NFL thread.

[JBHolmesfan]

Originally posted by Cawood86:


You are optimistic. I'll give you that. I have zero confidence in Lewis or Dalton. I think Green is looking to get out of Cincy. Just my personal opinion. I think he wants to play with a legit QB. Won't happen in Cincy unless Dalton has career injury or something.

I don't think Dalton was terrible last night. The first pick was Green's fault for stopping on the route. Should've been a jump ball scenario and likely would have just been incomplete had Green not quit on it. The second one was 60-40 Dalton's fault. Bad throw but as someone mentioned in this thread, Dez and Megatron make that catch.

The Bengals have been playing well as of late despite Dalton not playing well since the Pittsburgh game at home. They didn't play terribly against Pittsburgh and I think the Steelers are way better than Indy. If Green can play, I think the Bengals will be able to put up enough points to keep it close late. If he can't play I have no clue who Dalton will throw the ball to. His lack of weapons might be one reason for his struggles. Indy isn't great at stopping the run and I expect the Bengals to run Hill all game long. In the 27-0 beat down in October, Bernard was still the primary back. Cincinnati's run game has been pretty good since they've made the switch. I think it'll be a close game, and I think the key will be whether or not Cincinnati can get pressure on Luck, not how well Dalton plays.

 

[neilborders]

I think maybe Dalton locks in on AJ Green too much. I think they said during the game that he's thrown 7 INT's that were passes intended for Green, and that's with Green missing an entire month due to injury.

That would also explain why Sanu has disappeared. He was averaging about 9 targets per game in October and November, but over the last 5 games he's only had 12 targets.

 

[Bill Cosby]

Not sure how anyone can blame Green for not catching Dalton's second pick.

He just got injured last week trying to catch and off target Dalton ball over the middle.

"But Megatron or Dez would have caught it." Oh, well, I guess it's a shame they aren't on the field and Dalton is being paid to throw balls on target to a different all pro receiver.

Dalton is complete dog ****. Whenever they go deep, there's honestly no idea where the football is going to end up. The next time he actually hits a receiver deep in stride will be the first time. I'm more confident the ball will be on target when Sanu drops back to throw than when the quarterback actually tries to throw it.

 

[The_Godfather_rivals]

Andy Dalton is the Tubby Smith of NFL quarterbacks. Not bad enough to dump and just good enough to think he might finally get to the next level. Problem is that there's no reason to be confident that he can carry the team in a huge game.

The Bengals could in theory win a Super Bowl with a guy like Dalton, but their defense and running game would need to be extraordinary.

 

[Violent Cuts]

I tend to think that this whole AFC North battle/discussion is for naught. No way, either of them is going to win in NE or Denver, much less both of them. Cinci and Pitt are very similar teams. A lot of talent, but have some serious flaws, especially now with both teams having a star player injured. Good season for both, but both need some help in the off-season to be a championship contender.

 

[Catfan in Tn.]

Where should the Titans go in this years draft? Another quarterback?

 

[krazykats]

They are projected to take Winston after Tampa takes Mariotta. They shouldn't though, honestly they should take Leonard Williams or trade down to get more picks. There will be FA QBs available, and Wittenberg will be solid long term.

No matter what I wouldn't take a QB, at least not the ones projected at the top.

 

[Cawood86_rivals]

Originally posted by The_Godfather:
Andy Dalton is the Tubby Smith of NFL quarterbacks. Not bad enough to dump and just good enough to think he might finally get to the next level. Problem is that there's no reason to be confident that he can carry the team in a huge game.

The Bengals could in theory win a Super Bowl with a guy like Dalton, but their defense and running game would need to be extraordinary.

Good analogy. Imagine the Bengals with Stafford, Matt Ryan, Cam Newton, etc. Dalton is at THE key position for a football team and he is severely limited. Also, Lewis as a coach, is incapable winning big games and this team/franchise is wasting the best window they have had or may have
to get to a SB.

 

[UK_WINS_NCAA]

Looks like Bell is definitely out for Baltimore as the Steelers picked up Ben Tate today. Huge loss. I imagine they will just throw the ball a bunch and use Tate as a blocker/safety valve.

 

[The_Catfather]

Originally posted by UK_WINS_NCAA:
Looks like Bell is definitely out for Baltimore as the Steelers picked up Ben Tate today. Huge loss. I imagine they will just throw the ball a bunch and use Tate as a blocker/safety valve.

Baltimore has a great run D but a bad secondary. Pittsburgh may be able to survive another week without him.

 

[neilborders]

One of Ben's 6 TD games was against Baltimore. I think Bell had about 20 rushing yards that day.

 

[UK_WINS_NCAA]

Originally posted by UK_Norm:
One of Ben's 6 TD games was against Baltimore. I think Bell had about 20 rushing yards that day.

He had 83 catches in the regular season. The passing game is where he'll be missed.

 

[catsJONky]

Lucky Bengals, the Colts have been playing pretty marginal ball the past few weeks. Go in there with the same game plan you had with Denver and you walk out with a win. They only beat the Titans by 2 1/2 scores so we've got them primed for you. Good luck. And Steelers fans, please buttrape the Ravens. I'm done with NFL this year. I hope they sell my team to Afghanistan.

 

[Violent Cuts]

No way I'd take Mariota (sp) over Winston.

 

[Beavis606]

Fire Jim Harbaugh so you can interview Rex Effing Ryan. I hate my team.

 

[Cawood86_rivals]

Originally posted by Beavis606:
Fire Jim Harbaugh so you can interview Rex Effing Ryan. I hate my team.

You think Harbaugh stays in college long?

 

[Beavis606]

I doubt he stays past his initial contract. But then I thought he'd have taken the Bears job over returning to college. So what do I know?

 

[krazykats]

I think it's due diligence. I don't think they hire Ryan, honestly think he goes to ATL. He is supposed to interview there too.

I will say this, I think both Mariota and Winston make it professionally. Mariotta is a system guy but he does read defenses and he does make excellent decisions whereas Winston just makes those NFL throws every time it counts. Completely different skills and both can succeed.

Will be interesting to see how 1-2 shake out in the draft.

 

[neilborders]

Originally posted by Beavis606:
Fire Jim Harbaugh so you can interview Rex Effing Ryan. I hate my team.

I'd say that he's as good of an option as anyone else on the market. And if I were a Niners fan i'd actually be quite intrigued at the thought, given all the weapons you guys have on defense. He's an annoying touch but I think he did about as good as anyone could with the Jets given the lack of talent there. Only 2 losing seasons in 6 years and two AFC Championship game appearances...and thats with Mark Sanchez and Geno Smith as his QB's

 

[catsfanbgky]

Originally posted by Bill Cosby:

Not sure how anyone can blame Green for not catching Dalton's second pick.

He just got injured last week trying to catch and off target Dalton ball over the middle.

"But Megatron or Dez would have caught it." Oh, well, I guess it's a shame they aren't on the field and Dalton is being paid to throw balls on target to a different all pro receiver.

Dalton is complete dog ****. Whenever they go deep, there's honestly no idea where the football is going to end up. The next time he actually hits a receiver deep in stride will be the first time. I'm more confident the ball will be on target when Sanu drops back to throw than when the quarterback actually tries to throw it.

Really ? Well than exactly how did AJ Green become a All Pro receiver playing with such a ****** qb ? He has hit AJ in stride SEVERAL times. So are you saying every one of AJ's many td's he made a circus type catch ? I sure hope not. Andy Dalton is not a elite qb, but to say he is a bag of dicks is just a very bad take,,,, at best, borderline dumb. Maybe, just maybe, the problem is opposing teams know the Bengals do not have a wr opposite of Green, or a TE worth a damn (Gresham I am sure you will say all his drops where the ball hits him square in the numbers, is Daltons fault), so they can key on Green, and have a safety shade over to Green's side after the ball is thrown. Nah, that could never be the problem, if would not fit the Dalton haters agenda. Dalton fits in the Matt Ryan, Tony Romo, category of qb's, not elite, but pretty damn good. I just wonder what Dalton's numbers would look like, lets say if he had Roddy White, Julios Jones and Gonzalez the former TE for the Falcons (I knew he is now retired) ? Bet they would be worse than having the likes of studs like Sanu, and the 3rd and 4th wr's the Bengals currently trot out there. Dalton has flaws, nearly all qb's not named Rogers, Brees, Manning, or Brady do. But to see he is dog ****, well it is just a bad opinion.

 

[catsfanbgky]

Originally posted by Vandalayindustries:
No way I'd take Mariota (sp) over Winston.

If a gm takes Winston over Super Mario, he will be unemployed in 2 years max, after he does so. A guy who makes very suspect decisions on and OFF the field, with a VERY suspect IQ and football knowledge , who has regressed over a year, over a guy who does nothing to lose you football games, and gives you no problems off the field is a easy, safe choice.
Give me one honest fact backed reason Winston is a better choice, I am waiting. You can not give ONE reason. Look at the numbers this year, Mario is hands down the easy choice, and it is not even close.

 

[krazykats]

Mariota is clearly the pick to make if choosing a QB #1, but I think Winston has the ability for sure to be better. At this point it's picking a system QB or and immature one. Typically kids mature, system QB guys rarely make it at the NFL level.

Tough call but I think Mariota is a QB that can make it.

Either way I'd be begging to trade down if I was either of Tampa or TN. My eyes would be set on Hundley or Petty in the 2nd.

 

[catsfanbgky]

Petty is more of a "system" qb than Mariota. Hell, Mario can scramble and extend plays with his feet. Petty is timing based and repetition driven system , doesn't make anyone around him better. So you are saying Mario in a Eagles or similar system he would not excel ? With Petty, he does not make any team / system or player around him better. With Mario, he can make any team and players around him better. Think he is a better leader, has a LOT more versatility. With Petty, he is so one dimensional, like Peyton. If you do not have a great line that can give him time to throw, he is doa and doomed to fail. IMO. Think a much bigger, stronger, more accurate Russell Wilson, or a Cam Newton as a comparison for Mariota. Petty is more Matt Ryan Joe Flacco in terms of pure pocket stationary type qb. Hell, Big Ben is another type QB Mariota compares favorable to, Rivers is another Petty type comparison.

 

[neilborders]

Reading the defense is arguably the most important job for a NFL QB, and I wonder if Matiota has ever read a defense in his life? How can he when they're running the next play before the guys on the sideline can even get the chains moved.

Not saying Winston would be a better pick. I guess Tampa has no choice but to roll the dice on one of them, but if i'm the Titans I probably give Mettenberger one more year and try to improve my team elsewhere.

 

[krazykats]

If your comparing Petty to the likes of Peyton, Rivers, Ryan etc then yes those teams should wait until the 2nd round for a QB and get something else with those #1-2 picks.

Hell TN could take Riley Cooper, the best immediate impact offensive player in the draft, and then get Petty(or Hundley) and be a lot better off than Winston and whatever else they get in the 2nd.

Tampa could grab the elite OL that they really need to protect a top QB pick, and then get the QB! They have weapons in Evans, Jackson, ASJ, Martin and Sims. But they got no secondary and a slightly average OL.


That's my point!

 

[catsJONky]

Here's the thing about the Titans. I don't care who they pick because they will suck in whatever turd system this is Jizzenhunt is trying to run. Trade down and get some picks. Let Mettenburger run around back there a couple years and get killed while we rebuild the O-line, THEN draft a real QB.

 

[jwheat]

Cowboys winning the superbowl

 

[Deeeefense]

Randall Cobb and the Green Bay Packers take the big trophy home this year. :football:

 

[Get Buckets]

Vikes grab a wildcard!

 

[o_UKFAN26]

Mariota looking great so far in camp. 67% completion and no INT's through 5 days of camp. I realize its just training camp and you can't take a whole lot away from it, but it's encouraging after seeing how much Winston is struggling.

 

[jwheat]

Titans are going to suck again this year.

 

[JonathanW_rivals]

Unfortunately the Steelers will be mediocre (7-9 to 9-7).
The once really good defense is no more.
But they should score a lot of points.

 

[neilborders]

Reports that Geno Atkins looks back in All-Pro form. They've said he's been "unblockable".

 

[BlueRaider22]

Titans are going to suck again this year.

If we get 5-6 wins and a feeling that we may have found our QB, then I'll be encouraged. That's not unreasonable.

 

[neilborders]

I'm afraid Mariota will be just another QB who was set up to fail from the get-go: Expected to start from day 1 with nobody to throw to, nobody to hand it off to, and no defense to rely on when their offense inevitably stalls.

 

[BlueRaider22]

^Me too.
I'm certainly in favor of the Houston approach than the Cleveland approach to finding a QB. Cleveland has drafted 437 QB's in the last decade. They haven't found one yet and when they do find someone that "may" have potential they get pummeled. Houston on the other hand rarely drafts a QB high even though they need one desperately. As a result their team has been to the playoffs.....or at least been in contention for such.....a few times. Once they draft a QB, they can afford to bring him along slower.

 

[neilborders]

It's no coincidence that basically every good/great QB to emerge in the last 10 years all walked straight into pretty good situations.

 

[argubs2]

Geno Smith

6-10 weeks, fractured jaw, sucker punched by reserve LB teammate.

 

[BlueRaider22]

^ex-teammate. Guy was in danger of losing a spot on the roster.......he's gone now.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Mo Wilks, Sheldon Richardson, now Geno. Jets are off to a great start.

So glad I have competent teams to root for in Rockets and Wildcats.