2009 NFL Thread

[BlackLantern]

Seconded...what did he play, one year at USC?

I think the Jets are thinking long term investment.....they thought the same with Chad Pennington

 

[FaT_tONle]

The guy was the top prospect out of high school. He has a great year as a starter at USC. What more can you ask for? The tools are all there.

 

[Excel]

You cant ask for anything more because the reality is, unless the guy is a QB who can run as well, you dont know what your getting. Their success is almost entirely dependent on the situation their thrown into.

The Jets have had themselves a pretty decent offseason.

 

[Cunning Stunts]

The guy was the top prospect out of high school. He has a great year as a starter at USC. What more can you ask for? The tools are all there.

Experience, which is all the analysts were really asking for.

 

[StorminNorman]

The guy was the top prospect out of high school. He has a great year as a starter at USC. What more can you ask for? The tools are all there.

It's easy to look good at USC when you are significantly better than every team you play.

You cant ask for anything more because the reality is, unless the guy is a QB who can run as well, you dont know what your getting. Their success is almost entirely dependent on the situation their thrown into.

The Jets have had themselves a pretty decent offseason.

Yes, because losing your best WR and doing nothing to replace them is exactly what I want when developing a QB.

The Jets should have a great defense, but they have no weapons on that offense.

 

[Excel]

Yes, because losing your best WR and doing nothing to replace them is exactly what I want when developing a QB.

He has an excellent line and will be handing it off for 60% of his plays, he might not have Roddy White but his situation is much more like Matt Ryans was last year than Matthew Staffords currently is, who I do believe you think will be quite successful as a rook.

 

[StorminNorman]

I disagree.

Matt Ryan didn't have the advantage of a great offensive line like Sanchez has, nor a great defense like Sanchez has. Matt Ryan relied on his intelligence, quick release, and poise under pressure. He was also helped by having a talented WR corps and a RB having a break out season.

Since I think Kevin Smith will have a break out season, since I believe Detroit's receiving corps in 2009 is more talented than Atlanta's in 2008 and since I think Stafford shares the same qualities that made Ryan so successful...I disagree entirely.

Sanchez's situation is comparable to Joe Flacco.

 

[Excel]

Flacco atleast had Derek Mason; the point is Sanchez is being put in a situation to succeed; I dont see the same with Stafford.

 

[StorminNorman]

Flacco atleast had Derek Mason; the point is Sanchez is being put in a situation to succeed; I dont see the same with Stafford.

Stafford is in as much a position to succeed as Matt Ryan was.

Lion's Offensive Line is underrated, he has a freak for a weapon and Pettigrew will be a huge asset to the pass and run game.

Sanchez, like Flacco, is going to a better TEAM. Stafford, like Ryan, is going to a team that should allow him more personal success.

That being said, I think it's unlikely Sanchez is ready to start the year while Stafford starts Day 1.

 

[Venom'sDad]

Falcons was not a bad team... I don't see how one can compare them to the Lions. The Falcons had a defense and an offesive line. The had suspect recievers, a iffy running game, and no special teams. The Lions have nothing but a wide reciever.

 

[StorminNorman]

That's the thing, no they didn't.

The Falcons' defense last year was far less talented than what the Lions have this year. The key to the Falcons defensive success last year was Brian VanGorder who was able to hide the fact his team was over matched defensively. Schwartz and Cunningham will scheme a defense that will play week in and week out.

The Falcons also lacked a strong offensive line. The biggest addition the Falcons made to their O Line before last season was Sam Baker who was injured for a good portion of the season.

While people are quick to claim the Lions have a terrible O-Line because they gave up 54 sacks, those same people are not looking at the situation logically. Jon Kitna only played 4 games and took 150 of the Lions 509 passing attempts last year. He also took 15 sacks. Culpepper took 140 of the Lions passing attempts. He took 14 sacks.

Over half of the Lions passing attempts were made by Dan Orlovosky. While he may not know how deep an end zone is, he played far better than either Kitna or Culpepper. He made 255 of the Lions attempts and only took 14 sacks.

The lesson is that the Lions offensive line, while not great, was negatively impacted by the fact the QB play was terrible. Kitna and Culpepper held on the ball for far too long. Orlovosky was the closest thing the Lions had to a respectable QB last year.

Stafford's quick release and football IQ (allowing him to read the defense pre-snap) will instantly improve the Lions offensive line.

Again, anyone who tries to act as if the Falcons had a great defense or a strong offensive line has no idea what the are talking about. The Falcons did not.

 

[Addendum]

I'll take a "wait and see" approach with the Lions, Falcons, and every other team in the league, since the best way to find out if they're better than last year is when they actually play games.

 

[StorminNorman]

Naturally.

But speculation, projection and prediction is a natural aspect of sports. Just as it is with politics or warfare.

 

[Addendum]

So it's just ******* with nothing to show for it

 

[StorminNorman]

Not if you know what you are talking about. If you have a sound understanding of the game and the teams you can have much success in predicting what will happen.

But, essentially, yes - it's all ******* and nothing to show for it. But that's sports in general...

If you aren't going to talk about what your teams going to do or how good player X is...what's the fun of caring?

 

[Addendum]

And I consider those know what they're talking about, with regard to the NFL, are those who have either played or coached in the league.

Since neither apply to me, I simply crack jokes and then shut my ass up and watch the games.

 

[StorminNorman]

And I consider those know what they're talking about with regard to the NFL are those who have either played or coached in the league.

Since neither apply to me, I simply crack jokes and then shut my ass up and watch the games.

Good for you.

 

[Addendum]

Yup. I don't bother with meaningless "net cred"

 

[Wiseman]

Addendum? StorminNorman? Arguing? I thought this was the NFL thread

 

[Immortalfire]

This fall, I may once again edit the title to Norman and (insert name here)'s b*tch and moan thread

 

[Addendum]

Addendum? StorminNorman? Arguing? I thought this was the NFL thread

Every thread is available for ballbusting. Not a literal kick in the nuts, but the joking around kind.

 

[BlackLantern]

Oi...smells like self importance in here

 

[Addendum]

The fall, I may once again edit the title to Norman and (insert name here)'s b*tch and moan thread

When it comes to sports, us guys turn into yentas.

 

[StorminNorman]

Oi...smells like self importance in here

If you don't think yourself to be important, why bother?

 

[StorminNorman]

When it comes to sports, us guys turn into yentas.

People love to k'vetsh. It's meshugeh!