2005 NFL Season

[MacDawg]

Huge win for the Falcons, and with the Panthers losing on Sunday, it makes Atlanta the favorite in the South, and maybe for the NFC. Their defense looked good, and the offense had flashes. Both teams were sloppy, and having Trotter out of the game didn't hurt the Falcons either.

Still, I prefer College football

Woof, Woof – Dawg

 

[LethalWolfe]

That's as good a place as any.. can the genius of Joey Gibbs overcome the lunacy of Daniel Snyder? Hopefully.

I'm not petty. I'll take an ugly "W" any day.

But my faith in Gibbs is waning. We've had exactly 1 game in the season and already the QB controversy is back. Yes, Gibbs waited *way* to long to yank Brunell last season, but I think yanking Ramsey after 1 game is a bit trigger happy.


Lethal

 

[Applespider]

Yes, Gibbs waited *way* to long to yank Brunell last season, but I think yanking Ramsey after 1 game is a bit trigger happy.

Yeah...when I read that, I wondered whether Spurrier had crept back into Fedex Field. I remember being at a Monday night game where he was playing with the two-headed monster to dreadful effect - not suprising when Danny Woeful was involved.

So what's the magic number of losses before Jason Campbell gets called for?

 

[yellow]

So what's the magic number of losses before Jason Campbell gets called for?

3 (quarters)

 

[LethalWolfe]

3 (quarters)

Actually, that makes me think of something. Maybe Gibbs really is still a genius. Gibbs is taking the theory of "short yardage specialists" and "pass rush specialists" and applying it to the QB position. Why settle for 1 "jack of all trades" QB when you can rotate in one of 3 "specialized" QBs. Brilliant!




Lethal

EDIT: At least when I play football on my Xbox my 'Skins always win.

 

[yellow]

I expect the Skins to have an 8-8, or may a 9-7 season this year, and next season to be the real break out as Gibbs gets his personell in. The QB problems will be gone because they will make an incredible off season deal to get a quality QB, dumping the crap they have now.

 

[gwuMACaddict]

thought the eagles looked weak last night

bummed about baltimore's loss to the colts. though i do like the colts, i have to root for baltimore first

 

[Applespider]

The QB problems will be gone because they will make an incredible off season deal to get a quality QB, dumping the crap they have now.

Didn't they burn one of next year's draft picks to trade up to get Jason Campbell though? I thought he was the mortgaged 'QB of the future'?

 

[yellow]

Hmm could be.. maybe JG is head of the schedule on the Skins turn around?

 

[jelloshotsrule]

not being big into college football i want to ask... just how good was jason campbell and does he seem to be one of those good/great college qbs who fizzles quickly in the nfl?

 

[quigleybc]

thought the eagles looked weak last night

bummed about baltimore's loss to the colts. though i do like the colts, i have to root for baltimore first

I disagree, I think the Falcons looked very tough, and the Eagles looked like a team that were out played, and out coached...flat out. Donovan was under pressure almost every down. I mean, the Falcons blitzed like three or four plays in a row at one point..TO came to play, and Donovan did ok. The Falcons look really good, and IMO are the team to beat in the NFC this year.

As for Baltimore, anything bad that happens to that team means good things for my team (burgh) as they are direct rivals for the playoffs. So, a QB injury is music to my ears..although, I wish the Ravens weren't in the AFC North, so I could route for them because they are a very cool team...

Go Burgh...

 

[Thomas Veil]

All I know is that yet again my home team, the Browns, look weak. New coach/QB or not, the battle of Ohio went pretty bad for us, Cincinatti made mincemeat out of out defense and we weren't scoring points.

I'm a long-suffering Browns fan too, and yes, the team looked pretty pathetic.

Lotsa reasons why. Butch Davis left the team an absolute shambles last season. Romeo Crennel and Phil Savage have made all the right moves to rebuild the team during the off-season, but you can only do so much in one year.

The defense has three problems: they're not quite jelling yet; they're still trying to get comfortable in the 3-4 defense; and frankly, quite a few of the players are merely mediocre. Other teams are gonna have a lot of fun scoring on the Browns until, probably, halfway through the season. That's when I look for things to start coming together. They won't be the Steel Curtain, but they shouldn't be doormats either. Look to the Browns taking lots of defensive players in the draft next year.

The offense is, frankly, not bad. I like our receivers. Neither Droughns nor Suggs are the second coming of Priest Holmes, but they're decent RBs and will do until, if and when the Browns find a true feature back. The O line is noticably improved. This is the first time since the Browns came back that I can remember the QB being able to stand in the pocket for so long, instead of running for his life. Which brings us to...

That and a trade to get rid of Dilfer.

Don't worry about Dilfer. He's either demoted to 2nd or gone after this year. 2006 will be all about Charlie Frye, and while I hate to say this about a rookie based on only a few preseason games...the guy looks good. I mean really good. Decent arm, sees the field, makes quick decisions, looks off defenses well, picks up blitzes, keeps his cool, throws well on the run...what's not to like?

I think Romeo might finally be The Man to take this team back to greatness. Unlike the last few years, when you had to wonder what the hell Butch Davis was thinking much of the time, I have yet to see one thing that Romeo Crennell has done that hasn't made perfect sense. With the support of guys like Phil Savage (instead of bozos like Carmen Policy), the Browns stand a very good chance, a few years from now, of turning into the Patriots of the AFC North.

 

[Dave00]

I am very nervous about this season...We looked horrible in the Pre-season, or at least the first team offense did...defense always shows up..

Well, so much for the offensive woes. Granted, this was Tennessee, but still. The defense is the unit that has me worried. They have got to tighten up, especially the secondary.

The next game - Pittsburgh at Houston - is a rematch of one of the most bizarre games in NFL history. Pittsburgh completely dominated statistically - total yards for Houston was in double-digits, while Pittsburgh piled up nearly 500 yards of offense, Carr was sacked (4) more often than he completed a pass (3), yet the final score was Houston 24, Pittsburgh 6 - courtesy of 3 turnovers returned for scores. Hopefully that's till enough in the memory that they don't look ahead to New England - which might be one of the best games of the year.

Dave

 

[Dave00]

Willie Parker is the next big thing....

I couldn't believe no one grabbed him off the practice squad last season when he didn't make the team after preseason. Wow. The running game is impressive. You have a future hall-of-famer (Bettis), dependable back when he's healthy (Staley), and now Willie Parker. Why pass the ball at all?

Dave

 

[yellow]

They better pass the ball, I'm starting Big Benny in my fantasy league..

 

[Dave00]

Plus the Saints needed this one.

I'd hate to play the Saints this year. I mean, it's hard to feel good about beating a team that has had its city ravaged, and has no true home. And everyone's got to be pulling for them. Not to mention what adversity can do to bring together a team. Last year the Steelers were in a hurricaine in Miami, the power went out, and they all said that's when they got real tight. After that, 15 straight wins.

Dave

 

[Dave00]

We've had exactly 1 game in the season and already the QB controversy is back.

I'm actually surprised with the dreadful quarterback situation at some teams - most notably Washington and Chicago - no one picked up Charlie Batch when the Steelers released him for 1 day. (Granted, they may have wanted to get him, but as a veteran Batch could've refused.) I'd bet good money that either of the Steelers' backups - Maddox or Batch - would easily start for Chicago or Washington.

Dave

 

[clayj]

Panthers beat the Patriots today... yes!

(That's about all I can type. I nearly passed out at the game due to the extreme heat and the fact I was wearing my BLACK Panthers jersey over a T-shirt.)

 

[stubeeef]

Go panthers!

Revenge is a plate best served cold!

 

[LethalWolfe]

I know it's only the 2nd week but if the Colt's D keeps it up and the O just plays at least half as good as they did least year some Superbowl rings might end up in Indy.

Although I'm on the losing side of the series I always look forward to the 'Skins and Cowboys games. Hopefully I'll be happy Monday Night.


Lethal

 

[Applespider]

I love the NFL - how many experts (and non-experts) got more than 9 or 10 of those results right... especially the spreads on the Det@Chi game - ouch... I may have to stop wearing my Roy Williams shirt since they've been pummelled on 2 of the 3 times I've worn it.

And who'd have thought Tennessee could beat Baltimore... or how Jacksonville would pretty much shut down Indy's offense... or what the heck is happening in Minneapolis? Will Tice be the first coaching victim of the season?

 

[clayj]

I love the NFL - how many experts (and non-experts) got more than 9 or 10 of those results right... especially the spreads on the Det@Chi game - ouch... I may have to stop wearing my Roy Williams shirt since they've been pummelled on 2 of the 3 times I've worn it.

And who'd have thought Tennessee could beat Baltimore... or how Jacksonville would pretty much shut down Indy's offense... or what the heck is happening in Minneapolis? Will Tice be the first coaching victim of the season?

I'm impressed (seriously) that someone in the UK would follow the NFL as closely as it seems you do.

 

[Inspector Lee]

Panthers beat the Patriots today... yes!

(That's about all I can type. I nearly passed out at the game due to the extreme heat and the fact I was wearing my BLACK Panthers jersey over a T-shirt.)

Was the heat the reason the stadium was half empty? Was listening to ESPN radio en route to the gym and they were laughing about how the stadium looked like it was a preseason game with the upper bowl basically vacant. They were saying that if the defending champs are in town and it is a beautiful day and you can't fill the joint, it is pathetic.

Just curious...

 

[clayj]

Was the heat the reason the stadium was half empty? Was listening to ESPN radio en route to the gym and they were laughing about how the stadium looked like it was a preseason game with the upper bowl basically vacant. They were saying that if the defending champs are in town and it is a beautiful day and you can't fill the joint, it is pathetic.

Just curious...

Depends on what time you were listening to that... the stadium was full when the game started, but the heat was so bad that a lot of folks started leaving in the 3rd quarter.

I stayed until the end, but I had to go inside for the last couple of minutes of the first half and through halftime...

 

[Applespider]

I'm impressed (seriously) that someone in the UK would follow the NFL as closely as it seems you do.

It's a bad habit that I have. We get a very odd reaction in bars in the UK where a group of us go to watch them. There are generally lots of Americans on vacation who can't quite believe that there's a group of 3 girls (and only one or two guys) watching the game with them with enough knowledge to argue the replay challenges with them. We've challenged and won quite a few drinks from tourists over the Sundays

Seriously, it's my favourite sport and the only one that I'll go out of my way to watch. I love the structure and strategy involved in it; infinitely more so than soccer. I've been watching it for nearly 20 years now... and it makes an excellent excuse to come out to the US every year and catch a few games. Charlotte's one of the 10 NFL cities I haven't seen a game at yet tho I did support the Panthers at Super Bowl XXXVIII (which I was at ) since Jake Delhomme, one of our NFL Europe homies, was there.