NFL 2013

[HaemishM]

I only think they'll do that if they win the lottery in QB picks. Is there any such "can't miss pick" like Luck in this year's draft?

[WayAbvPar]

Not unless Jadeveon Clowney starts taking snaps. Although most people seem to be pretty high on Bridgewater.

[Paelos]

How long before the first "Bridge over troubled Water" headline when he gets signed?

[Rasix]

Bridgewater looked impressive in their bowl win.  Guy seemed to throw a nice ball from a lot of angles. Great mobility as well.  Sounded dumb as rocks, but not quite Vince Young level of dumb.

There's a lot of noise now that Manziel will go #1.  I don't think that's a good idea.  He seems just as likely to go bust as do well.  NFL quality DBs aren't going to get beat on those ducks his chucks up into the air.

[Paelos]

Now is pretty much the time to believe in absolutely nothing that gets said about draft status. It's the glorious time of misinformation put out by everyone in the NFL circles to confuse their true motives.

Clowney is still going to go very high, no matter what nonsense you hear. Manziel is still undersized and probably won't go high in the first round if at all. Bridgewater still has teams salivating over his tools and his upside. Bortles is still probably the best overall QB in terms of mechanics and size. AJ McCarron won't get drafted until the second round at best, probably 3rd.

[01101010]

Now is pretty much the time to believe in absolutely nothing that gets said about draft status. It's the glorious time of misinformation put out by everyone in the NFL circles to confuse their true motives.

Clowney is still going to go very high, no matter what nonsense you hear. Manziel is still undersized and probably won't go high in the first round if at all. Bridgewater still has teams salivating over his tools and his upside. Bortles is still probably the best overall QB in terms of mechanics and size. AJ McCarron won't get drafted until the second round at best, probably 3rd.

Manziel won't get past the 4th pick. My Browns will make sure he is the next <enter Browns QB name here>. That said, I am hoping the Jags pick him and force Cleveland to screw things up in another way.

As for Bridgewater, everything I have read on him so far is that he ran the on-field offense and made the decisions about adjustments at the line. His coaches trusted his smarts to be able to read and change called plays without having to check with the sidelines. That is far above most if not all college QB have to do. I think he'll be another great instant-start QB from college.

Clowney will probably be a bust... at least that is the feeling I get. He'll be great while on the field, but will be hurt the majority of the time.

[Paelos]

Manziel's listed at 6'1" 210. That's such bullshit it's not even funny.

He's more like 5'11" maybe 190. I just don't see NFL scouts looking at him and thinking he won't get buried by NFL linemen, or get away with his escapability throws he makes into double covers. Obviously the Browns are the monkey wrench in this because they make terrible choices, but if he slips past them? I don't think he's going in the first round.

[HaemishM]

Never put it past the Texans to make an equally Brownsian fuck up pick at #1.

[01101010]

Never put it past the Texans to make an equally Brownsian fuck up pick at #1.

If they take Clowney I will faint. 

[Mithas]

Manziel's listed at 6'1" 210. That's such bullshit it's not even funny.

He's more like 5'11" maybe 190. I just don't see NFL scouts looking at him and thinking he won't get buried by NFL linemen, or get away with his escapability throws he makes into double covers. Obviously the Browns are the monkey wrench in this because they make terrible choices, but if he slips past them? I don't think he's going in the first round.

I agree with this, but everyone sees Russell Wilson and drools. Heard some sports radio guys saying last night that Drew Brees and Russell Wilson have debunked the myth that you need to be tall to be good QB in the NFL. You can now build offenses around a short QB or some such nonsense. I think a lot of NFL teams look at Manziel and how impressive he looks and thinks they can work with him. A team that needs a QB at pick 5-10 or something. Maybe the Vikings?

[K9]

My impression of Wilson is that all thoughts about his height aside, the thing that makes him a great quarterback is the fact that he works harder than the next guy. From what I read he seems to have a phenomenal work ethic, even by the standards of NFL starting QBs.

Manziel is exciting to watch, he's crazily agile, but every time I see him pull some play out of his arse I can't help but feel that he's been given a chance by virtue of the fact that the college-level defenses he's facing aren't fast enough or smart enough to contain him. At the NFL this will be a different matter and he's going to get creamed. Any team that's going to rely on his agility to make plays is going to end up with an RGIII situation; a period of fun up until the point where he gets broken like a twig.

[Paelos]

That's my impression as well. He's benefiting from the fact that the SEC for the most part this year was completely dogshit on defense. If he played 5 years ago he would have been murdered already.

[Ratadm]

Well that gives new meaning to throwing the game.

[Paelos]

The Saints looked lost in the rain. It was just laughable they got back in it when Lynch could have just fallen over and iced it.

[Paelos]

Everything gets exposed in the playoffs eventually. The Indy run D was a problem all year, and it caught up with them.

[Shannow]

The Patriots would like to say : "the forward pass is overrated"

[Paelos]

The Patriots would like to say : "the forward pass is overrated"

That works against the worst run D in the league. It won't work against the team they have next. They'll have to abuse the fact that both SD and Denver are horrible against the pass.

[sickrubik]

Part of Denver's problem is being in the lead by a margin, forcing teams to turn to the pass. Or run D being good hasn't helped that. That beig said, our passing defense HAS been shoddy, but had started to solidify later in te season. Lots of injuries this year.

[Paelos]

Denver should be SD unless Peyton tosses out presents or Knowshon gets fumbly. Both SD and Denver are even on the turnover margin battle.

It's a QB battle, in good conditions.

[sickrubik]

They should win, but divisional opponent and SD plays really well (7-2) in Denver. Mind you, this is arguably* the best equipped team he's ever had to face in Mile High. One haunted by the specter of missing the AFC Championship game by one blown pass coverage.

*The lack of pass rush has been the biggest issue with the Broncos this season. Yes, the secondary is soft (bend a WHOLE LOT and hopefully don't break), but the lack of pass rush has been sad. In general, the defense was a lot better when Von Miller was back for those few games, but not having a beast on the other side really hurts. Both Sly Williams and Shaun Phillips (especially) have been decent, but not stellar.

[Paelos]

I agree, it comes down to Denver getting to Rivers. They make him uneasy, and I don't think SD's running game is strong enough to carry them to the amount of points they need to win (assuming Denver puts up even close to their average).

[Paelos]

Refs are handing out gifts already in the SF/Carolina game.

[sickrubik]

I agree, it comes down to Denver getting to Rivers. They make him uneasy, and I don't think SD's running game is strong enough to carry them to the amount of points they need to win (assuming Denver puts up even close to their average).

Mathews ran on us all day last time. Mind you, I think it will be FAR less this time, if only because of his injury.

Edit: First half impressions: This team is CLICKING.

[Paelos]

Nothing SD was doing worked. Denver just abused them up front. If SD can't run the ball, they are doomed.

[Trippy]

They are lucky they are only down by 17 (so far).

[Paelos]

Denver is just backing up the dump truck now and wearing them down with the run.

They've absolutely dominated both lines to this point.

[sickrubik]

Broncos have not punted yet today and only have 17 points. So weird.

Chargers are going to be in a lot of shit for having Gilchrist back in there after the earlier hit where he was looking concusion-like and then getting that BRUTAL helmet-to-helmet hit.

[MrHat]

Ack, stop exposing that deep ball.

[sickrubik]

That's been the story all year, teams give up on the run and pass pass pass and the Broncos D is soft in the secondary. It's not strictly terrible.. but if you have a great receiver like Allen... Well, this happens.

Still not worried.

[Paelos]

Fucked up my bet. Assholes.

Otherwise it was never close.

[Ginaz]

So Manning vs Brady again.  I think most people wanted this more than Rivers vs Luck.

I think this is the first time in years the top 4 teams are in a position to go to the Super Bowl.

[sickrubik]

 

http://www.milehighreport.com/2014/1/12/5302296/nfl-gifs-chargers-qb-philip-rivers-throws-temper-tantrum

 

See you guys later, I'm gonna go drink!

NO WAIT, THIS FIRST:

[Paelos]

It was never in doubt. SD was outclassed the second the weather turned decent, and without their best RB at his best.

Obviously I want Seattle to play Denver to have the 1-2 matchup we've powerranked all year. That probably means we'll get SF and NE because the football gods like to give me nobody to root for.

[K9]

[Paelos]

Sniper