SB Nation User Blog: GoPats#12

Tom Brady "Cheap Shot."

GoPats#12 — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 23:58:11 -0000

I don't really see this hit on Tom Brady as a cheap shot. I mean, look at it if Tom wasn't iffy with the knee. People would just say it was a lucky arm to trip him up. I mean, it was obvious that he was going down and he was just going with a last-ditch effort to get the sack, and that leg just happened to be closest. I don't think this should be a big scandal challenging the "dirty" play of Bernard Pollard. I think we should focus on Tom playing next week. However according to Countdown to Kickoff on NBC, the injury is season-threatening. UH OH.

Poll

What will happen to the Patriots Offense without Brady?

Run Heavy

14 votes

More of a mix with short passes

27 votes

Non existent

18 votes

59 votes | Poll has closed

Intro for 2008 NFL season- AFC South

GoPats#12 — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 01:26:51 -0000

Here we go, continuing down the AFC lineup... Now for the AFC South. The AFC South is a pretty interesting division this year. The Colts are the most obvious pick, but don't discount the Titans so soon. The Jaguars are a high risk/high reward team, and the Texans are going to suprise some people, on both sides of the ball.

First off, the Indianapolis Colts...

The Colts are always the same. A good defense, juggernaut offense, and a great coach. The only thing that will remain the same this season is the great coach. As a diehard Pats fan, I hate the Colts with a passion; but that does not mean that I will not give the Colts their due in this article... Peyton Manning is a good QB in a terrific situation. Peyton always racks up huge stats, but that is because of more than his own skill. It helps that he has one of the best O Lines in the game at his disposal, who never let even a fly touch him. Also, one of the best WRs in Reggie Wayne, and a great running back in Joseph Addai. For these reasons, the Colts have one of the most feared offenses in the game. Not this year. In my opinion, the main reason for the Colts success is their double pronged attack, passing and running. Having one without the other is pointless. Marvin Harrison, a future Hall-of-Famer, is getting very old and racking up many injuries. He has been the main target of Peyton Manning over the last few years, and a big part of the Colts' success. With him slowing down, the Colts could as well.

Best Player- Joseph Addai

Playoffs- Yes (Possible upset)

Now, the Titans.

The Tennessee Titans could turn some heads this year. A largely unconsidered fact: the Titans actually beat the Colts last year, which means they can definitely compete with any team in the league. Many people have discounted Vince Young as a huge bust, but I'm not so sure. His numbers got better as the season progressed. As the season moved on, he began attempting more passes and becoming more of a complete QB instead of a running back. The last game of the year, Young set season highs in Completion % and yards per attempt. I see promise. Another plus is that the Titans were 5th in the league in rushing yards per game. That is amazing, considering all they had to speak of was Lendale White. Also, the Titans defense is one of the best in the game. They ranked 8th in PPG last year, 5th in YPG and rushing yards allowed, and 10th in passing yards allowed. They are young and Jeff Fisher is great at developing young linebackers, with Keith Bulluck to help mentor as well. LenDale White (Reggie Bush's backfield mate at USC), has been progressing ever since he came into the league. Watch for him to post better numbers than the 1,110 yards rushing and 7 TD's that he put up last year. The WR position is in turmoil in Tennessee. Their best receiver last year was Justin Gage, who only caught 2 TD's with an abismal 750 yards. They must bring in another receiver to be a serious contender.

Best Player- Keith Bulluck/LenDale White

Playoffs- No (Possible upset over Colts)

Now for the Jaguars of Jacksonville...

I love the potential of the Jags this upcoming season. They have an always stellar defense, David Garrard is a blessing in disguise, and they made some terrific moves this off-season. They could be a serious contender to take the AFC South. Let me explain. Last year, their defense ranked no lower than 15th in every major catergory. They strengthened that defense in the draft by taking DE's with their first two picks. Derrick Harvey, 6'5" and 252, is a monster. He will bat down tons of balls with his height and put pressure on the QB every play. Quentin Groves, the tree-trunk DE out of Auburn, is a freakin' machine. He finished tied for the most sacks in Auburn history, and runs the 40 in 4.5. Talk about scary. They also added veteran wide-out Jerry Porter from Oakland to help establish a more respected passing game. When opponents start dropping 4 DB's back in coverage, the Jags will have the game in hand. They have two top ten RBs, Maurice Jones Drew and Freddy Taylor. Fred Taylor is aging, pushing 33 this year, but last year was his first pro-bowl, so he doesn't seem to be slowing down at all. MJD is one of my favorites, with his 4.3 speed in the 40 and his bowling-ball stature (5'7", 212 lbs).

Best Player- Fred Taylor/MJD

Playoffs- Possible upset

Now, for the Texans. Saddle Up!

The Texans made some major changes this off-season, for the better. First of all, one change for the better out of their control, was that Andre Johnson is now healthy. Before his injury last year, he was on pace to have the best numbers of his career. Him and Matt Schaub has a great relationship, making them one of the more deadly combinations, especially in the redzone. Owen Daniels was a nice suprise for the team last year, and he will continue to be a great pass catching option. They shored up the once-weak O-Line with first round draft pick OT Duane Brown. They also grabbed West Virginia running-back Steve Slaton in the third round, who has big potential. They have banged-up, has been RB Ahman Green, whose best days are behind him. Along with Slaton, they grabbed former Titans running back Chris Brown to fill the RB role. That position is a hodge-podge of players, but I think that Chris Brown could post solid numbers because the defenses will be scared of Johnson and Daniels. The defense has some good potential this year. MLB DeMeco Ryans always leagds the team in tackles, and 2006 over-all first round pick Mario Williams has been steadily progressing, and last year had an over-whelming 14.0 sacks!!! I also love Dunta Robinson, a blazing CB with huge potential to be a star in the league.

Best Player- Andre Johnson

Playoffs- No

Next time, if I receive any positive comments about this blog, I will continue on to the AFC West. Thanks

Intro for 2008 NFL Season- AFC North

GoPats#12 — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 21:53:35 -0000

The AFC North is a pretty interesting division this year. The Cleveland Browns have HUGE upside, Cincy is worse than an 8th grade football team, Pittsburgh is quickly becoming a nightmare to defend against, and Baltimore is shaky in every catergory across the board... except running back. I will cover all of this and more in this blog post...

First off, the Browns.

The Cleveland Browns are on my list for Comeback Team of the Year. They found their quarterback of the future (future being used loosely) in Derek Anderson, Braylon Edwards is a solid No. 1 Wideout with Super Star potential, the Offensive Line is like a steel wall, and Kellen Winslow is one of the most productive tight ends in the game. Plus, Jamal Lewis is one of the most consistent and underrated backs in the league. Two 1,000 yard, 10 TD seasons in a row? Money in the bank! The OLine is revamped after signing Eric Steinbach and drafting Joe Thomas, a monstrous tackle from Wisconsin. Another point, Laurence Vickers, the Fullback, is one of the best in the game at his position. The defense, while inconsistent and downright awful at some points, did show flashes of brillance last season. I think the potential is there, and we could see a playoff contender this year.

Best Player- Braylon Edwards

Playoffs- Yes

Now for the Cincinnati Bengals...

Wow. Where to begin! First of all, half of the inmates at jails across the country probably had a stint with the Bengals. Chris Henry, one of the better receivers on the team, has been suspended from the NFL indefinitely. Ocho Cinco (Chadwick Johnson) is holding out for more cheddah, and Rudi Johnson's stats are on decline, going down faster each year, along with more injuries. The defense is wafer thin, and the offensive line is average at best. Carson Palmer is one bright spot, along with T.J. Whos-yo-mama. It seems like the Bengal front office forgot that you are supposed to have a tight end, so they are just having auditions pulling people off the street. Other than that, they look stellar this year.

Best Player- Carson Palmer/T.J. Houshmandzadeh

Playoffs- No freakin' way

We continue with a look at the Pittsburgh Steelers...

The Steelers haven't looked this good since the days of MEAN JOE GREEN!!! Big Ben is steady eddie, Willie Parker and first round draft selection Rashard Mendenhall are spliting carries, and Santonio Holmes is a great pairing with the more physical Hines Ward, who actually is wearing down, but can still draw attention, especially in the redzone. The offensive line is getting older, and won't be as dominant as it once was, especially with the loss of Alan Faneca to the Jets. The defense is getting old as well (James Farrior - 12 years in the league, Deshea Townsend- 11 years). However, the Steelers secured Ben Roethlisberger to a long term deal, and acquired reciever Limas Sweed out of Texas in the draft. He has star potential. Bottom line, even with the line a little outdated with some raw talent, this team should be a threat for years to come.

Best Player- Willie Parker/Big Ben

Playoffs- Yes

We conclude with a glimpse at the Baltimore Ravens...

Wow. That is all I have to say about the Ravens this year. They haven't even named their starting QB yet!! The team drafted Joe Flacco out of Delaware in the first round, showing Kyle Boller that this could be his first and last year at the helm. The offensive line took a hit when perennial all-pro Jonathan Ogden retired, and the defense is growing gray hair. Ray Lewis is 33, Ed Reed will be 30 in September, and Kelly Greg, the nosetackle, is 31. The team gave Terrell Suggs, an outside linebacker, the franchise tag, and fired headcoach Brian Billick. Willis McGahee is a great player, and can be counted on for a huge season. The birds also drafted Ray Rice, a personal favorite of mine, out of Rutgers. A big sleeper for me is their second third round pick, Tom Zbikowski, a hard-hitting free safety out of Notre Dame. The receiver core is a shambles, with Derrick Mason being 34 and Mark Clayton only an average wideout. In conclusion, I think that the Ravens had a great draft, but are still in rebuilding mode. They won't return to prime time until they add a good MLB to replace Ray Lewis, who is slowly detiorating.

Best Player- Willis McGahee

Playoffs- No

This has been another 2008 NFL season preview... if I receive any positive comment, I will continue on to another division. Thanks

Question about fanposts

GoPats#12 — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:16:45 -0000

Excuse me, but i don't know alot about blogging, as this is my first blog and I only joined yesterday. How do you make your writing curve to the side around a picture, as in the case of the Matt Ryan article?? I think that would make it look like a real article and would like to learn how. If you know please comment on this. I would like to be able to do that, and I would really appreciate the help. Thank you

Safety/Corner Back Brandon Meriweather, a second year player out of Miami, will be playing both...

GoPats#12 — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 13:55:20 -0000

Safety/Corner Back Brandon Meriweather, a second year player out of Miami, will be playing both positions this year, according to Patriots.com. He will be the key to the Patriots' secondary success.

2008 All-Star Screw Up

GoPats#12 — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 13:34:19 -0000

Is it just me, or does anyone else feel that the AL All-Star team is completely screwed up? Jason Varitek on the team, and Mike Lowell not? Why? Varitek is batting .215 with 7 home runs and 27 ribbies. Varitek's brain and ability to handle pitchers is invaluable, but that is not what the all-star team is all about. However Lowell, who is batting .295 with 13 homers and 54 RBIs, with only 6 errors in the Hot Corner. This makes absolutely no sense to me. Comment if you would like to... Thanks

Intro for 2008 NFL Season- AFC EAST

GoPats#12 — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 22:54:26 -0000

We all love the Patriots. I'm assuming that because of the nature of this blog. I think that we should look a bit at the bigger picture though...

The Patriots ended last year with a pretty loud bang. A bang for the wrong team. We bounced back heavily in the off-season, in my opinion. Even though Goodell didn't want us to have a first round pick, we got one anyway! Ha, suck on that one Mr. Commissioner! Jerrod Mayo looks promising, and Maroney should have a great year as a large part of the attack. I am a big fantasy footballer, and as i have listened to opinions throughout mock drafts, I am starting to wonder why everyone is against Brady. Sure, he is ranked as the best QB in the game, but I have heard many "Oh, he can't possibly have another season like that," and "Those stats were a complete fluke." I think not. Let us take a look at the AFC East why don't we, and see who the fluke really is.

As we all know, the Patriots have the best uniforms in the AFC East. However, there are other factors that will play into the success of our boys in blue.

Laurence Maroney- Maroney has been a little unreliable over the past few seasons, but towards the end of last year, he started coming on strong. In the regular season, he was consistent but not spectacular (he didn't have to be because of the vicious passing attack). Towards the end of the year he began to heat up. In the second to last regular season game (Miami) he set single-game career highs in rushing yards, yards per carry and recorded the longest run of his career while rushing for 156 yards on 14 carries (11.1 avg) and a touchdown in the Patriots' 28-7 win over the Dolphins... In the first postseason game against Jacksonville, he notched his first 100 yard playoff game, and then had another the next week against San Diego. The upside is there and he should be a larger part of the offense this season.

Stats courtesy of patriots.com

The Bills of Buffalo suck. That is a fact and can't be changed. At least that was true last year. Last year, they had a year of hell. The QB position was screwed even before the games started. JP Losman or Trent Edwards? Can I choose suicide? Lee Evans, a hyped up reciever, supposedly on of the Top 5 in the game, well (politely put) he was a HUGE bust!!! The team's offense as a whole was abismal. They ranked 30th in points per game, 30th in total yardage per game, 30th in passing yards per game, and 15th in rushing yards. However, we are not here to dwell on the past. This year, Marshawn Lynch is in tip-top shape, Lee Evans is prepared for a monster year, and the rest of the team still sucks! Maybe they will even finish with a winning record! Haha, only kidding.

HOLY #$@#!!!! DOES ANYONE SUCK MORE!!!!??????

J!E!T!S! JETS JETS JETS!!! The New York Jets are a gamble this year.
Thomas Jones is due for a bounce back season, Pennington has a million dollar brain and a wet noodle for an arm, and Cotchery is effectively taking over the No. 1 reciever role. The one bright spot is the O Line. Having signed one of the most consistent guards in the game, Alan Faneca, they have helped Thomas Jones' numbers significantly already. I see the Jets improving, and I think they could possibly break .500 this year. Maybe.

This has been a report of the AFC East. If I have any comments (hopefully positive), I will do another report on another division. Any advice is welcome. Thank you