TSM's 10 Burning Questions

[KingPK 0]

Check it out

 

If you want to give your own answers, or take any of us to task, this is the thread to do it.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Whoa when was this secret high order of NFL smarks held without my attendance?

 

My relatively short and sweet answers:

 

#1. Which offseason (draft, free agency, trade) pickup do you think will make the greatest impact with his new team?

 

If you mean in general, Eli Manning obviously will in the long run, but I think if you're talking about this season, Corey Dillon with the Pats. Guy is just about in his prime, is on a Super Bowl championship team, and NE finally gets a chance to have a consistent running threat for the first time since Curtis Martin.

 

#2. With the sudden retirement of Ricky Williams, how do you see the Dolphins dealing with the loss of their #1 offensive threat?

 

Why even ask this question? Of course the Dolphins aren't going to deal with it well, and with Dave "Please don't fire me" Wannstedt leading the way, this will be the year Wannstedt finally gets shown the door in Miami.

 

#3. Will we see Kurt Warner benched anytime during the season in favor of Eli Manning?

 

Warner shouldn't even have been on the Giants or been given a chance to start in New York in the first place. Hell, wasn't New York doing just fine with Kerry Collins? It's not like he was losing games for them. Either way with so much invested in Eli, and how he can play just as good if not better than Warner, I would not be surprised to see Manning come out and play anytime soon.

 

#4a. Which team that did not make the playoffs last year do you think has the best chance of making a splash?

 

Saints, definitely. I also see the Bucs coming back for revenge after last year's embarassment.

 

#4b. Which team that DID make the playoffs do you think will fall the farthest?

 

The Panthers. They'll fall the farthest because they nearly made it completely to the top. They barely beat the Cowboys, barely beat the Rams in double-OT, and barely beat the Eagles with an injured McNabb, and barely lost to the Patriots. Outside of tossing it deep to Steve Smith or pounding it short-yardage style with Stephen Davis, I'm not too impressed with Carolina's offense. We all know what their defense is capable of. But I don't think they can beat out the Saints for the NFC South title.

 

#5. Will the Raiders' locker room be the most entertaining to watch (or more accurately, listen to) this season?

 

No. How about the Cowboys locker room? That will be much more entertaining...

 

#6. Which player do you see making "The Leap" (to borrow a phrase from Bill Simmons) this year, becoming a force in the league?

 

Ironically, this may be the year Drew Brees shows the Chargers why they wasted a draft pick on Philip Rivers. Or maybe Duce finally getting to be a featured back in Pittsburgh.

 

#7. What do you think will be the biggest surprise (good or bad) this season?

 

I predict Cleveland to be giving teams fits in the year, since everyone and their mother is underestimating them. They might barely miss the playoffs, but the AFC North won't be as easy as it looks.

 

#8. Who wins the AFC?

 

Chiefs.

 

#9. Who wins the NFC?

 

Not the fucking Seahawks like everyone is predicting. I see someone from the NFC North representing. Minnesota or Green Bay, possibly Washington if they can adjust to the Gibbs coaching philosophy sooner rather than later, or maybe even the Bucs again.

 

#10. Super Bowl XXXIX, who wins it?

 

Depends on who plays the Chiefs.

 

I've correctly predicted the Super Bowl winner for the past 4 years in a row now when I see the whole group of playoff participants, so I'll have a more definitive answer for you then.

 

Thank god football season is here. (hugs Favre jersey)

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

Barring a Super Bowl win, I think Wannstedt was going to be fired after this year even if Ricky stayed. My only concern is that he's now a sympathetic figure, and will be kept, since the team being bad won't be his fault (due to Ricky skipping out). Hopefully, that won't be the case.

[HarleyQuinn 0]

#1. Which offseason (draft, free agency, trade) pickup do you think will make the greatest impact with his new team?

- Marcus Robinson with the Minnesota Vikings! Guy gives the Vikings a solid #2 across from Moss that is capable of making huge plays with help from Culpepper. Robinson makes the Vikings a resemblance of the 98 team with Robinson filling the Moss #2 role. Granted, he'll likely be out week 1 but Burleson should be a capable fill in until Robinson returns in week 2 or 3.

 

#2. With the sudden retirement of Ricky Williams, how do you see the Dolphins dealing with the loss of their #1 offensive threat?

- I see them struggling quite a bit. Chris Chambers should put up another great year however neither Jay Fielder nor A.J. Feeley strike fear in an opponent. Travis Minor/Lamar Gordon can't match the production Williams made and the O-Line isn't the worlds greatest even with the drafting of Vernon Carey.

 

#3. Will we see Kurt Warner benched anytime during the season in favor of Eli Manning?

- Easily. Warner doesn't have the weapons in Barber/Dayne at RB nor at WR in Toomer/Hilliard. Shockey is the most overrated TE ever as he rarely scores any TD and that won't help Warner keep his job. Also the abysmal O-Line may get him killed before week 2 as is.

 

#4a. Which team that did not make the playoffs last year do you think has the best chance of making a splash?

- Minnesota Vikings. Fabulous offense with a solid defense upgraded in the secondary. They have a great d-line with Chris Hovan bringing the pass rush and the offense should be enough to get them victories.

 

#4b. Which team that DID make the playoffs do you think will fall the farthest?

- None. I think they've all upgraded well enough. Dallas could surprise and finish 8-8 or 9-7 since their defense is still very solid.

 

#5. Will the Raiders' locker room be the most entertaining to watch (or more accurately, listen to) this season?

- That distinction will go to Philadelphia when McNabb starts missing Owens.

 

#6. Which player do you see making "The Leap" (to borrow a phrase from Bill Simmons) this year, becoming a force in the league?

- Jerry Porter. No opposition and he'll quickly be the #1 target in Oakland.

 

#7. What do you think will be the biggest surprise (good or bad) this season?

- The explosion of offensive scoring.

 

#8. Who wins the AFC?

- The Patriots. People can say that the Pats corners will be hurt by the new rule but they'll adjust quick enough and maintain their dominance through the LB/D-Line group. Offensively, Dillon will be a huge help in the running game. Darkhorse: Denver Broncos with their more then capable offense(Griffin/Bell could easily bust out a great season) and the defense has been upgraded tremendously.

 

#9. Who wins the NFC?

- This is pretty much a crap shoot at this rate but I'll take the Minnesota Vikings. They've upgraded their secondary and should be improved defensively and with an offense like theirs, that makes them even more dangerous. Darkhorse: Atlanta Falcons with a healthy Vick and a change to the 4-3 defense. DeAngelo Hall gives them a play making threat on returns and on defense.

 

#10. Super Bowl XXXIX, who wins it?

- Patriots. Their offense will be enough to get past the Vikings D and with Belichek, they'll find a way to stop Randy Moss and Marcus Robinson through blitz packages.

[Guest El Satanico]

Barring a Super Bowl win, I think Wannstedt was going to be fired after this year even if Ricky stayed. My only concern is that he's now a sympathetic figure, and will be kept, since the team being bad won't be his fault (due to Ricky skipping out). Hopefully, that won't be the case.

If this season isn't a complete disaster and the team finishes around .500, he'll be back.

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

Nooooooooooo!!!!!