NFL 2009

Thompson is no Ron Wolf, that's for sure.
The public ownership of the Packers is intruiging. Who pulls the trigger on executive decisions like that, they elect some sort of board of trustees and they in turn choose a chairman?
 
No, just the Big Cheese.

Ted's made some bad moves, and some genius moves (trading Javon Walker to Denver for the pick he used to draft Greg Jennings, for example - awesome), but lately he's had more misses than hits. Everyone was surprised this year when the final roster included three fullbacks.

Three fullbacks? Why does the team need three fullbacks?

And then, with the o-line stinking it up so badly, Buffalo signed Jamon Meredith off the Green Bay practice squad. Now he's starting at RT for Buffalo and apparently doing a pretty good job. So Ted and McCarthy thought it was more important to have both Korey Hall and John Kuhn instead of another OT prospect. :roll:

That's pretty bad, and even Ted's supporters have to admit it's bad.

Brian Brohm's been horrible too, although actually I thought he improved by leaps and bounds from the beginning to the end of the preseason this year.

There's also a problem with the fact that they've been switching systems all the time. At first McCarthy wanted to switch to a zone-blocking system so they drafted a bunch of zone-blocking o-linemen. After it didn't work out so well the first couple years, they switched back to a more conventional system - but now they're still stuck with a bunch of undersized zone-blocking o-linemen. They've switched to a 3-4 defense despite the fact that it turns Kampman from a pro-bowl DE into a liability at OLB. Now they either have to stick with the 3-4, in which case Kampman won't resign with the Packers, or switch back to the 4-3, which will cause even more chaos.

We'll have to wait and see how it turns out, but if it goes bad from here on out I think some big changes are possible. It's too bad from my point of view, because it seems to me that the most successful teams pick a strategy (and a coach) and stick to it. There's been entirely too much experimenting going on in GB, in my opinion.

Now that I think about it, I wonder whether Ted and McCarthy didn't get a little cocky after they took the Packers from a cellar-dweller to the NFC Championship game in the first two seasons. That success was what gave them the leeway to make so many changes.
 
UniversalWolf said:
Three fullbacks? Why does the team need three fullbacks?
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Yeah, that's overkill, unless one of them is an H-back type like in the Cooley/Keith Byars mold, that can be plugged in anywhere. Still...

Conversely, the Patriots don't carry a single FB on their roster. Who needs one when you can plug d-linemen and tight ends in the goal-line pkg?

Brian Brohm's been horrible too, although actually I thought he improved by leaps and bounds from the beginning to the end of the preseason this year.
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I live in Big East country, so I saw Brohm's promise. He lead a pretty prolific offense back at Lu-a-vul. Some guys need to get thrown in the fire at game speed first before they really start developing.

they're still stuck with a bunch of undersized zone-blocking o-linemen. They've switched to a 3-4 ...
it seems to me that the most successful teams pick a strategy (and a coach) and stick to it.
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I think it's best to pick the system that plays to your strength and neutralizes the opponents'. This year Belichik's throw the 3-4, the 4-3 and even the rare 4-4 (my old HS system) against the wildcat last week.
So either pick a plan and stick with it, or adapt, to neutralize your opponent's strength.
Looking forward to Pats/Indy I expect Reggie Wayne to get shut down as usual, of course that opens up Dallas Clark for a monster game, but you can't neutralize every weapon.

I'm pumped for Indy/Pats in primetime. Pats are only starting to hit stride and have a lot of big tests going forward. Indy feasting on tomato cans as usual. That you should even need Houston's K to miss to avoid OT isn't impressive IMO. Their secondary is shredded, not that the Pat's D will shut down Manning either.
This will be a tight one. Homefield advantage/1st round bye on the line, practically a playoff game in itself.
 
Cool, thursday night games will begin this week. More football during the week.

Anyway, the halftime show for Super Bowl has been supposedly leaked. Continuing a proud tradition of using entertainers who were good before 1990, the NFL will be featuring The Who as their halftime show performers.

The Who was awesome, but with only two of their star line-up still alive, is it really still The Who?

And, y'know, would it hurt to get someone slightly more relevant and/or hot?
 
I'm more concerned about who'll actually be playing in it.
Indy/Pats/Steelers Vs. Saints/Vikes?

Roger Daltry's voice is shot. Besides, even when it's a band that's good, they end up doing some trite, lip-synched medley of their hits. Or they pair them up in some awkward duos meant to appeal to everyone. Wasn't there some year they had like Mary J. Blige, Aerosmith, some country jackass, and like Kid Rock in just the ultimate, transparent attempt to appeal to every demographic.

The only half-time show that I ever found memorable was Prince, they really let him do his thing and he had a sick guitar solo, rather than having the suits shoe-horn him into some prefabricated show.

All the peripheral shit is usually geared towards the wives, girlfriends and casual folk who like the spectacle, but couldn't care less about the game itself anyway. I'm usually to busy drinking, eating, tripping to care.

I say bring back Bud Bowl.

Cool, thursday night games will begin this week. More football during the week.
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I know, but usually the Thursday games suck. Chi/SF is hard to get excited about.
 
Ochocinco's the man. I thought you were going to include the clip of him "bribing" the refs last week.

That was an awkward little interview though lol. I thought Ocho was preppin for the oscars or something he had such a cold look on his face.
 
I thought you could only bribe refs in the Mutant Leagues.
mutant-league-football-new-cheating-ref.png
 
Not a huge fan of Jared Allen, but this made me lol, with two lls.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2r49EMRvkw[/youtube]

UniversalWolf said:
Brian Brohm's been horrible too, although actually I thought he improved by leaps and bounds from the beginning to the end of the preseason this year.
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Horrible huh? I've been wondering why no quarterback-starved team's signed him off your practice squad so far. I mean why not? Unless he's just bad.
 
Brother None said:
Not a huge fan of Jared Allen, but this made me lol, with two lls.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2r49EMRvkw[/youtube]

UniversalWolf said:
Brian Brohm's been horrible too, although actually I thought he improved by leaps and bounds from the beginning to the end of the preseason this year.
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Horrible huh? I've been wondering why no quarterback-starved team's signed him off your practice squad so far. I mean why not? Unless he's just bad.
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Did you guys know I played against Jared Allen in college?
 
[PCE said:
el_Prez][Did you guys know I played against Jared Allen in college?
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We do now.

Also, what a heartbreaker. Bucs 23 - Miami 25, lost to a last minute field goal. So close to a second win.

Freeman looked decent, but much more like a rookie this time. Not that comfortable with the two-step drop, and several botched snaps. They have to get that basic stuff fixed.
But man, can that kid extend plays. He escaped from so many sacks.

Also, Chris Johnson having a field day. 132 Rushing yards, 2 Rushing TDs, 9 receptions, 100 receiving yards. Insane statline right there.
 
I'll say one thing for the Manning/Brady rivalry game: it's managed to keep ESPN from bleeding Favre coverage this week, which is nice.

Brother None said:
Horrible huh? I've been wondering why no quarterback-starved team's signed him off your practice squad so far. I mean why not? Unless he's just bad.
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To be honest, I've been a little worried about that happening. All last year and the first two preseason games this year, he looked like utter garbage. Then in the last two preseason games this year he started to get it - he managed to put together drives that were several plays long before they ended due to things that weren't his fault. It was enough to convince me that he might be a good NFL quarterback in a couple of years.

Sander said:
Freeman looked decent, but much more like a rookie this time. Not that comfortable with the two-step drop, and several botched snaps. They have to get that basic stuff fixed.
But man, can that kid extend plays. He escaped from so many sacks.
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It'll get harder from now on. Teams have multiple weeks of video of his games now, and they'll prepare to exploit his weaknesses. He seems to have good instincts though.

Also, Chris Johnson having a field day. 132 Rushing yards, 2 Rushing TDs, 9 receptions, 100 receiving yards. Insane statline right there.
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LBJ is the man to have in fantasy this year. Vince Young makes him dynamite. VY is a terrible passer except for the short dumpoffs, and since VY runs quite a bit it opens up the field. The two of them together make that offense difficult to stop.
 
SimpleMinded said:
Now I didn't seethe game so all I have is the scores to go on... but did st louis REALLY almost beat new orleans?
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Didn't see the game either, but they had a possible game-winning drive going at the end, yes. Brees hasn't been looking like the Brees from the first couple games for a while now, and Steven Jackson is just a really good RB while NO has been week against the run.

UniversalWolf said:
It'll get harder from now on. Teams have multiple weeks of video of his games now, and they'll prepare to exploit his weaknesses. He seems to have good instincts though.
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Yep. Still, there's a positive vibe around the team now, which is great.
 
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