Re: Preseason Predictions Thread
 

[quote=Monkeydad;1020768]They have 4 games against the Titans and Jaguars, so that's working in their favor. Both of those teams are getting worse.

They also play the Raiders, Chiefs, Chargers, and Rams. They have a favorable schedule.

Also, if the offseason acquisitions like LaRon Landry, Ahmad Bradshaw, Daruis Heyward-Bey Greg Toler and Aubrayo Franklin can stay healthy, they made some great additions.

Also, mark this down, T.Y. Hilton will become a household name this year.

I don't have a Luck vs. Griffin outlook, I believe they'll both be elite QBs. They're both perfect fits for their individual teams.[/quote]

Exactly!! I had TY on my fantasy league last year, he will be a household name alright same with Fleener.

Re: Preseason Predictions Thread
 

I was trying to be hard on Green Bay and agree with you, but like New England, two things will keep them on top despite their teams getting weaker: a bad division and an elite QB.

Rodgers can carry them to victory no matter who is hurt, missing or old. Randall Cobb is now their #1 guy in my opinion and will have a monster year. They finally have a good RB for the first time in ages with Eddy Lacy. Minnesota is going nowhere with Ponder and the Lions are an absolute madhouse with all of their problem players on and off the field. I'm also not trusting Jay Cutler, so I'm picking them to win the division by process of elimination.

Re: Preseason Predictions Thread
 

IMO about Offense, I think people are gonna find out rather quickly Trestman > Chip Kelly

Re: Preseason Predictions Thread
 

[quote=SFREDSKIN;1020776]Exactly!! I had TY on my fantasy league last year, he will be a household name alright same with Fleener.[/quote]

Agree with the TY assessment.

Fleener, however, has been dropping balls all summer. They want to run the offense through him, but he is not accomodating them at all. Last year he had 26 catches on 48 targets. On top of all that, he is their No. 2 TE after Allen.

Yes. I know. You watched him in college and he will be phenomenal.

Re: Preseason Predictions Thread
 

[quote=Chico23231;1020778]IMO about Offense, I think people are gonna find out rather quickly Trestman > Chip Kelly[/quote]

Yeah, I'm rather curious to see how Cutler and the Bears will do on offense. They've underachieved on offense for so long. If Trestman can turn things around, the Bears could be quite good.

Re: Preseason Predictions Thread
 

[quote=Chico23231;1020778]IMO about Offense, I think people are gonna find out rather quickly Trestman > Chip Kelly[/quote]

Yeah. I agree. I think the Bears pick it up on offense. My bet is Trestman is going to be solid. Very solid. Just a hunch.

Re: Preseason Predictions Thread
 

[quote=donofriose;1020650]Would RG3 be considered eligible for comeback player of the year?[/quote]

From Peter Kings MMQB column today.


[quote]j. For those saying, “How can you pick Robert Griffin III to be the Comeback Player of the Year?’’ (Which I did.) He played through the end of the season, then had knee surgery. So he actually played the 2012 season. A couple of things. There are no rules for the Associated Press voters for postseason awards (I have one of those votes) concerning the Comeback Player. A player can be coming back from major surgery, or from a lousy year the previous season. And there is precedent for voting for a player who gets hurt late in the previous year. In 2012, Adrian Peterson got 17.5 of 50 votes for Comeback Player, and he started all 16 games of the 2011 Vikings season.[/quote]


[url=http://mmqb.si.com/2013/09/02/kevin-turner-concussions-monday-morning-quarterback/4/]Fighting for Themselves, Fighting for the Game | The MMQB with Peter King[/url]

Re: Preseason Predictions Thread
 

I was waiting till the start of the regular season so here are some more preseason predictions...

[B]NFC[/B]
Dallas 12-4
New Orleans 12-4
San Francisco 11-5
Green Bay 11-5
Atlanta 11-5
Washington 10-6

Just Missed: Carolina, Detroit, St. Louis, NYG

Playoffs:
[B]1st round[/B]
Washington 30 - San Francisco 28
Green Bay 38 - Atlanta 27
[B]Divisional Round[/B]
Washington 31 - Dallas 24
New Orleans 44 - Green Bay 27
[B]Conference Championship[/B]
New Orleans 37 - Washington 34

[B]AFC[/B]
Houston 13-3
Denver 12-4
New England 11-5
Pittsburgh 10-6
Baltimore 10-6
Cleveland 9-7

Just Missed: Indy, Kansas City, Cincy

Playoffs:
[B]First Round [/B]
New England 37 - Cleveland 10
Pittsburgh 17 - Baltimore 13
[B]Divisional Round[/B]
New England 27 - Denver 21
Houston 20 - Baltimore 17
[B]Conference[/B]
New England 34 - Houston 23

[B][U]Superbowl [/U][/B]
New England 36 - New Orleans 34

[B]Regular Season Awards[/B]

MVP: Drew Brees
OPOY: Trent Richardson
DPOY: Demarcus Ware
CPOY: RG3
OROY: Tavon Austin
DROY: Jarvis Jones

Cause my guess of what is going to happen this year is as good as any expert's opinion.

Re: Preseason Predictions Thread
 

And you questioned my predictions...

Re: Preseason Predictions Thread
 

[quote=donofriose;1021980]I was waiting till the start of the regular season so here are some more preseason predictions...

[B]NFC[/B]
[B][SIZE="5"]Dallas 12-4[/SIZE][/B]
New Orleans 12-4
San Francisco 11-5
Green Bay 11-5
Atlanta 11-5
Washington 10-6
[/quote]


[IMG]http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/zornfetal2.jpg[/IMG]

Re: Preseason Predictions Thread
 

[quote=Monkeydad;1022048][IMG]http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/zornfetal2.jpg[/IMG][/quote]

Ahh the days of Zorn.. With the Shanny/RG3/Dr. Andrews saga, you just have to wonder how Zorn would have handled those press conferences..

Re: Preseason Predictions Thread
 

Dallas 12-4

:laughing2

Re: Preseason Predictions Thread
 

[quote=Paintrain;1022058]Ahh the days of Zorn.. With the Shanny/RG3/Dr. Andrews saga, you just have to wonder how Zorn would have handled those press conferences..[/quote]

Zorn would have re-injured Robert on the Slip-n-Slide during camp.

Re: Preseason Predictions Thread
 

[quote=Monkeydad;1022062]Zorn would have re-injured Robert on the Slip-n-Slide during camp.[/quote]

Bob should consider getting some sliding lessons so he can protect himself better.

Re: Preseason Predictions Thread
 

[quote=Mattyk;1022060]Dallas 12-4

:laughing2[/quote]

What do you think is holding them back from that(besides us, of course)? They have a very talented roster; last year, they went 8-8 with many of their important players injured. In my opinion, 12-4 is very feasible.

Re: Preseason Predictions Thread
 

I'm eschewing record predictions because I don't feel like doing the math to ensure it all evens up but here we go..

NFC East
1. Washington 2. Dallas 3. NY Giants 4. Philadelphia
By mid October the talk won't be about Shanahan/Andrews/RG's knee but rather RG-MVP

NFC North
1. Green Bay 2. Minnesota 3. Detroit 4. Chicago
Packers win by default in a division full of flawed teams.

NFC South
1. New Orleans 2. Atlanta 3. Tampa Bay 4. Carolina
Sean Payton wins coach of the year with his triumphant return.

NFC West
1. Seattle 2. St. Louis 3. San Francisco 4. Arizona
SF suffers from the SB runner up jinx. Kap will be a stud but overall the offense regresses with age and injuries.

NFC Wild Card:
Seattle beats Dallas
Green Bay beats Atlanta

Divisional:
Washington beats Green Bay
New Orleans beats Seattle

NFC Championship: Washington beats New Orleans


AFC East
1. New England 2. Miami 3. Buffalo 4. NY Jets
Dolphins give the Pats a run for it but Brady prevails again.

AFC North
1. Cincinnati 2. Baltimore 3. Pittsburgh 4. Cleveland
The Ravens struggle to find a new identity without Ray, Ed and Anquan

AFC South
1. Indianapolis 2. Houston 3. Tennessee 4. Jacksonville
Luck is the new Manning. Kubiak is the new Andy Reid

AFC West
1. Denver 2. Kansas City 3. Large Void 4. San Diego 5. Oakland
Easiest division in football to predict.

AFC Wild Card:
Miami beats Indianapolis
Cincinnati beats Baltimore

AFC Divisional Round:
Denver beats Miami
New England beats Cincinnati

AFC Championship:
New England beats Denver

Super Bowl:
New England beats Washington

Re: Preseason Predictions Thread
 

[quote=SirLK26;1022064]What do you think is holding them back from that(besides us, of course)? They have a very talented roster; last year, they went 8-8 with many of their important players injured. In my opinion, 12-4 is very feasible.[/quote]

I can't speak for Matty. But I agree with him and here's why:

1) Dallas is struggling just to create a decent starting OL, leaving them with no depth in a mediocre bunch. The Dallas OL is a mess despite adding Frederick.
2) They have questions along their DL
3) They lack some depth at corner and lack talent and depth at safety

I think that Dallas again comes in around 8-8.

Re: Preseason Predictions Thread
 

[quote=Lotus;1022066]I can't speak for Matty. But I agree with him and here's why:

1) Dallas is struggling just to create a decent starting OL, leaving them with no depth in a mediocre bunch. The Dallas OL is a mess despite adding Frederick.
2) They have questions along their DL
3) They lack some depth at corner and lack talent and depth at safety

I think that Dallas again comes in around 8-8.[/quote]

Good points you make. I don't think they'll go 12-4 either, for a few more reasons: DeMarco Murray won't stay healthy, the team will continue to fall apart in the 4th quarter, and Jason Garrett just isn't that good of a coach. But I was saying that 12-4 is feasible, although I think 10-6 is more their speed.

[QUOTE=SirLK26;1022064]What do you think is holding them back from that(besides us, of course)? They have a very talented roster; last year, they went 8-8 with many of their important players injured. In my opinion, 12-4 is very feasible.[/QUOTE]

Tony Romo will find a way to limit them. Plus I just don't think they are deep enough. 12 wins in the East is a very tall task for any team.

Re: Preseason Predictions Thread
 

Its not a secret where Dallas lacks players consistently...Oline. Now they are shifting back to a 4-3 out of a 3-4 on defense too? Both Lines will struggle and have limited to no depth, thats usually a receipe for disaster. Jerry likes to spend on the skill positions and says f*ck it to everything else = stupid.

Re: Preseason Predictions Thread
 

Didn't they just change to the 3-4 a few years ago?

Re: Preseason Predictions Thread
 

[quote=Monkeydad;1022091]Didn't they just change to the 3-4 a few years ago?[/quote]

Nah they were 4-3 last year, they ran that wide 9 crap

Re: Preseason Predictions Thread
 

[quote=Mattyk;1022096]Nah they were 4-3 last year, they ran that wide 9 crap[/quote]

Philly was the wide 9 crap team...we're talking about Dallas. Or did they do that too? Either way, both teams had crap defenses.

Re: Preseason Predictions Thread
 

Yeah Dallas went back to a 4-3 this year with Kiffin.

Re: Preseason Predictions Thread
 

Dallas is definitely going with a 4-3. I think I hope Dallas goes 12-4 more than I actually believe they will go 12-4. I would love for the Redskins to go into Cowboys Stadium and win a playoff game at their place. Would be better than winning what basically was a playoff game last year against them. Might be almost as good as winning a championship.

I do think the Cowboys will be at minimum in contention for a playoff spot until the end. That is basically their floor.

Like usual though these predictions will prove to be meaningless. I think it has been almost 20 straight years where at least 4 new teams make the playoffs that were not in the playoffs the previous year. Basically anyone's guess who will make the playoffs. I just picked teams that I liked and I believe have enough talent to win a majority of their games.

Dallas is a solid team I'd say more like 9-7

Re: Preseason Predictions Thread
 

Dallas looks like 6-10 to me. After last season, front office acknowledged that they dropped the ball on the offensive line. But going into 2013, they did nothing to improve up front accept convince what they had to take pay cuts.

Lost Crawford for the season during the first practice of training camp. Spencer is iffy to start the season. And they have been riddled with camp injuries on the defensive and offensive fronts.

They are one injury away from 5-11. Absolutely ZERO depth on the offensive line, that is already patchwork. And there are always injuries up front during a regular season on every team.

Re: Preseason Predictions Thread
 

Hey STJ, that's a good, honest appraisal of the Stards.

I hope for your sake they can at least hold up their side of the pride of the NFC E.

Enjoy your season.

Re: Preseason Predictions Thread
 

[quote=RedskinRat;1022125]Hey STJ, that's a good, honest appraisal of the Stards.

I hope for your sake they can at least hold up their side of the pride of the NFC E.

Enjoy your season.[/quote]
Hope for my sake? Cowboys have had a chance to win their way into the tournament 2 years running and could not get it done and they still haven't taken away my birthday.

I am just not seeing the Cowboys as more than an 8-8 team. I get they have talent. They have had talent for the last several years. They also have Jason Garret & Jerrah - that's four losses right there[i] before [/i]factoring in the "I'm Tony Romo and this is important so I must be choking" factor

Re: Preseason Predictions Thread
 

[quote=JoeRedskin;1022141]I am just not seeing the Cowboys as more than an 8-8 team. I get they have talent. They have had talent for the last several years. They also have Jason Garret & Jerrah - that's four losses right there[i] before [/i]factoring in the "I'm Tony Romo and this is important so I must be choking" factor[/quote]
I get what your saying. My issue is the whole "surround your QB with talent" thing. Cowboys just seem to think that Wide Receivers, Tight Ends and Running backs are the talent and it stops there. They never consider the offensive line, defense or Special Teams.

No, an organization has to surround them with talent on all sides of the playing field. They have to have a defense they can count on to stop teams late in games. They have to have a special teams that wins the field position battle. Most especially, they need to have an offensive line that can win the battle up front late in games to win the time of possession.

Surrounding your key players with "talent" does not stop at RB, WR and TE. Jerry Jones does not get this.

Re: Preseason Predictions Thread
 

You'll be a better GM than Jerry.........

Re: Preseason Predictions Thread
 

[quote=sandtrapjack;1022143]I get what your saying. My issue is the whole "surround your QB with talent" thing. Cowboys just seem to think that Wide Receivers, Tight Ends and Running backs are the talent and it stops there. They never consider the offensive line, defense or Special Teams.

No, an organization has to surround them with talent on all sides of the playing field. They have to have a defense they can count on to stop teams late in games. They have to have a special teams that wins the field position battle. Most especially, they need to have an offensive line that can win the battle up front late in games to win the time of possession.

[B]Surrounding your key players with "talent" does not stop at RB, WR and TE. Jerry Jones does not get this.[/B][/quote]

I could not agree more. It's like Jerruh is playing in a fantasy league where only offensive skill players count.

Re: Preseason Predictions Thread
 

[quote=sandtrapjack;1022143]I get what your saying. My issue is the whole "surround your QB with talent" thing. Cowboys just seem to think that Wide Receivers, Tight Ends and Running backs are the talent and it stops there. They never consider the offensive line, defense or Special Teams.

No, an organization has to surround them with talent on all sides of the playing field. They have to have a defense they can count on to stop teams late in games. They have to have a special teams that wins the field position battle. Most especially, they need to have an offensive line that can win the battle up front late in games to win the time of possession.

[B]Surrounding your key players with "talent" does not stop at RB, WR and TE. Jerry Jones does not get this.[/B][/quote]

So glad that Snyder finally saw the light and fired Vinny and hired someone who has a clue. Heres to hoping that Jerry never does...

[QUOTE=sandtrapjack;1022117]Dallas looks like 6-10 to me. After last season, front office acknowledged that they dropped the ball on the offensive line. But going into 2013, they did nothing to improve up front accept convince what they had to take pay cuts.[/QUOTE]

Then, just a few hours after this post......

[URL]http://m.espn.go.com/general/story?storyId=9631894&city=dallas&src=desktop[/URL]



Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4

Re: Preseason Predictions Thread
 

[quote=sandtrapjack;1022177]Then, just a few hours after this post......

[url=http://m.espn.go.com/general/story?storyId=9631894&city=dallas&src=desktop]Brian Waters signs with Cowboys - ESPN[/url]



Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4[/quote]

I get that the guy could add something here, but the writer is assuming a guy who has been out of football for 19 months and missed training camp can just step right in and make the Oline better. I am going to hold off saying that this move was a good one till we actually see this guy play.

Re: Preseason Predictions Thread
 

[quote=sandtrapjack;1022177]Then, just a few hours after this post......

[url=http://m.espn.go.com/general/story?storyId=9631894&city=dallas&src=desktop]Brian Waters signs with Cowboys - ESPN[/url]



Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4[/quote]

I fail to understand how picking up a 36 year old OG who last played in 2011 somehow makes an OLine better. If Skins fans made that claim, we would be written off as lunatics. IF anything this move shows the lack of depth more clearly.

An equivalent move would have been the Skins bringing Pashos in at the last minute, and either cutting or moving Polumbus to backup, and saying see we improved the right side. Fact is, we brought in 2 mediocre RT's (Pashos/Trueblood) and let them compete to see if either could win. Neither did.

I am not saying that Waters is necessarily bad, just that it looks like an act of desparation from a team that knows they don't have an effective OLine.

Re: Preseason Predictions Thread
 

[quote=artmonkforhallofamein07;1022178]I get that the guy could add something here, but the writer is assuming a guy who has been out of football for 19 months and missed training camp can just step right in and make the Oline better. I am going to hold off saying that this move was a good one till we actually see this guy play.[/quote]
Have you SEEN the Cowboys Guards? Absolutely abysmal. Hell, Anthony Munoz is 55 years old now, and I bet even he could come out of retirement and be an upgrade on that interior.

To your other point....not concerned about Water being out of football and missing camp/pre-season. In 2011, he signed with the Patriots on Sep 4th, well after camp and preseason, and went on to start every game (including the Super Bowl) and earn another Pro Bowl nod along the way.

The guy is an immediate upgrade at RG. And I kind of like having a veteran of this caliber working next to Travis Frederick every day.

Not saying this sign will make Dallas lead the league in rushing. But he is a good upgrade at RG.

Re: Preseason Predictions Thread
 

[quote=sandtrapjack;1022143]Jerry Jones does not get this.[/quote]

I think Jerry's issue is that he isn't very good at it. It's easy to pick a Dez Bryant because his talent is/was obvious despite the character flags. It's hard to make decent 5/6/7 round picks and sign UDFAs. That's where you build your STs and build depth. It takes someone who knows what the hell they're doing making the decisions.

Re: Preseason Predictions Thread
 

As a follow...that's where Snyder and Jones always differed. Snyder had an incredible run at choosing the wrong people to make decisions. He wasn't making the decisions but he was bad at find someone who knew what they were doing enough to make them. I suspect there isn't much difference in the way it works now except that Shanny isn't a total joke at roster building like Cerrato was.

Snyder is a lot of things but I think he gets a real bum wrap in terms of football. He has tried his ass off to make this work. It hasn't been about ego or lack of self-awareness. Although he does some have some of both when it comes to football he has gone about it right but hasn't made good choices.