The NFL Preseason Thread.

[Lt. Al Giardello 0]

I actually think Oakland is going to do decent this year... Good running attack with Fargas and McFadden, and their underrated defense. If JaMarcus can progress, and Javon Walker can get over the fact he took an ass whoopin... They'll be pretty decent, and have a future.

[Guest Tzar Lysergic]

I'm looking at the league and looking at schedules, trying to figure out where a surprise team may come from. Carolina, maybe?

[Kinetic 0]

That wouldn't surprise me at all. Their big issue last year was injuries. If they can stay healthy this year and not fall too far behind NO and/or Tampa while Steve Smith is suspended, then who knows? They have a fair amount of talent and a coach who needs to have a good year to save his job. I'd say they're in the 8-10 win range and right in the mix for the NFC South at the end of the year.

 

 

[Art Sandusky 0]

Glad to see that VX and Kotz, both Packers fans and both likely more knowledgeable in regards to football minutia than am I, share my optimism. And yes, I stand by my declaration about the Patriots. Remember the important caveat- my claim is based on their record if they have no major injuries. If Brady is hurt, all bets are off.

I say they get twelve wins at the absolute most, not least.

 

re: Carolina, they're incredibly dependent on staying healthy. The last four, five years have shown that they're usually good for at least a Divisional round appearance so long as no one gets hurt. It creates a real feast or famine atmosphere down here.

[MFer 0]

Houston could make a run at their first ever playoff berth. They were 7-3 against non-divisional opponents last season; if they can get a couple more wins against their division, they could make it. Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson were dinged up last year, so it'll definitely help that they're healthy again.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Carolina really should look into getting a quarterback for the future. Delhomme isn't getting any younger... or more talented. I'd like for Matt Moore to be that guy but I don't know.

[sfaJack 0]

Houston could make a run at their first ever playoff berth. They were 7-3 against non-divisional opponents last season; if they can get a couple more wins against their division, they could make it. Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson were dinged up last year, so it'll definitely help that they're healthy again.

I'm not too sure about that. Their defense has been pretty bad; the pass rush is non-existant and their secondary, especially with Robinson out, is terrible. Because of the injuries, Schaub is still mostly unproven so you really don't know what they have there. Ahman Green can't stay on the field and it's undetermined how the first year of Alex Gibbs's chop-blocking scheme will go. Add in that their schedule is tough (on paper) and I just don't see much more than 8-8 again.

 

I definitely think they finish ahead of Tennessee though. The Titans have 5-11 written all over them.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

the pass rush is non-existant

 

Don't they have that guy... umm what's his name? Oh yeah, Mario Williams.

[sfaJack 0]

Have you actually watched or otherwise followed them this preseason? Yes, they have Mario and yes, it's only the preseason--but they have ONE sack. One. And it was by Tim Bulman.

 

Mario is getting doubled and has been mostly ineffective. Amobi Okoye has been a serious disappointment. Roosevelt Colvin, who was brought in specifically to rush the passer, is probably going to get cut today. Anthony Maddox is probably cut. Travis Johnson is a solid bust of a #1 pick.

 

I mean, no offense to N.D. Kalu, but when he is your second best D-lineman at this point in his career, you have serious issues.

[Lt. Al Giardello 0]

Incase you haven't realise players half ass it during pre season for the most part...

[sfaJack 0]

Not the ones that are trying to make a team (i.e. Colvin). And, uh, did you read:

 

Have you actually watched or otherwise followed them this preseason? Yes, they have Mario and yes, it's only the preseason--but they have ONE sack.

 

All I'm saying is that there are serious concerns about the Texans' pass rush and, if they don't get it fixed, it will probably cost them a real shot at a playoff spot.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Don't hold me to this, but I don't recall Mario making a splash in last year's pre-season either. He ended up doing well in the season, didn't he? And I guess if we're going to worry about the pre-season, the Patriots are in line to win 4 games at the most this year.

[Broward83 0]

Ah...pessimistic Texans fans that have already doomed us to either .500 or lower.

 

At worst, we go .500 this year. The key is getting Schaub / Johnson back on track with each other which will come during this last bit of pre-season and going into the first weeks of the actual season.

 

Taylor and Slaton have done well in their roles as RB's this year and if Ahman can just stay healthy enough we've got a decent platoon of backs to mix-in thru-out the game.

 

Defense.. yeah, its a bit sketchy. No real pass-rush and with Dunta out, the DB's are a bit lost but again, this is all pre-season and like USC said, if we looked at the pre-season as a tell-all for the regular season.. the Pats would be fucked.

[Bored 0]

Reports are that Chad Johnson has legally changed his name to Ocho Cinco. Now they need to trade him to team where someone already wears #85.

 

Edit: Better yet trade him to the Rams, #85 is retired (Jack Youngblood).

[Guest Vitamin X]

What? At WORST you go .500 this year? You're in a division with Indy, Jacksonville, and even Tennessee which is more or less if not above Houston's level.

 

And you guys have Ahman Green. A late fumble here and there should cost you at least a couple wins. Trust me, I know from experience.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Reports are that Chad Johnson has legally changed his name to Ocho Cinco. Now they need to trade him to team where someone already wears #85.

 

Edit: Better yet trade him to the Rams, #85 is retired (Jack Youngblood).

 

Does that mean his jersey will spell out his entire name "Ocho Cinco" or the traditional last name format of "Cinco"?

[Broward83 0]

I believe he changed his last name to "Ocho Cinco" .. so he is formally known as Chad Ocho Cinco

 

VX: I'd rather be optimistic going into this year than saying at best we go .500..

 

Yeah we've got Tenn / Jax / Indy but with Tenn.. we can beat them if we keep our nose to the stone and don't do stupid shit. Jax we've proven we can beat and Indy.. well, they're Indy and we might get swept by them or we might split. They're an O-lineman or two away from being beatable.

[Guest Vitamin X]

I say you guys get anywhere from 6-9 wins, if you want to be optimistic about it.

[Guest WhackingCockDick]

Oh man, so hard I laughed at the Ocho Cinco thing.

[KingPK 0]

Don't hold me to this, but I don't recall Mario making a splash in last year's pre-season either. He ended up doing well in the season, didn't he? And I guess if we're going to worry about the pre-season, the Patriots are in line to win 4 games at the most this year.

 

Fun fact: The Patriots and Colts 1st string offenses combined for a grand total of 0 touchdowns in the preseason.

Edited August 30, 2008 by KingPK

[AlwaysPissedOff 0]

Yeah we've got Tenn / Jax / Indy but with Tenn.. we can beat them if we keep our nose to the stone and don't do stupid shit. Jax we've proven we can beat and Indy.. well, they're Indy and we might get swept by them or we might split. They're an O-lineman or two away from being beatable.

The only reason you guys got one game off of the Jags last year was because Del Rio rested all the starters, otherwise, it'd have been a sweep.

[Smartly Pretty 0]

Calling Amobi Akoye a disapointment is kind of retarded, seeing as he's 2 years younger than most members of his draft class, and still managed to look pretty impressive at times (he was rookie of the month or something i think) and he collected a fair amount of sacks for a DT. He's really fucking young, he'll get better, and he'll get bigger for sure.

[Guest Tzar Lysergic]

Houston is actually a "Surprise!" team I'm considering in the AFC. They just have the misfortune of being in the best division in football. However, I think Tennessee is going to stumble bigtime, and will finish last in the South. 9-7 for the Texans.

 

They get Baltimore @ home, as well as Miami, Detroit, Cincinatti, and Chicago. They should be able to hold court at home with at least four wins. Their road games outside of the division aren't too terribly bad either. @Cleveland and @Oakland are two of them. However, they do have to go to Green Bay in December, to Minnesota, and to Pittsburgh opening week. If they can pick up only three wins in the division, they can go 9-7 without too much of a reach, really.

 

Tennessee has an easier schedule, actually, I just think they're going to suck.

[NoCalMike 0]

Can someone sell me on The Eagles in 2008 being a contender? A lot of "experts" are picking them to do really well some even have them representing the NFC in the superbowl.

 

I don't think they are going to suck by any means, but I see them being a .500 team by the end of the season.

 

What am I not seeing?

 

A healthy McNabb and Brian Westbrook is a good combo but is it enough to handle the tough defenses in the NFC East?

 

EDIT: Oh and when does the "Regular Season" NFL thread start? I am anxious to talk some Skins/Giants stuff....

[Guest Tzar Lysergic]

Good call. In about five minutes.

[the pinjockey 0]

The Eagles can finish anywhere from 12-4 to 6-10 and not be a shock to me.

 

When looking at the defense, I really like the linebackers. Gocong, Bradley, and Gaither should provide an athletic ability they haven't had there in a while. On the same token there is the chance that once the league gets more tape on Bradley and Gocong they become exposed.

 

The CBs are an elite group, since there is no chance they trade Lito at this point. The CBs being that good is necessary, because Mikell and the slowing Dawkins are better in run support than pass at this point in their careers. Although Mikell is much better than I expected.

 

I am a big believer in this defense (and Bradley specifically), but there are plenty of questions there. One other note, 6th round pick Joe Mays plays just like a Jeremiah Trotter clone.

 

On offense, Curtis being out hurts big time. He had solid chemistry with McNabb and a group of Curtis, Brown, and Jackson would have been fine. It is now going to be another situation with all of the WRs being forced into roles over what they should be. That said, I really like the DeSean Jackson and you can tell Reid does too since he sat the 4th preseason game. Reggie Brown is what he is at this point, around 50 catches 700 yards and a few TDs.

 

I do worry about the red zone production again this year. That was their big problem last season. They could move the ball between the 20s no problem. They say they have implemented a fade pass game with Hank Baskett, but I will believe it when I see it and I am sick of hearing LJ Smith until he actually starts producing down there.

 

The giant upgrade is in the return game. Jackson on punts and Quentin Demps on kicks gives them the home run threats they have lacked since Brian Mitchell. If they don't combine to return a few kicks for TDs this season I'll be shocked. At the very least their average field position should improve by 10 yards, bare minimum. Miserable stat from one of the papers over the last couple weeks: their longest kickoff return last season was (I believe) 35 yards. At some point you should luck into a return of more than that.

 

Order of injuries that would hurt team:

1. Westbrook (Booker would put up solid fantasy stats, but the team would die)

2. Trent Cole (he is their only legit pass rusher)

3a and b. Jon Runyan/Tra Thomas

5. McNabb (I think Kevin Kolb could handle the job at this point)

[the pinjockey 0]

Of course my favorite thing right now is seeing the reaction to McDougle getting cut on the Eagles message board. Apparently he is going to go to the Giants (a possibility) and become a killer, since he played well against second and third stringers this preseason. That negates 5 years of injury and bustitude.

 

It seems they should have cut Chris Clemons, his 8 sacks last year are over twice what McDougle has done in his career, and only didn't because there would have been $4mil in dead money.

 

I guess that is a good sign, when the biggest "end of the season" proclamations are about the 53rd man on the roster.

[Kinetic 0]

Is every team message board that bad? The Bucs one is really similar in that there's constant "the sky is falling" overreaction to every piddling little detail of everything the team has done this offseason. There were even a couple of "pack it in, the season's over" threads because Chris Simms was released. The fuck, people? And the grammar! This place is like a message board for librarians compared to that place. Plus, there's no cursing and every sarcastic statement has to be posted in blue. I don't know why I lurk there. Better to stick to this here Patriots board.

[fazzle 0]

I haven't been to the official Bills message board in like, two seasons, but when I did it was always the exact opposite. "lalaalalala, I can see the problems. We're still doing great. This is a fantastic year. No worries whatsoever" kind of mentality.

[jimmy no nose 0]

I haven't been around much today, did I miss any other surprise cuts? Ones I've seen that leaped out are Chad Jackson from the Patriots, Orien Harris from New Orleans, and John Lynch. Anyone else interesting or noteworthy?