NFL 2010

[HaemishM]

The NFC as a whole is questionable this year.

As for Dallas last night, you take away one penalty, they win that game - the Miles Austin pass interference call. Seeing the replay, I thought that was a stupidly bad call. It didn't even look like Austin put any real effort into a shove, but it got called. That one play alone would have won it. Or, you know, not giving up a 95-yard kickoff return to start the second half. I will give the Vikings credit though. They made a lot of good open field tacklers.

Also, fuck Marion Barber in his eyesockets. If fantasy football ever started giving points for most 3rd & 1's converted, he'd be gold. Instead, he's dead weight this entire season.

[Ingmar]

As a 49er fan I kind of wish we had lost to the Raiders, as that probably would speed up the timetable for the complete and utter dismantling of the coaching staff that we need.

We continue to run an offense that is totally unsuited to our personnel, as far as I can tell just out of stubbornness. Every time we put Smith in the shotgun, he does pretty well. We should maybe catch on to that and do that as our primary set, but Singletary has this fixation with up the middle hit-em-in-the-mouth football that he just can't seem to get past.

[Nebu]

We continue to run an offense that is totally unsuited to our personnel, as far as I can tell just out of stubbornness. Every time we put Smith in the shotgun, he does pretty well. We should maybe catch on to that and do that as our primary set, but Singletary has this fixation with up the middle hit-em-in-the-mouth football that he just can't seem to get past.

How much of a real role does Singletary have in offensive play calling?  I thought he was mostly focusing on defense and relying on his OC to run the show.

[Ingmar]

Play calling, not so much, but setting the offensive philosophy behind the play calling, I am pretty sure that is in his bailiwick.

[HaemishM]

Hard to go to a shotgun based offense when Frank Gore is so good at smashmouth football. But you know, if the 49ers don't want that smashmouth back, I'm sure the Packers could use him.

Who am I kidding? Gore probably couldn't run 2 feet behind the Pack's offensive line.

[Ingmar]

Ultimately I think Gore is talented enough to be successful running out of whatever set we put him in - I don't think the same can be said about Alex Smith, which is why I'd be looking at making the change.

[Paelos]

The NFC as a whole is questionable this year.

As for Dallas last night, you take away one penalty, they win that game

Man, isn't that the truth. The funny part is it's not just that game either. The opener against Washington, if you take away the holding call on the last play, they DO win that game. You change those two penalties, and suddenly we're 3-2 and right in the thick of the NFC race.

[tazelbain]

Man, just the thought of Jerry Jones' tears at his lose to Boxcar Faurve has made my day.

[Trippy]

As a 49er fan I kind of wish we had lost to the Raiders, as that probably would speed up the timetable for the complete and utter dismantling of the coaching staff that we need.

We continue to run an offense that is totally unsuited to our personnel, as far as I can tell just out of stubbornness. Every time we put Smith in the shotgun, he does pretty well. We should maybe catch on to that and do that as our primary set, but Singletary has this fixation with up the middle hit-em-in-the-mouth football that he just can't seem to get past.

Even the Raider's are smart enough to know when they've fucked up a first round draft pick by getting rid of JaMarcus Russell. This is Smith's 6th fucking season. How many more seasons do they need to figure out whether or he's their "quarter of the future*"?

* "future" cause he's clearly not "of the present"

[Ingmar]

I can't imagine he'll stick around after the season, but I also won't be horribly surprised if he goes somewhere else and performs adequately in an offense that actually plays to his strengths. See: Shaun Hill (until he broke his arm this weekend).

[Nevermore]

It boggles my mind that my fantasy team has 3 of the top 6 running backs in fantasy points scored this season, yet my team is 1-5 after this week. 

[Sjofn]

The Giants are continuing to do well with their defense sitting on my bench, I am seriously considering picking up a spare defense to cover the Colts bye so I don't have to risk upsetting my superstition in a week where we play the Cowboys.

I've somehow managed to claw to 3-3. Two of the people on my bench tore shit up, so THAT trend is continuing, it just didn't cost me the game the past two weeks. 

[01101010]

It boggles my mind that my fantasy team has 3 of the top 6 running backs in fantasy points scored this season, yet my team is 1-5 after this week. 

Well it is a passing league now. 

[WayAbvPar]

So- best 2 games (of teams I hadn't yet used) for the local sports radio survivor pool was Oak@DEN and ARZ@SEA. I was fairly confident in the Seahawks, but didn't want the double devastation if they lost the division lead and my survivor pool in the same game. So I took Denver.

Now I have extra free time on Thursdays the rest of the season (when the picks are due). WTF.

[Sjofn]

Jesus Christ, Eli. ><

[01101010]

Thank god Dallas is done. Not that I have anything against them in particular, but their fans are way too cocky. Now to dispatch the Steelers season . . . 

[ghost]

Thank god Dallas is done. Not that I have anything against them in particular, but their fans are way too cocky. Now to dispatch the Steelers season . . . 

This is not likely to happen.

[Paelos]

Thank god Dallas is done. Not that I have anything against them in particular, but their fans are way too cocky. Now to dispatch the Steelers season . . . 

Yep I've thrown in the towel for the season. We shot ourselves in the foot, we took too many penatlies, we committed too many turnovers, and just when we looked good at the beginning of a game and got some momentum our QB goes down with a busted shoulder.

Game over, man. Game over.

Now to throw all my support behind the Georgia Bulldogs beating up on Florida this weekend! 

[HaemishM]

Dallas didn't really look that good early. They got 13 points on turnovers when they should have had at least 17 if not 21. Miles Austin was dropping passes early, they still can't run the fucking ball for shit - which is a goddamn crime considering they have 3 backs who could start on most other teams. The play that Romo got hurt on was criminal. No LB should get that free a shot without even a chip. That RB is going to be waking up in a cold sweat from that one. Even if they hadn't lost Romo, I'm not sure they'd have won that game. Their defense couldn't stop the run, and at a few points during the game, their secondary just plain disappeared. If the Giants special teams hadn't been so damn bad, it would have been an even worse laffer.

I don't take delight in Romo's injury, but I do take delight in saying the Cowboys' season is well and truly deceased. They now have the same record as the Detroit Lions. Suck it, Jerry Jones. Bye bye Wade Phillips, and likely Jason Garrett as well.

[Sky]

Jesus Christ, Eli. ><

What the hell happened? I DVR'd it and missed the end of the fourth quarter. The Gints were beating the pants off them and then I saw the sportscenter final score and it was close!

[Paelos]

Jesus Christ, Eli. ><

What the hell happened? I DVR'd it and missed the end of the fourth quarter. The Gints were beating the pants off them and then I saw the sportscenter final score and it was close!

The Giants dicked around and Dallas drove down the field for a TD late. Then, they tried an onside kick that they should have recovered, but didn't. If they had, there was still 30s left on the clock to make a miracle happen, but who cares. I've wanted Wade gone for two years now, and there's no way he survives this. The funny thing is, it may not matter if the entire league goes on strike next season.

At this point, I say with a QB out, no shot at a title in any form, and no real opportunity to improve anything but defense, let's just tank the whole fucking thing and grab a great draft spot. I want the best future QB who can take over for Romo after he starts wearing down in his early 30s. Or I want a decent cornerback who doesn't screw us.

[Sjofn]

Jesus Christ, Eli. ><

What the hell happened? I DVR'd it and missed the end of the fourth quarter. The Gints were beating the pants off them and then I saw the sportscenter final score and it was close!

My particular Jesus Christ, Eli was related to him throwing two interceptions super early in the game. He fucked up a couple of other times in the game too, he can be pretty Favre-rific in the "I will chuck the ball up and hope MY team is the one that comes down with it!" sense.

The one thing I'll give him is he threw those two interceptions but didn't curl up and die of despair.

[Paelos]

Eli is too stupid to remember he's thrown terrible passes early on. It's a blessing really.

[Sjofn]

Well, since the Giants seem likely to stick with him for the foreseeable future, I'll take it I guess. :P

[Velorath]

At this point, I say with a QB out, no shot at a title in any form, and no real opportunity to improve anything but defense, let's just tank the whole fucking thing and grab a great draft spot. I want the best future QB who can take over for Romo after he starts wearing down in his early 30s.

Cause God knows those 1st round draft QB's are always such a sure thing when it comes to making the transition to the NFL.

[Muffled]

Yeah, it's a waste taking a QB with a high draft pick. 

Don't hate on Eli so much, Giants fans, just think of all the teams with really terrible quarterbacks out there.  Eli, for all his faults, is pretty solid both mentally and in terms of production, and he doesn't injure himself.

[ghost]

Eli is a very good QB.  Most teams would trade their starters in a second for him.  The best thing about him is that he doesn't get dejected and therefore can bounce back from a couple of bad plays pretty easily. 

[Nebu]

Eli strikes me as an example of how far an above average talent can go in the NFL with an outstanding work ethic for preparation.  His brother demonstrates the same work ethic with more natural talent.  I think that Brees and Rogers may be the most gifted in terms of ability.  It makes me stagger to think what Brees/Rogers could be with Peyton's ability to see the field.

Note: Interestingly, Peyton Manning and Rogers were both 1st round picks. I think Brees went in the second round.

[HaemishM]

Don't underestimate how good those Giants wideouts are, though. I didn't realize it until last year, but he's got a pretty damn good set of receivers. Steve Smith, Nicks, Hickson and Manningham could all probably start at a #1 or #2 on most teams in the NFL. I'm not quite sure how they got such fantastic talent so quickly. The Giants issues all come down to lack of discipline on the O Line and drama with the running backs, as well as inconsistency at the key positions like QB. Eli typically has at least 1 dumb delay of game penalty per game, and when he loses, he often beats himself with INTs caused by a chuck.

[Chimpy]

Rogers didn't come in right away and was the backup to one of the greatest QBs in the history of the game. That makes a huge difference for first rounders I think.

Very few first round picks go on to do well when thrown in right away. I thnk a lot of teams spent the last 15-20 years picking "instant starter" QBs high in the draft thinking that all high first rounders would end up being like the stars of the class of 83.

[Draegan]

The NFC as a whole is questionable this year.

As for Dallas last night, you take away one penalty, they win that game

Man, isn't that the truth. The funny part is it's not just that game either. The opener against Washington, if you take away the holding call on the last play, they DO win that game. You change those two penalties, and suddenly we're 3-2 and right in the thick of the NFC race.

If you take away that holding penalty Romo gets his head caved in before he can throw the ball.

[Nebu]

If you take away that holding penalty Romo gets his head caved in before he can throw the ball.

Don't tease me like that. 

[Draegan]

Eli is too stupid to remember he's thrown terrible passes early on. It's a blessing really.

So bitter, so bitter.

[Draegan]

Don't underestimate how good those Giants wideouts are, though. I didn't realize it until last year, but he's got a pretty damn good set of receivers. Steve Smith, Nicks, Hickson and Manningham could all probably start at a #1 or #2 on most teams in the NFL. I'm not quite sure how they got such fantastic talent so quickly. The Giants issues all come down to lack of discipline on the O Line and drama with the running backs, as well as inconsistency at the key positions like QB. Eli typically has at least 1 dumb delay of game penalty per game, and when he loses, he often beats himself with INTs caused by a chuck.

Hixon, and he's on IR.  I was 10 feet away at Giants Stadium when he fucked up his knee at practice this May. :(

Hixon is not a #1 WR.  He's fantastic in the return game, but there's a reason why Denver cut him after 2 years.  Smith, Nicks and Manningham are all much much better.

And to all you Eli haters out there.  Pfft.  He's a top 10 QB for sure, not top 5 but top 10.  And a majority of his INTs this year were from tipped passes where balls hit the receiver in their hands and it bounced away.  

In no way is he "average talent".  Average Talent does not get you a Superbowl MVP.

[Nebu]

It's a shame that their best WR went to jail.