I saw of the Jags yesterday, do not hold your breath.