Pre-Season 2014 Week 3

[Inqui]

Dalton really is the weak link...the Bengals look fantastic otherwise but Dalton can't cash in. Their running game looks strong.

In other news, the sky is blue and refs love the Patriots.

[ratedr]

In other news, the sky is blue and refs love the Patriots.

Even with Dalton they definitely look like the best team in the division to me.

[allblackraven]

Even with Dalton they definitely look like the best team in the division to me.

We need our D to put a lot of pressure on him, otherwise it will be very tough keeping Green and Sanu in check.

[hawkprey]

We need our D to put a lot of pressure on him, otherwise it will be very tough keeping Green and Sanu in check.

Dalton's protection isnt going to get better than that 5 or so week stretch where he wasn't sacked, and we beat them then. Just as long as we control their run game (Their new C vs Brandon Williams could get ugly), and then just take advantage when Dalton misses his targets. The Bengals won't be too tough.

[ravensdan]

Dalton really is the weak link...the Bengals look fantastic otherwise but Dalton can't cash in. Their running game looks strong.

Geno is far from his old dominant self at this point.

[A Fish Called Yanda]

Looks like a pretty bad concussion.  Bengals suffered a couple of injuries tonight...

[Inqui]

Dalton's protection isnt going to get better than that 5 or so week stretch where he wasn't sacked, and we beat them then. Just as long as we control their run game (Their new C vs Brandon Williams could get ugly), and then just take advantage when Dalton misses his targets. The Bengals won't be too tough.

The format for beating the Bengals is to 1) take out AJ Green; 2) put pressure on Dalton (found a good article mentioning how even the threat of pressure can fluster him); 3) control the tempo on offence so substitutions are made on our terms. We'll see how things shake out in the regular season.

[JO_75]

Jeff Fisher quickly put to rest the talk about their quarterback situation. Saying Shaun Hill is their guy and they got all the confidence in the world in him.

 

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/24/fisher-declares-shaun-hill-is-our-guy/

 

Can we put the Rams in the Mariota/Winston sweepstakes guys?

[ravensdfan]

So they seriously just compared Dalton to Peyton.  

[hawkprey]

The format for beating the Bengals is to 1) take out AJ Green; 2) put pressure on Dalton (found a good article mentioning how even the threat of pressure can fluster him); 3) control the tempo on offence so substitutions are made on our terms. We'll see how things shake out in the regular season.

Yes, I saw that article by Bill Barnwell, and he made great points. But even without pressure, Dalton can be inaccurate. He's had good stretches of play, but too often has he proven that the talent around him is what carries the team. When they paid Dalton, they were basically congratulating AJ Green and crew and Dalton was moreso the recipient if their talent. The Bengals wont surprise a tough defense.

[JO_75]

So they seriously just compared Dalton to Peyton.  

 

I know right! I was just about that. As some have said, Dalton is the weak link on the Bengals. Peyton never was a weak link except in the postseason. 

 

I don't know about you but man NBC must have hung out with Josh Gordon before tonight's game, they have to be on something to make a ridiculous comparison like that.

[Inqui]

Yes, I saw that article by Bill Barnwell, and he made great points. But even without pressure, Dalton can be inaccurate. He's had good stretches of play, but too often has he proven that the talent around him is what carries the team. When they paid Dalton, they were basically congratulating AJ Green and crew and Dalton was moreso the recipient if their talent. The Bengals wont surprise a tough defense.

Exactly. Our front three/four can get pressure on their own and we showed this week that we should be able to keep it coming between Suggs, Dumervil, Upshaw, Canty, Ngata, Jernigan, Williams and McPhee (who shall this season be known as "Mr Contract Year") BEFORE you get into our blitzing MLBs, and blanking WR1s has been our speciality of late. The Bengals are the team to beat, but there's no reason we can't beat them.

[JO_75]

The format for beating the Bengals is to 1) take out AJ Green; 2) put pressure on Dalton (found a good article mentioning how even the threat of pressure can fluster him); 3) control the tempo on offence so substitutions are made on our terms. We'll see how things shake out in the regular season.

 

1) This might be the only issue on this checklist.... and lastly DO NOT tip the ball in the air lol.

 

2) Check

 

3) Should be able to do that too.

[Cville-Raven]

Anyone else think the field for the brand new 49ers stadium looked comically bad?

[JO_75]

It's now official. The Vikings have named Matt Cassel their starting quarterback. That is 3 rookie quarterbacks and three strikes. For the first time since 2007(when Brady Quinn and DT pretending to be a QB JaMarcus Russell were drafted) that no rookie quarterback will start.

 

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/25/vikings-declare-matt-cassel-their-starter/

[PolishRifle]

It's now official. The Vikings have named Matt Cassel their starting quarterback. That is 3 rookie quarterbacks and three strikes. For the first time since 2007(when Brady Quinn and DT pretending to be a QB JaMarcus Russell were drafted) that no rookie quarterback will start.

 

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/25/vikings-declare-matt-cassel-their-starter/

 

It's the Jags fault. There's no good reason not to start Bortles. No way Gus Bradley can look his players in the eyes and tell them honestly, that Henne gives them a better chance to win right now. Bortles won't gain anything from sitting behind Henne either. 

[52520Andrew]

It's the Jags fault. There's no good reason not to start Bortles. No way Gus Bradley can look his players in the eyes and tell them honestly, that Henne gives them a better chance to win right now. Bortles won't gain anything from sitting behind Henne either. 

 

If you see the O-line in front of Bortles, it isn't good. That team still has to develop and while Bortles has impressed, they want to make sure the team around him is better before they throw him into the fire. Basically they know they aren't doing much this year unless things come together perfectly and would rather give Bortles a red shirt year and let him develop more instead of putting him out there and exposing him to a bad year from the team. They want to get everyone else developed around him so that when he comes in next year, they can go right to making some noise.

[GrimCoconut]

If you see the O-line in front of Bortles, it isn't good. That team still has to develop and while Bortles has impressed, they want to make sure the team around him is better before they throw him into the fire. Basically they know they aren't doing much this year unless things come together perfectly and would rather give Bortles a red shirt year and let him develop more instead of putting him out there and exposing him to a bad year from the team. They want to get everyone else developed around him so that when he comes in next year, they can go right to making some noise.

Well, I'm sure we could trade Jah Reid and Shipley to them for, what, do you think a 2nd round pick is fair for these two studs? I suppose we can go as low as a 3rd, but that's really stretching it. Hey, think about it. This could be their OL!

 

Joeckel | Beadles | Brewster | Shipley | Reid

 

We could even send them Thompson in a package, to give them that RS and to protect Marqise Lee. 

[52520Andrew]

Well, I'm sure we could trade Jah Reid and Shipley to them for, what, do you think a 2nd round pick is fair for these two studs? I suppose we can go as low as a 3rd, but that's really stretching it. Hey, think about it. This could be their OL!

 

Joeckel | Beadles | Brewster | Shipley | Reid

 

We could even send them Thompson in a package, to give them that RS and to protect Marqise Lee. 

 

The sad thing is that isn't much worse than what they have.

 

Joeckel is a complete unknown coming off an injury

 

Beadles is their best player but he isn't great either, about average

 

Brewster is pretty bad and Bowakno is a rookie 6th round pick so I don't know if I would have great expectations with him either

 

Linder is a rookie

 

Pasztor is nothing special either

 

We saw how bad it was for Flacco with no O-line, I can VERY EASILY see this unit being a disaster for the Jags this year. A lot of people see the Jags as a surprise team but I just don't see it with that O-line. 

[GrimCoconut]

The sad thing is that isn't much worse than what they have.

 

Joeckel is a complete unknown coming off an injury

 

Beadles is their best player but he isn't great either, about average

 

Brewster is pretty bad and Bowakno is a rookie 6th round pick so I don't know if I would have great expectations with him either

 

Linder is a rookie

 

Pasztor is nothing special either

 

We saw how bad it was for Flacco with no O-line, I can VERY EASILY see this unit being a disaster for the Jags this year. A lot of people see the Jags as a surprise team but I just don't see it with that O-line. 

Yeah. That's why they need to trade for Shipley and Reid. Shipley can play center. Lol. Let's work the phones for Ozzie and Co and call up JAX. 

[SecretAgentMan]

Yeah. That's why they need to trade for Shipley and Reid. Shipley can play center. Lol. Let's work the phones for Ozzie and Co and call up JAX. 

Hey. We got a franchise LT for a 4, 5, and 6 last year... 

 

I'd say Shipley and Marlon for Shorts is reasonable right?

[GrimCoconut]

Hey. We got a franchise LT for a 4, 5, and 6 last year... 

 

I'd say Shipley and Marlon for Shorts is reasonable right?

We don't need any more WRs. I'd happily take him, though.  Who'd you cut for him? I guess there goes Kamar Aiken and Deonte Thompson's spot. Lol. Shorts has been a bit prone to injuries recently, however. 

[SecretAgentMan]

We don't need any more WRs. I'd happily take him, though.  Who'd you cut for him? I guess there goes Kamar Aiken and Deonte Thompson's spot. Lol. Shorts has been a bit prone to injuries recently, however. 

Yeah, but that trade would make us instant contenders haha. And no need. We have good depth at WR, but Shorts would be a #1 on the team probably... 

[52520Andrew]

Why not try to get a CB from them lol

[ravensdan]

Yeah, but that trade would make us instant contenders haha. And no need. We have good depth at WR, but Shorts would be a #1 on the team probably...

Is this a joke? I like shorts a lot. But he would be a number three this year on this team. Also ravens are certainly contenders. Anyone who doesn't think so is not really paying attention. Just because most of the average fans and talking heads think the standings will be identical to last year and Denver and New England are so far ahead of the rest are just kidding themselves. I would take the field against those two In the AFC any day of the week. Again. Hope you were joking.

[SecretAgentMan]

Is this a joke? I like shorts a lot. But he would be a number three this year on this team. Also ravens are certainly contenders. Anyone who doesn't think so is not really paying attention. Just because most of the average fans and talking heads think the standings will be identical to last year and Denver and New England are so far ahead of the rest are just kidding themselves. I would take the field against those two In the AFC any day of the week. Again. Hope you were joking.

Shorts produces good numbers on a crappy team with a crappy QB. Smith SR is old and isn't the player he used to be. He'd be an 1,000 yard WR with us. Something Steve probably won't be.

Allow me to rephrase. It'd make us favorites. I don't think we aren't good. But not good enough to win the SB on paper. Anything can happen. But in 2011. We were good enough. 2012. We were clearly good enough. I just don't see us beating Denver. New England? Sure. Revis might revive himself, and so might Browner. But who is Tom throwing to?

[ravensdan]

Shorts produces good numbers on a crappy team with a crappy QB. Smith SR is old and isn't the player he used to be. He'd be an 1,000 yard WR with us. Something Steve probably won't be.

Allow me to rephrase. It'd make us favorites. I don't think we aren't good. But not good enough to win the SB on paper. Anything can happen. But in 2011. We were good enough. 2012. We were clearly good enough. I just don't see us beating Denver. New England? Sure. Revis might revive himself, and so might Browner. But who is Tom throwing to?

I think smith will top the 746 yards he had last year. He will be close to 1000 IMO More importantly I expect his TD numbers to approach double digits. Don't get me wrong I like shorts but he has a greater injury concern than Steve.

I think New England will be a better team than Denver this year. Especially if gronk can make it through the year.