pcmodem wrote:Well, in the pre-salary cap era, a well balanced (complete) team sure made it easier. Incomplete teams usually had their weakenesses exposed during the playoffs.
Because of their offensive innovation and stars during the 1981-1994 era, most people forget that in each Superbowl season ('81, '84, '88, '89, '94), the 49ers had some impressive defensive teams.
the present-day salary cap as we know it started around '93. (as you mentioned, the year that 9ers rushed out and signed big names like deion). i mentioned 9ers, gb, denver, st louis, because those were offensive-powered teams that won superbowls after that.
i won't discount that the 9ers had a good defense, but when young throws for six td's in the superbowl, how much did the defense have to do?
i'm not trying to pick a fight w/ anyone here. i'm simply addressing the statement: 'great defense wins championsihps'. it's an old cliche that's tossed around way too much. great offenses have won many championships. tampa had a great defense for years. but they could never beat the offensive-juggernaught st louis. then, comes the offensive-minded gruden who improves brad johnson just enough to get the win in the sb. the pats' defense got them to the sb, but when the def collapsed in the 2nd half, it was brady and the offense that won them the game.
to me, it's more often that great teamwork wins championships. to me, pitt's def isn't that good. neither is their offense. but they managed to win 13 games through great chemistry. same way new england did it last year (up until the 2nd half of this year).
a great def can be beat. so can a great offense. but a great team is very difficult to beat ... especially in the championship.
eltinator wrote:That Vanderjagt from the Colts is hilarious. Or maybe I should refer to him as "Vanderjerk"
just way too funny. :hehe:
it reminds me of that story - when the gramatica bros came into the league and used to go off on those wild-azz celebrations every time they made a chip shot fg. i believe it was john kasay that said, 'man, those guys just gotta learn to act like they've been there before!'
it reminds me of that story - when the gramatica bros came into the league and used to go off on those wild-azz celebrations every time they made a chip shot fg. i believe it was john kasay that said, 'man, those guys just gotta learn to act like they've been there before!'
the caption was: 'kickers talking trash?' :rofl:
HAHAHAHA :hehe: :hehe: :hehe:
I have to give rodney harrison some credit with the come back too. It was pretty dumb to say vanderjerk but it's so stupid it's funny :rofl: :rofl:
eltinator wrote:I have to give rodney harrison some credit with the come back too. It was pretty dumb to say vanderjerk but it's so stupid it's funny :rofl: :rofl:
harrison DOES deserve credit. i've heard the 'vanderjerk' statement so much it's becoming a household name.
so anyone's got predictions for this weekend's games?
ok, here are mine:
jets vs steelers = steelers
rams vs falcons = rams (i think rams' offense is starting to peak)
vikes vs eagles = vikings (i'm gonna call the upset here only because i'm peed that philly didn't do their best vs the rams and costed me my fantasy title!) :usuck:
colts vs pats = hm, as much planning as belicheck's gonna do vs manning, i think his team is too decimated with injuries. but i'm gonna go with the patriots anyways. :sweat:
Eagles vs Vikings: Eagles (balanced offense and defense that can contain Culpepper)
Falcons vs Rams: Rams (Falcons are good but for some reason I like the Rams)
AFC:
Steelers vs Jets: Steelers (The Jets are IMO, the weakest of the 6 AFC teams)
Pats vs Colts: Colts (C'mon, Manning has got to have seen like every single defense Belichick can throw up against him. Plus isn't he 0-6 in NE, so that means either he is going to lose again or he is bound to win, I'm going with the latter :hehe:)
eltinator wrote:(The Jets are IMO, the weakest of the 6 AFC teams)
i know! wouldn't it have been waaaay more challenging to see the chargers up against these teams? well, who knows. 'any given sunday'. (now THAT'S an old cliche that still holds true! :bonk: )
the jets really surprised me. several of my friends who are steelers fans admitted that they got really lucky. the jets really deserved to win that game, and i'm guessing they're getting a new kicker next season.
i have to give credit to the falcons. they came out and played their hearts out! they gave the rams fits all game long.
elt: i'm also looking forward to the pats/indy game!! :dancing:
A great game the whole way, real good defense and hard hitting. Can't ask for a better football game. Too bad Manning lost out again. Next week should be another good one, Pats-Steelers and Falcons-Eagles! :mrgreen:
I know The Man doesn't visit here often, but, I just wanted to be the first (if not AMONG the first) to say . . . and, maybe it's good a Hawai'i-ite starts it off because, maybe a Hawai'i way of saying it is a decent way of saying it, so, w/out further da kind:
Okay, Mike Nolan is the new Head Coach of the San Francisco 49ers.
Well, that's a weight off my mind.
Of course, I don't actually know who Mike Nolan is, or what he can bring to the team... but it's nice not to have to read the two penny specualtion in the papers anymore.
From the Raven's page: Nolan's Coaching Background:
1981 (Oregon); 1982-83 (Stanford); 1984-85 (Rice); 1986 (LSU); 1987-92 (Denver Broncos); 1993-96 (New York Giants); 1997-99 (Washington Redskins); 2000 (New York Jets); 2001-04 (Baltimore Ravens).
PERSONAL: Participated in the 1981 Broncosf training camp as a defensive back under Dan ReevescWas a three-year letterman at free safety for the DuckscGraduated from Woodside (CA) HScOne of six children and the son of former NFL head coach Dick Nolan (San Francisco and New Orleans)cMike and wife Kathy, have four children: sons, Michael and Christopher, and daughters, Laura and Jennifer.
The guy has been a Defensive Coordinator with four NFL teams, never a Head Coach (Not a knock, just information).
The team still has to find a GM, and Nolan has to assemble a coaching staff. But it's nice that the guy will have 3 months to prepare before the draft.
As to the real football news... Man I loved the Pats Indy game yesterday!
I was thinking it was the Colts year (what with all the injuries the Pats were dealing with) but once I saw the snow falling, I settled in to have a wonderful afternoon of watching football. (I just don't like the Colts for some reason.)
Based on the last few performances of the Steelers, and this week's showing of the Pats... my money's going on the Pats.
Right now, I'm thinking of the NFC teams, the Eagles and the Falcons as after thoughts. Neither teams strikes me as being anything special.
well, i'll own up and say that most of my predictions were wrong too.
Geez: congrats on getting nolan as your coach. not too much HC experience, but has a pretty successful nfl track (unlike your former coach).
parcells also did some shaking up as he fired the kicking coach and the offensive line coach. i don't think that's gonna make a big difference. really, i believe we need to inject some youth into the team.
bmwracer wrote:Boomer Esiason speculated that Manning could be this decade's Dan Marino: great stats but can't win the big one... :(
i've got the utmost respect for manning. every time i've seen him, he's maintained a solid composure, and conducted himself like a role model that other professional athletes should strive to become.
i truly believe he will win the superbowl one day. BUT, not as long as he keeps getting matched up with the patriots in the playoffs! bellicheck just has his number! :shakehead:
jholic wrote:
i've got the utmost respect for manning.
Heh. I don't. Guy talks. A lot. Did we really need to hear him talk after that blowout yesterday? Patriot's coach on the other hand, you tell 'em all, man!
I don't like the brother either (THE OWNERS get to choose in the draft, not the other way around; imagine if the first top 10 picks decided to do the same thing. You wouldn't GET past the first top 10 picks until the end of the week).
Thing is, though, with teams who lose o'there every time during the playoffs, either directly or indirectly (more the latter, if I'm not mistaken), there's someboty from the losing team to blame the snowfall. Bruddahs, you guys KNOW going SNOW, OK? Not'ing new, li'dat. :doh:
So 2 title game this weekend who do you guys like?
I'm picking the eagles over Falcons just cause if the Eagles lose then it'll be 4 straight NFC title losses... they can't choke up that bad can they? Plus I like that Eagle D, and Mike Vick can be contained as proven by the Bucs.
AFC side I'm going to go with the Pats. Cory Dillion will be playing and big Ben may play like a veteran but fact is, he's still a rookie and he will play like one this weekend.