NFL 2011 Offseason Discussion -2012 Draft Edition

[Zarkon]

Holy crap.  Houston might just have a defense now.

[leo8877]

Holy crap.  Houston might just have a defense now.

Why did they sign Nnamdi?

[gellar]

Biggest Lockout Casualty:

No Hard Knocks.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/6815460/hard-knocks-air-summer-hbo

[leo8877]

Biggest Lockout Casualty:

No Hard Knocks.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/6815460/hard-knocks-air-summer-hbo

Yep.  BOO.

[gellar]

HAHAHAHHAH:

Matt Maiocco
This what 49ers players will see on their way out to the practice field. http://yfrog.com/h890oksj

[rickfc]

Holy crap.  Houston might just have a defense now.

Why did they sign Nnamdi?

No, they signed Jonathan Joseph and Danieal Manning. w00t!

[rickfc]

HAHAHAHHAH:

Matt Maiocco
This what 49ers players will see on their way out to the practice field. http://yfrog.com/h890oksj

Talk about inspirational... 

[gellar]

HAHAHAHHAH:

Matt Maiocco
This what 49ers players will see on their way out to the practice field. http://yfrog.com/h890oksj

Talk about inspirational... 

I really think it should just say 'PLEASE STOP SUCKING' but maybe that was taken.

[naednek]

HAHAHAHHAH:

Matt Maiocco
This what 49ers players will see on their way out to the practice field. http://yfrog.com/h890oksj

Talk about inspirational... 

I really think it should just say 'PLEASE STOP SUCKING' but maybe that was taken.

I'd prefer, ALEX SMITH YOU SUCK

Somebody has to tell him because the niners won't

[gellar]

Eagles get Nnamdi.  Impressive.

[leo8877]

Eagles get Nnamdi.  Impressive.

Blech and he was such a nice guy too.

[gellar]

Note to self: Do not draft Tony Romo or Eli Manning.

[Ænima]

The Eagles secondary just got SCARY.

[gellar]

HAHAHAHAH.  Alex Smith @ Philadelphia Week 4.  Possibly no Gore.  BEST GAME EVER?

Also comedy:  Any game against the Redskins.  Seattle. 

[PeteRock]

The Eagles secondary just got SCARY.

 

[leo8877]

Wow Cam Newton just signed for only 22 mil over 4 years.  I LOVE this new rookie wage scale!

[PeteRock]

And the Eagles continue to shore up our defense with Cullen Jenkins from the Super Bowl winning Green Bay Packers.  I hate going into a season with too much optimism, but it's hard when the Eagles have systematically addressed many of my specific concerns (struggling defensive backfield - signed DRC and Asomugha, non-penetrating front four - signed Jenkins, backup for Vick - signed Young, pass rushing - signed Babin). 

On a separate note, Sportscenter is reporting that Randy Moss will retire. 

It's funny how this offseason has gone from complete pessimism with the lockout potentially ruining the entire season to uncontrollable excitement for the season to start.  Well, unless you're from San Francisco.    

[Devil]

On a separate note, Sportscenter is reporting that Randy Moss will retire.

That's too bad.

[PeteRock]

On a separate note, Sportscenter is reporting that Randy Moss will retire.

That's too bad.

Some are postulating that "retired" is football player speak for "I don't want to go to camp" as per the precedent set by Favre.  We'll have to see if the retirement actually sticks.

[Blackadar]

On a separate note, Sportscenter is reporting that Randy Moss will retire.

That's too bad.

Some are postulating that "retired" is football player speak for "I don't want to go to camp" as per the precedent set by Favre.  We'll have to see if the retirement actually sticks.

Who would want him?  He's a cancer and couldn't cut it on 3 different teams last year.  He's coming off a year in which he caught 28 passes.  He's 35 years old.  

If you had a choice between Moss and Terrell Owens (still a FA who had 72 catches, 9tds last year), who would you pick up?  I'd pick up TO between those two because at least you know he shows up in shape and ready to play.  Heck, I'd go after Derrick Mason before Moss, not to mention Steve Smith (NYG, not Carolina), Malcom Floyd, or Mark Clayton over Moss provided they can pass a physical (all were injured last year).  

And all of those guys are unsigned...then there's the camp cuts.  Moss retired because he has no offers and won't get any. 

[Devil]

I wouldn't be surprised if Moss got the 'Junior Seau' call from BB in the middle of the year if he's still available when Deion Branch get's his annual 4 game injury.

Just run straight down the field and shut up, Randy.

[PeteRock]

Formal negotiations between Donovan McNabb and Vikings punter Chris Kluwe over ownership of number 5.  I love the official seal "thingy."   

[rickfc]

Formal negotiations between Donovan McNabb and Vikings punter Chris Kluwe over ownership of number 5.  I love the official seal "thingy."   

 

[naednek]

And the niners get better and better. Oh wait.

Niners lose Aubrayo Franklin to the saints.

Seattle signs Zach Miller

Rams continue to get better

And the Cardinals is at least trying.

[gellar]

And the niners get better and better. Oh wait.

Niners lose Aubrayo Franklin to the saints.

Seattle signs Zach Miller

Rams continue to get better

And the Cardinals is at least trying.

Luck Luck Luck!

[Eightball]

And the niners get better and better. Oh wait.

Niners lose Aubrayo Franklin to the saints.

Seattle signs Zach Miller

Rams continue to get better

And the Cardinals is at least trying.

Luck Luck Luck!

Oh please, the Redskins are making the bee-line for the Luck sweepstakes.  As bad a quarterback as Alex Smith is, the Skins will either start John Beck or Sexy Rexy Grossman.

REX GROSSMAN.

[pr0ner]

And the niners get better and better. Oh wait.

Niners lose Aubrayo Franklin to the saints.

Seattle signs Zach Miller

Rams continue to get better

And the Cardinals is at least trying.

Luck Luck Luck!

Oh please, the Redskins are making the bee-line for the Luck sweepstakes.  As bad a quarterback as Alex Smith is, the Skins will either start John Beck or Sexy Rexy Grossman.

REX GROSSMAN.

JOHN BECK.

[Zarkon]

REX BECK

[pr0ner]

REX BECK

If you combined the two together, I think you'd still have a worse QB than Alex Smith.

[Eightball]

Well, talking about our favorite cellar dwellers, I'm happy to report that the Niners just signed ex-Redskins cornerback, Carlos Rogers to a contract.  1 year, 4 million.

Carlos is a good cover corner, who can tackle.  He has one problem.  He can't catch a cold.  I can't tell you how many times I've seen the guy drop a ball that hit him square in his hands.  You think Vernon Davis had bad hands?  Wait until you see Carlos in action.  Even he admits it:

Redskins cornerback Carlos Rogers is scarcely in denial. He seems to understand that the first step to curing a problem is admitting you have one. His problem: He can't catch interceptions. The solution? At this point, in his sixth season in the NFL, he simply wants to make sure the drops don't affect him from doing the rest of his job.

"I sit and think about it: 'Man I should have had them picks,'" Rogers said Wednesday, three days after he dropped a pair of potential interceptions that might have altered the course of a 27-24 loss to Indianapolis. "Should have had four or five, pretty much probably leading the league or at the top. But my main thing is: I'm not going to get myself down because somebody outside of here -- or whoever -- talk about Carlos dropping picks... "

(it looks like he referred to himself in the 3rd person there, so yes, he sucks).

It's so bad that QBs will throw at him, even if he's in tight coverage on the receiver, because the QBs know he won't intercept them.

Enjoy, Niners fans!

[leo8877]

If we're talking about cellar dwellers, I'm happy to report the Bengals are still in the NFL...for now.

[PeteRock]

Add Ronnie Brown to the new-look Eagles.  And if people like McNabb express concern about placing so many marquis players in one locker room and developing any kind of chemistry, we fortunately have Rex Ryan's equally boisterous brother Rob Ryan to perhaps provide a source of motivation to unite the group. 

[Devil]

Love the Ryans. All of them!

[PeteRock]

And we continue to add to our "all in" Super Bowl run attempt:  Eagles sign one of the Giants' top receivers Steve Smith to a one-year deal.  Plenty of targets for Michael Vick, a stronger defense, a more aggressive pass rush, and a solid running back corps. 

Then again, despite our many major moves to make a serious run at a championship, we'll still have our work cut out for us in the NFC East, at least according to Rex Grossman.      

[leo8877]

It's going to be a long, awful year for Bay Area football.

[naednek]

I know it's the preseason, and I know it's the Raiders, but niners looked great today.  Smith actually played well, his INT wasn't his fault, the Raiders actually did something brilliant.  I'm liking RB Hunter, and I hope he's the # 2 over Anthony Ballerina Dixon.  Defense was pretty good, and most importantly, the niners did very well against the pass rush.

[rickfc]

I feel like it's the same story year after year, but I'm getting cautiously optimistic about the Texans this upcoming season. The offense look like they're ready to pick where they left off last year, and the defense so far looks much improved.

 

[rshetts2]

Not to burst anyones preseason bubble but the way a team plays and their record in preseason is completely meaningless.  Hang your hopes based on the preseason at your own peril.
 A few years ago the Detroit Lions went 4-0 in the preseason and looked really good doing it.  There were pundits predicting that the Lions would be a playoff contender and were finally on their way.  The Lions proceeded to then set a record that can not be beat but only duplicated as they went 0-16 in the regular season. 
 So remember this one simple truth, a win in the preseason doesnt count for squat.

[McBa1n]

Well, that's why the preseason is mostly for game speed preparation and talent evaluation. Sometimes there are situations, like say the 2 minute drill, that can be very important to practice. But that's all it is, practice.
You learn a lot about teams in preseason and it has nothing to do with winning/losing. I've seen a LOT of really blahzay and uninspired defensive play so far, even though the games aren't all that high scoring.

I'm not quite done with watching all the games yet for this week (stupid nfl.com feed keeps putting me back at the start of the replay) and after almost 2 weeks of watching all the games, I'd say kickoffs are turning out to be a MUCH bigger issue than I anticipated. I knew there would be a lot more touchbacks, but wow - and also, you have to consider how many players trying to get return experience are running the ball out from 7-9 yards deep in the end zone. That's crazy time. Touchbacks are going to double, IMO, once the regular season starts, if not more. Either that, or kickers will try for more hang time (which would be a smarter move) and THEN it would get very interesting with the coverage only having 5 yards to get up to speed prior to the kick. It's got to evolve somehow. Special teams coaches are not going to be satisfied with their opponent starting on the 20.

[Biyobi]

Not to burst anyones preseason bubble but the way a team plays and their record in preseason is completely meaningless.  Hang your hopes based on the preseason at your own peril.
 A few years ago the Detroit Lions went 4-0 in the preseason and looked really good doing it.  There were pundits predicting that the Lions would be a playoff contender and were finally on their way.  The Lions proceeded to then set a record that can not be beat but only duplicated as they went 0-16 in the regular season. 
 So remember this one simple truth, a win in the preseason doesnt count for squat.

Now I wish the season had gone to 18 games just to see if the Lions could break their own record.