R. Rich

Minnesota has a HUGE problem @ LB, where Napoleon Harris, acquired in the Randy Moss trade from the Raiders, was a washout. Also, Kevin Williams, their All-Pro tackle, is having a rough year, as is high priced free agent acquisition Fred Smoot. Pat Williams is one of the few bright spots for their defense so far this year.

Thanks for the info. I watch more than just the Bills, so I don't mind the report @ all. All you did was take a few inches of space from one of the "JP sucks/Holcomb is great/Let's Move The Team Since We Suck" posts that keep springing up around here. Speaking of Shawn Andrews, I wonder how he's doing this year? I remember watching him in a preseason game last year (Philly vs Tennessee), and he was just manhandling people. He looked awesome! I wonder how he's bounced back from his injury.

Most people won't deny Donahoe's accomplishments while in Pittsburgh. The problem there, I believe, came when the Steelers started to go away from their "heavy on the running game" roots, and were successful in it (when Kordell was a Pro Bowl QB and when they could score points and gain yards through the air like crazy). That started a power struggle between Cowher and Donahoe, one which Donahoe lost. Now, do they miss Donahoe? Not really, because Kevin Colbert has done a terrific job of doing what the Steelers have done so well: continue to win games, manage the cap, evaluate/draft/acquire players that fit their scheme well, and replace losses due to free agency.

Um.......moving right along........

You don't think they need more help in terms of nickel/dime coverage than @ safety? They also could've used more of a pass rush against Pittsburgh. Odell took his lumps, but he's still going to be one heck of a MLB for them.

See you all in a couple of weeks (KC game).

I hope we keep Steve Hutchinson, Michael Boulware, John Henderson, and Odell Thurman.

Ticktes? If only we could overcome the grammer...

5-2? Doubtful. Denney, Kelsay, and Schobel have had their moments dropping back in coverage, but I wouldn't want to see them doing so on a regular basis, especially when they cannot generate a decent pass rush as it is. 3-4? No. Our DEs have looked pretty bad @ the point of attack against the run this year. If they play a 3-4, they'll be playing to the ends' weakness on just about every play. That, plus the lack of quality depth for the ILB positions make this a bad idea.

There's always going to be some teams feeling left out. The college basketball tournament goes through the same thing. Right after the selction committee makes public their tournament teams, the "who got screwed" rants begin. It's just going to happen. Nevertheless, you still get a much better result w/ the tournament than you do w/out it. Yeah, I do like the debates here. Nice and civilized. I must give props to the moderator here...

Depending on where the first round pick would be in this scenario, you may end up passing on some great OL to draft a DL in the first. If we were to have a top 5-10 pick (God forbid), we'd have a shot @ the top 2 OL in the draft in tackles D'Brickashaw Ferguson of Virginia and Marcus McNeill of Auburn. Both are very talented and would be better value than any of the top DTs available. I like the way you address the lines but, in your scenario, I'd switch the priorities @ the top of the draft (OL first, DL second).

That's always a plus. I'm just hoping they continue to suck on Monday, when Psycho Ward 86 and I head up to Pittsburgh to watch the Stillers beat up on them (hopefully).

No. I never read the posts. I just jump into threads w/out the benefit of reading them all the way through. That way, I can be well informed in attacking them. This thread sucks.

I'm gonna guess the point was something like this... That's just a guess though.

Wow!! If this back is catching @ a rate of 8 per game, he's going to have more catches in a season than anyone other than Marvin Harrison. If he catches @ a rate of 9 per game, he'll break Harrison's record by 1 catch. He's a lock for the Hall of Fame.

Not very realistic, unless there's another back on that team running for a good chunk of yardage, or unless your QB is either Donovan McNabb (short passing game in lieu of running) or Michael Vick (runs as much as his RBs).

There's always a chance, but it going to have to start up front. This team has good depth and talent @ the skill positions, so there's not much need to tinker w/ that. They do need better play from their offensive and defensive lines though.

Denver: can throw the ball w/ Plummer being more turnover-conscious this year, Lelie is progressing this year, and Smith is still a threat Atlanta: one of the very best teams in the league in running the ball, plus Vick can cause all sorts of problems w/ his running and throwing once he escapes the pocket San Diego: Brees is showing that last season was no fluke, McCardell is having a nice year catching the ball, Gates is solidifying his status as the best TE in football, and LT is a receiving threat also Even if these teams aren't putting up Rams-type passing numbers, all of them have enough balance that you cannot just focus on the run and hope to shut them down.

Go ahead. We're listening.

Exactly. I've always wondered why, in the Monday morning news, they celebrate the 100 yard rusher so much. Given that 1,000 yards is the 'standard' people cling to, shouldn't there be a stat column for the 62.5 yard rushers every week? Or, maybe they should get excited over 1,600 yard rushers, if 100 yards is such a great accomplishment.

It may be a bit premature to throw in the towel when the team is just 3-4 and only 1/2 a game out of first place, but they do need to address the issues they haven't addressed in a while, namely the offensive and defensive lines. For now, w/ no ability to trade, there's little they can do except "coach up" the guys on the roster and hope for the best.

Chris, I don't think Donahoe is some kind of buffoon who can't do his job. What I do think is that he's had his share of successes (the trade w/ Tampa that allowed us to get Clements and Travis Henry; Terrence McGee) and failures (Mike Williams, Trey Teague and other OL, to name a few). I don't think the guy sucks, but I don't worship the ground he walks on either. Too many people think that you have to defend someone to a fault, whether they deserve it or not. That's one of the many reasons I steer clear of the PPP board: "my guy is always right, and if he isn't, I'll conjure up some excuse as to why he's still right..."

Another point I've tried to make. Does anyone realize that the Final Four generates more cash than the Super Bowl????

Who's Brad Riter?

I'm rooting harder for the Bills, but I'm also pretty sure that Indy is closer to that goal right now than Buffalo is.