Being a fan of the team that used to boast one of the best O-Lines in the NFL (the Hogs), I've always appreciated teams that can pound the ball at opposing defenses. Of all the coaches that run the West Coast offense (ugh) Shanahan is probably the one I like best because he is willing to run the ball more than a lot of other coaches who run the WC and prefer to dink and dunk most of the time. On the other hand, his son Kyle has a bad tendency to get away form the run and get too pass happy which put them in a lot of long yardage situations last year (bad news for a team with Rex Grossman and his pop-gun arm at QB).
So, now that we've had two games to glimpse at our teams, what do you all think of yours? Against the Bears on Saturday, the Redskins looked every bit of the 5-11 team they were last year. The O-Line and secondary were as awful as ever. If it wasn't for our superlative return man Brandon Banks taking back a punt for a TD the first half would have been a complete blow out. However, I was impressed with the play of rookie back-up QB Kirk Cousins (from Michigan State) who threw three TDs. He looked absolutely horrible last week, so he appears to making significant progress, albeit against back-ups. I'm sticking with my prediction that the Skins will be lucky to reach .500 this year, but anything goes in the NFC East. As bad as the Skins were last year, they still managed to sweep the Super Bowl champion Giants...
It's preseason, maybe no one's playing that well because they're not trying to get hurt, it may explain the Ravens' D not being able to lock down Megatron on Friday night.
I'm a Giant fan & also a Tebow fan. I saw most of the game between the Jets & Giants on Saturday(missed most of the 4th Q. - church). The Giants look like they are on track. As a Giant I still never know what to expect from them. Every year it's the same thing - during the season there will be times they will look like the best team in the league & other times they will look like crap, it just depends when that all happens as to how far they'll go. Except for that terrible pass in the endzone which coulda/shoulda been a TD, I thought Tebow looked decent early, but I guess he didn't do well late, although the Jets O-line is terrible.
I missed the Jets-Giants game, but I did see the highlights of Sanchez getting repeatedly planted into the ground. It looked like the Giants D-Line is picking up where they left off last season. The Giants are a strange team. One year they look like world-beaters and then the next season they'll miss the playoffs entirely and then the circus around Tom Coughlin starts up again. The lack of consistency from season to season is mystifying, but now that Eli's in his prime maybe that will change (?). Did you see the Colts and Steelers last night? That was the first time I saw Andrew Luck in a Colts uniform and aside from one bad pass he threw on an out pattern he looked real impressive against one of the better defenses in the NFL. Indy fans have to be pleased with what they're seeing in that kid...
Jeff Demps joined the Pats What I hope: the defense gets it act together. They have some good SEC players there so let's hope they stay healthy and click running game- you can't always count on the short pass on 3rd down, they need a running game Mallett- I hope the kid gets some snaps this year. Brady is still good but in the sunset years. Mallett has a rocket of an arm and can read a defense. He can only get better under B+B
Obviously Calvin Johnson is too good for his own good, but the defense as a whole didn't really get a whole lot of pressure on the Lions' QBs.
I caught some of the Indy/Pitt game, but saw most of Luck's highlights. I think he's going to be a real good, maybe even great, QB in the NFL. I think without a doubt, the Colts made the right choice in drafting him & saying goodbye to Manning. The Giants aren't only Jekyl & Hyde from season to season, but they can be that way within any particular season. As a Jint fan, I always feel like they have a shot at doing something great.
Now that Eli is in his prime I think the Giants have a much better shot at maintaining the consistency they've been lacking, and as long as their defensive line stays healthy they're going to continue to give opposing offenses and QBs fits. For me, the big questions in the NFC East are 1) can the Eagles finally put all that talent together and 2) can the Giants establish that consistency we've been talking about. After that, the only question is who will finish last - the Cowboys or the Redskins?
It's funny - a couple of talking heads at the NFL Network were blabbing about who would be better in the NFC North this year - Jay Cutler or Aaron Rogers. No mention of Matthew Stafford and the Lions. Evidently, the geniuses at that network forgot that Stafford threw for over 5000 yards last season and he's got one of the best receivers in the game to throw to in Megatron.
He is a winner. Another kid I think who has "it" too is Andy Dalton of the Bengals. He was a winner at TCU and now he's continuing to succeed in the NFL. I was really impressed with how he played and carried himself last year - a lot of NFL veterans lack the maturity and composure that kid showed during his rookie season. He's got a ton of upside.
I loathe to say this, 'cause the Giants have been known to disappoint. But I really like them going into this season, at least to win the division. The 'Skins have a rookie QB, with arguable lack of talent around him. The Cowboys have injuries/issues surrounding their playmakers and please, all those who think Vick will not miss multiple games, raise your hand?! So, I like the Giants chances this year, but it wouldn't shock me to see them lose in the first round of the playoffs.
Skins- rookie QB, sure. But, of the entire 2012 draft me thinks RG3 is going to stand head and shoulders above the rest including Luck. He'll compensate where the Skins lack. Do I think he can carry them through playoffs...........not yet. You need an entire team for that.
The Raven need a new defensive coach, I nominate Jon Gruden. That way MNF fans get a break from his lectures, and Baltimore gets a shot at winning the big game. Scab refs can't screw the game more than the regular ones did, along with Goodells stupid, political heavy handed BS. Will Tebow get celebration flags for his idiotic prayer move? Honestly - the storybook sports scripts are getting so old, with ESPN horrid sports announcers lame QB controversies, predictable boring lockroom "dramas," etc. Players need to stop pounding their chest if they make a tackle. Get back to the game already and skip the soap opera and the inane graphics flashing meaningless stats , and replaying the same down all day in TV coverage. A screen pass doesn't require a replay if it nets 3 yards! As for the Lions, Matt Millen ought to be out front blocking, considering Ford paid him 200 million dollars to do nothing all those years.
he does have something and I wish him well. as far as Cutler/Rogers goes,, LOL! who is kidding who? Rogers is much the better of the two and Cutler plays for the Bears, for gawd's sake. where's he going with that org? LOL
Oh, and before I forget, the Patriots (moi team) are going right to the super bowl again this year. LOADED. it's gonna be fun :--)
Yeah, the Pats are my team as well, and you're right of course...they will be going to the super duper bowl again this year. Brady isn't getting any younger, so this is the year for sure.
