Are you ready for some Football?

In My Humble Opinion
1

The football season is almost here and preseason games are right around the corner. So let’s have it; discuss your team and prospects. Have a good draft? Get a great trade? Are your boys going to make it to the big dance in January? I need some football talk; politics is way depressing me. I’d love it if every team gets a post, in fact I’ll even come along and do the Hated (by me) Raiders if no one else does. So up first:

The Niner’s:

During the off-season we had a salary cap melt down. Gone is our starting QB Garcia to the Browns. I’m happy for the Browns, I always thought Garcia was a class act, I’m gonna miss seeing him scrambling out of the pocket. Also gone are receivers Terrell Owens (yeah I thought he was great, but won’t miss his attitude) and Tai Streets who was an adequate second target but hardly explosive. Also gone are OT Derrick Deese after 11 years at Tackle and safety Zack Bronson.

To me our biggest loss was in the coaching corner. We lost Defensive Coordinator Jim Mora Jr., and I think that’ll be a huge loss. He was aggressive. Atlanta did what the Niner’s should have the year before. That said we have returning Safety Lance Schulters and both starting corners are returning, so I don’t expect a huge drop off. The really need to address getting Julian Peterson signed.

To offset that, I think we’ve had a few good picks in the draft in players Guard Justin Smiley and WR Rashaun Woods. I ordered them that way on purpose. If you don’t have a good O-Line, you’ve already lost the season so any addition of good linemen is always wise and are more likely to make an earlier impact. Rashaun Woods is susposed to be a TO clone, but he’s entering a position that the Niner’s despite the losses cited earlier are deep at. We have returning receivers Cedric Wilson and especially Brandon Lloyd. On Lloyd all I can say is watch this guy, in his second year he’s showing every sign of being the next great receiver.

At QB Garcia will be replaced by Rattay who had some impressive numbers when Garcia was out due to injury. My biggest complaint with Rattay is he has the mobility of a Palm tree, other than that he’s good. Great arm strength and accuracy. We’ve also got a pretty impressive second year player backing him up in Ken Dorsey who I personally think is better at the position.

Overall, I think we’ll do al right. I don’t expect us to make the playoffs so if they do, I’ll be happily surprised. What I think we did do was get a good head start on rebuilding. Predicted finish: 8-8.

2

Colts.

I have no idea how they’ve been preparing. However, I have purchased a TV ( first one I’ve owned in about ten years), I have been studying the various NFL packages offered by cable, satellite, etc… and I’m trying to convince the girls from the local Hooters to come to my house every Sunday dressed in Colts cheerleading outfits. This could be a very good season.

3

Even though my Giants got Eli Manning, I still think we’re gonna end up with a losing record this year. Warner will find a way to make me hate him I’m sure. Shockey will underperform as he did last year because the DB’s are afraid of him, and Tiki will fumble…alot. Strahan will get a handfull of sacks and his value will start to decrease, Ron Dayne will continue to ride the pine and soak up cap money.

I’d like to see more than a few snaps for Eli, but I’m sure it won’t be many. We’ll also see how much we like our “new” coach. I predict a 7-9 season at best.

4

I predict that my Auburn University Tigers will finish about 9-2 on the regular season. That includes beating Tennessee on October 2nd, which will result in vibrotronica paying my SDMB membership fee next year. :smiley:

5

Another Giants fan here…

Ok, we got Manning and we got Warner. Who starts? My first impression was what Accorci has been saying – play Warner for now, let Manning start when he’s ready. However, after watching their play in training camp, I gotta say that Manning is more ready than Warner is. Twice in two days they ran a two-minute drill. Manning: Two TD’s. Warner: 1 INT and a TOD. If this keeps up through the pre-season, we’ll be seeing Manning taking lead snaps in Week 1.

We’ll see an improvement in the O-Line performance this year, but after the debacle that was last season, that’s really not saying much.

I have a good feeling about our D this year. Strahan will be given freedom to move about behind the line which will opposing RBs trouble, with their tendency to move away from him. I like Chris Snee quite a bit, and it’s good to see Keith Washington wearing the blue again.

Coach Coughlin seems to be getting through. Yeah, he’s busting their asses, but it’s not the Marine situation that a lot of people thought it would be. Judging by training camp, he’s being quite effective so far.

I’ll agree with dnooman that a 7-9 season is a likely top finish for the season, but if Shockey doesn’t push his foot too hard too soon, Manning studies quick (or Warner gets his act together), and the new line coaches get some cohesion in their squads, then I could conceiveably see a 9-7, maybe even a 10-6 finish. Which may even be enough to take the NFC East.

While we’re on that subject, let me just go on record – T.O. with the Eagles: biggest bust of the year. His final numbers will be a joke.

One last thing, since I just finished reading the headlines on NFL.com: The Dolphins are my #2 team. Bye-bye Ricky, bye-bye Boston, bye-bye playoff spot that I thought they would be a lock for. Damnit.

And yes, of course I’ll be pimping this here. A few spots left! :slight_smile:

6

Sorry, Stuffy, can’t agree. I may be dreaming by calling a possible 10-6 for the Giants, but a Niner’s 8-8 finish? Not gonna happen. Let’s put it this way: The 49ers will have a terrific draft day next year. :slight_smile:

That salary cap implosion is devestating. They’ll be paying for that one long-term, but it’ll absolutely kill them this year.

Yes, Smiley is decent enough, but I’m not seeing enough protection for Rattay across the line. Like you said, Rattay is a stump, and he’ll be spending quite a lot of time on his back. Actually, I’ll be very surprised if his season doesn’t end early on.

I feel for you. I actually like the Niners (despite the '03 playoff debacle), but I’m thinking 32nd place for them this year. I’m going to call them 3-13, with a max possibility of 5-11.

7

People said the same about the last implosion, that time we lost most of our defensice secondary, as well as Rice. We’d also lost Steve young the year before. This time I think we have enough returning players to not slip as far back in to mediocrity as that time.

This is true, I said it first, however, we have Kevin Barlow and Fred Beasly to keep them honest, and Deese who’s left was replaced by a big man last year, hopefully they’ll be able to provise at least some protection. Then there’s the 5 yard rule they’ll be enforcing tougher this year. That’ll lead to some receivers getting open sooner. With a decent running game and a little luck hopefully he’ll be able to find a receiver with a three step drop.

I won’t be totally upset of that happens, I just like what I see. I don’t see championship caliber, but I do see a pretty decent framework for a playoff run next season.
Oh and can anyone get in on that pool?

8

God, I wanted to puke after that game. I am born and raised a Volunteer and will be Big Orange for life. How exactly we do next year…I dunno. All I want is an SEC championship. But with Georgia around…

Anyhoo, how 'bout them Packers?
I don’t really know about my Mean Green’s chances next year.

Offensively, things should be okay. I mean, we’ve got the whole O-line returning healthy (for now). That’s a feather in their cap right there. Ahman Green is a superior RB and a great pass catcher. He should have another stellar year with William Henderson in front of him. Bubba Franks is a solid TE. David Martin is okay…they resigned him, so they must see something in him.

They’ve got Donald Driver, Robert Ferguson and Javon Walker who all need to prove they can make some big plays. The receiving corps is decent, but it ain’t anything to brag about. Of course, there’s always Favre. But that long ball he threw out to get intercepted in the divisional against Philly…ugh. He isn’t what he used to be. I wish Couch had signed for longer than one year. I guess he gets a free year to learn from a living legend. I don’t think he’s the future (neither is Akili Smith, Doug Pederson or Craig Nall.

The defense, though, is where the magic has to happen this year. They traded Jamal Reynolds and Mike McKenzie is holding out. The D-line might be okay…they’ve got Grady Jackson, Larry Smith and KGB. Cletidus Hunt is decent and needs to improve. Aaron Kampman will hold the other end spot. I think he’s reliable.

Linebackers shouldn’t be too much of a problem either. I really hope these guys stay healthy. I have a nasty feeling Nick Barnett could sit out a majority of this year…he really turned out to be an anchor in the middle. Diggs and Navies are both improving well.

The secondary is what worries me. Darren Sharper is a fucking deathbird free safety. It’ll be a shame to see him go some day. Everything else is questionable. Somebody is going to have to step up at SS. Al Harris made a huge interception against the Seahawks to win that overtime game, but he isn’t a shutdown corner. If Mike McKenzie goes, then it’s two rookies competing with Bhawoh Jue for the other spot. In the NFC north, this is a bad thing. Charles Rogers, Marty Booker and especially Randy Moss will eath these guys alive. They’re going to play against other teams with big, talented receivers like Andre Johnson and Terrell Owens, and they’ll play against offensively loaded teams like the Rams and Colts (and will almost certainly lose to the Colts…the Pack is horrible in a dome). It’s going to be a scary year.

It’s all on the defense to stop the run and not give up the big pass plays. Turnovers will be key too, as usual. They’ve got a new defensive coordinator…we’ll see what ol’ Mike Sherman’s got for us.

9

Sure 'nuff.

I originally kept it to friends, co-workers and Dopers, but it’s now been opened to all.

Turkey Curse, I have some responses to what you’ve said, but it’s too damn late right now, so I’ll have to catch up on it tomorrow. :slight_smile:

10

No.

11

Eagles fan here…

The Iggles are once again on the short list of Super Bowl favorites this year. They’re #2 in the ESPN preseason power rankings. Of course, those of us who have followed them the last few years know better than to bank on that. :frowning:

The Good: Jevon Kearse should give Philly the pass rush threat they were missing last year. Terrell Owens should be the big wide receiver they were so sorely lacking in the playoffs. Donovan McNabb is having a good training camp. Brian Westbrook and Correll Buckhalter should provide a credible running threat. Duce Staley is gone, but I honestly don’t think they’ll miss him.

The Bad: Well, Kearse is getting old, and he’s been plagued by injuries the last couple of years. And you never know what sort of drama Owens might create during the season. Troy Vincent is gone. Bobby Taylor is gone. Carlos Emmons is gone. Taylor and Vincent in particular will be sorely missed. And the NFC East is not the same division it was a year ago. Any one of those four teams could win the title. Gibbs is back, Parcells is back, and no sane Philly fan ever counts the Giants out, no matter how they look on paper.

The Ugly: How do you recover from three lost championship games in a row? How do you recover from blowing homefield advantage two years in a row, from being absolutely humiliated two years in a row? That will be their biggest challenge. The Eagles don’t have a monkey on their backs, they’ve got freaking King Kong flinging poo from the Liberty Bell to Independence Hall and screaming at the top of his lungs. Making the playoffs isn’t enough. Winning their division isn’t enough. Home field advantage isn’t enough. They either make it to the big show or they fail on an epic scale. I don’t think it’s possible to overstate how much is riding on this season.

So, my prediction… the Eagles will win the division, but it will be very close, like tiebreaker close. And I’ve gotta believe they’ll finally make it to the Super Bowl. Will they win it? I don’t even care at this point.

12

Me neither. Can you give us a couple of months?

13

Hell yeah I’m ready for some football!!

Hail to the Redskins!
Hail Victory!
Braves on the Warpath!
Fight for old D.C.!
Run or pass and score – we want a lot more!
Beat 'em, Swamp 'em,
Touchdown! – Let the points soar!
Fight on, fight on 'Til you have won
Sons of Wash-ing-ton. Rah!, Rah!, Rah!
Hail to the Redskins!
Hail Victory!
Braves on the Warpath!
Fight for old D.C.!

I can’t wait for this season to get started! I can’t wait for some Skins vs. Eagles, Skins vs. Giants, Skins vs. Cowboys bloodbaths!! O boy, the snot is really gonna be flying this year! BRING IT ON!!! AAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRGHHHH!!!

Joe Gibbs is back! Joe F’ing Gibbs is back!! OMG! The excitement around here is at levels I have never seen before. The whole town is going nuts.

Clinton Portis is our RB. A guy with two straight 1,500+ yard seasons is our RB!

We have two quality QB’s: Mark Brunell & Patrick Ramsey.

We have some stud WR’s: Lav Coles, Rod Gardner, James Thrash & Darnerian McCants.

O & D Lines are hurting, although we are better than last year. Chris Samuels and Jon Jansen on the O Line are our only stud players.

Linebackers are a strong area: LaVar will dominate the league this year under Gregg Williams’ system.

Losing Champ in the secondary hurt, but we added rookie Sean Taylor at Safety. Watch this kid. He is awesome.

FOOTBALL SEASON IS HERE!!!

14

Oh… so you mean tahet kind of football !
What is the salary cap fixed at?

15

Ahhhh … my favorite season—football!
It’s pretty to predict the Vikings’ season, really. They’ll start out pretty good, suck the big one in the middle of the season, then pull it out their wazoos at the end to make the playoffs. They’ll lose in the first or second round of the playoffs. Again, I’ll be left thinking that we have way too many good players to suck that badly. Woo hoo! Can’t wait!

16

I dunno…if the defense holds up and doesn’t allow a big slip like last year, the Vikes could easily nail ten or eleven wins.

17

I’m prayin’, Turkey Curse, I’m prayin’. I figure the Vikings will go 9-7 or 10-6 and contend for the NFC North.

The good:
Culpepper’s maturing into the position and minimizing his turnovers. Bennett’s back and healthy, and Randy Moss might have a viable second receiver to take some pressure off with the arrival of Marcus Robinson. The offensive line is solid, and the ballhawking secondary is only improved with the addition of Antoine Winfield from the Jets.

The bad:
Linebackers are woefully weak, with rookies and second-year men getting starting jobs. George O’Leary departed which leaves a void at defensive coordinator. I doubt the Vikings D will be as dominant as it was for most of last year.

The ugly:
Another December or early playoff collapse, followed by McCombs releasing Tice and blaming everything on the lack of a new stadium.

18

Patriots are looking good again:

Of course Brady is back and still has Troy Brown, Christian Fauria, Deion Branch to throw to.

But now they picked up Corey Dillon to run the ball.

Defense still strong. They gotta stay healthy. Ted Washington is gone, but they picked up a superb draft pick to replace him, Vince Wilfork. A question mark, for sure, but a highly rated player. Not to mention the DL has Dana Stubblefield, Keith Traylor (who both may be getting old) and Richard Seymour who had a good season last year.

I don’t know if they shored up their punting game, which was a huge liability last year. Not much in the way of a backup QB.

The defense is still filled with guys that Belicheck loves. On paper, they look at least as strong as they were last year.

I can’t see them not winning the AFC east.

19

I really do hope so, too. I just try not to get my hopes up too much anymore after the '98 season. It hurts way too much.

20

For the Grizz is going to the Hall-of-Fame Game tonight.

and Hail to the Redskins!!