NFL 2011 Offseason Discussion -2012 Draft Edition

[leo8877]

F'n PG&E get on the job you slackers!  Can't wait to see the spin on this when I get back to work (yes I do work for Pacific Gas and Electric and you can bet they are going to spin this as a victory for quick response). 

PG&E's spin:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/12/20/BAJC1MEQ9C.DTL

[gellar]

I'm almost disappointed I missed this magic live on TV:

http://deadspin.com/5869705/

[theohall]

I'm almost disappointed I missed this magic live on TV:

http://deadspin.com/5869705/

that is stunning.  You would think they would try this on some meaningless game... like the one the week before between the Rams and Seahawks.

[leo8877]

I'm almost disappointed I missed this magic live on TV:

http://deadspin.com/5869705/

I did see this and both my wife and I wondered WTF was going on.  Madness!

[naednek]

ya that guy was bad.  I asked my wife if he was still going through puberty with his high voice.

[naednek]

Well that was a great week of football! 

Lets go Atlanta, Bears and Niners!

[rickfc]

Co Texans! Put this one away! 

[Zinfan]

Co Texans! Put this one away! 

Go Ref's! give this one away!  Wow there were some really bad calls against the Texans during that game.  Not the pass interference call near the end but two roughing the passer calls that really didn't seem to warrant a flag.

[rickfc]

Co Texans! Put this one away! 

Go Ref's! give this one away!  Wow there were some really bad calls against the Texans during that game.  Not the pass interference call near the end but two roughing the passer calls that really didn't seem to warrant a flag.

Yeah, I guess it was that important for the referees that Indy win more than one game. 

Granted, the Texans should have put the game away well before it came to that. The offense has been playing like crap the last 2 weeks...

[Misguided]

I hope the birds put up a good fight against the Niners tomorrow. I think this is a bit of a measuring stick game for them. Hopefully, it doesn't show just how bad the O-line is. The Seahawks have so many threats on offense they could bring to bear if they could get the line and QB stabilized, and the defense has played better than people expected.

[naednek]

I hope the birds put up a good fight against the Niners tomorrow. I think this is a bit of a measuring stick game for them. Hopefully, it doesn't show just how bad the O-line is. The Seahawks have so many threats on offense they could bring to bear if they could get the line and QB stabilized, and the defense has played better than people expected.

I hope they fly south

This game has me worried.  Seattle's fans can't dictate the game, that place is loud.

[theohall]

Co Texans! Put this one away! 

Go Ref's! give this one away!  Wow there were some really bad calls against the Texans during that game.  Not the pass interference call near the end but two roughing the passer calls that really didn't seem to warrant a flag.

Yeah, I guess it was that important for the referees that Indy win more than one game. 

Granted, the Texans should have put the game away well before it came to that. The offense has been playing like crap the last 2 weeks...

Woohoo!  The Rams have a shot at the #1 overall draft pick again.   

[rickfc]

Co Texans! Put this one away! 

Go Ref's! give this one away!  Wow there were some really bad calls against the Texans during that game.  Not the pass interference call near the end but two roughing the passer calls that really didn't seem to warrant a flag.

Yeah, I guess it was that important for the referees that Indy win more than one game. 

Granted, the Texans should have put the game away well before it came to that. The offense has been playing like crap the last 2 weeks...

Woohoo!  The Rams have a shot at the #1 overall draft pick again.   

Would the Rams pick Andrew Luck since they picked Bradford in the 2010 draft?

[Misguided]

Would the Rams pick Andrew Luck since they picked Bradford in the 2010 draft?

If you think a QB can be a perennial franchise guy, you should never pass him up, period, because there are so few of them. What is interesting, though, is that the changes to the rookie salary structure make the top picks easier to trade than they used to be. Somebody is going to want Andrew luck badly. Indianapolis comes to mind, as do Seattle, Miami, Tampa Bay and others. Somebody may be willing to sell the farm to get him, depending on how things transpire between now and then.

[theohall]

Would the Rams pick Andrew Luck since they picked Bradford in the 2010 draft?

Somebody may be willing to sell the farm to get him, depending on how things transpire between now and then.

Which is what the Rams would probably look for.  Someone selling the farm, because the current team has lots of needs - a RB to replace Steven Jackson, WRs to complement Brandon LLoyd, an offensive line, and... oh yeah - cornerbacks capable of playing more than 1 or 2 games before going on IR.

[gellar]

I hope the birds put up a good fight against the Niners tomorrow. I think this is a bit of a measuring stick game for them. Hopefully, it doesn't show just how bad the O-line is. The Seahawks have so many threats on offense they could bring to bear if they could get the line and QB stabilized, and the defense has played better than people expected.

I hope they fly south

This game has me worried.  Seattle's fans can't dictate the game, that place is loud.

I'm really not that concerned for some reason.  It's going to be a low scoring game, which suits the Niners well.  The Seahawks strength (Lynch) goes up against the Niners strength (run D), which at worst case cancel each other out.  I actually think the D holds Marshawn down.  The Seahawks weaknesses, on the other hand, are extremely exploitable by the defense: they cannot pass block to save their lives and their QB makes poor decisions under pressure.  I predict lots of sacks for Aldon.

[Misguided]

Go DBFresh15! That's my boy!

[Teggy]

Sucky Jets.

[leo8877]

Sucky Jets.

Yay for sucky Jets. Bengals playoff hopes still alive. Also Romo hurt teg?

[Teggy]

I can't hear you lalalalalalalala

[Misguided]

Ah well, Seahawks played ok, and that's all I wanted out of this game was to not completely embarrass themselves.

[The Grue]

Ah well, Seahawks played ok, and that's all I wanted out of this game was to not completely embarrass themselves.

Stupid Seahawks are stupid.  Stupid, stupid, stupid.  Of course, New Orleans could have avoided all this by beating the freaking Rams.

[Kagath]

Holy crap, the Lions made the playoffs!

[Zinfan]

Ah well, Seahawks played ok, and that's all I wanted out of this game was to not completely embarrass themselves.

I'm thinking Niners vs Seahawks is going to be a great rivalry for the next few years.  Pete vs John twice a year should be good. 

Niners once again make sure you don't change the channel until the final gun sounds.  Close one and Alex played very well IMO.

[leo8877]

Teggy the cowboys final was moved to primetime on January 1.

[Devil]

I hate the Jets and Giants with equal passion. Too bad someone had to win.

[Teggy]

Teggy the cowboys final was moved to primetime on January 1.

Nuts - that's actually bad because I was going to wait until after the game to drive home (15 hours) and that definitely means I can't watch the game.

[leo8877]

Teggy the cowboys final was moved to primetime on January 1.

Nuts - that's actually bad because I was going to wait until after the game to drive home (15 hours)and that definitely means I can't watch the game.

Damn that sucks.  Bengals get to play balt to get into the playoffs. Not looking real good for us.

[naednek]

congrats to the lions.  I hate your coach, but the playoffs are a major milestone for your team. 

Niners scraped out a win against a loud home team in Seattle.  Niners lost their 15 game streak of not having a rushing TD scored against him.  I figured it would be this game that it would happen.

[naednek]

Ah well, Seahawks played ok, and that's all I wanted out of this game was to not completely embarrass themselves.

I'm thinking Niners vs Seahawks is going to be a great rivalry for the next few years.  Pete vs John twice a year should be good. 

Niners once again make sure you don't change the channel until the final gun sounds.  Close one and Alex played very well IMO.

He played a great 2nd half, that's for sure.

[leo8877]

congrats to the lions.  I hate your coach, but the playoffs are a major milestone for your team. 

Niners scraped out a win against a loud home team in Seattle.  Niners lost their 15 game streak of not having a rushing TD scored against him.  I figured it would be this game that it would happen.

And the 100 yard rusher thing too.

[gellar]

And in the process, quarterback Alex Smith was credited with his fifth come-from-behind victory of the season -- and his fourth on the road. Smith tied Joe Montana for the most fourth-quarter comebacks in a single season in franchise history. Montana led four road comebacks in 1989.

Read more: Smith and Montana names in same sentence
Tune to SportsNet Central at 6, 10:30 and midnight on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area for more on this story

Interesting.

[leo8877]

The Saints all black uniforms really look good.

[Jumangi]

Brees is a passing machine. Congrats on getting the record with a game to spare.

[rshetts2]

The Saints are peaking at the right time, thats for sure.  They are going to be scary come playoffs.  If the Saints and the Packers meet in the playoffs, they may need to add a couple of extra digits to the scoreboard. 

[The Grue]

The Saints are peaking at the right time, thats for sure.  They are going to be scary come playoffs.  If the Saints and the Packers meet in the playoffs, they may need to add a couple of extra digits to the scoreboard. 

I definitely want a rematch of that opening game because I think we can win it (really should have won it back then).  Both defenses can give up some points and the first game was pretty high scoring, so I expect it would be a shootout again.  However, after watching the Saints lose to the Seahawks last year (and the Rams this year), I don't have the feeling I did the year they won the Super Bowl.  Also, now that I think about it, if there is a Packers/Saints rematch, it will be at Lambeau and Brees plays for crap outside, much less in frigid conditions.

[Zinfan]

Call me crazy but I think the Niners could give the Packers a good game.  They can control the ball with the run, they minimize turnovers and keep the ball away from the other teams offense so perhaps they can frustrate the Packers like that, of course they would need to score TD's when in the red zone and not more FG's.  I'm not sure how that same style would work against the Saints but who knows eh?

[leo8877]

Call me crazy but I think the Niners could give the Packers a good game.  They can control the ball with the run, they minimize turnovers and keep the ball away from the other teams offense so perhaps they can frustrate the Packers like that, of course they would need to score TD's when in the red zone and not more FG's.  I'm not sure how that same style would work against the Saints but who knows eh?

We saw what happened to the Pack when Rodgers is rushed hard like the Chiefs did.  The Niners can definitely bring it.  As for the Saints, they just can't play in NO for the Niners to have a shot.

[Graham]

Call me crazy but I think the Niners could give the Packers a good game.  They can control the ball with the run, they minimize turnovers and keep the ball away from the other teams offense so perhaps they can frustrate the Packers like that, of course they would need to score TD's when in the red zone and not more FG's.  I'm not sure how that same style would work against the Saints but who knows eh?

We saw what happened to the Pack when Rodgers is rushed hard like the Chiefs did.  The Niners can definitely bring it.  As for the Saints, they just can't play in NO for the Niners to have a shot.

We also saw what happened when the Bears did it to the Packers this past Sunday.  While the Bears have an injury riddled offense, the defense has some very good players and Rodgers still carved them up with a patchwork O-Line and without Greg Jennings.  The Packers have their issues on defense, but I still think that the Packers are the most dangerous team in the playoffs.

[rshetts2]

Call me crazy but I think the Niners could give the Packers a good game.  They can control the ball with the run, they minimize turnovers and keep the ball away from the other teams offense so perhaps they can frustrate the Packers like that, of course they would need to score TD's when in the red zone and not more FG's.  I'm not sure how that same style would work against the Saints but who knows eh?

We saw what happened to the Pack when Rodgers is rushed hard like the Chiefs did.  The Niners can definitely bring it.  As for the Saints, they just can't play in NO for the Niners to have a shot.

We also saw what happened when the Bears did it to the Packers this past Sunday.  While the Bears have an injury riddled offense, the defense has some very good players and Rodgers still carved them up with a patchwork O-Line and without Greg Jennings.  The Packers have their issues on defense, but I still think that the Packers are the most dangerous team in the playoffs.

Dont fall back on the Bears game as a measuring stick for success, it reeks of desperation!   

While I feel the Saints have been playing better football than the Packers down the stretch, theres one fact that remains.  A run to the superbowl on the NFC side goes through Lambeau and the Packers are very tough to beat there. 

 Im going to be quite interested in who and how the Packers play vs the Lions this weekend.  The game is meaningless, positioning wise and I wonder how long they are going to be willing to risk Rodgers ( as well as a few other key players ).  Against Detroits d-line and vs a team thats needing a win for a better playoff position?  I would be surprised to see Rodgers play more than a series or two.  If the Packers take the loss here, people will understand but if they play for the win and lose Rodgers to injury, their Superbowl dreams would likely be over.