NFL 2010

[UniversalWolf]

...who calls him the Masticator?

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/12/23/aaron-rodgers-claims-darryl-tapp-bit-him/

I actually like what Holmgren is doing in Cleveland. It might not work, but even so it won't be worse than what it was before he got there. It's a bold move to just dump Anderson and Quinn, but they're free of that mess once and for all - for better or for worse. Rumor is they're trying to trade up, presumably to nab Bradford.

Oh, by the way...

http://www.packers.com/multimedia/photo_galleries/recent/2010-03-12b/

These are actually less hideous than their old throwbacks. I can't wait to see the brown helmets in action.

 

[Brother None]

I love the Acme Packers throwbacks.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/12/23/aaron-rodgers-claims-darryl-tapp-bit-him/

Oh, Frith, that nonsense, I completely forgot about that. I assumed everyone knew better than to take that seriously

I actually like what Holmgren is doing in Cleveland.

There's nothing terrible wrong with it up to and until trading Quinn for nothing and paying Delhomme starter money.

 

[UniversalWolf]

I love the Acme Packers throwbacks.

Yeah, I agree. My theory is that throwbacks should either be really cool or horribly ugly. These are bad enough to evoke a strong reaction. I can't remember ever seeing a plain brown helmet before.

There's nothing terrible wrong with it up to and until trading Quinn for nothing and paying Delhomme starter money.

Delhomme still gets the guaranteed money from his huge Carolina contract too; he's going to be the most overpaid player in the league for the next few years.

 

[Cimmerian Nights]

From CHFF:
A tale of six quarterbacks
http://coldhardfootballfacts.com/Articles/11_3171_A_tale_of_six_quarterbacks.html

I don't care for him personally, but I think this guy is going to make a lot of people look stupid for dismissing him somewhere down the line. I can't believe how narrow minded people get when it comes to a guy that, well there's no need for me to point out the numbers, look for yourself.
There's no way this kid makes it til the 3rd round.

Funny though, I never think of the SEC as a breeding ground for elite QBs, more pure stud athletes. I think linemen, LBs, RBs, DBs, big, strong, fast studs. Looking at that list is eye opening.

I can't remember ever seeing a plain brown helmet before.

Simulated leather?

Delhomme still gets the guaranteed money from his huge Carolina contract too; he's going to be the most overpaid player in the league for the next few years.

Maybe they're keeping him around for the uncapped year, to tutor/mentor a rookie QB (Clausen?), only to be a cap casualty when/if CBA is reached. Delhomme is Favre-lite, but I can see him being a decent steward/leader working with a rookie.
He'll fuck things up mid season as epected in some 5 turnover game, and the fans will be cheering for the rookie to come in and save the day.
Like Warner passing the baton to Eli in NYG.

Actually, Baron Harkonen set this precedent :
To assure Feyd's power, the Baron intends to install him as ruler of Arrakis after a period of tyrannical misrule by Rabban, making Feyd appear to be the savior of the people.
Obviously, the endgame here is for Delhomme and Clausen to duel to the death with Krys knives at the conclusion of the season in traditional Fremen fashion. After which Delhomme's body will be 'reclaimed' so his family can take possession of his water.

Does this make any less sense that what douches like Kornheiser and Skip Bayless have been spouting out of their clueless asses over the years?

 

[Sander]

From CHFF:
A tale of six quarterbacks
http://coldhardfootballfacts.com/Articles/11_3171_A_tale_of_six_quarterbacks.html

I don't care for him personally, but I think this guy is going to make a lot of people look stupid for dismissing him somewhere down the line. I can't believe how narrow minded people get when it comes to a guy that, well there's no need for me to point out the numbers, look for yourself.

The numbers are incredibly deceptive here. There's a very simple reason why these numbers stand out so much: the system Tebow played in. It's not because of his talent that these numbers stand out, it's because the system wasn't built around Tim Tebow passing the ball: it was built around the threat of Tebow running the ball.
Because he runs the ball so much and so well, bouncing off the smaller NCAA athletes, passing windows open up. And Urban Meyer, from what I know, designed his plays to produce a single read who is either wide open or not open. This means that the passing game utilized was a high-reward low-risk passing game, based on the threat of the run. Exactly the kind of system that does not work in the NFL.

The numbers are deceiving because Tebow never carried his team as a quarterback - unlike Peyton, Eli, Couch, Stafford or even Russell. You can see this from the number of passes thrown - only Russell - a three year player who didn't start until halfway into his first season - and Stafford - also a three year starter - threw even a similar number of passes, and Tebow is a 4-year full-time starter! The system allowed Tebow to thrive as a passer because it only forced him to pass in the most optimal circumstances.

It's really like Urban Meyer was producing an offense that required Tebow to do all the things that wouldn't work in an NFL team (this isn't a knock on Meyer, it's his job to win, not to produce NFL players): Tebow never had to go under center instead working exclusively from shotgun, Tebow never had to go through his reads - he had a single, defined read, Tebow never had to work with tight passing windows - the single, defined read was designed to be wide open and could be because of his talent, Tebow is not an elusive runner but a power runner - and that doesn't work nearly as well in the NFL.

Cold Hard Football Facts is usually a fun read, but this is a really, really weak article. If anything, that article just shows that raw college production isn't enough to predict how a QB will work in the NFL, not that Tebow will be a success.

By the way, Clausen's stats are much more impressive given that he's a 3-year starter.

Maybe they're keeping him around for the uncapped year, to tutor/mentor a rookie QB (Clausen?), only to be a cap casualty when/if CBA is reached. Delhomme is Favre-lite, but I can see him being a decent steward/leader working with a rookie.
He'll fuck things up mid season as epected in some 5 turnover game, and the fans will be cheering for the rookie to come in and save the day.
Like Warner passing the baton to Eli in NYG.

Funny thing is that this is about the best case scenario for the Browns. Whoo-boy I have no idea what Holmgren is doing.

 

[Cimmerian Nights]

Good points, but that didn't stop the pundits from coronating like-QBs Young, Vick, JaMarcus et al (first ones off the top of my head). Nor did it prevent them from becoming 1st round picks and immediate starters. And Tebow is head and shoulders above them in every conceivable way possible. A quick glance around the league would bear out that even with his flaws he could probably be more productive.
I think he's worth a shot, and I wouldn't be pissed if the Patriots took him late 3rd round.

Also, I'd take Pike over Clausen or any of these other golden boys. And I say this as an Irish-Catholic, it's practically papal edict that I support Notre Dame.

 

[Sander]

Good points, but that didn't stop the pundits from coronating like-QBs Young, Vick, JaMarcus et al (first ones off the top of my head). Nor did it prevent them from becoming 1st round picks and immediate starters. And Tebow is head and shoulders above them in every conceivable way possible. A quick glance around the league would bear out that even with his flaws he could probably be more productive.
I think he's worth a shot, and I wouldn't be pissed if the Patriots took him late 3rd round.

Sure, I can see the Pats taking them. As long as the Bucs don't take him I'm fine with it, and I think he can at least turn into something long-term.

And yes, pundits praise all kinds of QBs to high heavens and a bunch of them bust. Really, the more you look at it, the more it just looks like it's nigh impossible to predict who of the top QBs will bust and who will boom, or at least it is from simply looking at college production.

Also, I'd take Pike over Clausen or any of these other golden boys. And I say this as an Irish-Catholic, it's practically papal edict that I support Notre Dame.

I've been calling Clausen Douchy McDoucheDouche for a while now. That guy is so easily hateable, and I don't even care one way or another about Notre Dame.

 

[Brother None]

Blah blah Tebow who gives a shit. People talk way too much about a second-day prospect.

He is quite a load to bring down, love watching him in open space against DBs (when he was good, which I don't think he has been since his ATL days).

Missed this, but: you do realize Crumpler has been a blocking TE since his Falcons days, and couldn't be used as a pass-catching TE now if you put glue on his hands?

Which is odd since the blocking TE is dead. Mebbe Pats think otherwise

 

[TwinkieGorilla]

what do you guys think about this draft "helping out the bad teams" thing? i haven't read into it yet, but it seems like it could help prevent the boring hell that was this last season from happening again.

also: rumors of the Pack looking hard at Taylor Mays. fuck that'd make me happy. also: strong rumors that we're looking at OLB's and a majority DEF draft this year because of our breakdowns despite the overall improvement. word is, McCarthy and Thompson want the Pack to turn into an old-school black & blue DEF team.

fuck yeah, man. fuck yeah.

 

[Sander]

what do you guys think about this draft "helping out the bad teams" thing? i haven't read into it yet, but it seems like it could help prevent the boring hell that was this last season from happening again.

This season wasn't all that boring. I remember you going back and forth from 'Pack wins all' and 'Pack sucks fuck them they'd better lose everything'.
Lots of 9-7, 8-8 teams. Yeah, it seemed like a collection of blow-outs at the beginning of the season, but things got better as it got underway.
The playoffs were disappointing, though. 1 good game per round.

I'm not sure what you're talking about with the 'helping out the bad teams' thing. The time between round 1 and 2 in the draft, giving teams more time to arrange trades?
Eh, it'll probably mean more trades high in the second round. I doubt it'll help out the bad teams much, and really you don't see rookies be key players all that often anyway.

Also Taylor Mays, man of fucked up tackles, makes you happy? Supposedly really good as a single-high safety, though.

 

[Cimmerian Nights]

Missed this, but: you do realize Crumpler has been a blocking TE since his Falcons days, and couldn't be used as a pass-catching TE now if you put glue on his hands?

So you're saying he's a huge upgrade over Watson and Baker?

I'm pretty sure I said Atlanta, and I recall him having some real monster years at that position, with Vick throwing him the ball no less. I'd almost wager he was Atlanta's #1 receiver at the time, he was Vick's binky for sure.

Which is odd since the blocking TE is dead. Mebbe Pats think otherwise

Would that 'blocking TE' were a position instead of a role. A role that you'd be best served by filling with your best....blocker? - not necessarily a TE if that is the case. Anyone can be a blocking TE if they can block.

what do you guys think about this draft "helping out the bad teams" thing?

What's not to love?

Already armed with eight selections -- including four within the top 53 -- the Patriots are in line to land possibly four more through the league's awarding of compensatory draft choices.

It's far from headline-grabbing stuff, especially when the selections could all be at the end of the seventh and final round. Yet when considering the Patriots' track record in Bill Belichick's tenure in that area of the draft -- which includes picks such as receiver Julian Edelman (232nd overall, 2009), quarterback Matt Cassel (230th overall, 2005), receiver David Givens (253rd overall, 2002) and running back Patrick Pass (239th overall, 2000) -- it also shouldn't be overlooked.

The Patriots' best-ever compensatory draft choice? It's an easy choice -- quarterback Tom Brady (sixth round, 199th overall, 2000).

They just got more compensatory picks than any other team in the league!

I just love parity!
Don't you?

 

[Brother None]

They just got more compensatory picks than any other team in the league!

Yeah, one in the sixth, three in the sevenths. Considering 7th-round compensatories are only half a step from UFAs, what's the whoop?

Compensatory 3rds to Cincinnati, Tennesse and Atlanta. Compensatory 4th to Cincinnati. 5ths to Pittsurbgh (2x), Atlanta, Minn, SD and GB.

Carolina granted three compensatory picks - two in the sixth round and one in the seventh.

Pittsburgh granted three compensatory picks -
two in the fifth round and one in the seventh round.

New England was granted four
compensatory picks - one in the sixth round and three in the seventh round.

I'd rather have Cincy's two than Pats' four, but eh. Pats should still dominate this draft simply on their picks gained last year. Wonder if they'll nab half the guys I like, again.

 

[Cimmerian Nights]

what's the whoop?

Well, you know Belichik will be aggressive this year already with the number of picks and immediate needs they have, he's already set the stage (liquidating Seymour, trading down out of last year's weak draft). He can't use these comp. picks for trades, but what he can do, if he's smart, is get real aggressive, use these in combination with existing picks to move up spots to get the player you (heh err) they want. They are going to own the second round. There are a lot of stupid, desperate, shortsighted teams out there that will deal that really shouldn't be swimming with sharks like Belichik and Floyd Reese. Sucks to be them. Reign on.

 

[Brother None]

How will he use comp picks in trades? You mean he'll feel more free to use his late-round picks as trade bait because he'll have comp picks to pick up the flyers he's targeting anyway?

Also yeah, this draft is pretty rich in talent that would have gone in the 1st last year easily slipping into the 2nd, if not third. Golden Tate, Jahvid Best, Lamarr Houston, Jonathan Dwyer, Vlad Ducasse, Mike Johnson.
It's not too rich in 3-4 linemen tho, which is one of your fairly large needs. Jared Odrick?

Quick hits from Bill Belichick

 

[TwinkieGorilla]

Also Taylor Mays, man of fucked up tackles, makes you happy? Supposedly really good as a single-high safety, though.

um, yes? the most talented free-safety in the 2010 draft possibly replacing the complete failure that we call Jarret Bush? um, yes.

 

[Sander]

um, yes? the most talented free-safety in the 2010 draft possibly replacing the complete failure that we call Jarret Bush? um, yes.

Berry is much more talented than Mays. Earl Thomas might be, too.
Mays has plenty potential and impressive physical skills, but there's a lot of bad tape on him too. He hits hard, but there are plenty of occasion where he takes bad angles or the guy he hit just continues on.
There's no way Berry falls to you, though, so he'll probably be the consensus best safety on the board at that point.

Don't you guys need a new WR to replace Donald Driver, too?

 

[Brother None]

Also Taylor Mays, man of fucked up tackles, makes you happy? Supposedly really good as a single-high safety, though.

um, yes? the most talented free-safety in the 2010 draft possibly replacing the complete failure that we call Jarret Bush? um, yes.

You're surprisingly positive about him. He's one of those prospects a lot of fans fear their team drafting, like Jason Pierre-Paul. My team needs both a DE and a safety (strong or free to move Babs to strong), but I'd hate them drafting either one. Bust-potential is just too high.

Mays has a lot of question marks. Doesn't track the ball, tends to over-pursue, relies mostly on mugging/intimidation which won't work in the NFL. Lots of potential, but I definitely would prefer Berry (how is Mays more talented than Berry in any area other than physical freakiness?) or even Earl Thomas. Personally I'd even take Nate Allen or just wait for Myron Rolle, but that's just me.

But I guess if you want to make a make-em-bleed-for-every-yard defense, then yeah, Mays is a good fit.

 

[TwinkieGorilla]

Don't you guys need a new WR to replace Donald Driver, too?

Driver thinks he'll be around for awhile, but regardless...yes, many of Packer Nation want a WR to be drafted to come up and eventually be the #2 WR after Jennings. It's not a huge concern, especially with our O-line and defensive needs.

regarding Mays, personality is a huge part of Packer Nation. they won't usually draft the type of players who cause too much of a problem and generally TRY to take players who "get" Green Bay's way of operating. Mays says he WANTS to be in GB and is CMIII's best bud. and arguments of who's "best" or not, the kid could be a fucking star and is better than what we have now by a long shot.

 

[Cimmerian Nights]

they won't usually draft the type of players who cause too much of a problem and generally TRY to take players who "get" Green Bay's way of operating.

Like "Jailbait" Chmura?

And why is Hornung's name in the RoH dated 1957-1962 and 1964-67? Take a sabbatical in '63?

Just busting balls, I would've loved to party with Paul Hornung. Those dudes knew how to party back then. Tough SOBs.

 

[UniversalWolf]

Don't you guys need a new WR to replace Donald Driver, too?

In short, no. The Packers are stacked at WR. James Jones would be a starter on most teams, and he barely sees the field because he has to share with Jennings/Driver/Jordy Nelson/Finley. That's one of the reasons the Packers run so many 4 and 5 WR sets: they're just putting their best players on the field.

If Driver retired tomorrow the Packers still wouldn't need a receiver. Fortunately he looked as good as ever last year. I know age is going to catch up with him one of these days, but it hasn't slowed him down yet. I want him around as long as he wants to stay because he's a great guy and a great mentor for the younger WRs on the team.

regarding Mays, personality is a huge part of Packer Nation. they won't usually draft the type of players who cause too much of a problem and generally TRY to take players who "get" Green Bay's way of operating.

This is a a big factor in the way the organization operates, probably stemming from the Tony Mandarich debacle. It shouldn't be underestimated. The fact is, Green Bay is a small town in northern Wisconsin. Some players (Driver, Nick Barnett, Favre) love that environment, and some players don't. Ted very clearly takes that into consideration when drafting. It's one of the reasons no one has any idea what he's actually going to do when the pick comes up.

I've seen people predicting all sorts of different scenarios for the Packers. One of the most interesting is Pouncey from Florida. I think that's pretty unlikely, but not impossible.


As for Tebow...I guess I'm one of the few people who doesn't hate him or love him, although his disciples are pretty annoying. I wouldn't be surprised if he turned out to be good, nor would I be surprised if he ended up being a horrible bust. He's a risk, though, no question.

I think it would be hysterically funny if Al Davis drafted him with the Raiders first pick.