NFL 2014

[walto]

This is what happens when you only see a couple of games. I caught the Broncos being spanked by the Pats and also saw their recent loss to the Bills. I think I only saw them win once this year. I also like Luck. What I don't like about Indy is that they seem to have no running game whatever, and will likely gain nothing on the ground against Denver's D. I acknowledge that that's bad.

But what the hell--I like the added excitement of having an actual reason to root for somebody, and it won't be the first CDs I've had to buy for people around here.

[Enforcer]

Don't let walto's "Hey, what do I know?" schtick fool you. He's still the only person I've lost a sports-related wager to in the last couple decades of my life. Motherfucker has game.

[Captain Hate]

The Hornster's bet-fu is very cagey.

Btw, Kyle Shanahan appears on the way out from the Browns for a variety of reasons including one where apparently he felt pressured to start Johnny Meathead in big games down the stretch. That might partially explain why the team looked so lackluster in those games over and beyond what a lazy unprepared pile of shit Manziel was. Without knowing everything that was at play in this, some of Kyle's game plans, particularly against the Bills, looked so fucking retarded with some plays not having a ghost of a chance to work even though they were repeated to the point of absurdity, that I was sondering just WTF was going on. First with the Redskins and now the Browns, Kyle's gotten off to a great start and then things turn to shit. That's not a great thing to have in your resume.

[Mo Noyz]

The only thing you've got going for you, walto, is that Manning is not playing well right now. I still think he'll torch that horrid secondary. They have Davis at CB, and that's about it.

[walto]

Prolly right.

Plus which, Gordon doesn't need my money. Can't help myself, being bawdaline ritahded. (Maybe someone here can make him take pity on me and give more than 7 points??)

Just wish Indy had some semblance of a running game and a better pass rush, etc., etc.

[Mo Noyz]

If Ahmad Bradshaw were to heal over night they'd have a decent running running game this weekend.

Indy should keep Andrew Luck, Dwayne Allen, Vontae Davis, Ahmad Bradshaw, and T.Y. Hilton and just blow up the rest. They truly just are not a very good team. I heard someone make a case that Andrew Luck should be the league MVP because the team around him is so terrible. I think it's a great point. Without Luck, this is not a playoff caliber team.

Which reminds me, Trent Richardson has to take over the number one spot from Ryan Leaf when it comes to biggest busts.

He cost two first round draft picks.

[jon abbey]

just one, I believe, the #26 pick in the first round:

http://www.businessinsider.com/trent-ri ... ter-2014-9

still a massive waste obviously.

[The G Man]

If Ahmad Bradshaw were to heal over night they'd have a decent running running game this weekend.

Indy should keep Andrew Luck, Dwayne Allen, Vontae Davis, Ahmad Bradshaw, and T.Y. Hilton and just blow up the rest. They truly just are not a very good team. I heard someone make a case that Andrew Luck should be the league MVP because the team around him is so terrible. I think it's a great point. Without Luck, this is not a playoff caliber team.

Which reminds me, Trent Richardson has to take over the number one spot from Ryan Leaf when it comes to biggest busts.

He cost two first round draft picks.

If you are going that route, then RG3? He did have a great rookie year but since then...

[The G Man]

just one, I believe, the #26 pick in the first round:

http://www.businessinsider.com/trent-ri ... ter-2014-9

still a massive waste obviously.

Well, if you carry this all the way out, Cleveland traded Richardson and a #3 for Johnny Manziel. I think I'd rather have the #3.

[The G Man]

it seems to me like the same teams from last year's conference championship games are still well ahead of everyone else: SEA, SF, DEN, NE, but I don't play fantasy or pay much attention in preseason.

This turned out to be true for three out of four. Good call.

Green Bay w. Rodgers still better than the Bears, who have a long way to go on D.

Unfortunately for Bears fans, this was true in spades.

Scott picked all four AFC divisional winners correctly though none in the NFC but I remember Philly and NO being near unanimous picks. I don't remember anybody predicting SF's demise.

[Mo Noyz]

just one, I believe, the #26 pick in the first round:

http://www.businessinsider.com/trent-ri ... ter-2014-9

still a massive waste obviously.

The Browns drafted him third overall, and the Colts traded a first rounder to acquire him. That's two first round draft picks. For garbage.

[Mo Noyz]

If Ahmad Bradshaw were to heal over night they'd have a decent running running game this weekend.

Indy should keep Andrew Luck, Dwayne Allen, Vontae Davis, Ahmad Bradshaw, and T.Y. Hilton and just blow up the rest. They truly just are not a very good team. I heard someone make a case that Andrew Luck should be the league MVP because the team around him is so terrible. I think it's a great point. Without Luck, this is not a playoff caliber team.

Which reminds me, Trent Richardson has to take over the number one spot from Ryan Leaf when it comes to biggest busts.

He cost two first round draft picks.

If you are going that route, then RG3? He did have a great rookie year but since then...

Are you ready to label him a bust yet? I'm not, and he showed some good signs when he got his gig back this year.

Richardson, OTOH, shouldn't even be in the NFL anymore.

[The G Man]

If Ahmad Bradshaw were to heal over night they'd have a decent running running game this weekend.

Indy should keep Andrew Luck, Dwayne Allen, Vontae Davis, Ahmad Bradshaw, and T.Y. Hilton and just blow up the rest. They truly just are not a very good team. I heard someone make a case that Andrew Luck should be the league MVP because the team around him is so terrible. I think it's a great point. Without Luck, this is not a playoff caliber team.

Which reminds me, Trent Richardson has to take over the number one spot from Ryan Leaf when it comes to biggest busts.

He cost two first round draft picks.

If you are going that route, then RG3? He did have a great rookie year but since then...

Are you ready to label him a bust yet? I'm not, and he showed some good signs when he got his gig back this year.

Richardson, OTOH, shouldn't even be in the NFL anymore.

He's not a bust yet but he's got a drinking problem in addition to being extremely immature. Where do you think he'd be drafted if he went back into the draft today, with all the information that is known about him?

[Mo Noyz]

I think he'd still go fairly high, maybe the top or middle of the second. There's too much raw talent there. Plenty of GMs and coaches would believe they could work out the kinks.

[Mo Noyz]

it seems to me like the same teams from last year's conference championship games are still well ahead of everyone else: SEA, SF, DEN, NE, but I don't play fantasy or pay much attention in preseason.

This turned out to be true for three out of four. Good call.

Green Bay w. Rodgers still better than the Bears, who have a long way to go on D.

Unfortunately for Bears fans, this was true in spades.

Scott picked all four AFC divisional winners correctly though none in the NFC but I remember Philly and NO being near unanimous picks. I don't remember anybody predicting SF's demise.

OK, now that I've got more time, I wanted to address this post.

I was pretty sure jon had his call right. I believe I even agreed with him at the time. The San Fran debacle was such an anomaly that I don't see how anyone could have called it ahead of time. I'd be willing to bet they'll be right back up there next year now that the drama queen has left the building. Talent-wise, there's simply no accounting for what happened.

But, it's been kinda odd the last couple of seasons, hasn't it? Last year the Texans and Falcons were preseason favorites, but just completely fell apart. Same as what happened with the Saints this season. Who in the hell could have seen that collapse coming? If you had told anyone that Drew Brees would throw for just shy of 5K with 33 TDs and 17 INTs leading one of the top tier offenses in the league, yet ended up with a losing record and not making the playoffs, they'd have never believed you. How in the hell Rob Ryan's job is "safe" is simply beyond comprehension.

So Rex gets fired, and Rob rolls on. I do believe that is totally bass ackwards.

Then again, if you had said that a bears team with Cutler, Jeffrey, Marshall, Bennett, and most importantly, Matt Forte would be in the bottom third of league offenses, they wouldn't have bought that either. And granny is pissed!

Justin Forsett a top five back?! Yeah…

Strange season.

BTW, Gordo (or any of you, really). What are your thoughts on Manning? I've said before that his arm looked shot, but then he turned around started throwing like he always had. This time it looks as though it may finally be the real deal. Still putting up decent numbers, all things considered. But, the ducks and floaters have really been ramped up the last several weeks of the season.

[The G Man]

Good post, Scott.

So much of success on offense is due to offensive lines. Baltimore's run blocking and pass blocking improved tremendously over the previous season. Hence, Forsett averaged 2 yards/carry more than Rice the previous season and Flacco had the best regular season of his career.

I didn't watch much of NO this season but according to PFF, their run and pass blocking got much worse than the previous season.

I expect Rex to get a new head coaching gig. Rob should be fired, agreed.

[Mo Noyz]

Thanks, brother. It's nice to be back talking football with you jugheads.

You're right, that Ravens line is really, really good.

I can't recall how many times I saw the Saints this year, maybe three times? But, I find it surprising their O-line was problematic. They led the league in yds per game with 411! That's huge. I'll take PFF's word for it, but I can't wrap my head around it.

As far as Rex goes, no question he'll get another HC gig. Hell, he'll have several offers to choose from, IMO. It's looking like he'll end up in Atlanta, after his five hour interview yesterday. That's a really good fit for him, IMO. That defense is in dire need of fixing. I still think the offense is ready for prime time (O-line needs a little more tweaking), though Roddy White is falling fast, and I don't know that Steven Jackson will be there next year. But, if I'm walking into a situation where I have Matt Ryan and Julio Jones, I'll be resting pretty easy at night. That will be far and away the best one two punch he's ever had.

[The G Man]

Thanks, brother. It's nice to be back talking football with you jugheads.

You're right, that Ravens line is really, really good.

I can't recall how many times I saw the Saints this year, maybe three times? But, I find it surprising their O-line was problematic. They lead the league in yds per game with 411! That's huge. I'll take PFF's word for it, but I can't wrap my head around it.

As far as Rex goes, no question he'll get another HC gig. Hell, he'll have several offers to choose from, IMO. It's looking like he'll end up in Atlanta, after his five hour interview yesterday. That's a really good fit for him, IMO. That defense is in dire need of fixing. I still think the offense is ready for prime time (O-line needs a little more tweaking), though Roddy White is falling fast, and I don't know that Steven Jackson will be there next year. But, if I'm walking into a situation where I have Matt Ryan and Julio Jones, I'll be resting pretty easy at night. That will be far and away the best one two punch he's ever had.

I looked at the PFF data more closely. The OL didn't protect Brees as well as last year, pressure on 33% of dropbacks this year versus 25% last year, but Brees handled the increased pressure very well. The real story was the secondary, which was atrocious in 2014.

PFF has coded the Saints as a 4-3 under Spags in 2012, a 3-4 under Ryan in 2013 and then a 4-3 again in 2014. Is that right?

[Mo Noyz]

Hmmm… I'm not really sure. But, on their website they're still listing their depth chart as a 3-4. The only thing I can think of is that Ryan had crowed during the preseason about his new "revolutionary" defense that he was installing. Something about three deep safeties, or some nonsense. So perhaps he was using an elephant LB? And maybe that LB played more snaps at DE?

You got me… I have absolutely no idea why he would transition them from a 4-3 (which is the main reason they hired him) only to transition back the following season.

Is there a way to contact someone at PFF to find out why they coded them that way?

Oh, and I agree with you about the secondary. And how weird is that since Ryan's bread and butter was coaching DBs before he got his DC job.

[walto]

BTW, Gordo (or any of you, really). What are your thoughts on Manning? I've said before that his arm looked shot, but then he turned around started throwing like he always had. This time it looks as though it may finally be the real deal. Still putting up decent numbers, all things considered. But, the ducks and floaters have really been ramped up the last several weeks of the season.

Part of my interest in the Indy bet was a result of seeing Manning in the Buffalo game. The Bills defense is very solid, but, on top of that, Manning definitely wasn't the guy who torched the league last year. I don't know if it was a minor nagging injury or just an off week, but I'm relying on it being on-coming decrepitude.