NFL 2008/2009 season

[midocr]

....AND PROUD OF IT!!!

[digitalzed]

The Vikings are my pre-season favs for the NFC

[aam1234]

I don't understand the hype with the Vikings. Yes, they have a AP and a killer OL, but they have a lousy QB. I say they'll make the playoffs but won't go far.

The Saints on the other hand will surprise people, imo.

[cyclohexane]

Yes, they have a AP and a killer OL, but they have a lousy QB

Add their dominant defense to the equation.

The QB doesn't really have much to throw to either. Bernard Berrian? Also, while they went 8-8, they lost 4 of those 8 games without him (injury), so he had to have made some difference.

The Saints on the other hand will surprise people, imo.

They already did that for the past two seasons. First, in 2006 they made it to the NFC Championship, and then in 2007 they stunk it up at the beginning of the season despite being the NFC Super Bowl favorite. They'll be solid, but I doubt they're surprising anyone...

[aam1234]

The Saints need to improve on defense before they can make a serious noise in playoffs.

[cyclohexane]

If their secondary is still a bunch of free agent rejects the defense will be as suspect before. Jason David getting burned three times by the Colts in last year's opener basically set the stage for the Saints D.

They've been working hard on that defensive front though, with guys like Charles Grant, Will Smith, and new addition rookie Sedrick Ellis from USC, which should make it a little easier for the secondary to work.

[digitalzed]

O.K. people. what team's going to make the biggest turnaround? In BOTH directions?

From worst to, well...not first, I pick the Raiders

From good to mediocrity or worse I pick the Bucs.

[cyclohexane]

what team's going to make the biggest turnaround? In BOTH directions?

If anyone wants some standings to look over and review before making his/her educated guess: NFL Standings: League

Biggest turn around, I'm picking the Ravens. Their defense from their 13-3 year with an ancient Steve McNair running the noffense is pretty much intact, so if they stay healthy and disciplined, they'll be much improved. Of course, there's a big question mark at QB, but if they can get serviceable offensive play the Ravens will be much better this year. Of course, a few years down the line that defense is going to be retiring, so I don't expect steady progress.

I wanted to pick the Raiders or the Niners, but as a Bay Area native I just can't... too many question marks and letdowns recently for my gut to choose either one, though I'd give the edge to the Raiders.

Going backwards, I'm picking the Browns. While the high-flying offense is intact and upgraded with Donte Stallworth, the secondary is pretty darn suspect thanks to a trade, a key injury, and a cut due to off-the-field misconduct. The defensive line got a huge upgrade in Corey Williams and Shaun Rogers, but I think the Browns will have to wait a year before they break through.... with healthy and new corners. The Saints were the hot team last year, and they opened pretty awful; I'm guessing that'll be the Browns this year, seeing as they were last year's 2006 Saints.

[RussTKD]

Originally Posted by cyclohexane

If their secondary is still a bunch of free agent rejects the defense will be as suspect before. Jason David getting burned three times by the Colts in last year's opener basically set the stage for the Saints D.

They've been working hard on that defensive front though, with guys like Charles Grant, Will Smith, and new addition rookie Sedrick Ellis from USC, which should make it a little easier for the secondary to work.

With adding Vilma, McCray, and Ellis to the front 7, and having another year under Usama Young's belt and bringing in Randall Gay and Aaron Glenn, and hoping Josh Bullocks gets lost in Mississippi and is never found and replaced by Kevin Kaesviharn, I'm thinking our defense will be much improved.

And adding Shockey to the offense that also gets a healthy Robert Meachem, Deuce McAllister, and a hungry PO'ed Reggie Bush... Look out.

[aam1234]

Good question Digi (hope you don't mind calling you that). Just today they asked this question at Yahoo sports to their analysts (Jason Cole and Mike Silver). Oh boy, Jason trashed Da Bears real bad. He said the Bears will have the worst offense in modern history of the NFL. And he wasn't joking, at least he didn't appear to be. No way that's going to happen, I mean can their offense be worse than the 9ers? Doubtful.

Back to your question...

Going up:
- Saints
- Vikings
- Eagles
- Wanted to say the Skins but they've already made the playoffs last season

Going down:
- Giants: as I said earlier, they may not even make the playoffs this season
- Packers: for three reasons. A) Rodgers got hurt in both games he started. B) He is not a proven commodity to begin with C) The mess Faverrr created
- Everybody is praising the Texans, so why not

Marginal improvement:
- Both of the Bay area teams. More Raiders than the 9ers, though