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Post by Don Caballero on Dec 16, 2014 18:20:34 GMT -5
Not really buying the GB hype. Teams that suck as much as them on the road tend not to have what it takes to get the job done. I think Seattle will be represent the NFC once again. GB is a flawed squad, but so is Seattle. One has a great offense and the other has a great defense, while being average-ish on the other side of the ball. I'd give the edge to the Packers because of Rodgers (awful game against the Bills notwithstanding, he's still the best QB in the league), but it's close. I know it's sort of funny, but watch out for the Lions. They had an easy schedule, but if the offense gets going as it should they could surprise people. |
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Post by mgoetze on Dec 16, 2014 23:49:19 GMT -5
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Post by mgoetze on Dec 17, 2014 16:52:35 GMT -5
So, Easley to IR. "Knee soreness" is not something you want to hear about from a guy who tore both his ACLs in college...
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mobaz
Veteran
Posts: 3,044
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Post by mobaz on Dec 18, 2014 9:52:11 GMT -5
I wasn't really opposed at the time, but it really sucks that the Superbowl ready Pats have gotten 0 out of their first two picks in a very strong draft this year. Hate to be that guy, but imagine the offense if we had any of the 2nd/3rd round WRs, or OL help (Mike Reiss of ESPN was pushing Joe Bitonio, who's had a good first year at guard for the Browns).
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Post by mgoetze on Dec 18, 2014 11:08:59 GMT -5
To be fair, Easley did a pretty good job standing in for Chandler Jones at RDE, though of course you wouldn't normally spend a 1st round pick on a DE who is better at defending the run than rushing the passer. But the main thing is getting several years of production out of your #1s, and that seems to be at risk if Easley's knees never return to fully healthy.
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Post by texs31 on Dec 18, 2014 11:46:57 GMT -5
I wasn't really opposed at the time, but it really sucks that the Superbowl ready Pats have gotten 0 out of their first two picks in a very strong draft this year. Hate to be that guy, but imagine the offense if we had any of the 2nd/3rd round WRs, or OL help (Mike Reiss of ESPN was pushing Joe Bitonio, who's had a good first year at guard for the Browns). I don't know. In aggregate, Gronk, Edelman and LaFell we could have 3 guys with over 1,000 yard in receiving. Vereen will have over 50 catches and Wright has 6 TDs. How many more passes would even be available? Another WR would've just cut into someone else's production (probably LaFell's). Sure, an additional WR might have added the deep threat that NE so you're talking about an added dimension, not necessarily added stats. The question probably came to Dobson (who folks still expected a lot from) with 1 year in the system versus a rookie who had to learn a the system and gain Brady's confidence (neither of which being easy tasks). On the OL, the tackle positions were locked down and a starter quality guy was targeted at C (just in the later rounds). I see that as having been more of an option than WR but still . . . . I think BB likes to use the draft as a tool to "keep the train rolling" rather than fill a current need. If Easley can be healthy (I'm not concerened on this move to the IR being a longterm omen . . . yet), he's a guy who NE never would've had a crack without the injury concern. In short, if Easley can get healthy and Brady plays long enough to render Garoppolo obsolete, then we will question the draft. But Stork looks to be a fixture; Fleming is a work in progress but has contributed to, at least, 1 win (as the 3rd TE against Indy) so . . . |
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Post by rjp313jr on Dec 18, 2014 12:05:00 GMT -5
I agree, the draft is very rarely for year 1. People make that mistake all the time; even great players have a tough time making a huge impact as a rookie. Collins is a decent example as a second round pick. He started to really come into his own late in the year last year, but he's had a much greater impact this season. Hightower is probably the best example as he's really come into his own this year (yr 3) even if he showed improvement last year (yr 2).
Also, rookies who do have an impact, often times fade come the end of the year.
Plus, as mentioned Stork has had a huge impact as a rookie. If we got that production from our first round pick in a given year, we'd be very happy so it's not like the rookie class has brought nothing.
Also, it's way too early to be concerned about Easily's knees long term.... lets see what the issues are... he came back quickly and remember he blew out different knees each time so it's not like he keeps having a reoccurring issue in the same knee that won't heal.
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Post by rjp313jr on Dec 21, 2014 8:11:14 GMT -5
It sucks Edelman isn't playing but they should be able to beat the Hets without him, however it will be much harder. He's the guy they go to when things aren't working so let's home McDaniels and Brady have their heads out of their asses...
Glad Blount is out and Jonas is the featured back. I prefer to see what he can do and this may help even things out if he has a good game.
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Post by xxdamgoodxx on Dec 21, 2014 12:13:56 GMT -5
I sense a lot of cover 0 in this game, given Browner's effectiveness on Decker.
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Post by rjp313jr on Dec 21, 2014 12:30:20 GMT -5
Only 4 corners active today
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Post by mgoetze on Dec 21, 2014 13:59:47 GMT -5
Ugh, the 2012 version of Patrick Chung is back.
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Post by mgoetze on Dec 21, 2014 14:51:47 GMT -5
Seriously, it's like the Jets' 3 biggest plays have all featured Patrick Chung screwing something up.
But the whole defense is starting to play noticeably tired, because the offense just can't stay on the field. It's like Solder-Connolly-Stork-Wendell-Vollmer is some kind of cheat code that makes the O-Line magically work even though the individual players are all no good. Fleming in for Kline for the 2nd half, hasn't looked any better yet.
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Post by rjp313jr on Dec 22, 2014 10:09:28 GMT -5
Chung was terrible yesterday. It's a good thing Geno still plays like Geno enough that the Pats won.
One thing that stood out and I wanted to see the numbers before commenting was Ayers lack of time. One thing that's been proven and valuable is a rotation to keep guys healthy and fresh. Patricia or BB or both abandoned that yesterday. Jones and Nink played 100% (63 of 63) defensive snaps and Ayers played 5. That is such crap it's not even funny.
1. It's less effective overall. Rotations keep guys fresher and help throw Offensive linemen out of rhythm by facing different styles.
2. Ayers is better vs the run than jones and the Jets run a lot(yesterday jones was very good though so it didn't hurt)
3. Ayers has earned the time and should be rewarded for it. Not blindly but because it helps the team.
4. The least important one, but Ayers is a guy they should want to resign. He fits then perfectly is young and talented and his history should help suppress his cost. He's the 3rd DE they've been looking for and a potential long term Nink replacement. Why would he want to resign if his role is 5 snaps a game when healthy.
5. No DL should be playing that many snaps unless the team is stuck.
Hopefully Ayers wasn't 100% because it's disturbing if they would play him that little.
The defensive plan was very vanilla yesterday. They abandoned all the looks they've used in previous weeks that have caused pressure and confusion. Perhaps they didn't want more film on it and save it for better QBs.
I won't put too much stock into the performance versus the Jets. No matter what it's a tough game so it is what it is.
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Post by rangoon82 on Dec 23, 2014 5:50:49 GMT -5
Broncos lose, boom first round bye and home field throughout. Wonder how much of the starters we'll see next week. With the 1st round bye 2 weeks off might be too much?
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Post by xxdamgoodxx on Dec 23, 2014 7:25:03 GMT -5
As long as Gronk becomes "dehydrated" by Q3, I'm fine with playing the starters. Playing in fear of getting hurt is the way that players get hurt.
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Post by mgoetze on Dec 23, 2014 8:55:09 GMT -5
Wonder how much of the starters we'll see next week. Well the O-Line obviously needs more practice. |
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Post by Chris Hatfield on Dec 23, 2014 9:50:20 GMT -5
Wonder how much of the starters we'll see next week. Well the O-Line obviously needs more practice. Well, they also need to be healthy - a lack of Connolly, not that he's been great, certainly hurt last week. I do generally agree with you that reps would be good, especially with a bye week afterwards. |
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Post by mgoetze on Dec 23, 2014 10:32:53 GMT -5
I wouldn't call the defenses even. The Patriots have better safeties and maybe better linebackers, but the Broncos have a much better defensive line (both vs the run and pass) and comparable corners (Chris Harris is chronically underrated). I think it's a lot closer than Denver fans may have given them credit prior to this week, but I do think the Broncos have the slightly more talented team. One thing Denver's defense seems to be really bad at is defending the read option. Looking forward to seeing how Belichick plans to exploit that... (Oh, and about those comparable corners? Let's ask Keenan Allen what he thinks about that...) |
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Post by jmei on Dec 23, 2014 10:55:48 GMT -5
Since I made that post, Collins and Hightower have looked terrific in all facets of the game and are now probably one of the better LB duos in the game. That's a huge advantage, especially since their versatility (along with that of Ninkovich/Jones/Ayers) gives Belichick a ton to work with in terms of disguising rushes.
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Post by rjp313jr on Dec 23, 2014 11:32:03 GMT -5
Peyton Manning is obviously hurt. He can throw an accurate ball still (way better than Brady on most throws), but has zero power and he goes down when barely touched in an effort to protect himself. I would not be shocked if he retires, he has serious neck issues he needs to be worried about and god only knows what else is wrong but there is an injury for sure.
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Post by Don Caballero on Dec 23, 2014 15:23:35 GMT -5
Yeah, my feelings exactly regarding Manning. At least 2 of his interceptions were throws he would normally make, so he got his head on the right place but his body is letting him down.
I hope he retires. A Favre-ian saga does not suit him.
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Post by FenwayFanatic on Dec 24, 2014 13:39:49 GMT -5
Julian edelman was back at practice today. Thats good news.
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Post by redsoxnh2014 on Dec 24, 2014 14:08:42 GMT -5
Julian edelman was back at practice today. Thats good news. True, but I hope he's not on the field this weekend. No point in rushing him back for a meaningless game when we're going to have to lean on him in the playoffs |
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Post by rjp313jr on Dec 24, 2014 15:24:45 GMT -5
He was also at practice last week. Today's practice report is meaningless. None of the players who missed last week were missing at any practices either.
I mean it's better he was there than not but it doesn't necessarily indicate any changes
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Post by mgoetze on Dec 26, 2014 18:25:03 GMT -5
Looks like Dennard did something bad to his hamstring in practice today and is out for Sunday. Too bad, this could have been a good game for him to finally get some live reps. Gray is also out... no big deal, feels like Blount is the better matchup against the Bills anyway.
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