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Post by Jedi-El of Tomorrow on Jan 6, 2015 19:45:07 GMT -5
The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports Browns OC Kyle Shanahan is open to leaving Cleveland even if it's a lateral move because of "friction" between coaches and the front office. Per reporter Mary Kay Cabot, the personnel side and coaches "aren't seeing eye to eye on some key issues." At one point, a "high-ranking personnel member" allegedly texted from the booth to complain about Shanahan's play-calling. Well of course someone's going to text Shanahan, with Manziel in there, Shanahan wanted to keep him in the pocket or hand the ball off. That's obviously what you do when your QB is someone who's known for his ability to run.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2015 21:14:59 GMT -5
The players are different but the coaches and the coaching schemes have not changed too much. The fact that the players are different is the most pivotal aspect. Sure, Bill Belichick's coaching scheme on defense in 2014 is somewhat similar to his schemes in 2012, 2011, and 2010, but he hasn't had cornerbacks like Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner since the Super Bowl years. Individual players are different but the teams are fundamentally the same. -Joe Flacco is still Baltimore's quarterback. -Tom Brady is still New England's quarterback. -The coaching staff and schemes, like Dr. T said, are roughly the same. -Baltimore still has a meek secondary and powerful front seven, and favors stopping the run and rushing the quarterback with gusto. -Baltimore can still run the ball or throw it down the field. -New England's defense is solid, and utterly destroys weak offenses. -New England's offense is disciplined and finesse-oriented, prospering like no one else when they can keep the game according to their pace but having serious issues with disruptions thereof (a pass rush, for example). Against bad teams, there is perhaps no better team than New England. Bad teams don't have the personnel or coaching to challenge the Patriots in any significant capacity. The Pats are just too well rounded. Baltimore has more pronounced weaknesses, but more pronounced strengths to match, and their strengths are exactly what New England (and any discipline-oriented team) has trouble with: physicality and disruption. If Baltimore doesn't achieve disruption, they'll lose. The last time they played New England, they failed to jostle the Patriots' offense and got pummeled. Before that, they did disrupt New England and won handily. On paper, the Ravens are about as dangerous a matchup for New England as any team in the AFC. Note that I don't think the Ravens are a good matchup against everyone. They'll have a lot more trouble with Denver if they both make it that far. On the other hand, if the Pats played the Broncos, I'd pick New England nine times out of ten. And I think any of those three teams will make quick work of Indy, but that's neither here nor there.
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andrew8798
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Post by andrew8798 on Jan 6, 2015 21:17:28 GMT -5
Profootballtalk reports Rams owner Stan Kroenke intends to move the team to Los Angeles "with or without" league approval.
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JTH
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Post by JTH on Jan 6, 2015 21:23:36 GMT -5
Profootballtalk reports Rams owner Stan Kroenke intends to move the team to Los Angeles "with or without" league approval. And then he'll schedule the 2017 Royal Rumble at his brand new stadium, not expecting his team to be hosting a playoff game the same day...
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BRV
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Post by BRV on Jan 6, 2015 21:25:31 GMT -5
-New England's defense is solid, and utterly destroys weak offenses. While this is just as accurate now as it has been in years past, this year's edition of the New England Patriots have also mashed the bones of some of the best teams in the league. Yes, they beat the Vikings, Raiders, Jets, and Bears of the world, but they also DOMINATED the Bengals, Broncos, Colts, and Lions, won a tough road game in San Diego, and nearly came back from an early deficit in Green Bay. I know the Patriots have a recent history as being built around an offense that can outscore anyone but a defense that can't stop anyone, but that's not the case this year. Their defense has actually been really good, to the point where they've bailed out a stagnant offense on more than one occasion. It used to be that 3rd and anything short of 20 was a reasonable down-and-distance against the Patriots, but this season the defense has been stifling some of the best offenses in the league. It really comes down to the battle in the trenches on Saturday night for both sides. Obviously, the Ravens pose a huge threat to the struggling Patriots offensive line, but the Ravens running game will also likely play a crucial role, because if they can successfully run the ball and eat up 6, 7, 8 minutes per drive, they can keep the ball out of Tom Brady's hands and control the clock and the game. But if Baltimore can't run the ball, then it comes down to Joe Flacco and his receivers against the much-improved Patriots secondary. And with a cold and windy night in the forecast in Foxborough Saturday evening, that patented Flacco deep ball might not be at his disposal.
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Lupin the Third
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Post by Lupin the Third on Jan 6, 2015 21:30:32 GMT -5
Profootballtalk reports Rams owner Stan Kroenke intends to move the team to Los Angeles "with or without" league approval. And then he'll schedule the 2017 Royal Rumble at his brand new stadium, not expecting his team to be hosting a playoff game the same day... Playoff game during the day, Royal Rumble at night. PROFIT!!!!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2015 22:12:20 GMT -5
-New England's defense is solid, and utterly destroys weak offenses. While this is just as accurate now as it has been in years past, this year's edition of the New England Patriots have also mashed the bones of some of the best teams in the league. Yes, they beat the Vikings, Raiders, Jets, and Bears of the world, but they also DOMINATED the Bengals, Broncos, Colts, and Lions, won a tough road game in San Diego, and nearly came back from an early deficit in Green Bay. I know the Patriots have a recent history as being built around an offense that can outscore anyone but a defense that can't stop anyone, but that's not the case this year. Their defense has actually been really good, to the point where they've bailed out a stagnant offense on more than one occasion. It used to be that 3rd and anything short of 20 was a reasonable down-and-distance against the Patriots, but this season the defense has been stifling some of the best offenses in the league. It really comes down to the battle in the trenches on Saturday night for both sides. Obviously, the Ravens pose a huge threat to the struggling Patriots offensive line, but the Ravens running game will also likely play a crucial role, because if they can successfully run the ball and eat up 6, 7, 8 minutes per drive, they can keep the ball out of Tom Brady's hands and control the clock and the game. But if Baltimore can't run the ball, then it comes down to Joe Flacco and his receivers against the much-improved Patriots secondary. And with a cold and windy night in the forecast in Foxborough Saturday evening, that patented Flacco deep ball might not be at his disposal. Like I said, there isn't a team in the AFC that's as good all-around as New England is. It's just that the Ravens are an unusual and dangerous matchup for them. Most of the teams you mention that are good have pretty scathing weaknesses--usually predictability. The Colts' offense is effective but easy to figure out, and the Colts don't do well against good teams. Cincinatti is solid but relatively easy figure out (all they do if the top WRs aren't wide open is short passes + checkdowns and rely exclusively on straightforward blitzing on the defense). The Lions straight-up suck. They can't beat winning teams when they're on the road. Good teams don't have that problem. The Broncos haven't looked truly good in a while, and they're a one trick pony. Peyton doesn't run so the nickel and dime more than suffice. The Packers are all-around good, so I can give you that one. Like I explained, I think New England an excellent team. I think denying that would be ignorant. Baltimore is just a more dangerous matchup. If both teams play well, it's a question of whether or not the Ravens can pressure Brady early, and if they do, they'll probably win. And if they don't, they'll probably lose. Bad weather isn't going to hurt Flacco. He maintains his abilities in it just as well as Brady and Rodgers do. Remember, one of Flacco's key abilities is his arm strength. Whether or not Baltimore's run game succeeds is mostly contingent not on clock eaten but if they can force New England to stuff the box so Flacco can use the play action and bootlegs. If that happens, then good New England secondary or not, it's going to be a real headache covering the receivers and playing the run simultaneously. All this being said, if New England beats Baltimore, they're going to the Super Bowl. I don't see how Denver or Indy can beat them, short of something truly cataclysmic taking place on the field.
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Dr. T is an alien
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Post by Dr. T is an alien on Jan 6, 2015 22:25:55 GMT -5
On paper, the Ravens are about as dangerous a matchup for New England as any team in the AFC. Note that I don't think the Ravens are a good matchup against everyone. They'll have a lot more trouble with Denver if they both make it that far. On the other hand, if the Pats played the Broncos, I'd pick New England nine times out of ten. And I think any of those three teams will make quick work of Indy, but that's neither here nor there. So the fact that the Colts had a chance to tie the season opener against the Broncos and actually beat the Ravens this season means that they have no chance against those teams now? I'll grant you that the Patriots skunked them and I don't think that Arthur Jones being healthy makes them that much better at run defense, but the Colts can match up to the other teams. They do lack depth, however, and that can get them killed against any of those teams should any other defensive starters get banged up (see the Steelers game).
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LastCall
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Post by LastCall on Jan 6, 2015 22:29:58 GMT -5
Profootballtalk reports Rams owner Stan Kroenke intends to move the team to Los Angeles "with or without" league approval. And then he'll schedule the 2017 Royal Rumble at his brand new stadium, not expecting his team to be hosting a playoff game the same day... Which leads to Raw Bowl II!
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Post by Can you afford to pay me, Gah on Jan 6, 2015 23:12:56 GMT -5
Ok this maybe coming off as a rant about the Rams situation.
A lot of people are so excited and hopeful that the LA Rams make there return. As a fan of St. Louis sports the way Stan as acted make me sick because it is clear that Silent Stan had this plan all along and never attended too ever keep the team in St. Louis. I mean how they wanted the City to pay for the whole Statium and yet he fine with buying land and investing his own money in another City. Now more than likely it will move and the NFL will OK it because of the greed involved. If it it means likely breaking the rules of the NFL as in giving the City of St.Louis a fair chance too keep them as they do want too. As in having the team itself take SOMETHING of the bill too build.
People can say what they want about how the fans are for the Rams and how they are behind the Cardinals and the Blues and that's fair because those two teams have been contenders or gave reasons too spend money too see them. The Rams had a long period where it was going no where fast. The last few years it been going into the right direction and what is a shame that when the final pieces come together for the team itself too be contenders again. They likely be leaving too LA. It is a shame what little the ownership has done for St. Louis compared too the other teams. That is a second reason why the Rams are not number one sports teams because the involvement to the city itself. It all the players that give back. I like the Rams and I want the NFL in St. Louis but it is a shame that Silent Stan could careless and never did care. This is clearly his plan all along. Help get a Team into a direction too be good so the LA market can get a decent too great team.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2015 23:37:48 GMT -5
On paper, the Ravens are about as dangerous a matchup for New England as any team in the AFC. Note that I don't think the Ravens are a good matchup against everyone. They'll have a lot more trouble with Denver if they both make it that far. On the other hand, if the Pats played the Broncos, I'd pick New England nine times out of ten. And I think any of those three teams will make quick work of Indy, but that's neither here nor there. So the fact that the Colts had a chance to tie the season opener against the Broncos and actually beat the Ravens this season means that they have no chance against those teams now? I'll grant you that the Patriots skunked them and I don't think that Arthur Jones being healthy makes them that much better at run defense, but the Colts can match up to the other teams. They do lack depth, however, and that can get them killed against any of those teams should any other defensive starters get banged up (see the Steelers game). The Colts' problem is that they can't make critical stops, and then they have to play from behind. Andrew Luck is going to be a fantastic QB when he fully develops (he's already pretty good) but he can't play catchup against someone like Peyton Manning, Tom Brady or even Joe Flacco when he doesn't even have a dependable run game to keep the defenses guessing.
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Sam Punk
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Post by Sam Punk on Jan 7, 2015 0:07:13 GMT -5
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Post by Seth Drakin of Monster Crap on Jan 7, 2015 13:25:58 GMT -5
Tom Coughlin won't be making any changes to the coaching staff. Well someone must have changed his mind as Perry Fewell has been dropped as defensive coordinator.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2015 14:14:04 GMT -5
So the fact that the Colts had a chance to tie the season opener against the Broncos and actually beat the Ravens this season means that they have no chance against those teams now? I'll grant you that the Patriots skunked them and I don't think that Arthur Jones being healthy makes them that much better at run defense, but the Colts can match up to the other teams. They do lack depth, however, and that can get them killed against any of those teams should any other defensive starters get banged up (see the Steelers game). The Colts' problem is that they can't make critical stops, and then they have to play from behind. Andrew Luck is going to be a fantastic QB when he fully develops (he's already pretty good) but he can't play catchup against someone like Peyton Manning, Tom Brady or even Joe Flacco when he doesn't even have a dependable run game to keep the defenses guessing. Eh, if you remove Trent Richardson from the equation, the Colts can stand a chance. The problem is we can't keep our good running backs healthy, while Richardson is always healthy.
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andrew8798
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Post by andrew8798 on Jan 7, 2015 14:40:28 GMT -5
Rams OC Brian Schottenheimer has left the team to become the University of Georgia offensive coordinator and QBs coach.
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andrew8798
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Post by andrew8798 on Jan 7, 2015 15:05:49 GMT -5
Saints are keeping DC Rob Ryan.
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Post by Can you afford to pay me, Gah on Jan 7, 2015 15:21:01 GMT -5
Something too think about here about the whole LA and St. Louis situation. With the Stan not caring at all about the City or the fans. Not speaking to anybody. The NFL does see LA as a market and that's is a given but does anybody think the NFL also sees how St. Louis is getting screwed out of it's team in away as there people working in congress working on keeping them. So lets say Stan moves the Rams back too LA, fine. but could it be possible that the other possible moving teams ends up going to St.Louis instead? As it was stated last year that the NFL does want too keep a team in St. Louis so clearly we have some kind of market for it.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2015 15:59:43 GMT -5
The Colts' problem is that they can't make critical stops, and then they have to play from behind. Andrew Luck is going to be a fantastic QB when he fully develops (he's already pretty good) but he can't play catchup against someone like Peyton Manning, Tom Brady or even Joe Flacco when he doesn't even have a dependable run game to keep the defenses guessing. Eh, if you remove Trent Richardson from the equation, the Colts can stand a chance. The problem is we can't keep our good running backs healthy, while Richardson is always healthy. That's why I didn't say the RB situation was bad, but I pointed out that for the Colts, the position isn't "dependable." Yes, Indy's other RBs are good, but they get hurt a lot. Baltimore has the same problems on secondary. We have talented starters (Webb, Smith) but injuries have riddled out defensive backs so badly that we had to sign guys off the street to fill the roster. But I feel as though the issues with the run game are such that it pigeonholes Indy into throwing the ball a lot, and because of that problem, the passing game underperforms (to say nothing of the already battered defense not getting enough time to rest).
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2015 20:45:50 GMT -5
-New England's defense is solid, and utterly destroys weak offenses. But if Baltimore can't run the ball, then it comes down to Joe Flacco and his receivers against the much-improved Patriots secondary. And with a cold and windy night in the forecast in Foxborough Saturday evening, that patented Flacco deep ball might not be at his disposal. The interesting thing about that last point you made is the X factor that is Torrey Smith's knack for drawing PI calls. He's had the most PI calls and yards of any other receiver this season. It helped them against the Steelers too. So maybe Flacco can get away with not being as good with the deep ball? I dunno, something to think about.
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andrew8798
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Post by andrew8798 on Jan 7, 2015 22:23:37 GMT -5
Chiefs signed QB Terrelle Pryor to a one-year contract.
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