# 2008 NFL Mini Camps and Offseason Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [May 6, 2008, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-nfl-mini-camps-and-offseason-thread/448354 "2008-05-06T22:22:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2008, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-nfl-mini-camps-and-offseason-thread/448354/141 "2008-08-19T14:02:14Z")
[QUOTE=Really Not All That Bright] **Well, Hester might make some noise, but given that his primary value is theoretically as a deep threat, I don’t see much happening on that front. If Forte isn’t the second coming of Walter Payton, the Bears won’t make it out of the bottom 5 offenses.** [/quote] Hester = Dante Hall. And nobody, but NOBODY, will ever be the second coming of Sweetness. > [@RNATB](#): > > **Feh. Preseason. I see very Philip Rivers’ first season-y numbers coming for Rodgers this year, minus an appropriate number of touchdowns (6-10) for the lack of an Antonio Gates. Plus, perhaps, a few more sacks and fumbles for the lack of defenses respecting the run quite the same as they would for LT.** I think much of Rodger’s success will depend on his comfort level with the rest of the team. If WR are dropping balls, the OLine is not protecting or opening lanes for Grant, and the RB aren’t picking up blitzes, it will be a long season. Although it is only preseason, there is still too much unsettled on the OLine. > [@RNATB](#): > > 1. Is it too early to jump on the Justin Forsett bandwagon? > **Yes. Even if he wins a roster spot, and then gets some carries in the 'Hawks already crowded backfield, he’ll be a Quentin Griffin - a spectacular player for three games who disappears shortly afterward and is never heard from again.** Quentin who? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2008, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-nfl-mini-camps-and-offseason-thread/448354/142 "2008-08-19T14:30:27Z")
[QUOTE=Hamlet] Hester = Dante Hall. And nobody, but NOBODY, will ever be the second coming of Sweetness. I think much of Rodger’s success will depend on his comfort level with the rest of the team. If WR are dropping balls, the OLine is not protecting or opening lanes for Grant, and the RB aren’t picking up blitzes, it will be a long season. Although it is only preseason, there is still too much unsettled on the OLine. Quentin who? [/QUOTE] I think Hester will be a bit more effective than Hall; he was a better wideout than Hall _already_ last season, with all of a dozen practice reps under his belt. I certainly don’t think he’ll be the next Steve Smith, though. I thought the Packers’ O-line was returning all five starters? ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2008, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-nfl-mini-camps-and-offseason-thread/448354/143 "2008-08-19T14:40:18Z")
[QUOTE=Really Not All That Bright] I think Hester will be a bit more effective than Hall; he was a better wideout than Hall _already_ last season, with all of a dozen practice reps under his belt. I certainly don’t think he’ll be the next Steve Smith, though. [/quote] In their first seasons at the WR spot, Hall had 20-322-3td and Hester had 20-299-2td. Dante never broke 500 yards, and I don’t see Hester doing it either. But we’ll see. > [@RNATB](#): > > I thought the Packers’ O-line was returning all five starters? They are, but not all are starting and there hasn’t been much continuity on the line. Clifton and Tauscher are the tackles and Wells is the center, but they’ve all been missing some time this preseason. The guard positions are unsettled, with one starter from last year Jason Spitz, having to see time at center and at LG rather than RG where he played last year. The coaches are apparently enamoured with their 6th round pick Sitton, and want him to start at RG, but he’s just not doing the job in games. With all the shuffling and uncertainty, there hasn’t been any gelling going on. Once the season starts and the T and C position are locked up and healthy, it will be a bit easier. But for Rodgers’ and the Packers’ sake, I don’t want to repeat last years crappy start on the O Line. Hopefully, though, everyone will be healthy and they’ll take up where they left off last year. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2008, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-nfl-mini-camps-and-offseason-thread/448354/144 "2008-08-19T14:49:29Z")
[QUOTE=Really Not All That Bright] If the team managed to win 6 games with Kitna practically being ordered to go out and turn the ball over three times a game, and certainly didn’t get worse in the offseason, I think 8-8 should be your baseline. Don’t sleep on Kevin Smith. 😃 [/QUOTE] So sleepy…must…nap… Honk shu…honk shu…honk shu… ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2008, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-nfl-mini-camps-and-offseason-thread/448354/145 "2008-08-19T14:54:01Z")
[QUOTE=Hamlet] In their first seasons at the WR spot, Hall had 20-322-3td and Hester had 20-299-2td. Dante never broke 500 yards, and I don’t see Hester doing it either. But we’ll see. With all the shuffling and uncertainty, there hasn’t been any gelling going on. Once the season starts and the T and C position are locked up and healthy, it will be a bit easier. But for Rodgers’ and the Packers’ sake, I don’t want to repeat last years crappy start on the O Line. Hopefully, though, everyone will be healthy and they’ll take up where they left off last year. [/QUOTE] Hall was always a receiver, though; he just happened to be a returner too. Hester’s never been a wideout. He was a corner in college. Sitton, by the way, is a phenomenal run blocker. I think you’ll see him bowling people over as a rookie. He can’t pass protect for shit, though. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2008, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-nfl-mini-camps-and-offseason-thread/448354/146 "2008-08-19T17:17:26Z")
**With the injuries to TJ Houshmanzadeh and now Chad Johnson, the Bengals have resigned Chris Henry, after he was exonerated from his most recent set of charges, cut from the team and is now under a 4 game NFL suspension.** Let the bashing from all sports media as well as anti-Bengal Dopers ensue! ---
**Author:** ![RogueRacer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ab992/32.png) [@RogueRacer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RogueRacer)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2008, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-nfl-mini-camps-and-offseason-thread/448354/147 "2008-08-19T18:05:58Z")
Green Bay’s O line has started slowly the last two seasons under McCarthy. I have faith that they will pull it together again this year. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2008, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-nfl-mini-camps-and-offseason-thread/448354/148 "2008-08-19T18:12:05Z")
Sigh. I can’t pick exclusively on the Bengals, since my favorite team (the Giants) has had its share of scumbags over the years (yes, Jason Peter, I’m talking about you). I’m more sad, at this point, than angry. Marvin Lewis SEEMS like a decent man, but no winning coach ever got fired for lack of decency. LOTS have gotten fired for losing too much. It’s a damn shame. And it’s not as if the Bengals are going to be contenders WITH this creep. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2008, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-nfl-mini-camps-and-offseason-thread/448354/149 "2008-08-19T18:17:25Z")
The \*\*Giants \*\* first quarter looked very promising last night. They have plenty of depth at receiving and running back and the O-line looks as good as last year. The defense looks like it will stuff the run, I am hopeful they can manage the pass. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2008, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-nfl-mini-camps-and-offseason-thread/448354/150 "2008-08-19T18:25:28Z")
[QUOTE=astorian] Sigh. I can’t pick exclusively on the Bengals, since my favorite team (the Giants) has had its share of scumbags over the years (yes, Jason Peter, I’m talking about you). I’m more sad, at this point, than angry. Marvin Lewis SEEMS like a decent man, but no winning coach ever got fired for lack of decency. LOTS have gotten fired for losing too much. It’s a damn shame. And it’s not as if the Bengals are going to be contenders WITH this creep. [/QUOTE] The thing that really bothers me is that this reeks of Mike Brown overruling Marvin, because it was just a week ago when rumors were surfacing that the Bengals were either interested in talking to Henry or WERE talking to Henry that Lewis flatly stated that Henry was no longer a part of the Bengals plans. If that’s the case, I feel bad for Marvin, because Mike Brown will disappear into the shadows behind the curtain and leave Marvin to deal with the media on this one. Mods, I forgot about the NFL preseason thread in here, if you can merge this with that one, that would be great. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2008, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-nfl-mini-camps-and-offseason-thread/448354/151 "2008-08-19T18:36:52Z")
_obligatory Bengals/prisoner snark_ ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2008, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-nfl-mini-camps-and-offseason-thread/448354/152 "2008-08-19T19:09:13Z")
[QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever] _obligatory Bengals/prisoner snark_ [/QUOTE] They do have striped uniforms, after all! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2008, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-nfl-mini-camps-and-offseason-thread/448354/153 "2008-08-19T20:39:31Z")
[QUOTE=FoieGrasIsEvil] **The Bengals Have Resigned Chris Henry** [/QUOTE] Whew, I was scared they had “re-signed” Chris Henry and that would have sucked! Just as well if he wouldn’t re-tire on his own. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2008, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-nfl-mini-camps-and-offseason-thread/448354/154 "2008-08-19T21:05:16Z")
[QUOTE=lieu] Whew, I was scared they had “re-signed” Chris Henry and that would have sucked! Just as well if he wouldn’t re-tire on his own. 😉 [/QUOTE] Well, to be fair, Henry’s a charitable fellow that didn’t want to come off as a dickhead like Brett Farve. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2008, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-nfl-mini-camps-and-offseason-thread/448354/155 "2008-08-19T21:23:59Z")
[QUOTE=Really Not All That Bright] Hall was always a receiver, though; he just happened to be a returner too. Hester’s never been a wideout. He was a corner in college. [/QUOTE] Also Hester is _much, much_ faster than Hall ever dreamed of being. I think Orton getting tabbed as the starting QB will really hurt his chances of being a contributor. Grossman was incredibly mistake prone but he did have a strong arm and threw a flawless deep ball and was aggressive in going downfield. Orton is a dink-and-dunk passer with a mediocre arm, he rarely threw the ball downfield in college or in his previous Bears starts. All in all this is going to be very bad for Hester’s development, his greatest skill is running fly routes to capitalize on his speed and I’m not convinced Orton can get it to him. Teams will realize that sooner or later and he will lose value as a decoy as well. Bad times, bad times. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-nfl-mini-camps-and-offseason-thread/448354/156 "2008-08-20T00:31:06Z")
[QUOTE=Omniscient] Also Hester is _much, much_ faster than Hall ever dreamed of being. I think Orton getting tabbed as the starting QB will really hurt his chances of being a contributor. Grossman was incredibly mistake prone but he did have a strong arm and threw a flawless deep ball and was aggressive in going downfield. Orton is a dink-and-dunk passer with a mediocre arm, he rarely threw the ball downfield in college or in his previous Bears starts. All in all this is going to be very bad for Hester’s development, his greatest skill is running fly routes to capitalize on his speed and I’m not convinced Orton can get it to him. Teams will realize that sooner or later and he will lose value as a decoy as well. Bad times, bad times. [/QUOTE] Yeah, we’ll miss out on Grossman to Hester, the 21st century Vince Evans to Rickey Watts. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-nfl-mini-camps-and-offseason-thread/448354/157 "2008-08-20T01:59:21Z")
Feh. I do not require that professional athletes be altar boys. In the Bengals’ defense, the charges they cut him for (assault and battery, possibly with a weapon) were thrown out. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-nfl-mini-camps-and-offseason-thread/448354/158 "2008-08-20T02:31:58Z")
Well, that was ugly. With a real coach this team has the talent to go places. Cribbs apparently has a high ankle sprain, and that scares the shit out of me. Those seem to linger forever. Cribbs has been so ridiculously good that it’ll have a significant impact if we lose him. Fortunately the special teams in general are good and whoever replaces him will probably look decent. Just about everyone looked pretty bad. I was surprised how bad the first team O-line looked - I hope it’s just a rust thing since Romeo has been running fairly easy camps. In a completely unrelated note, I just read on ESPN’s fantasy page that Jamal Lewis had the most yards after contact of any RB in the league last year. Hmm. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-nfl-mini-camps-and-offseason-thread/448354/159 "2008-08-20T02:52:29Z")
[QUOTE=Omniscient] Orton is a dink-and-dunk passer with a mediocre arm, he rarely threw the ball downfield in college or in his previous Bears starts [/QUOTE] That’s not quite true. He ran a very pass-heavy offense in college, yet averaged 7.76 YPA as a senior, which is a very good number for a _college_ quarterback. He certainly didn’t ever seem to attempt a pass over 20 yards in his seasonish as the starter in Chicago, but since he was a rookie and probably under strict instructions from the coaching staff anyway I’m not sure you can read much into that. Still, I think this is a mistake (starting Orton). _Somewhere_ inside Grossman is a Pro Bowl quarterback. We saw that clearly in his first half-dozen games of 2006. I just don’t know where that guy is hiding. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-nfl-mini-camps-and-offseason-thread/448354/160 "2008-08-20T04:11:20Z")
[QUOTE=lieu] Whew, I was scared they had “re-signed” Chris Henry and that would have sucked! Just as well if he wouldn’t re-tire on his own. 😉 [/QUOTE] I imagine that some Bengals fans are resigned to having to deal with him being on the team. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-nfl-mini-camps-and-offseason-thread/448354.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2008-nfl-mini-camps-and-offseason-thread/448354.md?page=9)