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 Alpharius wrote:

 jreilly89 wrote:

 whembly wrote:
Heh...

Patriots didn't even need Brady.

Eh, 50/50. Cardinals definitely let some stuff slip through their fingers, but it was a lot closer than the blowout I expected it to be.

You...expected the Patriots to blow out the Cards?

Really?

You didn't? The Patriots have taken 1st in the AFC East for about the past 15 years. The Cardinals....less so. Even without Brady, the Patriots are still a strong team. Maybe not blow out, but I expected a 21-10 game, not a 23-21.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_New_England_Patriots_seasons

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Arizona_Cardinals_seasons

That's a very optimistic view there!

No Brady, no Gronk, two OL missing and going on the road to face the #1 offense from last year?

Yeah, no blowout predicted there - at least not from me.

Well... the LA Rammies laid a stinker vs. 49ers last night.

LA fans? You still want the Rams?

Why is their #1 pick not starting at QB, or at least holding the backup position?

 Alpharius wrote:
Why is their #1 pick not starting at QB, or at least holding the backup position?

Obviously he's not ready...

But, after last night's performance, he can't do any worst.

 Alpharius wrote:
That's a very optimistic view there!

No Brady, no Gronk, two OL missing and going on the road to face the #1 offense from last year?

Yeah, no blowout predicted there - at least not from me.

That's a fair assessment. I guess I'm just used to considering the Cardinals as luke warm, despite their season last year

 Alpharius wrote:
Why is their #1 pick not starting at QB, or at least holding the backup position?

They kept mentioning this ad nauseum last night during the game.... Apparently he wasn't ready or something this week, but in week 2, he will be listed and dressed as the Number 2 QB on the roster.... although if the starter begins the game how they played the entire 1st game, we may see a rookie in the second half. Which would honestly probably be the worst thing for the dude's career.

 Ensis Ferrae wrote:

 Alpharius wrote:
Why is their #1 pick not starting at QB, or at least holding the backup position?

They kept mentioning this ad nauseum last night during the game.... Apparently he wasn't ready or something this week, but in week 2, he will be listed and dressed as the Number 2 QB on the roster.... although if the starter begins the game how they played the entire 1st game, we may see a rookie in the second half. Which would honestly probably be the worst thing for the dude's career.

Playing against the SeaChickens next week too!

Can't see how the Rammies prevail...

Maybe Fischer isn't that good of a HC?

 whembly wrote:

 Ensis Ferrae wrote:

 Alpharius wrote:
Why is their #1 pick not starting at QB, or at least holding the backup position?

They kept mentioning this ad nauseum last night during the game.... Apparently he wasn't ready or something this week, but in week 2, he will be listed and dressed as the Number 2 QB on the roster.... although if the starter begins the game how they played the entire 1st game, we may see a rookie in the second half. Which would honestly probably be the worst thing for the dude's career.

Playing against the SeaChickens next week too!

Can't see how the Rammies prevail...

Maybe Fischer isn't that good of a HC?

He's not a good coach. It continually amazes me he still has a job considering how mediocre he is.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/FishJe0.htm

6 winning seasons as a head coach, the last one in 2008 with the Titans. This is his fifth season as Rams coach and he hasn't had more than 7 wins in any of his first 4 seasons.

 whembly wrote:

Can't see how the Rammies prevail...

Maybe Fischer isn't that good of a HC?

Yeah... they looked seriously bad last night. Like, Community college team versus a D1 college team (seriously, the 9ers didn't play all that great either offensively for most of the game... they played just well enough)

I mean, dude getting ejected, Gurley is the only weapon available, so the 9ers shut him down, and Fisher tries to run a bunch of lateral plays? Man, I am beginning to think that Fisher may not make it through this season

Fisher should be let go after this season. He has a mediocre record but he's a legit bad coach as in his players don't show improvement and consistent good fundamentals because they aren't being coached well. The scouting dept is weak too. Aaron Donald was a smart can't miss round 1 pick but drafting Goff #1 overall and then telling the world that after a full preseason he isn't even good enough to dress for the opening game? That's just cruel. If he isn't good enough to even be a back up as a rookie then he shouldn't have been drafted that high and it's not like the Rams don't have a bunch of needs at other positions.

 whembly wrote:
Can't see how the Rammies prevail...

Shaky offensive line and Wilson playing injured, plus the usual "the Rams beat the Seahawks but lose to all the bad teams" factor. On paper it should be a win, but I'm still dreading it.

 Alpharius wrote:
I think Jimmy G will be the starting QB here in...2018?

I think Tom picks up during game 5 this year, and all of the next season and then the absolutely Unthinkable may happen...

Jimmy the Usurper takes over, Brady goes to the Jets and beats Eli Manning and the NYG in the Superbowl. After a successful stint as governor of Massachusetts, Brady runs for president with Curt Schilling as his VP pick. Once in office, he enacts a Brady bill of a different sort... banning gridiron football in the US in response to new CTE research, thus enshrining him as the greatest and most unpopular QB (and surely president) that has ever lived. Shortly thereafter he's assassinated by an addled Wes Welker, Rex Ryan and Ted Wells are arrested and charged in the conspiracy.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Wells is given the death penalty by congress, they found it 'more probable than not' that he was likely involved in the alleged crime.

grumpy_newenglander wrote:

 Alpharius wrote:
I think Jimmy G will be the starting QB here in...2018?

I think Tom picks up during game 5 this year, and all of the next season and then the absolutely Unthinkable may happen...

Jimmy the Usurper takes over, Brady goes to the Jets and beats Eli Manning and the NYG in the Superbowl. After a successful stint as governor of Massachusetts, Brady runs for president with Curt Schilling as his VP pick. Once in office, he enacts a Brady bill of a different sort... banning gridiron football in the US in response to new CTE research, thus enshrining him as the greatest and most unpopular QB (and surely president) that has ever lived. Shortly thereafter he's assassinated by an addled Wes Welker, Rex Ryan and Ted Wells are arrested and charged in the conspiracy.

Brady would never pick Schilling he'd go with Kevin Faulk or David Ortiz or Ben Afleck.

In about 2 seasons Brady is going to be too expensive relative to the salaries the Pats could pay Jimmy or Brisset to play QB so he'll be cut or traded. Teams have shown that finding a decent QB that you can pay less than superstar money to and using the savings to build up the team elsewhere is a winning formula. That is also why the Colts aren't winning a Super Bowl any time soon even if they manage to protect Luck to the point where he only takes the league average number of hits.

 Alpharius wrote:
Well, yes, for now.

I have to admit, I was very happy with their overall performance, especially the defense.

And Jimmy G was channeling Tom Brady circa 2001 so, yeah, OK!

Thursday night, prime time, Sept 22! Go Texans!

Can't wait!

It is our semi-annual and unofficial KRONK V. ALPHA [Insert Season Appropriate Sport Here] SHOWDOWN!

I do think that game will be Jimmy G's toughest test though...

...Alph... As an ex-Rammies...

Is it too much carpetbagging if I, sorta... um... root for the Patriots?

I'm digging this Jimmy G dude... (and the few ex-Rammies on the team).

Well, I don't know!

It's certainly been long enough, I guess?

And if your name isn't M. Faulk and/or you don't subscribe to some of the more inventive conspiracy theories out there, sure, why not?

And if you NEED a Patriot Hater angle to it, think of the Quarterback Controversy that will happen if Jimmy G. continues to play well!

 Alpharius wrote:
Can't wait!

It is our semi-annual and unofficial KRONK V. ALPHA [Insert Season Appropriate Sport Here] SHOWDOWN!

I do think that game will be Jimmy G's toughest test though...

If Vollmer and Solder don't get healthy by then Jimmy G is gonna have a tough time just finishing the game.

Like against the Cardinals and their top ranked 2015 defense?

I think he'll be OK - in Dante Scarnecchia We Trust!

J J WATT!

Looked at the match ups for this coming weekend in the NFC East.
Dallas vs Washington, almost looks to be a battle of the backups. Neither team is impressing on Defense, and both look bad on offense. Winner, flip a coin.

NYG vs Saints. Giants Defense looked as bad as Dallas', Major lacks in the secondary vs Brees is gonna hurt them. Of course, The Saints D isn't that good either, but Gotta give this one to the Saints.

Eagles vs Bears. Philly looked good last week vs the Browns. Chicago looked average vs Houston. This one depends on which Cutler shows up and the Philly running game. Call me biased but... Eagles by double digits.

Since I'm an NFC West guy, I suppose I could follow Helgrenze's lead here, and give my own take on "my" division's games this week:


SF @ Carolina... SF didn't look all that good to me against a poor Rams team on Monday. Combine that with a short week, plus Carolina getting a long week, PLUS probably being pretty pissed about their opener against Denver means that this one is gonna be ugly. Carolina by double digits.

Seattle @ LA... While Seattle didn't look the greatest against Miami last week, I'd call this one almost a 5th pre-season game. Only it counts. Rams look bad in all phases of the game, I'm calling this one for Seattle, not sure if I'd go with double digits as well though.

TB @ Arizona.... On paper, this one looks surprisingly close... Their rankings are all fairly close. This isn't a case where we have a #1 in a category facing #32 in the opposite (ie, #1 running vs. #32 in run stopping) I think I'll go with Arizona on this matchup, because I think they'll have been extremely disappointed in the outcome last week. They're the home team.... but it's gonna be another very close one, I think.

 Ensis Ferrae wrote:

TB @ Arizona.... On paper, this one looks surprisingly close... Their rankings are all fairly close. This isn't a case where we have a #1 in a category facing #32 in the opposite (ie, #1 running vs. #32 in run stopping) I think I'll go with Arizona on this matchup, because I think they'll have been extremely disappointed in the outcome last week. They're the home team.... but it's gonna be another very close one, I think.

I'm as big a Tampa Fan as I am a Pats fan, and I think you've nailed this one. Look for Seferian-Jenkins to have a huge game with the Cardinals loading the box and chasing Mike Evans around the field. If Winston and TB stay healthy, I really think they could give Carolina a run for their money in the division.

Fins @ Pats just got a lot more interesting with Hightower being doubtful and Gronk looking less and less like he's going to play.

O.o

Seattle ain't doing so hot against the Rammies...

2 games in and the Cardinals and the Steelers have the biggest point differential (PF-PA) in the league (31 and 30). It's obviously VERY early, but I found that surprising.

Oh, wait. The Bears haven't played game 2, yet. The Eagles will have that after tonight...

The Texans played well enough to win, but the offense needs more fine-tuning. 2 interceptions and relying on 4 field goals isn't going to get it done in Foxborough, Massachusetts this Thursday night.

I am going to take it one step further- the Texan offense is weak. They are showing a consistent problem with turnovers and not being able to turn opportunities into touchdowns. They are relying way too much of defense and special teams points. So far Osweiler is not looking like a top dollar starter and his performance is getting worse. He did get a few deep passes off, but didn't do anything with them. He did manage to throw and interception in his first series for the second game in a row. That's really bad. If anything, his (limited) successes were in large part thanks to Deandre Hopkins.

I am not saying he is bad, just looking rough and no better than a standard NFL backup. If he doesn't show signs of improvement., it will look like a very costly mistake.

That being said, I have been very disappointed by O'Brien's offense in general. In addition to some questionable playcalling, he seems to be unable to formulate a strategy for developing a solid quarterback and his method of throwing money at backups (Osweiler) and 2nd rates (Fitzpatrick,Hoyer) is really frustrating. It seems like it would be wiser to develop what talent you can on cheaper options. I still think getting rid of young talent like Keenum was a mistake, and would think that Keenum, Savage, and Weeden would be a pretty solid base to build from and wouldn't be any worse than the current QB roster for a fraction of the price.

Well, the Denver offense was weak, but our defense was killer as usual. Hopefully our offense can gather around Siemian, as he's a competent QB, if inexperienced.

Watched the GB vs. Vikings game. WOW that was a game. Bradford looks great for a rookie, and them shutting down Aaron Rodgers was awesome. Now they just need tot get some of those penalties under control.

I think Denver is in a good position. Defense is top notch and Siemian looks like he has a lot of potential. If the offense can all get on the same page, I would expect them to dominate.

Bradford has always been underrated. It is hard to be much of a quarterback when you spend most of the game on your back due to no O line. I am glad to see him starting to shine. Oh, and Vikings defense wasn't playing around!

 kronk wrote:
2 games in and the Cardinals and the Steelers have the biggest point differential (PF-PA) in the league (31 and 30). It's obviously VERY early, but I found that surprising.

Oh, wait. The Bears haven't played game 2, yet. The Eagles will have that after tonight...

The Texans played well enough to win, but the offense needs more fine-tuning. 2 interceptions and relying on 4 field goals isn't going to get it done in Foxborough, Massachusetts this Thursday night.

It might - now that we're on to our 3rd string QB!!!