NFL 2012 [American Football Content]

[R_of_G]

Training camps are in full swing. First official pre-season game tomorrow with the Hall of Fame Game. May as well start the NFL discussion now. How'd your team do this offseason? What do you expect from your team this season?

As most of you will recall, I'm all in on the Bucs this season. The Jets thing has been retired by my entire family. We've all moved on to the teams of our adopted hometowns over the team from the place none of us has lived in a decade.

I think the Bucs had a strong free agency period (Carl Nicks, Vincent Jackson) and a very strong draft (Mark Barron, Doug Martin). I know the NFL isn't the NCAA, but if Greg Schiano can develop the young Bucs like he did the players at Rutgers, this team has good years ahead.

I am optimistic about the team, but I am also realistic. They were 4-12 last season. If they can go 8-8 this season, I will think it a tremendous success and a sign of better things to come. If they manage to do better than that, that'd be great too.

 

[Tig]

Our home team (Texans) suffered last year in the post season due to injuries.
Now in training camp, there are already several injuries.

 

[Jipes]

I'm happy to see that the Saints are well on track despite all the suspended players and coaches, I can't wait to see the new season but this opening game of Sunday was not a bad start :dance

 

[sunvalleylaw]

Nothing too much new for my team the Seattle Seahawks since we last talked. I think they made some decent looking trades and acquisitions, and I hope they are able to build upon the successes of last year. It was the best season in a long time, and I hope a signal that better days may come. We added some good guys. The QB is not settled yet, but we have a couple decent guys to pick from.

Also, one of my favorite players from the 90's was finally honored at the NFL Hall of Fame! http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/08/05/2242657/lovable-big-guy-kennedy-light.html

Way to go 'Tez!

 

[R_of_G]

Also, one of my favorite players from the 90's was finally honored at the NFL Hall of Fame! http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/08/05/2242657/lovable-big-guy-kennedy-light.html

A well deserved induction for Kennedy. He'd have been a household name if he'd played in a larger market or teams that contended, but man, that dude could play.

 

[R_of_G]

@SVL - The Seahawks signed Terrell Owens to a deal. Perhaps the Jets aren't the only team going with a circus motif for this season. Good luck with that freak show.

 

[sunvalleylaw]

Oh man! I had not heard that!! :thwap Just when things were looking better and that they were piecing together a workerlike team! *goes to look at TNT sports page to see news*

 

[R_of_G]

Oh man! I had not heard that!! :thwap Just when things were looking better and that they were piecing together a workerlike team! *goes to look at TNT sports page to see news*

It's just what a team with an identity crisis at QB needs, the ultimate QB killer in their locker room.

 

[sunvalleylaw]

Yeah, sure enough. It's there in the news. They say Carroll is optimistic, that TO gave a good workout and is fit, and maybe they can get a good year out of him. I say we don't need the distraction potential. We need to figure out which of the candidates for QB will get the longer term job, and develop the team leadership. I don't see TO helping that out. Maybe I am wrong and unfairly judging him, but . . .

 

[Tig]

Oh man! I had not heard that!! :thwap Just when things were looking better and that they were piecing together a workerlike team! *goes to look at TNT sports page to see news*

Looks like R_of_G needs to work on his bedside manner... SVL almost had a cardiac moment! :what

 

[NWBasser]

@SVL - The Seahawks signed Terrell Owens to a deal. Perhaps the Jets aren't the only team going with a circus motif for this season. Good luck with that freak show.

CRAP!!!!:thwap

What sort of stupidity is going on in Renton?

Did someone switch Pete Carroll's brain with Rex Ryan's?

Last I saw of TO, he was let go from an arena team....

 

[NWBasser]

Looks like R_of_G needs to work on his bedside manner... SVL almost had a cardiac moment! :what

Me too.

It appears that my beloved Seahawks are becoming a circus act.:crazyguy

 

[sunvalleylaw]

I just had a weird thought. What if Pete Carroll is trying to do something along the lines of the "Moneyball" thing in the baseball movie? Maybe it could work in football. It will be interesting this year anyways!

I don't take football THAT seriously any more. I enjoy following the Seahawks some again, but I sure don't want to go back to taking any professional sport seriously. I goofed up too many Sundays like that in my youth.

 

[NWBasser]

What's really worring about the T.O. acquisition is what it says about the rest of the recieving corp. If the 'hawks are desparate enough to gamble on T.O., then they must not have much confidence in their other recievers.

Bringing a new QB into a system without receiving talent seems like a disaster waiting to happen.

I don't like the idea of a team built on desparation.

 

[sunvalleylaw]

Well, not much clarity in the QB situation in Seattle from what I read. I did not watch the game. From what I read, I want to hold out for Flynn to come into his own rather than be too attracted by Wilson's "more exciting" performance. Defense apparently played well. I like that.

 

[R_of_G]

Well, not much clarity in the QB situation in Seattle from what I read. I did not watch the game. From what I read, I want to hold out for Flynn to come into his own rather than be too attracted by Wilson's "more exciting" performance. Defense apparently played well. I like that.

I'm sure the organization would like to see Flynn come into his own too, since they paid him handsomely assuming he'd have a "his own" to come into. Frankly, I think Wilson is the better QB. I thought he was better in college. I think he'll make a better pro. Flynn looked great plugged into the Green Bay starting offense when Rodgers was out. Running the Seattle offense is far different. One exhibition game hardly makes for enough data on which to make the choice, but through one game, on the field Wilson was the better QB.

 

[NWBasser]

Well, not much clarity in the QB situation in Seattle from what I read. I did not watch the game. From what I read, I want to hold out for Flynn to come into his own rather than be too attracted by Wilson's "more exciting" performance. Defense apparently played well. I like that.

Steve, I only caught the last half of the fourth, but Wilson looked very good from what I saw.

I think I'll hold off on any sort of QB assessment until I've seen all the candidates at work. That said, it appears that they found some decent talent to try out.

Braylon Edwards looked pretty good and that may be a bright spot for the team.

 

[NWBasser]

...but through one game, on the field Wilson was the better QB.

Keep in mind that Wilson was also working against the second-string defense.

Nevertheless, Wilson did show that he's a very solid contender for the position.

Oh, and thank for the asssessment of him! I was unaware of his college achievements.

However this shakes out, it will be very interesting to see.

 

[R_of_G]

Braylon Edwards looked pretty good and that may be a bright spot for the team.

Edwards is a fairly consistent receiver at this point in his career. At some point or another, he will drop a big pass because he's Braylon Edwards and that's his thing he does, but the drops have gotten less frequent. I think Seatlle will be happy to have him. I still think he's better than any of the WRs the Jets have on their current roster but they didn't seem to think so.

Keep in mind that Wilson was also working against the second-string defense.

Nevertheless, Wilson did show that he's a very solid contender for the position.

Oh, and thank for the asssessment of him! I was unaware of his college achievements.

However this shakes out, it will be very interesting to see.

Wilson's collegiate play gets overlooked a lot because most of it was at NC State, not exactly known as a football powerhouse, but when he played that final year at Wisconsin a lot of people wondered why they hadn't heard of him before. He gets tagged with that "too short" for the NFL thing a lot, but (A) he's the same height as Brees who seems to have it figured out, and (B) he played fine at Wisconsin behind some of the most enormous linemen in the nation. I'd love to see what he can do with the first string guys.

 

[NWBasser]

Wilson's collegiate play gets overlooked a lot because most of it was at NC State, not exactly known as a football powerhouse, but when he played that final year at Wisconsin a lot of people wondered why they hadn't heard of him before. He gets tagged with that "too short" for the NFL thing a lot, but (A) he's the same height as Brees who seems to have it figured out, and (B) he played fine at Wisconsin behind some of the most enormous linemen in the nation. I'd love to see what he can do with the first string guys.

Hmm, based on your assessment of Wilson, maybe Carroll and Co. have a better eye for talent than I give them credit for. It seems that they have built a pretty good defense for this year.

Then again, T.O.!??

 

[R_of_G]

Hmm, based on your assessment of Wilson, maybe Carroll and Co. have a better eye for talent than I give them credit for. It seems that they have built a pretty good defense for this year.

Nah, I've seen enough Pete Carroll. This is more likely the every squirrel gets a nut thing.

Then again, T.O.!??

Exactly. Like I said the other day, why take a team already struggling to find its identity at QB and add to the mix the one player unanimously believed by everyone who's ever played with him to be a destroyer of the confidence of QBs? Just wait until the first time Flynn or Wilson don't throw it to Owens when he thinks he's open.

 

[Tig]

Maybe he'll hire Chad Ochocinco/Johnson/whatever-his-name-is-this-week?
:dance

 

[R_of_G]

Maybe he'll hire Chad Ochocinco/Johnson/whatever-his-name-is-this-week?
:dance

Though nothing ever surprises me with the NFL anymore, I'd wager Chad Johnson's NFL career is over. He had less than 20 receptions last season with Tom Brady as his QB. If you can't make that work, chances are it's not working with a lesser QB either. Then again, Mike Tannebaum is running a three ring circus in New York right now. Perhaps he needs another clown.

 

[sunvalleylaw]

Ok, what did some of the other fretters observe about their teams? How are the Iggles looking so far, etc.?!

 

[R_of_G]

I thought the Bucs looked promising, albeit against an awful Dolphins' team. LeGarrette Blount is carrying the ball higher and tighter, hopefully leading to less fumbling.

Doug Martin appears to be the quintessential all-purpose back. He can run inside or outside. He can catch out of the backfield. Perhaps most importantly, he can block, as evidenced by a great block on one of Miami's best pass rushers, Cameron Wake, which allowed Josh Freeman the time to connect for a 14 yard pass and an extension of a drive that led to 7 points.

Most impressive to me was the offensive line. I knew Carl Nicks was a dominating presence on the line, but I didn't watch every Saints' game. This guy is quite possibly the best offensive lineman in the game right now. He is just killing people at the line and opening up holes I'm pretty sure even I could run through for a short gain.

The real key to this team's performance is on the other side of the ball. Injuries have plagued a potential-filled young defensive line and there's little depth if it happens again.

 

[NWBasser]

It's become clear to me that the Seahawks have a great QB option with Russell Wilson.

In last Sat's game against the Broncos, Wilson really shined. I think he's their guy.

Now, I'll bet that Carroll goes with Flynn...

Things were overall pretty good for the defense, although the pass rush was still lacking somewhat.

T.O. couldn't catch a cold that night and dropped a perfectly thrown pass by Flynn right in the end zone.

 

[Tig]

I watched most of the Colt's game Sunday night. Andrew Luck showed some pretty good patience and maturity for a rookie. The Steelers were a bit off and on, but looked good for the most part.
I'm also happy to report that the Texans appear to have their act together this year, barring too many injuries.

 

[piebaldpython]

Iggles looked OK against the Pats......esp Foles who came in when Vick got hurt. I was on 3 week vacation and missed most of training camp and the related scuttlebutt that comes out then. The players are dedicating the season to Andy Reid's son who recently died.

 

[R_of_G]

It's become clear to me that the Seahawks have a great QB option with Russell Wilson.

In last Sat's game against the Broncos, Wilson really shined. I think he's their guy.

Now, I'll bet that Carroll goes with Flynn...

Things were overall pretty good for the defense, although the pass rush was still lacking somewhat.

T.O. couldn't catch a cold that night and dropped a perfectly thrown pass by Flynn right in the end zone.

I suppose we'll see who has the real power in the Seahawks' organization. Typically in these situations, upper management tends to want to play the guy they just paid the big money for, while the coaches usually want the guy who's most ready to play, which is pretty clearly Wilson.

 

[NWBasser]

I suppose we'll see who has the real power in the Seahawks' organization. Typically in these situations, upper management tends to want to play the guy they just paid the big money for, while the coaches usually want the guy who's most ready to play, which is pretty clearly Wilson.

Carroll is starting Wilson on Friday. It looks to me like that's the direction he's headed.

The local sports pundit has clearly stated his preference for Flynn, explaining that a rookie QB will make a lot of mistakes and cost the team dearly.

Nevermind the incredible talent displayed by Wilson in his first couple of games...

With the exception of TO, there's quite a bit to look forward to with this team this season.