American Football (NFL, College, etc.)

Geezer wrote:I still think the step up in quality from '05 to 06 is gonna freak out the people who haven't been paying attention.

I'm looking forward to it, Geez. :thumbsup:

So, , , as of right now, the Raiders, Texans, Rams, Vikings, Packers, and Saints have all fired their coaches. Not a good profession if you're looking for job security :shakehead:

gaijin mark wrote:So, , , as of right now, the Raiders, Texans, Rams, Vikings, Packers, and Saints have all fired their coaches. Not a good profession if you're looking for job security :shakehead:

Yeah, but they're not making minimum wage, either. ;)

The funny thing is, those guys that got fired might not be bad coaches. Pete Carroll was a complete bust in the NFL, and he's been fairly successful at USC. :crazy:

It just shows that coaching college vs. the pros is not as easy as some would hope. Dennis Erickson and Steve Spurrier come to mind.

Anyone catch the game last night? Damn the Rose bowl was exciting. I wasn't really rooting for any team, just wanted to watch a good football game and it was just that. Can't wait til Young and Bush leave to the NFL if they do that is.

eltinator wrote:Anyone catch the game last night? Damn the Rose bowl was exciting. I wasn't really rooting for any team, just wanted to watch a good football game and it was just that. Can't wait til Young and Bush leave to the NFL if they do that is.

In terms of potential signing bonuses, they would be fools not to do so now. Bush is likely to enter the draft, Young is debatable but his stock rose after that performance.

I guess alexander is going to command a hell of a contract after now winning the mvp.

dochira wrote:
In terms of potential signing bonuses, they would be fools not to do so now. Bush is likely to enter the draft, Young is debatable but his stock rose after that performance.

Yea I think young definately moves up in the draft. At first he was ranked 6th if he declared which is perfect for my Raiders who need a QB, but I'd put him top 4 now. Oh and what the hec is wrong with Bush? Can this guy not run down the middle? Alll his runs were outside except for one where he didn't have a hole and ran out. I know he's a tad smaller than most NFL RB but if he can't run through the middle he'll just be another warrick dunn rather than a LT.

eltinator wrote:I know he's a tad smaller than most NFL RB but if he can't run through the middle he'll just be another warrick dunn rather than a LT.

altho being a warrick dunn is no insult:
#26 all time in rushing yards with 8321.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/stats/careerleaders?cat=Rushing

niko2x wrote:altho being a warrick dunn is no insult:
#26 all time in rushing yards with 8321.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/stats/careerleaders?cat=Rushing

hehe true, but Bush is being raved as the best new talent in a long time. That and if you're the No. 1 pick in the draft you better be damn good ala Manning or else it'll be a bit of a let down.

eltinator wrote:
hehe true, but Bush is being raved as the best new talent in a long time. That and if you're the No. 1 pick in the draft you better be damn good ala Manning or else it'll be a bit of a let down.

It's not #1, but *cough* Ryan Leaf *cough* comes quickly to mind. (#2 draft pick)

dochira wrote:
It's not #1, but *cough* Ryan Leaf *cough* comes quickly to mind. (#2 draft pick)

Hahaha, isn't his little brother playing QB for Oregon or something like that? :hehe: :hehe:

I'm just saying as a number 1 pick the team expects a performance caliber as well as a Manning rather than just a mediocre player.

eltinator wrote:

. I know he's a tad smaller than most NFL RB but if he can't run through the middle he'll just be another warrick dunn rather than a LT.

If you've watched Warrick Dunn throughout his collegiate and professional career, you'd know that, despite his diminutive size, he is a good inside runner. IMO he is one of the most underrated players in the NFL. Living in the San Diego area, I have seen LT throughout his entire pro career. Unlike most of the football fans in Chargerland, I do not go goo-goo over him. I think he's certainly one of the top backs in the NFL, but I don't believe he is the best back.

shin2 wrote:

If you've watched Warrick Dunn throughout his collegiate and professional career, you'd know that, despite his diminutive size, he is a good inside runner. IMO he is one of the most underrated players in the NFL. Living in the San Diego area, I have seen LT throughout his entire pro career. Unlike most of the football fans in Chargerland, I do not go goo-goo over him. I think he's certainly one of the top backs in the NFL, but I don't believe he is the best back.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that will Bush be a 3 down back or just first 2 downs and out? The knock on Dunn is that he can't do the short yardage situation and they always give it to Duckett. Not that I don't think Dunn can carry it on 3rd and short but I think a sign of a good RB is that they're the guy with the ball when you need it and will Bush be that type of RB. Guys like LT and Alexander are no brainers when it comes to that type of situation. To be the best back, you have to be a complete back and while Bush can certainly do a lot of things on the field, it makes me wonder why Carroll doesn't use Bush for short yardage situations in the biggest game.

eltinator wrote:

I guess what I'm trying to say is that will Bush be a 3 down back or just first 2 downs and out? The knock on Dunn is that he can't do the short yardage situation and they always give it to Duckett. Not that I don't think Dunn can carry it on 3rd and short but I think a sign of a good RB is that they're the guy with the ball when you need it and will Bush be that type of RB. Guys like LT and Alexander are no brainers when it comes to that type of situation. To be the best back, you have to be a complete back and while Bush can certainly do a lot of things on the field, it makes me wonder why Carroll doesn't use Bush for short yardage situations in the biggest game.

OK, I understand what you're trying to say. My response would be that, when Duckett was injured, a couple of times I saw Dunn carry the ball on third and short and he successfully made the first down. Sure, you'd want a big back like Duckett to be your short yardage go-to guy, but that doesn't mean that Dunn isn't a complete back. That guy will run inside, outside, catch, and block. Why doesn't Carroll use Bush for short yardage? Because he's got LenDale White, just like Atlanta has Duckett. That doesn't mean Bush can't be a short yardage rusher; it just means that when you got a LenDale White, it makes sense to use him in those situations. Oh, and as far as LT as a third and short yardage runner, actually most of the time in that situation the Chargers QB-sneak it (if it's really short), hand it off to Lorenzo Neal, the FB, or throw it. Once in a while, LT may get the ball in that situation, but not often, and when he does get the ball, he's not as successful in making a first down as you might think. But, to be fair, some of it probably has to do with the offensive line he plays behind. He's a gifted back, but he really doesn't display the power-running skills of a Shaun Alexander or a Larry Johnson or even a Tiki Barber who's actually lighter than LT.

eltinator wrote:Anyone catch the game last night? Damn the Rose bowl was exciting. I wasn't really rooting for any team, just wanted to watch a good football game and it was just that.

The only time I root for the Troj-Ens, and the bums lose. :shakehead:

HI Elton!

Nice to have you back --- now to disagree with you. I'm with Shin2. Dunn, despite his small size, has always been one hell of an inside runner.

They use Duckett simply because he's bigger and can stand the pounding of short yardage better. Dunn can do it, but he's getting older and that kind of running would probably shorten his career. Why do it if you have Duckett?

But I do agree with your concerns, re Bush. I wonder about his ability to run between the tackles. (No longer a concern of mine though as the Niners won't be selecting him.)

The kid who opened my eyes in that game was Kirtman. I just love watching a fullback who can catch the ball in the flat and do something with it.

As to who I was rooting for... well, I've never rooted for USC. The way they play that damned school song after every TD, PA, First down, or completed pass just gets on my nerves.

And I really dislike all things Texas.

So I Just spent the game wondering who would look good in the Niner uniform.

Re: Vince Young. I Think he'll come out this year. I Also think he's gonna take a heck of a beating in the NFL.

Geezer wrote:Re: Vince Young. I Think he'll come out this year. I Also think he's gonna take a heck of a beating in the NFL.

I agree.

The guy's not a pure passer. He'll the the crap beaten out of him in the NFL, just like Michael Vick.

I'd take Leinart over Young without blinking.

Leinart or Young?

I'm not sure which way I'd go. I'm not a big fan of either.