NFL thread 2014 v. Frankford Yellow Jackets Lay the Pipe on the Dayton Triangles

[black_biff_stadler]

What's Warren Moon doing these days?

[KevShmev]

It sucks that almost no one is talking about him cause he plays for the Bills, but Sammy Watkins looks awesome already.  The Bills did good by trading up to get this guy.

[King Postwhore]

It sucks that almost no one is talking about him cause he plays for the Bills, but Sammy Watkins looks awesome already.  The Bills did good by trading up to get this guy.

And with the QB's he's worked with so far.  the kid is going to be a star.

[El Barto]

I really like the Patriots trade. They get a 7 and an a competent ILB run stopper for a number 6. Not sure what Tennessee's knock against the kid was. Maybe he's a pyromaniac or something. Still rather have Chandler Jones back, though.

[King Postwhore]

From what I've heard is that in 2012 he had patella (sp?) surgery and wasn't the same last year and fell down on the depth chart.  So we'll see with over a year removed from the surgery how he responds.  At least the Pats are being proactive and like you said Bart, I would much rather have Chandler Jones. Now 2 of the 3 most important defensive starters for the Pats are out.

[El Barto]

From what I've heard is that in 2012 he had patella (sp?) surgery and wasn't the same last year and fell down on the depth chart.  So we'll see with over a year removed from the surgery how he responds.  At least the Pats are being proactive and like you said Bart, I would much rather have Chandler Jones. Now 2 of the 3 most important defensive starters for the Pats are out.

BB says they have no idea what they'll do with him. Apparently he can play DL or LB, which makes him a perfect fit given what the Patriots do and the players they like to have. Nothing like a guy who can fill roles as needed.

Here's a good write up on how they might play things now. https://nesn.com/2014/10/akeem-ayers-alan-branch-will-help-patriots-run-defense-at-a-major-cost/

[King Postwhore]

Damn that is some deep analysis.  Team have been killing is on the run last year and this year when Mayo isn't there.  Interesting to see how this plays out with the quality of QB's we will be facing over the next month or so.

[KevShmev]

It sucks that almost no one is talking about him cause he plays for the Bills, but Sammy Watkins looks awesome already.  The Bills did good by trading up to get this guy.

And with the QB's he's worked with so far.  the kid is going to be a star.

For sure.  From what I have read, the guy gets open with relative ease.  A big part of the reason they benched Manuel and put Orton in was that Watkins was going to waste all day with Manuel never noticing how open he always was or simply missing him. 

Four games with Manuel: Watkins caught 17 of 32 targets (53%)
Three games with Orton: Watkins caught 18 of 29 targets (62%)

So, while not a huge uptick, he clearly is better with Orton.  Plus, they probably don't win the Detroit and Minnesota games without him - he made that ridiculous catch against Detroit to put them in position for the winning FG, and then caught the winning score the other day against the Vikings.

[jammindude]

What's Warren Moon doing these days?

Actually, he does color commentary for the Seahawks!

[bosk1]

Racist.  You know, you could just say he is doing commentary and leave it at that.

[El Barto]

Racist.  You know, you could just say he is doing commentary and leave it at that.

Yeah. . . . . IN CANADA!

[King Postwhore]

Racist.  You know, you could just say he is doing commentary and leave it at that.

Yeah. . . . . IN CANADA!

 

[Dream Team]

Racist.  You know, you could just say he is doing commentary and leave it at that.

He should one-up Cosell when a white player is running with the ball and say "look at that little honkey go!".

[bosk1]

3. Arizona - still the best team no one is talking about.

How so?  I mean, I'm not knocking your ranking.  I'm just curious whether you see something truly special about them, or if you are just going off of their record.  As someone who pays attention to them since they are in the division, I do not see anything special about them.  They are a good team, but probably not as good as the team that barely missed the playoffs last year.  I see them finishing a game or 2 behind the '9ers and a game or 1 up on the Seahawks.

[El Barto]

Racist.  You know, you could just say he is doing commentary and leave it at that.

He should one-up Cosell when a white player is running with the ball and say "look at that little honkey go!".

As I recall Cosell called somebody a little monkey, which in that particular context was racially neutral. Really pretty unfair given Cosell's longstanding tendency towards being one of the least racist people around at that point.

And then of course there's this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWdVwt2deY4   (NSFW, I suppose)

[KevShmev]

3. Arizona - still the best team no one is talking about.

How so?  I mean, I'm not knocking your ranking.  I'm just curious whether you see something truly special about them, or if you are just going off of their record.  As someone who pays attention to them since they are in the division, I do not see anything special about them.  They are a good team, but probably not as good as the team that barely missed the playoffs last year.  I see them finishing a game or 2 behind the '9ers and a game or 1 up on the Seahawks.

Okay, but you are not exactly impartial when it comes to the 49ers.

I do power rankings based on how teams have looked so far, not how I think they will look in two, four or eight weeks.  5-1, with wins over the 5-2 Chargers and 4-3 49ers, is very impressive, especially since they didn't have their starting QB for half of their games so far. 

[bosk1]

Of course I am not impartial.  I don't deny that.    But I think I can still certainly make a fair case for the 49ers being just as solid a team given their victories over the 6-1 Cowboys and 5-1 Eagles AND having almost the same score against Denver as the Cards did, despite 1/4 of their starters being injured/suspended.

But again, I'm not trying to argue that your rankings are somehow wrong or anything.  Just trying to generate discussion about what in particular you find impressive, that's all. 

[Dark Castle]

Of course I am not impartial.  I don't deny that.    But I think I can still certainly make a fair case for the 49ers being just as solid a team given their victories over the 6-1 Cowboys and 5-1 Eagles AND having almost the same score against Denver as the Cards did, despite 1/4 of their starters being injured/suspended.

But again, I'm not trying to argue that your rankings are somehow wrong or anything.  Just trying to generate discussion about what in particular you find impressive, that's all.

Only reason the 9'ers got any traction started in the Eagles game was a terrible defensive holding call which gave them another four downs after failing to convert which they then scored on. Of course they still could have won even without that, but that definitely gave them traction.

[bosk1]

Well, sure.  You can say the same thing about a couple of horrible calls in the Cards in the game where the Cards beat the '9ers, or the Bears in the '9ers/Bears game.  Those teams were getting soundly beaten, but turned the tide after some really bad calls.  But those things happen.  Eliminate those calls in those 2 games and maybe the '9ers are 6-1.  Eliminate them in all three and maybe the '9ers are 5-2.  We'll never know. 

[Tom Bombadil]

Of course I am not impartial.  I don't deny that.    But I think I can still certainly make a fair case for the 49ers being just as solid a team given their victories over the 6-1 Cowboys and 5-1 Eagles AND having almost the same score against Denver as the Cards did, despite 1/4 of their starters being injured/suspended.

But again, I'm not trying to argue that your rankings are somehow wrong or anything.  Just trying to generate discussion about what in particular you find impressive, that's all.

Only reason the 9'ers got any traction started in the Eagles game was a terrible defensive holding call which gave them another four downs after failing to convert which they then scored on. Of course they still could have won even without that, but that definitely gave them traction.

Nah, I wouldn't blame it on penalties. The Eagles just got destroyed in the trenches because they had 3 backup offensive lineman. That's definitely the reason they lost that game. Of course, the fact that they had 3 backup OL and were still within 1 yard of winning that game is pretty impressive.

[Dark Castle]

I'm just saying is that that crud penalty gave the 49'ers the momentum. They definitely still might have won without it, Eagles did shit the bed later in the game.

[KevShmev]

Of course I am not impartial.  I don't deny that.    But I think I can still certainly make a fair case for the 49ers being just as solid a team given their victories over the 6-1 Cowboys and 5-1 Eagles AND having almost the same score against Denver as the Cards did, despite 1/4 of their starters being injured/suspended.

But again, I'm not trying to argue that your rankings are somehow wrong or anything.  Just trying to generate discussion about what in particular you find impressive, that's all.

What's not to like about Arizona?  Good defense, a really good cast of WRs (most of them young and still getting better), a dynamite young RB, and extremely well-coached.  I still have my doubts about Carson Palmer and his tendency to commit turnovers at the wrong time, but they are a very good, well-rounded team, one that could still get better.

[bosk1]

I'm not saying there is anything NOT to like.  But that isn't the same as ranking them #3. 

[Dark Castle]

I'm not saying there is anything NOT to like.  But that isn't the same as ranking them #3.

Those reasons and the fact that they've beaten stiff competition are good enough reasons to see them at #3.

[bosk1]

Interestingly, as sort of an experiment, I asked myself what teams I would rank ahead of them, and took a close look at other teams in most top 10 lists, and I could not come up with compelling reasons to put anyone other than Denver and Dallas ahead of them.  I mean, subjectively, I think there are quite a few teams that are probably better.  But at this point in the season, based on what we have seen so far, I cannot really argue that any other teams HAVE TO be put ahead of them.

[KevShmev]

I have to add that I am not picking Arizona to come out of the NFC, or even to play in the NFCCG, but I just think that right now, they have earned a top 3 spot in the power rankings.

Also, apparently some Seahawks do not like Russell Wilson because he is "not black enough":

https://thebiglead.com/2014/10/22/russell-wilson-is-black-enough-seahawks-players-allegedly-say/

Good grief.

[black_biff_stadler]

Chicago's hockey players should replace the Seahawks.

[TAC]

Also, apparently some Seahawks do not like Russell Wilson because he is "not black enough":

https://thebiglead.com/2014/10/22/russell-wilson-is-black-enough-seahawks-players-allegedly-say/

Good grief.

Wow!

[King Postwhore]

Wow.  What is wrong with people?!

[hefdaddy42]

This, if accurate, is ridiculously stupid.  Any team in the league (outside of, say, Denver, Dallas, GB, New England, and a handful of others) would love to have Wilson.

[Tom Bombadil]

Wow.  What is wrong with people?!

A lot of things

[Cool Chris]

Lots of talk on this on SEA sports radio this morning, and the related Wilson/Harvin schism (you don't get to use the word 'schism' often enough).

Aside from the 'not black enough' issue, there is the one that he is too close to the front office, and isn't chummy enough with the other guys. They talked about how Mike Holmgren, a frequent guest of theirs, said he would tell Steve Young to hang out with his other teammates more, to make them feel like he was one of them. Not start listening to gangsta rap and getting wasted every night, but not staying in the offices late every night pouring over video tape and playbooks. 

When it comes down to the supposed Wilson/Harvin schism, of course you gotta drop Harvin in that situaton. You stand by your QB, especially a young, charasmatic one who just let you to a Super Bowl.

[El Barto]

This is the same sort of meltdown I was anticipating from SF (although I'm still holding out hope). No idea things were bad in Seattle, although it certainly shows of late. And if Lynch is in the anti-Wilson camp things aren't going to be getting any better. 

[bosk1]

Man, San Diego is SUCH a laughably bad team.  I am surprised their record is what it is. 

[King Postwhore]

Man, San Diego is SUCH a laughably bad team.  I am surprised their record is what it is.

Or how good that Denver team really is.