I think Hue Jackson was the best option available, but the Raiders are simply never going to get better as a team if they don't have continuity in the coaching position. Al Davis continues to prove he in incapable of running the Raiders organization with increasingly bizarre moves. Losing Nnamdi Asomugha will severely impact the defense and what they can do scheme wise and I have serious doubts whether Cambell can lead a team into the playoffs.
Even with another good draft I don't see the Raiders moving up into a wildcard spot. There are many more teams with better pieces in place and have stability in the coaching positions. I certainly don't see them repeating a 6-0 division record and taking the AFC West crown away from the Chiefs, and talent wise they are nowhere near as good as the Chargers, despite their under performance.
Also, the four QBs all have that nasty moustache/beard thing goin' on.
Man, I am a genius.
Clay Matthews is not the best LB in the league. He's one of the better pass rushing LB's, but there are several other guys that are much better in coverage, and also better in run support. It's not even a fair label to put on a position, since the responsibilities of each LB spot are different.
On January 18 2011 06:54 Souma wrote: The 50 million dollar question I present to you guys:
Rivers or Rodgers? I love both, but the way Rodgers has been performing the past two seasons, is he actually more solid than Rivers now?
Rodgers, it's not even debatable, imo.
IMO the only legit argument would be that once the concussions start rolling, they just snowball and become easier and easier to have, and affect you more and more. Rodgers has only had 2, but 2 in the same season COULD lead to problems in the future
Plus the fact that he scrambles more than rivers means that there's always the potential for more bone crushing hits
There is a lot more reason to be afraid of Manning than Brady given the matchup. It's not a slight to Brady or saying that one is better than the other in any way, it's just evaluating where the biggest threat is coming from. The Patriots have a really successful running game in BJGE/Woodhead and run a lot of reverses whereas the colts running game is non-existant. The Colts literally can't win without Manning having a great game. That's why you saw the jets play the deep ball vs the colts and try to take away the running/short pass game of the pats. Really since the pats lost moss they don't have a deep threat. The majority of their big pass plays come off confusing routes getitng people open in space - and that game showed how important having a big time WR can be. It's really not as dumb of a comment as you guys are making it out to be.
Also saying these teams have the best players at their positions is a huge stretch. Polamalu, sure. Revis really hasn't lived up to what he did last year. There's a ton of DE's just like Peppers n while Matthews has done an amazing job since he's been in the league this is what his 2nd year? There's still a list of guys well ahead of him.
Also, the four QBs all have that nasty moustache/beard thing goin' on.
Man, I am a genius.
Clay Matthews is not the best LB in the league. He's one of the better pass rushing LB's, but there are several other guys that are much better in coverage, and also better in run support. It's not even a fair label to put on a position, since the responsibilities of each LB spot are different.
On January 18 2011 06:54 Souma wrote: The 50 million dollar question I present to you guys:
Rivers or Rodgers? I love both, but the way Rodgers has been performing the past two seasons, is he actually more solid than Rivers now?
Rodgers, it's not even debatable, imo.
IMO the only legit argument would be that once the concussions start rolling, they just snowball and become easier and easier to have, and affect you more and more. Rodgers has only had 2, but 2 in the same season COULD lead to problems in the future
Plus the fact that he scrambles more than rivers means that there's always the potential for more bone crushing hits
Beyond those rodgers is a clear winner
Yeah, but those wouldn't make Rodgers worse, it would just mean that he's a higher risk QB. Skill wise, Rodgers is probably the #3 or 4 QB in the league right now. I think Manning, Brady, Brees, Rodgers... The only reason I don't bump him up is that this is only his second year doing this, while the other three have had longer careers, with even greater success.
Also on what basis is Rodgers so much better than Rivers? Are you guys crazy? What's Rodgers done so far that Rivers hasn't? If you want to go by stats, Rivers shits on Rodgers. If you want to go by playoff experience - Rivers shits on Rodgers. Still, neither have won a Superbowl and as corny as that sounds, it really is the measuring stick for comparable QB's.
On January 19 2011 01:14 Shindou wrote: Also on what basis is Rodgers so much better than Rivers? Are you guys crazy? What's Rodgers done so far that Rivers hasn't? If you want to go by stats, Rivers shits on Rodgers. If you want to go by playoff experience - Rivers shits on Rodgers. Still, neither have won a Superbowl and as corny as that sounds, it really is the measuring stick for comparable QB's.
It's not a measuring stick at all. Super Bowls aren't won by QB's, they're won by teams.
Rodgers stats: 2008 4,038 7.5 252.4 28 13 2009 4,434 8.2 277.1 30 7 2010 (15 games) 3,922 8.3 261.5 28 11 (For funsies you can pretend he would have done better than 251 yds, 3 TD, and 1 INT vs the Patriots, say 300 yards, 4 TD's, no INT, assuming the whole game played out almost identically, Rodgers would have taken the team for a score on the final drive).
I wouldn't exactly say that's shitting on someone, would you? In the future, double check things before making incorrect claims.
Now, where Rodgers separates himself is in athleticism. He's more mobile, meaning he can more often escape pressure, and he can throw while running to either side of the field. Rivers is a great pocket QB, but he hasn't shown himself to be as well rounded as Rodgers, as often as Rodgers. It's the difference between a home run hitter, and a 5 tool player in baseball. Rodgers is more complete.
Also, the four QBs all have that nasty moustache/beard thing goin' on.
Man, I am a genius.
Clay Matthews is not the best LB in the league. He's one of the better pass rushing LB's, but there are several other guys that are much better in coverage, and also better in run support. It's not even a fair label to put on a position, since the responsibilities of each LB spot are different.
On January 18 2011 06:54 Souma wrote: The 50 million dollar question I present to you guys:
Rivers or Rodgers? I love both, but the way Rodgers has been performing the past two seasons, is he actually more solid than Rivers now?
Rodgers, it's not even debatable, imo.
IMO the only legit argument would be that once the concussions start rolling, they just snowball and become easier and easier to have, and affect you more and more. Rodgers has only had 2, but 2 in the same season COULD lead to problems in the future
Plus the fact that he scrambles more than rivers means that there's always the potential for more bone crushing hits
Beyond those rodgers is a clear winner
Doesn't that make Rodgers better? Yeah, it puts him at a higher risk for injury, butt so does having a shit O-line.
And if Rodgers can scramble for a first down with no one's open, that just means that you may need to use a linebacker as a spy on a lot of plays to prevent that. He's a dual threat.
On a slightly more serious note, I feel like the comparison is more like Rivers = Brady-lite, Rodgers = Manning-lite. I still can't shake the feeling that Rivers benefits highly from the system and the players around him (way more offensive talent all across the board) while Rodgers seems to make the players around him better. That doesn't mean Rivers/Brady are inferior by any means, they're capable of running the system very well, they make very few mistakes, and they're capable of "making the throw" when it needs to be made, but I don't feel like they'll come up with some sort of single-handed willpower miracle like Peyton/Rodgers.
I'd take either, but as stated, Rodgers' ability to scramble is about 1000% superior to rivers. That alone means Rodgers is "better" considering their pretty similar stats otherwise.
Though I guess you also have to keep in mind that Rodgers has been playing with an amazingly good receiving corps the past few years. Rivers did very well this year, even with Vjax holding out and Gates injured up the wazoo.
On a slightly more serious note, I feel like the comparison is more like Rivers = Brady-lite, Rodgers = Manning-lite. I still can't shake the feeling that Rivers benefits highly from the system and the players around him (way more offensive talent all across the board) while Rodgers seems to make the players around him better. That doesn't mean Rivers/Brady are inferior by any means, they're capable of running the system very well, they make very few mistakes, and they're capable of "making the throw" when it needs to be made, but I don't feel like they'll come up with some sort of single-handed willpower miracle like Peyton/Rodgers.
Rodgers had a largely superior group of people around him compared to RIvers, at least for this year. Funny to say considering finley and grant and other were put on IR, but the Chargers were pretty messed up too with injuries and holdouts.
Greg Jennings is good, but the rest of the cast (Driver, Jones, etc.) all don't strike me as a particularly great set of receivers, particularly when you consider they had no running game. Speak nothing of the wasteland at TE. The difference is that Rodgers was good enough to make THEM look good, at least in my opinion.
As for Rivers, a good amount of his numbers came from Gates (who despite being injured for half the season still ran away with 700+ yards and 10 TDs), he has a significantly better offensive line (makes things easier), and had a pretty good running situation (even with Ryan Matthews out a bunch, Tolbert held down the fort quite well). How much better did Rivers himself make everyone, and how much is he just "playing well?"
Edit: I mean, when it comes to the 2-minute drill, with the game on the line, I can see Tom Brady and Phillip Rivers living and dying with their coaches and their respective play-calls. They will both routinely make the "right" play, are extremely consistent, and run the offense very well. But I feel like Rodgers/Manning are more likely to "make something happen" even if shit hits the fan.
Yeah but who was Rivers top WR this year? I guess Malcolm Floyd? He was hurt like half the year. After that it was dudes like Naanee and Seyi Ajurotouaotutuwhatever. SUPER shallow WR corps. It's true that he did have a better RB situation, but they were both pretty terrible on both teams overall.
ok, to be fair I interpreted the question to be which QB would you rather have, in which case Rodgers's injury risks WOULD matter.
Are you kidding me Donald Driver has been a ridiculously productive WR for like the last 8 years, he's tough and strong as hell, he never misses games, good hands, what else do you want from your #2 other than him being 5 years older
On January 18 2011 10:12 DannyJ wrote: I watched the NFL replay of the week 1 Eagles vs Packers the other day.
Jermichael Finely is perhaps the most beastly man I've ever seen. The fact that the packers kept their offense rolling almost better than it's ever been when Finley and Grant went down really is impressive.
The Packers have done an impressive job overcoming injuries all year really, more so on defense than offense (though the loss of grant and finley did really hurt). Packers have 15 players on IR right now compared to a combined 13 of the other 3 remaining teams combined (according to NFL.com rosters at least).
On January 18 2011 10:12 DannyJ wrote: I watched the NFL replay of the week 1 Eagles vs Packers the other day.
Jermichael Finely is perhaps the most beastly man I've ever seen. The fact that the packers kept their offense rolling almost better than it's ever been when Finley and Grant went down really is impressive.
The Packers have done an impressive job overcoming injuries all year really, more so on defense than offense (though the loss of grant and finley did really hurt). Packers have 15 players on IR right now compared to a combined 13 of the other 3 remaining teams combined (according to NFL.com rosters at least).
How many of those are teams putting a rookie on IR so they don't take up a roster spot but another team can't grab them? I know Chicago did that with Harvey Unga this year. I assume other teams are doing it as well? Straight up numbers of players on IR doesn't always tell the full story.
On January 18 2011 10:12 DannyJ wrote: I watched the NFL replay of the week 1 Eagles vs Packers the other day.
Jermichael Finely is perhaps the most beastly man I've ever seen. The fact that the packers kept their offense rolling almost better than it's ever been when Finley and Grant went down really is impressive.
The Packers have done an impressive job overcoming injuries all year really, more so on defense than offense (though the loss of grant and finley did really hurt). Packers have 15 players on IR right now compared to a combined 13 of the other 3 remaining teams combined (according to NFL.com rosters at least).
How many of those are teams putting a rookie on IR so they don't take up a roster spot but another team can't grab them? I know Chicago did that with Harvey Unga this year. I assume other teams are doing it as well? Straight up numbers of players on IR doesn't always tell the full story.
You can't do that. Once they're medically cleared to play, they come off of IR, making them a free agent. See: Shawn Merriman. If a player is on IR, he has been declared physically incapable of playing that season. The PUP list is a short term IR.
On a slightly more serious note, I feel like the comparison is more like Rivers = Brady-lite, Rodgers = Manning-lite. I still can't shake the feeling that Rivers benefits highly from the system and the players around him (way more offensive talent all across the board) while Rodgers seems to make the players around him better. That doesn't mean Rivers/Brady are inferior by any means, they're capable of running the system very well, they make very few mistakes, and they're capable of "making the throw" when it needs to be made, but I don't feel like they'll come up with some sort of single-handed willpower miracle like Peyton/Rodgers.
Rodgers had a largely superior group of people around him compared to RIvers, at least for this year. Funny to say considering finley and grant and other were put on IR, but the Chargers were pretty messed up too with injuries and holdouts.
This year, yes, mostly anyway. Last year? No way. VJax is better than any WR the Packers have, but mostly because of his size (the Packers WR's aren't the out-jump the opponent kind of WR's like VJax, and the guy can run routes). The rest of the WR's are capable in SD, as well. Then you have Gates... their running game isn't great, but neither is GB's (SD>GB this year though, for rushing anyway).
I think it's pretty close when both teams are completely healthy though.
On January 19 2011 02:13 DannyJ wrote: Yeah but who was Rivers top WR this year? I guess Malcolm Floyd? He was hurt like half the year. After that it was dudes like Naanee and Seyi Ajurotouaotutuwhatever. SUPER shallow WR corps. It's true that he did have a better RB situation, but they were both pretty terrible on both teams overall.
He had a better RB and O-Line situation, and that figures prominently because QBs that have ample time to pass will almost always win out against DBs. Not saying he had an iron wall in front of him but it makes a huge difference compared to hike321chuckandgethit Rodgers.
On January 19 2011 02:13 KOFgokuon wrote: Are you kidding me Donald Driver has been a ridiculously productive WR for like the last 8 years, he's tough and strong as hell, he never misses games, good hands, what else do you want from your #2 other than him being 5 years older
Sure but he's getting older, his separation is getting much worse (almost just pure route-running now, which requires precision and timing, which is veteran savvy but also a good system QB), and 500 yards receiving is really nothing to write home about if you're trying to talk about a "great" receiving corps. And how much of those catches came off of Driver's own abilities at beating grandfather time and how much of those catches came off of Aaron Rodgers?
EPT
