SB Nation User Blog: TJBOLT

Greatest Team Ever if they had to play by 2009 rules?

TJBOLT — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 08:18:26 -0000

When arguing about the greatest teams in NFL history the only reasonable comparison is according to the historical context of their era. But if you remove historical context and if you really had them play with today's rules who would be greatest team ever???. If you enforce currents rules and take into account the size and speed of players currently in the NFL that would almost by definition eliminate teams from before mid 80's. Just consider the great packers teams being 50 pounds outweighed in both lines of scrimmage or Ray Nitchske facing and trying to cover RB, TE's and WR's in spread formation absolute disaster.

My top 5 if they actually had to play:

1) 1989 49ers: No team in my opinion had a higher level of play by the time the playoffs hit, their zone blocking scheme would reduce their their size disadvantage in the line. Add a Joe Montana & Jerry Rice in their primes, and a good to very good defense, scary to any team ever.

2) 1992 Cowboys: Out of the last 20 years I would probably say this team was the most talented and deep roster we have seen and it's probably not close. The cowboys should send draft picks from here to eternity just to try to even out the Hershel Walker trade. A team that even by today's standards has a very big offensive line add a the Emmitt-Troy-Michael triumvirate in their prime and a number 1 ranked defense, just awesome talent.

3) 2004 Patriots: The best of the patriots teams that actually won a Super Bowl, it included a Tom Brady in his prime a 1500 yard Corey Dillon, a defense with they key players still in their prime: Bruschi, Harrison, McGinest and many more. Add a spread formation offense style that would drive nuts any team from the past.

4) 1996 Packers: One of the few teams to actually finish number 1 in both offense and defense, on offense a in his prime Brett Favre with weapons galore (Levens, Bennett, Rison, Chmura, Freeman). On defense a big time defense with Reggie White and Leroy Butler. Very balanced and in general a very dificult matchup.

5) 2000 Ravens: I'm going out on a limb on this one, but a team with 16 game record for points allowed has to be considered and the greatest run defense we have ever seen. It's a team that almost by definition would defeat teams that live of their running game. They wouldn't win a tournament but they would be horrible matchup for run heavy teams.

P.S: I would have the 2007 patriots as my 3rd team if they actually won the super bowl. But lets keep it to super bowl winners.

This my list, give me yours. Let the arguing start

Predictions for the 12 Playoffs teams for '09 - Part 2 AFC North

TJBOLT — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 06:27:03 -0000

Lets continue predicting the divisions and continue on with the AFC North home of the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers, but how does this division break out in '09, the recent retirement of Derek Mason made this a closer race for a playoffs spot.

Schedule Specifics: AFC North plays: AFC West and NFC North

Division Analysis:

1) Pittsburgh Steelers: A lot to like, the best defense in the NFL, they might have best unit offense or defense in the league, a primetime talent at QB, an improving receiving core, a healthy running back core with a lot of talent between Parker and Mendenhall and did I mention a very favorable schedule. There are some concerns: the offense line is good to mediocre and showed definite flaws against teams that use overload blitzes (Ravens & Eagles), the improved health of RB’s might help the running game but it still must improve, and Ben Roethlisberger has taken a few concussions already and his brave aggressive style of play exposes him to even more injuries. In general the schedule is almost perfectly setup, the offense will continue to evolve and Big Ben should put numbers similar to his ’07 stats, and the defense might be even better with Lawrence Timmons taking over at ILB. Win prediction: 12-15 wins

2) Baltimore Ravens: Left a lot positive memories in ’08 are associated with them, a dominant defense, a power running game, a talented young QB with tremendous potential. If this team had stayed together a return to the conference title game was a reasonable goal for ’09, but with a new season not all of the parts that made the conference finalist are back. Gone are Bart Scott and ascending center Jason Brown, and the recent and sudden retirement of WR Derek Mason add to that departure of brilliant DC Rex Ryan and that’s quite a bit of minus checkmarks. The defense will still be good as the great talent and leadership Ray Lewis and Ed Reed will not let there be major slippage but a defensive ranking closer to 10th than 2nd is a reasonable downgrade. Offensively an upswing was expected but this is still a passing league and Flacco’s stats were hardly dominant even with Derek Mason, a young game managing QB with young WR’s doesn’t exactly scream out dominant offense, the running game will carry this team and expect a breakout season from RB Ray Rice. The schedule has 5 games with the elite division contenders: Steelers (2), Chargers, Colts and Patriots, add some good teams in NFC north and an ascending Bengals team and the schedule is tough. Win Prediction: 8-10 wins.

3) Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals in ’08 were a tale of two halves; in the first half same old Bengals they were just terrible, in the second half even without star QB Carson Palmer they closed 4-3-1. What’s to like you ask: an improving defense that finished 12th in the league, led by star corners Johnathan Joseph and Leon Hall, a suddenly motivated and for the first time productive RB Cedric Benson add a healthy Carson Palmer and WR core with Chris Henry, Laverneus Coles and a motivated Chad Johnson (will not call him by his ridiculous name; by the way 85 is ochenta y cinco for the Spanish impaired Chad). But the offensive line was bad and even with rookie OLT Andre Smith mediocrity is best expectation for that key unit, even though the defense is improving the pass rush is very poor (17 sacks in ’08). If you told me you had an improving defense that already finished 12th, a good RB and a 4000 yard QB, I would tell you that team should go to the playoffs, but OLine weakness and bad pass rush and these are the Bengals so I will temper expectations and say the playoffs will come in ’10. Win Prediction: 6-9 wins.

4) Cleveland Browns: Not to sound arrogant but the Browns were my pick to be the most disappointing team in ’08, they rode a soft schedule a career year from inconsistent QB Derek Anderson and had true star years from Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow, but if you looked beyond those stars there was too many bad players around them and a very strong schedule just put them through the ringer in ‘08. Gone is Kellen Winslow and Edwards will almost be surely gone by the start of ’10 season. So its back to rebuilding there are some high points the OLine can be very good and QB Brady Quinn showed excellent accuracy at times and a serious work ethic. But the skill position talent is poor and the defense had 17 sacks and beyond Shaun Rogers the talent level is below par. Win Prediction: 2-4 wins.

Playoff Teams: Steelers (13-3 2nd seed AFC) & Ravens (9-7 6th seed AFC)

Predictions for the 12 Playoffs teams for '09 - Part 1 AFC West

TJBOLT — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 07:09:17 -0000

Considering that magazines have started to predict the '09 season, I decided to put my two cents in and pick my 12 teams to make the playoffs. I'll divide by division every day and give a quick analysis and a mock playoff run, finishing with my super bowl prediction.

AFC West

1) San Diego

2) Oakland

3) Kansas City

4) Denver

Analysis: The chargers have the look of a 12-13 win club "if" Shawne Merriman returns to form, and based on his insane work ethic I would not bet against him. The chargers have a tremondous roster with excellent playcallers, my biggest doubts are lack coaching leadership and a history of injuries to key players. If they can stay healthy and personnel plays to level a 2-3 seed in the conference is more than a realistic goal. A week 4 game in Pittsburgh may decide if this team can get one the top 2 seed in the conference.

The Raiders closed strong, and can do 2 very important things well: run the football and stop the opposing team's passing game, they're still a year away from contending but 6-7 wins is quite possible. If Al Davis would give this team to Jeff Garcia they might contend this year, strangely enough I agree to a point with Al, Jamarcus Russell's potential is to high to not give him at least a bigger sample than 17 games. If they can stop the run better they might surprise.

The Chiefs were the unluckiest team in football in '09 going 1-9 in games decided by 7 or less, things should balance out this year, but the trade of Tony Gonzalez is massive head scratcher, I'm not convinced Matt Cassel is a major upgrade to Tyler Thigpen; the main concern to Cassel is the 47 sacks he took under the superior Patriots O-Line. The improvement is more based on a more balanced outcome in tight games than anything else. Until this team has something better than the worst pass rush in NFL they're not going anywhere.

The Broncos are a team that took 3 steps backwards and circumstance has played a cruel fate, as Kevin Acey said recently the NFL is defined not only by the team you are, but by who you play, and when and where you play them. Lets put this equation together a defense in transition with no serious improvement (a descending Brian Dawkins barely counts) that gave up 28 points per game, and you take away a 4500 yard QB who carried you to an 8-8 record, change to a mediocre QB and a schedule that has "the most games" versus elite teams: Chargers (2), Patriots, Colts, Steelers, Ravens, Giants, Eagles, Cowboys. Clear and simple top 3 pick in '10 draft.

Playoff teams: San Diego Chargers (3rd seed AFC 12-4 record)

Tomorrow: AFC North

Teams that will Dissapoint National Expectations

TJBOLT — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:14:51 -0000

Every year we have several teams move up and surprise us (Falcons, Dolphins, Ravens in '08) and teams that come way below expectations (Jaguars, Cowboys, Chargers); Here my list for teams that will dissapoint for '09, please share your thoughts:

Below Expectations: Normally a team has high potential for dissapointment when some of these factor coincide: Pumped Up Shedule, Loss of Diference making star players, Loss of Key coaches, complacency.

1) Tenneesee Titans: Lets start with the Loss of Albert Haynesworth, the titans played almost exclusively a 4 man rush, leaving them the luxury of 7 coverage/pursuit personel; the loss of Haynesworth means that gameplan gets scrapped. Add the fact you have a new DC in Blaine Bishop so you have a major loss of talent and add a steep learning curve for the entire defense. Add a first place schedule that includes: Indianapolis (2), Pittsburgh, San Diego, Miami, Arizona and the improving Texans. To many factors against a team that will not have a good offense and defense may give up 5-6 points more per game. Ask the chargers how much a dominant player can affect a defense.

2) Miami Dolphins: Keep it simple stupid!!!, The Schedule is brutal: New England (2), Pittsburgh, San Diego, Tennessee, Carolina, Atlanta, New Orleans, New York Jets (2), Houston. That means that the 2 games with Buffalo are the only 2 games versus a team with a losing record in '08.

3) New York Giants: Simple reality: 9-1 with Plaxico / 3-4 without Plaxico, they have the most inexperienced WR core in the NFL and that is position with probably the second highest learning curve to QB in the NFL. Add the fact of a nasty schedule (Philly (2), Dallas (2), Washington (2), Carolina, Arizona & San Diego) and a new DC to replace the brilliant Steve Spagnuolo sounds like to many factors against the G-men. Simply said Eli Manning must prove he can carry below par talent and I'm not buying.

4) Carolina Panthers: Same as the Dolphins the schedule is a meat grinder: Atlanta (2), New Orleans (2), Arizona, New York Giants, New England, Miami, New York Jets. Add the fact that Jake Delhomme appears to be hitting the downside of his career and the pass coverage got exposed when facing good QB's and they sure a lot more teams with good QB's in '09 than '08.

5) Baltimore Ravens: Once again the schedule just doesn't look at favorable 5 games versus the AFC Elite (Pittsburgh (2), Indy, New England, San Diego) leaves very little room for mistakes for the rest of the schedule. Add the loss of Bart Scott and DC Rex Ryan it should be enough to push the Ravens into 8-9 win category.

These are my five dissapointing, I'll add my five surprises later, please give me your thougts.