Colts went from 2-14 last year, to the playoffs this year. Chargers can do it too, if they make the right moves in the draft and trades. Rivers ain't gonna do it, shoulda kept Brees. AFC west has not much competition, that's why Manning had a cake walk to the playoffs.
Well folks, Baltimore vs San Fran. What's everyone's pick? Will the terminator Kaepernick that demolished the Packers show up, or the hesitant one that barely beat the Falcons? Will Nolan be able to shut down Rice and Pierce with the exceptional LB crew, turning the game one dimensional as the Niners prefer? Will the Niners be shut down now that they face their 1st stellar secondary? I think we have a great game on our hands. I'm excited.
Should be a good game. I don't think Kaepernick's pistol offense is going to work all that well against the Ravens. Gore might get 75 yards, but Kaepernick won't get 50. If the Ravens can get 20 points, they'll win.
The way Baltimore is playing right now, Niners better come out playing good from the start. I don't think with Baltimore's D they can afford to play like they did against Atlanta. But then again the start of any game in an opponent's dome is a pain in the rear. I do think it showed some issues as to Niner's preparing for games. I know the coaching crew is great, but obviously fallible. Their talent saved them, not their game plan.
Being a Packer fan from just outside Green Bay, all I can say is that Kaepernick and the Niners directed the Packers draft strategy for the next few years.
The Packers have the talent to put up a better show than they did. That was a case of one coaching staff destroying the other side of the field. But yeah, that game was ugly.
Anyone else notice as the teams left shrank, so did the participants in this thread? Hahaha. It will be ok. The NFL isn't going anywhere. You got next year.
Its nice to see the read option getting a lot of talk. Lots of misconceptions about the read in the NFL. First off its not the option that people think of when we hear 'option wont work in the NFL players are too fast'. Yes that is true with old school veer since everyone is flowing in the same direction but with read the RB is going front side the QB back side. This negates the speed effect since the QB is holding the back side pursuit and the RB is holding the front side. It doesn't matter how fast you are you cant run in both directions. Having the threat of the QB keeps the backside pursuit home and lets the RB rip off some big yards. Atlanta took away Kaepernick by overloading the backside and keeping them home. End result Gore and James shredded them because the backside pursuit was taken out of the running game. IDK how it will work out with the Ravens. Its pick your poison but SF running backs are too good to commit 2 guys to Kaepernick like Atalanta did. Personally I think that they should do what I do on the high school level. Have the read man always force the give then pursue down the line. Hope that the front side is strong enough to stand up to the o-line. Bottom line if their guys can block your guys you are screwed. Don't try and over think it. Its when you try and get cute with how you defend read option that you get burned.
Right now, there just isn't much to talk about. If we choose to, we'll get to listen to the media yap about Harbough's this or Ray Lewis' that. Wake me up the day before the game & then the real talk about the game can commence. As far as the Conference Championships, I think the 2 hottest teams advanced & they were probably the 2 best. I'll be rooting for the Ravens since I can in no way root for the 9ers.
I hear you. I'm a Chargers fan, so this year was a disappointment outside of the fact it woke the owners up to what the fans were saying after last season. I just want to see good football at this point. I think these 2 teams will provide a great game. The fact the coaches are brothers, and you know will be arguing about the game at every Thanksgiving 'til death, is just a bonus.
