NFL/NCAAF Thread

[celestial phantom]

Well...we released Josh Cribbs it seems, so looks like we know what Dorsett likely might be doing, and work that return specialist role maybe. But, yeah I can see it being a fine pick, but seriously we need to step up the Defense overall for the future. I kind of hoped to land Goldman, but that's not happening now. Our offense might be able to make up for the lack of a "great" defense (Colts defense is actually solid, but it's just average at that, nothing noteworthy). Especially since we don't have an in-prime Freeney/Mathis combo anymore, and they made up mostly for the lack of not having a great secondary when they were healthy and young. Watching this, just watch Gregory slipping so far lol, I wouldn't be surprised if my team manages him somehow in the 2nd. But, really I think we need a good LB, Safety or DT with this second pick, especially if we're gonna step up against the Broncos and Pats.

Looks like today is the day of all the draft trades, gonna be interesting to see what happens going into Round 3.

Edit: Also I figured this earlier, but watch come season time, Colts are gonna introduce the 1 Center, 1 Andrew Luck, 10 WR set.

 

[GrizzlyB]

Yeah, Indy drafting dorsett clearly means that they're "afraid" of what Luck will do without Reggie "Batman" Wayne catching like 90% of his TD's nowadays. That being said, you have to love the way their division is looking right now with houston clearly having a horrible offense and amazing defense, jacksonville having an average offense and average defense, tennessee having crap across the board, and Indy having what should be one of the most hard-to-defend-against pass offenses in the league next year. Defenses may win championships, but the right offense can usually compensate for that.

Also, according to a few articles I read Cleveland was and apparently still is trying to pursue some sort of trade for Zach Mettenberger. While picking him up would give cleveland tons of options (like allowing them to use next season to gauge both QB's strengths), the fact they haven't gotten a deal done before the draft when metsy was worth "less" is pretty baffling.

Thinking about it, I now realize the Colts are likely hedging their bets on TY Hilton for next year. Though I can't imagine that they're overly willing to walk away from him -- but three of their receiving weapons are up for contracts next year (and Luck in two).

Yeah, I would just not think too deeply about what Cleveland tries to do. Or maybe they're super geniuses and figured there was a 100% chance of the Titans taking Mariota.

Edit: Also I figured this earlier, but watch come season time, Colts are gonna introduce the 1 Center, 1 Andrew Luck, 10 WR set.

Completely impossible... you can't have 12 guys on offense! But even though I just said they're probably hedging their bets on Hilton with Dorsett, they probably will run empty sets more than any professional team has before.

And I was just about to orgasm at Fisher and Clemmings still being on the board... **** the Bengals, why do those douchenozzles draft two top-rated technicians (who have the same weaknesses).

 

[Nightlingbolt]

Is anyone else worried that the Jets need to pick up some semblance of a quarterback? Because they're trying to give Geno Smith the weapons he needs, but unless Ryan Fitzpatrick is ready to go for training camp, Smith has pretty much zero competition for the starting job, plus if Smith goes down, Fitzpatrick is nobody's Namath.

 

[celestial phantom]

Completely impossible... you can't have 12 guys on offense! But even though I just said they're probably hedging their bets on Hilton with Dorsett, they probably will run empty sets more than any professional team has before.

And I was just about to orgasm at Fisher and Clemmings still being on the board... **** the Bengals, why do those douchenozzles draft two top-rated technicians (who have the same weaknesses).

True, maybe the better term would be a 10 receiver rotation, because at this rate we're gonna have like 8 WRs and the 2 TEs that see snaps regularly. And yeah, Luck, Fleener, Hilton, and Allen all from the 2012 draft will have possible new contracts coming up, thank god for the new rookie pay scale and being able to pay Luck that before for a 5th year and getting him his big contract then.

Being from Nebraska, I can get behind the Lions picking Ameer. Dude is so fun to watch, I can't wait to watch him in the NFL, and in a division where the defenses aren't that stout, and seemingly always run over each other, I think he might have landed in an alright spot.

 

[GrizzlyB]

Is anyone else worried that the Jets need to pick up some semblance of a quarterback? Because they're trying to give Geno Smith the weapons he needs, but unless Ryan Fitzpatrick is ready to go for training camp, Smith has pretty much zero competition for the starting job, plus if Smith goes down, Fitzpatrick is nobody's Namath.

Well, every QB but Winston and Mariota is still on the board, and they're a decent bunch. Maybe they pick Hundley in the 3rd and let Smith/Fitzpatrick flounder in front of him for a few years, before letting him get out there to flounder himself.


And there it goes... T.J. Clemmings, on the board at the end of the second round, ripe for the taking... and the Broncos draft Ty ****in' Sambrailo. One of the downsides of letting Gary Kubiak into the war room -- marginal CSU players. I'm actually pretty pissed -- Clemmings was raw, but has very very high potential, and Sambrailo sucks.

 

[Mye]

To be fair, the Jets are in a weird scenario right now. While I'm not saying they should completely abandon getting a QB now, if they were to wait a few years (you know, until Brady retires) they could hit the division hard at a time in which Tannehill will in all likelihood be the only good QB in there. Doing so would make the whole revis contract a bit useless, but meh. They're in a lose-lose scenario right now should they want to make a splash in that division, so the least they can do is build up their defense and hope that someone good (like one of the two tennesee QB's) becomes available in the near future.

Also nice to see the titans added green-beckham (even if their offense is still gonna be bad next year). Much like with the whole cleveland thing, it'd be nice to see the titans build up their WR's and see which QB reacts better to that system. They're one of the few teams right now that aren't "stuck" to one QB, so having a friendly competition like this will most likely leave them with one franchise QB and another useful piece of trade bait (unlike what'd happen if they just sat Mariota for a year).

 

[celestial phantom]

To be fair, the Jets are in a weird scenario right now. While I'm not saying they should completely abandon getting a QB now, if they were to wait a few years (you know, until Brady retires) they could hit the division hard at a time in which Tannehill will in all likelihood be the only good QB in there. Doing so would make the whole revis contract a bit useless, but meh. They're in a lose-lose scenario right now should they want to make a splash in that division, so the least they can do is build up their defense and hope that someone good (like one of the two tennesee QB's) becomes available in the near future.

Also nice to see the titans added green-beckham (even if their offense is still gonna be bad next year). Much like with the whole cleveland thing, it'd be nice to see the titans build up their WR's and see which QB reacts better to that system. They're one of the few teams right now that aren't "stuck" to one QB, so having a friendly competition like this will most likely leave them with one franchise QB and another useful piece of trade bait (unlike what'd happen if they just sat Mariota for a year).

The AMISH RIFLE will not do well probably, but heck Jets actually have a useful WR now, so maybe Geno can improve somewhat, Fitz isn't that bad a placeholder until they try again for a franchise guy. Building up their defense and solidifying an O-Line is basically the best they can do until a real QB presents himself.

Mariota and DGB pretty much is giving the Titans an identity already. That's something that's kind of held them back since their best WR guy is like Kendall Wright, heck might actually be their TE on offense. At least I'd give they have a more solid O-Line than the Jags (not by much, but allowing like 20 less sacks than the jags is "better" comparatively, which was 71 by the jags O-Line, and 50 by the Titans O-Line). I don't know if I can entirely fault the Jags O-Line (which still needs heavy upgrades) when they didn't have a vet receiver (lol Justin Blackmon) that Bortles to throw to. But, overall I like the group of QBs that are coming into the AFC South, just if the rest of the teams didn't overall suck.

Not surprised that the Cowboys took Gregory either, figured it was gonna be the Cowboys or my team, but if he gets straightened out a bit, that feels like its gonna be a steal of a pick, but that's a huge IF. Also, TJ Clemmings still there, falling out of both the 1st and 2nd rounds, just sitting there. Must be one nasty stress fracture injury he has for him to be falling like this.

 

[GrizzlyB]

To be fair, the Jets are in a weird scenario right now. While I'm not saying they should completely abandon getting a QB now, if they were to wait a few years (you know, until Brady retires) they could hit the division hard at a time in which Tannehill will in all likelihood be the only good QB in there. Doing so would make the whole revis contract a bit useless, but meh. They're in a lose-lose scenario right now should they want to make a splash in that division, so the least they can do is build up their defense and hope that someone good (like one of the two tennesee QB's) becomes available in the near future.

Also nice to see the titans added green-beckham (even if their offense is still gonna be bad next year). Much like with the whole cleveland thing, it'd be nice to see the titans build up their WR's and see which QB reacts better to that system. They're one of the few teams right now that aren't "stuck" to one QB, so having a friendly competition like this will most likely leave them with one franchise QB and another useful piece of trade bait (unlike what'd happen if they just sat Mariota for a year).

You really can't plan your team building around another team, even if they are a perennial division winner like the Patriots. The players, the fans, and, therefore, the owners don't have the patience to build. Especially the players who can and will ditch the team in free agency after a few years if they're not winning/overpaid.

And the dual-QB thing hasn't worked out at all for the Redskins, even though it was pretty much ideal after year 1. Though I do somewhat suspect that Mike Shanahan sat RG3 and put Kirk Cousins in a position to fail to **** with Dan Snyder on his way out.


Seahawks batshit as usual. It really seems like they just go balls to the wall for certain players, and then assume all of the collateral damage will work itself out. Seriously, selling out for Tyler Lockett a year after drafting Paul Richardson is incomprehensible to me.

And as a friendly PSA, the next players I will get pissed about being taken before the Broncos have a shot are... well, add T.J. Clemmings to the list now, but originally Henry Anderson and Xavier Cooper.

Oh, and the Broncos got their pass rusher, but Owamagbe Odighizuwa is great, if he isn't hurt constantly, the Giants got a steal.

 

[Bolt the Cat]

The Ravens are building up a pretty good offense with Perriman and Williams in the roster (and speaking of Williams, how sweet was it when the Ravens traded up and swiped him from the Steelers?), Flacco has a lot to play around with now. The defense could still use some improvement though, and the lack of CBs is pretty concerning especially when most of the good ones are taken already.

 

[bobjr]

Secondary positions in the draft can vary all over the place, it's not uncommon for a first round to bust and get a starter out of someone you get out of the 5th round.

 

[Bolt the Cat]

Finally we got a CB. We've got most of our major needs filled at this point, now we just need a safety to round things off. A few extra defensive players wouldn't hurt either.

 

[Mye]

Now that the draft is over, I'm gonna go ahead and post my "predictions" for each of the NFL teams for next season, going in draft order from worst to best. Let's begin with Tampa:

-Tampa Bay Buccaneers-

2014 Prediction: 3-13-0
2014 Record: 2-14-0
Notable Additions: QB Jameis Winston
Notable Subtractions: QB Josh McCown

Summary: Going into last season, I had mixed feelings about Tampa. On one hand, they were playing in an incredibly weak division with no real "favorite" to win it and not one team being any good. On the other hand, their "big signing" came in the form of perennial bench-sitter who they thought could take the game by storm. Advance one year ahead, and not much has changed. Their division remains the weakest in the NFL, and McCown-a-mania has been sacrificed in favor of Winston-X. Aside from that, this team remains virtually the same and thus is destined to do much of the same. I wholly expect Jameis Winston to have much of the same effect that RG3 did in his second year, and I would not be shocked to see Tampa go back to back with the #1 picks.

3 Bold Predictions:
1) Tampa finishes with the worst record in the NFL and gets the #1 pick for the second year in a row
2) Jameis Winston throws for 3,000+ yards, 15 TD's, and 20INT's on route to being temporarily considered a massive bust
3) Via winning a game, Tampa somehow manages to eliminate a team from playoff contention

2015 Prediction: 1-15-0

 

[bobjr]

So who wants to be the deflating footballs thing only comes down to a 4 game suspension for Brady that's brought down to 2 on appeal?

 

[Mye]

Meh, time for team #2:

-Tennessee Titans-
2014 Prediction: 1-15-0
2014 Record: 2-14-0
Notable Additions: QB Marcus Mariota, OLB Brian Orakpo
Notable Subtractions: QB Jake Locker

Summary: Ah, the Titans. While most teams each year try to be known for high powered offenses/defenses and contend for the playoffs, it seems the Titans are kinda trying to do the opposite. Last season proved to be no exception, as they finished with the 29th ranked offense and 27th ranked defense in yards per game all while having one of their QB's forced into early retirement due to injuries. Going into this season, I am struggling to see how they're going to get wins in what is a tougher division with Indy getting better on offense, Houston getting better on defense, and Jacksonville having wild-card potential (more on that later). That being said, if either of their QBs can prove themselves, they should have decent trade bait to at least attempt a rebuild for next season.

3 Bold Predictions:
1)Tennessee starts three different QB's, with each one getting no more than 8 starts: Not really a prediction of how bad their QB's are gonna be, but moreso of how dangerous their offensive line is gonna be. With Locker being forced into retirement last season and their offensive line not changing much, I would not be surprised to see at least one QB go down to injury and every one of them be afraid inside the pocket
2) the Titans record a bottom-5 offense and bottom-5 defense for the 8th and 7th time respectively since 2001: unless Bishop Sankey and Brian Orakpo have god-like years, this team will be in shambles from opening day. Expect a lot of field goals being scored and few TD-drives being blocked.
3) the Titans will go winless in their division yet still have a few wins: looking at their schedule, it's actually pretty light compared to most teams. They face the Browns, Bills, Falcons, (Jimmy Graham-less) Saints, Raiders, and Jets. In most cases, a few of these games should be "winnable" even for them.

2015 Prediction: 4-12-0

In unrelated news, Ed Reed retired (a few months after Palamalu did).

 

[Bolt the Cat]

So who wants to be the deflating footballs thing only comes down to a 4 game suspension for Brady that's brought down to 2 on appeal?

Isn't it the team as a whole that's in trouble, not just Brady?

 

[SlowPokeBroKing]

Isn't it the team as a whole that's in trouble, not just Brady?

They basically said the only punishments will be for Brady and the two ball deflator guys.

 

[Mye]

Isn't it the team as a whole that's in trouble, not just Brady?

Kinda. According to the report, it was "presumed" that Brady knew of the deflated balls but chose not to disclose it with the refs. Belichick also had no "prior knowledge" of this incident, possibly suggesting that Brady isn't the adorable harmless schmuck everyone's made him out to be.

As far as punishment is concerned, I wouldn't be surprised to see Brady get a 6 game suspension for this and the team as a whole forfeiting their next 2 first round draft picks as well as cash in the range of $300k. Mind you, this is going off the assumption that Roger "next pick in the giraffe" Goodell is gonna use Brady as a way to fix his image after what was a pretty horrendus and appalling year for him.

 

[bobjr]

I do like how Brady's dad is calling it "framegate", Brady's agent said it was a set up, and Brady's team's owner is saying that science is wrong.

 

[Mye]

Yeah, that's the beauty of it. On one side you have a childhood hero whose won 4 superbowls and has one of the greatest legacies in the modern day to protect. On the other side you have a childhood hero whose won multiple emmy awards and barring Stephen Hawking is easily the most notable nerd to ever exist. For all those wondering who I'm referring to, I'll let this explain it all:

[video=youtube;dSY_QZKt1NI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSY_QZKt1NI[/video]

 

[bobjr]

I did just read where some people are expecting Brady to get suspended for a year to start off the year looking tough.

It's not going to happen, but would be funny if it did.