# Official 2011 NFL Football Thread - Preseason Edition **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [July 21, 2011, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-2011-nfl-football-thread-preseason-edition/589920 "2011-07-21T23:58:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 23
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-2011-nfl-football-thread-preseason-edition/589920/442 "2011-08-16T18:28:12Z")
The Texans might have pulled the trigger on Taylor with Charley Casserly at the helm but I doubt they’d do anything so desparate now. Rick Smith drafts far better. They actually looked pertty good against the Jets last night. Bringing Phillips on and a couple of free agent aquisitions should pay huge dividends this year. ---
**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 16, 2011, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-2011-nfl-football-thread-preseason-edition/589920/443 "2011-08-16T19:52:20Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > Sound logic for the Bears. For the Texans it would be idiocy. I don’t think the Texans are that dumb. I think they’ll do what smart teams do, either get a free agent or wait until cut down days and pickup someone then. But trading for a horrible, washed up piece of garbage that may likely be cut. Nah, not seeing it It all depends on how that RB cut list looks. In recent years there hasn’t been much at all in the way of RB talent on the open market and what is there tends to either be old and injury prone or young and terrible in pass protection. Taylor is pretty durable and reliable in pass pro. A passing team with a immobile QB might value a guy like Taylor quite a bit. I think Taylor is better than Derrick Ward anyways. Who do you suspect will be released this year who’s better than Taylor? Taylor sucks, but so does every other RB likely to be available, at least Taylor has some marketable skill, even if it happens to not be running the ball. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-2011-nfl-football-thread-preseason-edition/589920/444 "2011-08-16T20:24:45Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > I think Taylor is better than Derrick Ward anyways. Maybe, but Ward isn’t exactly the first option for the Texans. Besides Foster, there’s Slaton and Ogbannaya (who had a reasonable showing last night). Ben Tate needs to step it up if he even wants to make the roster. Hamstring injuries are a concern right now, but with that kind of depth, Taylor isn’t much of a move for Houston. And there are rumors that Portis may be headed for Houston. He knows some of the ex-Denver coaching staff in Houston and would fit better in the scheme than Taylor. Agreed that maybe this kind of deal gets made under Capers/Casserly. No way it happens with Smith/Kubiak. Basically, it makes no sense to anybody who follows Houston, but it’s a nice daydream for Chicago fans. ---
**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 16, 2011, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-2011-nfl-football-thread-preseason-edition/589920/445 "2011-08-16T20:55:15Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > Who do you suspect will be released this year who’s better than Taylor? Taylor sucks, but so does every other RB likely to be available, at least Taylor has some marketable skill, even if it happens to not be running the ball. As AntiBob points out Clinton Portis would likely be my first choice. Others I would seriously consider over Chester Taylor and his 2.4 ypc would be … pretty much anyone with a pulse. Especially since Taylor offers nothing on special teams. But more specificially: Mike Hart Kevin Fucking Smith Brian Westbrook Julius Jones LenWhale White (OK, not really, but it’d be a close call between White and Taylor) Patrick Cobbs Hell, if pass protection is the only thing you want out some backup, might as well grab another FB or a H-back too. There’s also likely to be some high upside runningbacks cut. Guys like DaRel Scott, Derrick Locke, Andre or Aaron Brown, Lonyae Miller, or dozens of other guys like that. And even if they want Chester, all they have to do is wait a few weeks until he gets cut. ---
**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 16, 2011, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-2011-nfl-football-thread-preseason-edition/589920/446 "2011-08-16T22:31:20Z")
If this somehow happens I’ll enjoy this thread so much. **Hamlet** , as noted the Texans have a group of young RBs who either fumble too much or are made out of glass. You think they’d be that much in favor of bringing in another glass joe like Smith, Westbrook or Hart? I think I’d rather rely on those guys to carry the load as an emergency starter too, but as a 3rd down specialist I’d rather have a more reliable option in Taylor. I sure as shit would prefer Taylor to Slaton and I think the Texans would as well. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-2011-nfl-football-thread-preseason-edition/589920/447 "2011-08-17T00:22:03Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > **Hamlet** , as noted the Texans have a group of young RBs who either fumble too much or are made out of glass. Ok, now you’re just making stuff up. Slaton has/had a fumbling problem, but he’s no longer the featured back. Even when he was, we in Houston were questioning his size, as he was on the small side to be taking a regular pounding. And just so, he had to have surgery last year to fix a problem caused by the regular pounding (and which may have exacerbated the fumbling). Nobody else on the roster is known to have a fumbling issue. Other than Ward (who checked out ok today), the other current injuries are all hamstring. As in caused by a long lockout without access to trainers. Hamstrings are one of the milder injuries an RB can take. If they all had knee issues, I’d be worried. Actually, it’s probable that at least one and probably two of the other RBs could have played last night. The Texans were playing things safe with injuries, as many teams are at this point in the pre-season. The idea that hamstrings, especially in the high heat in Houston and after a prolonged lockout without access to trainers, amount to a bunch of injury prone RBs is ridiculous. > [@Omniscient](#): > > I think I’d rather rely on those guys to carry the load as an emergency starter too, but as a 3rd down specialist I’d rather have a more reliable option in Taylor. I sure as shit would prefer Taylor to Slaton and I think the Texans would as well. You’d be wrong, but you’re entitled to your opinion. And you’re also ignoring the greater likelihood we pick up Clinton Portis. Even if we got him, I’d expect Slaton, Foster, and Ward to fill out the backs. And Foster to be the starter. Slaton’s had a strong camp this year so far (except the hamstring). I’m expecting to see him as a change of pace back and also Ward on 3rd downs. Tate was going to be the 4th back on the roster, but Ogbonnaya might just overtake him. I don’t think you understand how silly the idea of trading for Taylor sounds to anybody in Houston. It only makes sense to somebody who doesn’t follow the Texans all that closely. ---
**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 17, 2011, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-2011-nfl-football-thread-preseason-edition/589920/448 "2011-08-17T01:43:59Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > I don’t think you understand how silly the idea of trading for Taylor sounds to anybody in Houston. It only makes sense to somebody who doesn’t follow the Texans all that closely. Or somebody who doesn’t follow Chester Taylor all that closely. ---
**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 17, 2011, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-2011-nfl-football-thread-preseason-edition/589920/449 "2011-08-17T03:43:46Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > Or somebody who doesn’t follow Chester Taylor all that closely. Oh no. I’ve been saying that Chester Taylor sucked long before the Bears signed him. I tried to drink the Kool Aid on that one, but while most of the local guys were on the bandwagon I was reading FO reports about how awful his rate stats were and how ineffective he was. I’m just hoping that someone out there is willing to give something for a veteran presence, the Texans have made a habit of taking Bears castoffs before. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-2011-nfl-football-thread-preseason-edition/589920/450 "2011-08-17T04:04:42Z")
I remember Chester Taylor as being a really solid player for the Vikings. A reliable 3rd down back, a good blocker and someone that could carry the mail. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-2011-nfl-football-thread-preseason-edition/589920/451 "2011-08-17T12:42:01Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > Oh no. I’ve been saying that Chester Taylor sucked long before the Bears signed him. I tried to drink the Kool Aid on that one, but while most of the local guys were on the bandwagon I was reading FO reports about how awful his rate stats were and how ineffective he was. > > I’m just hoping that someone out there is willing to give something for a veteran presence, the Texans have made a habit of taking Bears castoffs before. He _is_ an upgrade over Adrian Peterson. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-2011-nfl-football-thread-preseason-edition/589920/452 "2011-08-17T12:46:43Z")
**Senor Beef** , what’s the deal with that #10 on the Browns? I had the game on in the background, and it seemed every time I looked up, he was playing his ass off. Who is he? ---
**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 17, 2011, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-2011-nfl-football-thread-preseason-edition/589920/453 "2011-08-17T15:11:57Z")
Sucks is a bit strong. At his best, Taylor was good enough to serve as a passable #1 back for the Vikings. I’d much rather have Portis and his human cannonball blitz pickup skills, but there you go. ---
**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 17, 2011, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-2011-nfl-football-thread-preseason-edition/589920/454 "2011-08-17T17:03:17Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > **Senor Beef** , what’s the deal with that #10 on the Browns? I had the game on in the background, and it seemed every time I looked up, he was playing his ass off. Who is he? Jordon Norwood. He’s one of those scrappy undersized guys who makes up for it with quickness and tenacity. He had some good catches and returns and I’m rooting for him to make the team. ---
**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 17, 2011, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-2011-nfl-football-thread-preseason-edition/589920/455 "2011-08-17T18:15:59Z")
Suh got fined 20k for [trying to rip Andy Dalton’s head off](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEuBW1RfY0k) after the play was over. [He did something similar but worse to Delhomme](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKccCpcDmc0) last year. Kid is dirty enough that he should consider signing with the Steelers when he hits free agency. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-2011-nfl-football-thread-preseason-edition/589920/456 "2011-08-17T19:36:59Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > Suh got fined 20k for [trying to rip Andy Dalton’s head off](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEuBW1RfY0k) after the play was over. > > [He did something similar but worse to Delhomme](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKccCpcDmc0) last year. > > Kid is dirty enough that he should consider signing with the Steelers when he hits free agency. Wow, that move on Delhomme was horrible and looked really dangerous. He should’ve been tossed from the game for that shit. ---
**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 17, 2011, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-2011-nfl-football-thread-preseason-edition/589920/457 "2011-08-17T19:55:03Z")
> [@ShadowFacts](#): > > Wow, that move on Delhomme was horrible and looked really dangerous. He should’ve been tossed from the game for that shit. Do you think Suh knew that Dalton got rid of the ball? To me, it looks like he were trying to tackle him like he were a ball carrier. I’m not even clear how his helmet even came off. ---
**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 17, 2011, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-2011-nfl-football-thread-preseason-edition/589920/458 "2011-08-17T19:55:53Z")
The post you quoted was about the Delhomme incident. Are you going to try to justify that one? “He only did the WWF double head tearoff move because he thought Delhomme maybe had the ball”? ---
**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 17, 2011, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-2011-nfl-football-thread-preseason-edition/589920/459 "2011-08-17T19:59:07Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > The post you quoted was about the Delhomme incident. Are you going to try to justify that one? “He only did the WWF double head tearoff move because he thought Delhomme maybe had the ball”? Oh, my bad. No, I was talking more about the Dalton one. The Delhomme incident was a lot less defensible. You just can’t go after the head in today’s NFL. With Dalton, it looked like he was going for the shoulders. ---
**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 17, 2011, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-2011-nfl-football-thread-preseason-edition/589920/460 "2011-08-17T20:11:36Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > Suh got fined 20k for [trying to rip Andy Dalton’s head off](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEuBW1RfY0k) after the play was over. > > [He did something similar but worse to Delhomme](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKccCpcDmc0) last year. > > Kid is dirty enough that he should consider signing with the Steelers when he hits free agency. He got tagged for a [pretty nasty one on Cutler](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kw6vxVVXWUM) last season too. This one’s a bit more subjective than those two, but in my eyes (biased of course) he coiled up that right arm and launched it at the back of his head. He was penalized and fined a bunch of money for this one. Kid’s getting a reputation that’s going to stick with him and cost his team a bunch of 15 yard penalties, some of which might not be deserved. Combine this with Fairley’s track record of dirty plays with malicious intent and this could be perceived as one of the dirtiest defenses in the league if they aren’t careful. ETA: The fine was for $15k. [Ndamukong Suh of Detroit Lions fined $15,000 for hit on Jay Cutler - ESPN](http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5899703) ---
**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 17, 2011, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-2011-nfl-football-thread-preseason-edition/589920/461 "2011-08-17T20:18:33Z")
The NFL is really easing up on letting little clubs go to youtube, isn’t it? 2 years ago you couldn’t find anything that didn’t say “video removed due to copyright claims from the NFL”. Which is good. Never got why everyone is so eager to hunt down little clips of their stuff on ebay - entire episodes, sure - but little clips are something fans use to show other fans, and is more likely to increase rather than decrease excitement for the show/sport/whatever. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-2011-nfl-football-thread-preseason-edition/589920.md?page=22) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-2011-nfl-football-thread-preseason-edition/589920.md?page=24)