Questions to be answered - AFC

[Joe Public]

All right, group participation time.

If we're really in this together to help each other make money, let's help each other get any and all of the questions we need answered, answered, before kickoff.

You don't have to answer them all, just the ones you have answers to.

Also, please feel free to add your own questions so we can, again, all help each other out.

Here's my list in the AFC.

AFC WEST

Denver
I truly believe this defensive line sucks fish eggs. I believe good running teams are going to pound the Broncos like a ten dollar hooker in the back seat of a rented Ford Focus. 1. Anybody want to disagree with that? 2. With Rod Smith on the PUP list, that leaves Javon Walker as their only real threat, given that this is Jay Cutler's first real season in this system, is there any reason we shouldn't expect a lot of unders from this team at least early on?

Can they really be counted on to throw the football?

San Diego
True or false: San Diego's receivers suck.

If true, does this matter? In terms of wins and losses?

Oakland
I kind of think this team is going to have a pretty solid defense. Agree or disagree?

I also think this offense is going to be perhaps one of the worst in all of football. I like Lamont Jordan, but this is year one back from a severe knee injury, Culpepper has skills, but he can't seem to beat out Luke McCown for the starting job and the O-line seems to be a mess.

Why should I have any faith in this team to put points on the board?

KC
I'm not sure I have a question about them, other than why on earth I should think they're going to win more than four or five games.


AFC SOUTH

Indy
Seriously, how bad is this defense going to be?

Is this another year where they're going to put up 30 a game and still lose games?

Jax
Can we safely say that this team has potentially two starting QBs and therefore has none?

Is their defense, which should have been great last year, but got hurt early and often, going to be the story of this team's season?

Can they score more than 17 a game? I think they can only do it if they can run, but was last year a fluke or do they have the team on offense to do it?

Tennessee
Vince Young should be good for at least three or four wins by himself, but with all their losses of talent, is there any possible way this team makes it to .500?

Houston
We saw what David Carr did in his first year with Kubaik, is their O-line improved enough that we should expect anything more from Schaub?


AFC EAST

NE
No questions, really, other than perhaps given all their offensive minor injuries, how many weeks will it really take this offense to find its rhythm?

NYJ
Am I the only one who thinks this defense isn't going to be very good?

Buffalo
Will there be a worse defense in the league than Buffalo this year?

JP Losman? Really?

Miami
Am I the only one putting relatively high odds that, given their offensive line, Trent Green might actually die on the field?

Also, is anybody really sold on this defense?


AFC NORTH

(insert trumpets here) The Cleveland Browns

Can the Browns stop the run? (I actually think I know the answer to this one.)

Is this offensive line ready for the season?

Pittsburgh
I don't think this team is going to be as good as people think. I'm seeing 8-8 or 9-7 without looking at their schedule. Agree or disagree?

Brand new center, the still haven't fixed their secondary really. Why should I believe?

Cincy
Ah ha, could this be a defense worse than the Bills?

Will that even matter?

Is this offensive line ready for primetime? (If so, look out, scoreboard.)

Baltimore
Only one question, is Billick serious about putting points on the board this year?

Again, any blanks you can fill in will be helpful. Any questions I or others might be able to answer, let's hear 'em.

 

[Fondybadger]

San Diego
True or false: San Diego's receivers suck.

If true, does this matter? In terms of wins and losses?

Partial truth. They'll have trouble making plays on their own, but will be decent enough to get the job done with LT running. Include Antonio Gates into the WR group and they have an average corps of guys.

 

[Joe Public]

Well said, Fondy.

That then begs the question, Rivers is no Tom Brady, so is an average group good enough?

Not just to win, because as you said, LT and AG will help them do that--but to do things like cover the number and be an elite team. Because that's a different story.

 

[ajmaverick]

All right, group participation time.

AFC WEST

Denver
I truly believe this defensive line sucks fish eggs. I believe good running teams are going to pound the Broncos like a ten dollar hooker in the back seat of a rented Ford Focus. 1. Anybody want to disagree with that? 2. With Rod Smith on the PUP list, that leaves Javon Walker as their only real threat, given that this is Jay Cutler's first real season in this system, is there any reason we shouldn't expect a lot of unders from this team at least early on?

Yes, Denver's D-line has looked bad this preseason and the loss of Ekuban for the season will hurt also. They have some young players on the D-line and new starting MLB Williams. I think many of the guys are still getting used to Jim Bates defensive scheme. You can't say the corners looked very good during the preseason either though. Champ held his own for the most part but Bly was getting beat constantly against Edwards in that CLE game. I wasn't too pleased but it is nothing to get totally worked up about. I think they will be fine.

For receivers...Rod Smith wasn't going to be a big option even if he was healthy. Look at what he did last year. The two stud receivers will be Walker and Marshall. Marshall is about the same size as TO, pound for pound and everything. Then you have Stokley who will be healthy and a young talent in Hixon. Cutler will use his TE's a lot in Scheffler and Graham also. Add to the running game with Travis Henry and Mike Bell and there is some potential on that offense.

I can see them playing some unders early in the season, it wouldn't surprise me at all. But, I would say that will pick up as the season progresses. Just my insight man. Thanks for the thread.

:cheers:

 

[Joe Public]

Thanks for the response, AJ.

Yeah, I was at that Browns game and from a Cleveland perspective it was nice to see Braylon use Bly a couple of times.

I also think it was Bly who Joe J. beat for that would-have-been TD Quinn threw in the third. But that was a height mismatch.

My problem with the Broncos' defense this year, I think, is likely going to be the same one I've had for the last few years.

They start strong, then they get figured out and don't adjust.

This year I just have a problem seeing them generate pressure without sending LBs in on blitzes. They've got good corners so that can help make up for that, but that defense scares me and that young WR corps (other than Walker) worries me, too.

 

[Wikeman]

Oakland - QB was a mess last year, the upgrade to either Culpepper or McCown should really help the offense, and all other aspects indirectly.
Pinnacle has them for 5+ wins, up from 2 last year.

 

[Joe Public]

Pinnacle has them for 5+ wins, up from 2 last year.

Actually, I don't think that's accurate. I had their under last year at Pinny, won it, and I'm pretty sure it was a flat 5. Maybe, just maybe 4.5.

Either way, yes, Luke or Dante should be an upgrade, but here again is a team changing to an entirely new blocking scheme, the zone blocking Denver is famous for.

That does two things, one, it forces them to teach a bad offensive line a whole new way to block, and two, it gives Denver a chance to play against the exact same stuff they see in practice all the time.

I have trouble seeing how that helps the Raiders in the short term, which, for betting purposes is all that matters, no?

 

[C-Gold]

Jax has 2 starting quarterbacks? Who would that be?
It's not David Garrard and Quinton Gray.

Oh wait, if only that had some high round draft picks at receiver, THEN they would be good.... because quinton gray is mobile, and mobile is better because you have to defend the pass AND the run, and waste defenders on a spy, yadda yadda yadda

 

[Throwback420]

Oakland
I kind of think this team is going to have a pretty solid defense. Agree or disagree?

I also think this offense is going to be perhaps one of the worst in all of football. I like Lamont Jordan, but this is year one back from a severe knee injury, Culpepper has skills, but he can't seem to beat out Luke McCown for the starting job and the O-line seems to be a mess.

Why should I have any faith in this team to put points on the board?

This offense and oline is so much better with new coaches and schemes. The oline has looked pretty solid in all the pre season games. That zone blockin sheme really does help. It also helps the running game but i still hate Lamont Jordan.

Last year I think the Raiders average 10.2 pts on offense i think. Im positive they will do better than that. I say from 17-20 a game and The Defense and Special Teams (The emergence of Rookie Higgins 2 punt return for td's one called back) will help alot. This team is gonna be so much better than last year. Also you have to remeber Porter the #1 WR didnt play at all last year So he is gonna help so much and Curry looks 100% healthy. Raiders also have 2 solid TE's on the roster rookie MIller and 2nd year guy Madsen who has been a stud in the pre season.


The Raiders will not be last in the league on Offense I guarentee that shit.

 

[C-Gold]

why hasn't jemarcus russell signed yet? I hope he realizes he won't get to play this year, and that if Jemarcus Russell version 1.0 starts to play well, it will reduce his value even further.

His LSU team looked pretty good without him, Laundry, and Bowie yesterday. How come when fat russell was replaced by a more mobile Flynn, the media didn't go nuts and start talking about the mobility factor that flynn added?

I just find if funny that when Brady Quinn in the draft, or Flynn at LSU burn him in mobility, it is just flat out left out of the discussion, when normally, people talk about mobility too much. funny how that works.

 

[Wikeman]

Pinnacle has them for 5+ wins, up from 2 last year.

Actually, I don't think that's accurate. I had their under last year at Pinny, won it, and I'm pretty sure it was a flat 5. Maybe, just maybe 4.5.

Bad formulation, I meant that they only had 2 wins last season.
About the defense switch, they should wait until after the Lions week 1 it seems.

 

[Joe Public]

Jax has 2 starting quarterbacks? Who would that be?

Well, when I typed this earlier I meant Lefty and Garrard, but now that's changed. And I meant it in the same sense as saying the Browns had two starting QBs last year, meaning they really didn't have any either (though that's a bit of an unfair shot at Charlie Frye). You could have said the same thing about the Raiders last year.

Bottom line is, now the Jags really only have one starter, but I'm not even sure he's a full 16 game guy (that being Garrard).

At this point I'm willing to give up on their passing game and figure anything they get from that will be gravy. It turns out that Matt Jones was a reach at best, a bust at worst, they don't seem to have anything on the outside, and I'm not sure anybody has the confidence to get the ball out there anyway.

So the question I really have now is, is their running game going to be good enough to put two TDs on the board each week?

 

[Joe Public]

why hasn't jemarcus russell signed yet?

Because he's a moron and he's getting bad advice. The only ones dumber are the Raiders themselves. That you had the first pick in the draft and you didn't basically sign him before you selected him is just organizational incompetence.

In other words, these two are made for each other.

 

[Joe Public]

This team is gonna be so much better than last year.

Which would then make them a what, four win team?

=)

Kidding, TB, kidding.

Maybe that blocking scheme will help that O-line, and I'll be honest, I didn't see them in preseason, but I fear that trying to move all those guys around--again--is just a recipe for problems.

The good thing for them is, they start somewhat easy on the schedule. Denver should kill them in week two--and motherf**ker, the Browns have to go out to Oakland AGAIN this year.

Oh, well, that's become Charlie Frye's home away from home so maybe he can keep that up.

Nice f**king schedule, though.

 

[C-Gold]

I wasn't impressed with either jags QB, that is why I was suprised they said they had 2. It doesn't matter if they had Harrison and Wayne on the outside, Byron is overrated. I don't know why it hard for people to grasp that. He is the most injured QB in the league, and was a waste of the 7th pick.

 

[Throwback420]

why hasn't jemarcus russell signed yet? I hope he realizes he won't get to play this year, and that if Jemarcus Russell version 1.0 starts to play well, it will reduce his value even further.

His LSU team looked pretty good without him, Laundry, and Bowie yesterday. How come when fat russell was replaced by a more mobile Flynn, the media didn't go nuts and start talking about the mobility factor that flynn added?

I just find if funny that when Brady Quinn in the draft, or Flynn at LSU burn him in mobility, it is just flat out left out of the discussion, when normally, people talk about mobility too much. funny how that works.

go start a Mike Vick thread :seeya:

 

[Joe Public]

was a waste of the 7th pick.

Yeah, it's tough to say otherwise when he gets cut. They did give him every chance.

My point on there being two was the old saying, 'when you have two starters, you really have none.'

That's sort of my point there, it's why I really do look at any production from the passing game being a bonus.

And that's never a good way to go into a season.

 

[Throwback420]

This team is gonna be so much better than last year.

Which would then make them a what, four win team?

=)

Kidding, TB, kidding.

Maybe that blocking scheme will help that O-line, and I'll be honest, I didn't see them in preseason, but I fear that trying to move all those guys around--again--is just a recipe for problems.

The good thing for them is, they start somewhat easy on the schedule. Denver should kill them in week two--and motherf**ker, the Browns have to go out to Oakland AGAIN this year.

Oh, well, that's become Charlie Frye's home away from home so maybe he can keep that up.

Nice f**king schedule, though.

yeah that Zone blocking has been pretty good., I think Newberry beat out Grove for the starting center spot so that should help add some power. Grove always got handled by Big NG's like Jamal Williams. This scheme has also helped Lamont alot. I never liked him but in the 2 games he played in this preseason it seems like this system can help him alot. The big thing will be play calling and that is on Kiffin.

Also Denver wont kill Oakland. Raiders can won but they will probally lose a close game. Cutler wont get shit on the Raiders pass D

 

[C-Gold]

Joe- when you have 2 starters, you have none is refering to when you have 2 good startars. Look, I understand you like Byron and Garrard, but they weren't going to outscore anyone ( offensivly at least). You can't blame the receivers or anyone else either.

the 7th pick is supposed to be a stud like Carson Palmer, or Peyton Manning, or Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Donovan Mcnabb....

Not a mike vick, david carr, daunte culpepper, Byron Fathead, Akili Smith, Ryan Leaf. Byron was a wasted pick.

 

[Joe Public]

I actually don't feel one way or another for Garrard. I mean, NFL QB is one of the hardest jobs to have in the world so I root for him in that regard, but that's about the extent of it.

Lefty I always had a soft spot for because he made me a bunch of money at Marshall and the guy had a huge heart. I thought he was a leader. Thing is, being a good leader and having some talent can win you games at the college level, but as others often point out, in the NFL everybody is an All American.

It will be an interesting thing to see where he ends up, because right now he's just become a backup, and given the timing of the release, he may not even be able to get that job.

Given Feeley's hand injury, he could come to Philly for a few weeks. As Believe said, Minny could use him because Jackson looks like a stiff. But he's kind of f**ked now.

 

[C-Gold]

You have had an irrational soft spot for Byron fathead. You held on too long, even as he played like crap. I don't see how he had a lot of heart either.

Winning at Marshall and winning in the nfl are two totally different things.

 

[Joe Public]

I don't see how he had a lot of heart either.

He's just a gutty guy, he played through a lot of injuries. His decisions just never really got there for this level. It happens, people tap out at a certain level.

I always thought Kelly Holcomb could handle being a starter, then the Browns gave him a shot and he crashed and burned, same in Buffalo. He's a good backup and nothing more.

Everybody's got a ceiling somewhere, and evaluations like the two above show you why I don't work on the coaching or scouting staff of an NFL team.

 

[frankiegotti]

i think the browns run defense will be improved this year somwhere around 18-22 in the league as their backers are being able to just react to how play develop and not having to think as much and then react.

Also, the O-line i think will not be good for the first few games as i am sure you know that O-lines need to develop chemistry in order to become successful.

 

[brewer]

denver d front 4 is bad. back 7 is good. losing rod smith doesnt mean much imo he was their 3rd or 4th wr. Marshall for denver is gonna be a player in this league at wideout real soon. few wrs have his skillset and potential.

vincent jackson came on late in preseason for SD. he is their #1. him, gates, LT, turner and that line will be a force.

kc is in trouble. they wont get 8 wins.

indy run d played very much like how they played in the playoffs in the preseason. if thats the case they will be even better ...

jack secondary is a concern for me, as is their open field tackling.

tenn lost their top two wideouts and rb. have fun with no skilled people VY.

jets pass d i like. i dont like the Thomas Jones sign at all. hes old and lucky he didnt get injured last year. im not suprised at all his calf and achilles is already messed up. lol.

buffalo is a very efficient football team with great specials. im not looking to bet against them. they play the cover 2 scheme so the loss of clements at cb wont be as bad as many think IMO. since the cover 2 masks corner play with the play of the safeties. lee evans should have went to the pro bowl last year (too bad he plays in such a small market and has no robin).

i dont doubt miami d the least bit. i doubt ronnie as a #1 back tho. he was at his best with ricky williams and then caddy back at Auburn.

browns o line is much improved.

pitt is gonna be back this year and make noise in the postseason imo. big ben is one of the better qbs in this league imo.

 

[brewer]

some of marshall

http://youtube.com/watch?v=TlWE5jJ_MaU&mode=related&search=

 

[Joe Public]

I really appreciate the thoughts, Brewer.

I'm going to be doing schedules, it looks like, today. So this was very helpful. Thanks for taking the time.

 

[brewer]

Joe look for teams who have most of their winnable games on the road to struggle