Mongo3451

Agree that we should not see our starters long in this game. Why ever listen to what Lovie says? First - the Patriots were 16-0 last year so they can do whatever they want in a pre-season game. Us not seeing a punter in the last 2 games does show signs of us sucking. Why, because going back to the Superbowl season, we can't get an opposing offense off the field. Cleveland crammed a 6 minute 60 yard drive down our starters throat to start the game. Followed up with a 70 yard 5 minute TD drive. Our D vowed to show some intensity and their words came up dryer than a popcorn fart. I guess they are saving it up for Manning, who owned them last time they played, as they are veteran and we should trust Lovie and the D when they say we have a good defense. It's not about W's and L's in the pre-season, it's about working the systems out and finding who your players are. Rant over. Here's to the regular season. I just hope the D finds some missing motivation.

The post was regarding whether Williams is a bust, not the season. But, I'll take this opportunity to disagree with the Lovie fix the staff statement. This will be the 2nd straight year that Lovie has had all of HIScoaches in place. If it is broken, it is because HEbroke it. Remember, we were supposed to be the team that could win despite it's QB last year and went 7-9 anyway. The injuries did not make the team play heartless/uninspired football. That would be players and poor coaching. Disagree on Cowher. His 98-99 teams were not supposed to be bulletproof and NOT coming off a SuperBowl appearance to which we supposedly added more talent to an already good defense. Lovie does not deserve to be fired at any time during the season, but he has both built and staffed the ship along with JA. If we sink, he goes down with the ship.

The post was regarding whether Williams is a bust, not the season. But, I'll take this opportunity to disagree with the Lovie fix the staff statement. This will be the 2nd straight year that Lovie has had all of HIScoaches in place. If it is broken, it is because HEbroke it. Remember, we were supposed to be the team that could win despite it's QB last year and went 7-9 anyway. The injuries did not make the team play heartless/uninspired football. That would be players and poor coaching. Disagree on Cowher. His 98-99 teams were not supposed to be bulletproof and NOT coming off a SuperBowl appearance to which we supposedly added more talent to an already good defense. Lovie does not deserve to be fired at any time during the season, but he has both built and staffed the ship along with JA. If we sink, he goes down with the ship.

I'm wondering as well, if we don't keep Steltz around for the injury factor. Brown and McGowan have been very injury prone. Add to that, Payne is coming off of a big injury. As bad as it may sound, we may end up starting Steltz and Manning, as a tandem, at some point this year. So, it brings up the question of who gets cut? Mannelly? AP? Toeaina? Bazuin? Mannelly is an intrigal of the best ST unit in the league = no room for mistakes = he stays Peterson is relegated to special teams if the emergence of Kevin Jones continues = if someone else steps up on special teams he could be gone, but I highly doubt it. (This year should be his swan song though) Toeaina is the best run stuffer we have at a position that needed depth last year = problem is Idonije has looked good here as well = I think he stays (see next) Bazuin needs to shine tonight or he will be IR'd or cut. I'd go with IR since he is yet to be fully recovered from his two surguries. Regardless, I don't see him on the active roster making Idonije the 4th DE which will good for short yardage situations given his bulk.

Gotta disagree here. Lovie is fair game for us to praise and criticize all season long. IMO - this is a huge year for him and JA. So many GM's, coaches and players have ridden the coattails of a Super Bowl into oblivion. Lovie got a big star for taking us to the SB. He also got a big frowny face for last years debacle. Despite the injuries, much of the performances last year lacked inspiration / heart. This year is a make or break IMO. He gets no slack, as his buzz has worn off with me. Trust me, I am very receptive to Lovie winning me over this year. Playoffs or bust!

Mariotti has no credibility with me, as he has nothing positive to write - ever. However, he did find my sarcastic side on this one. I agree, as well with most of of what he said.

I think Miller had bone chips in his ankle. Please don't quote me on that.

If he's injury free, I feel he can contribute. I think our whole OL was injured last year.

Me neither. According to this, we had room for Faneca. Great.

Lots of nice guys don't get near the shots he has. In that respect, I don't feel sorry one bit. On the flip side, he is a human being and now he's faced with being the backup. The good thing with most backups is they are a popular player on the team. Now, Rex will be the only backup in the league that will recieve a resounding boo when he enters the game. That's a double kick in the nuts for him.

I agree, it's too early to speculate. But, I'll play too. I want Cowher. IMO - we still are in the window of opportunity and he's the best out there. Could you imagine spit flying off the chin during an inclimate home game. God forbid, that would be better than Ditka! I just love that guy. Definately worth 8-10 million to pull him out of retirement.

I still think it lies within the players. They are proven a high commodity. Players need to motivate thenselves, if they do not, that's when the coach puts a boot in their ass. We have the talent to run this scheme, but the scheme will not work without pressure from the front four. It all starts up front. I look forward to it improving.

You are slanting the truth about these injuries. One - The article said "possible" cure. Two - The surgery he had may alleviate his pain, but may leave him less flexible. Three - Herniations never fully heal, never. Do your homework before calling people out. His greatest hope is to re-define his core to strengthen the areas around the herniation to help it stay in place. Problem is: he is a huge man playing the worst position in the NFL for putting torque on the lower back. When a DT gets him in a position where he needs to maintain leverage when he's in a static position the compression becomes tremendous. Not saying Williams career is going in the tank. Just sayin he's going to have to be on top of this for the rest of it. I'm not a doctor. The internet fan thing is also insulting, as I was a fan before Al Gore invented the internet and a damn good athlete as well, before herniated disks ruined me. In closing, I'm glad you are spending more time on the board lately. You are definately a handfull.

That's not the point. The point was, knowing that he had a prior herniated disk. They are usually chronic and never completely heal. I hope he is, but I'd rather see him shut down for the season so he has the best chance to re-define his core and come back strong. Jerry brought the scrutiny on himself by pulling a Belichick. We all cried for greater for OL help. You started early last season and Jerry's lone band aid was a tackle that was taken off some people's boards. I was still fine with the pick and still am. What I expected though was another OL drafted early or a free agent. JA has but all his eggs in one basket before and come up bare, so when he veils information, I get a little tweaked.

Somewhere between Angelo and God, there are GM's out there that took Williams off the board. Not picking on you, but you fail to see the point. Back injuries are chronic in nature and very hard to keep from re-occurring. Especially herniations, as they do not heal themselves.

Except Williams didn't slip, he was drafted within 5 spots of his slot.

We all debated this last year. Some said injuries, some said Babich and some said heart. IMO - It starts with heart. All NFL players have talent. Something else has to set them apart.

OK guys, I'm open for scrutiny. I drafted 10th in my 12 team league. Here's what I came out with, in order. I've never drafted such a WR heavy team, as I have always had success relying on my backs. Since I drafted late to get a good back and many teams are using two backs, I switched philosophy this year. Randy Moss Willis McGahee Braylon Edwards Tori Holt Rudi Johnson Donovan McNabb Da' Bears Ricky Williams Vernon Davis Matt Hasselbeck Ahmad Bradshaw Devin Hester Titans Robbie Gould Overall, I'm worried about my backs: but since I am #3 in FA priority, my strategy is too hold tight on FA pickups until that hot back comes out. I usually burn a lot of FA transactions on WR's and D/ST's. But I won't needing anything for the 1st few weeks, barring injury.

We were owned at home by the 49ers. I did like what I saw from Orton. He looks to be a football gamer. Our OL is still bad at opening holes. Davis looked really good, except the drop. Our WR's were open all night. Hester needs to remember what got him where he is. The self serving descision to take the ball out of the endzone was idiotic. Turner seemed to call a good game, except for the 1st play from scrimmage. The defense made JT O'Sullivan a household name. (Dusty was the lone standout for me) Special teams will be OK. If Lovie disappeared tomorrow, this team would probably not notice him missing.

Thank you for saying it for me! Babich is attached to Lovie's sack and everyone knows it. You know, I'm sitting there watching the game and thinking to myself. "Is the D playing this vanilla because our coaches don't want the Colts to see anything to be fearful of in the opener?" "They can't be sandbagging, can they?" Then I thought of our coaching staff and said, "they don't have the savvy to pull a stunt like that." Then I thought of some of the uninspired performances our D turned in last year. In a nutshell, regardless of scheme and pre-season, there was no sense of urgency / intensity with this defense. My only hope is that someone steps up in the locker room and calls it what it is.

I had a few observations on Urlacher tonight that I want and second opinion on. One – he looked tentative Two – he was broadcasting his intentions to the blocker right before contact. Three – was leading to contact with a turned shoulder without squaring up Four – he looked like his neck was stiff or out of whack. Five – was not shedding blocks well. If anyone recorded the game and could analyze the first two defensive series, I would greatly appreciate it. Hopefully, my eyes were playing tricks on me or I couldn’t see well on the tiny TV I have in my bedroom. Not trying to start a rumor or panic, just want clarification.

Spot on. This was also apparrent during the SB season and last year. Thus the bad mechanics. Some QB's can get hit in the mouth and want to cram it down your throat. Some QB's get hit in the mouth and learn to avoid it. Rex is the latter. When you are facing blitz after blitz, you can NOT piss down your leg at the line of scrimmage. You have to see the HOT read, take your lumps and burn the defense. That's his own undoing. That's why teams blitz Orton less?

The kool-aid in me refuses to predict we will be worse than last year. So I'm staying silent. I will guess, if we go 6-10 or worse, either JA or Lovie will fall on the sword. (maybe both)

All roads lead to Orton this year. Rex has more visible talent, but the items above are attributes that can overcome physical talent.

I have to eat a little crow on Idonije. He has looked pretty good so far.