We are getting close to the Eagles.

[Jersey]

Guy's lets remember who we're talking to. eagles fans are challenged, or should I say "special". Its easy for us to forget and quickly expose their ignorance. We should instead have pity on them since they will NEVER enjoy being Champions. Now lets be nice and put ajm back on the short school bus and send him back to never-land.

[LaTunaNostra]

Originally Posted by AJM1613

Tight end, strong safety, left cornerback, nickelback, left guard, center, left wide receiver, slot receiver, Ferguson over Walker, Glover over Simon.

And Rivera may be better than Andrews, but I'll take my chances with the kid.

AJM, you know darn well your edge is in continuity of systems, coaching, and franchise stability: a team is much more then the sum of its individual player parts.

The kind of sound drafting and development that allowed a Vincent and Taylor to walk, then plugged in Shepperd and Brown in their third years without missing a beat is what the Cowboys do not yet have, but realize they need..

But in the NFL, as in any other kind of history, it's cyclical. No one stays on top forever because the league changes as rapidly as franchises develop a winning formula. It doesn't take as big a revolution as free agency to stop a wheel and turn it counterclockwise...just a key loss or two in the FO, a run on assistant coaches, an injury or two that savvy drafting and smart signings just could not compensate for for whatever reason...a few rules changes robbing some good players of impact, the moves of the other division teams..you wake up one fine morning and you're not on top anymore.

Even when you're doing everything "right".

There is most certainly such a thing as a "window" of opportunity. Sometimes like with the Bucs, you manage to win it all before the glass comes shattering down. Your team has in its favor a wider window due to cap solvency and fine coaching, but there are no Empires anymore..not even in New England.

No trash talking here, but I do not think you will be as dominant this year, meaning, the Boys, Skins in their second year under Gibbs, and Jints in their second under Coughlin will start to make headways in that critical area of "continuity".

PS If you graduated this year, congrats.

[MichaelWinicki]

Originally Posted by JackMagist

Yeah I guess you are right...just any old QB can get into the top 10 all time in passing

Afternoon Jack.

Obviously you make a good point. Drew isn't a Ryan Leaf for God sakes. He has some talent. And he's been blessed that he's stuck around for 12 years... most of them as a starter. You take a guy that's started for 12 years and yes you ought to be able to rack up some numbers that propel you into the top 10. Just average 3,000 yards per season and 15 touchdowns and you're looking at 36,000 yards and 180 TD's. Certainly numbers that are going to get you highly rated all-time.

But taken in the context of the era meaning a 16 game schedule and ever-changing rules that favor the offense the numbers become a tad less impressive.

On top of that I think the very fact that's he's been replaced as a starter not once but twice in his career (and remember he's only 33 years old) should be cause for alarm.

I was trying to come up with a list of say the top 20 greatest QB's that had been replaced as starters twice in their careers prior to retirement. I couldn't come with one but I'm sure their have been.

To me him being replaced twice as a starter by teams is very indicative of his abilities on the football field. Drew Bledsoe is OK as a QB. Nothing special and even when he was "special" he really wasn't.

[blindzebra]

Originally Posted by JackMagist

Yeah I guess you are right...just any old QB can get into the top 10 all time in passing

Throw out the 2 game year and in 12 full seasons his average year is:

ATT-499, COM-284, % 56.9, yards 3284, YPA-6.58, TDs-18, INTs-15

[Hollywood Henderson]

The team from filthy has had its door shut close...
Oh they will still be good, but the chemistry is bad...& getting worse...

As Jack noted, McChunky soup was exposed as being bad when pressured...
We now have a team & coach who can attack him, no more free passes from poorly coach passive & predictable defenses anymore here...

With that type of new D, Bledoe can & will be effective with a good bunch of talent around him...

The Giants and Skins have improved as well...filthy will be exposed now...

[LaTunaNostra]

Originally Posted by JackMagist

As for McNabb....he chokes in the big games and there is no denying that. So that leaves me pretty much unimpressed with him.

Ouch. That sounds uncomfortably close to home.

[MichaelWinicki]

Originally Posted by LaTunaNostra

Ouch. That sounds uncomfortably close to home.

LOL!

Can any say Pittsburgh at Buffalo... last game of the '04 regular season?

Ask any Buffalo fan if they think Bledsoe choked or not... Or for that matter ask his former team-mates.

[blindzebra]

Originally Posted by MichaelWinicki

Afternoon Jack.

Obviously you make a good point. Drew isn't a Ryan Leaf for God sakes. He has some talent. And he's been blessed that he's stuck around for 12 years... most of them as a starter. You take a guy that's started for 12 years and yes you ought to be able to rack up some numbers that propel you into the top 10. Just average 3,000 yards per season and 15 touchdowns and you're looking at 36,000 yards and 180 TD's. Certainly numbers that are going to get you highly rated all-time.

But taken in the context of the era meaning a 16 game schedule and ever-changing rules that favor the offense the numbers become a tad less impressive.

On top of that I think the very fact that's he's been replaced as a starter not once but twice in his career (and remember he's only 33 years old) should be cause for alarm.

[View Full Quote]I was trying to come up with a list of say the top 20 greatest QB's that had been replaced as starters twice in their careers prior to retirement. I couldn't come with one but I'm sure their have been.

To me him being replaced twice as a starter by teams is very indicative of his abilities on the football field. Drew Bledsoe is OK as a QB. Nothing special and even when he was "special" he really wasn't.

The only one's close would be Namath going to the Rams, Unitas in SD but they were both in their last year.

The only one I can think of who really fits the Bledsoe mold of being replaced is Warren Moon with MIN, SEA, and HOU.

Unless you want to throw out a journeyman like DeBerg.

[MichaelWinicki]

Originally Posted by Hollywood Henderson

The team from filthy has had its door shut close...
Oh they will still be good, but the chemistry is bad...& getting worse...

As Jack noted, McChunky soup was exposed as being bad when pressured...
We now have a team & coach who can attack him, no more free passes from poorly coach passive & predictable defenses anymore here...

With that type of new D, Bledoe can & will be effective with a good bunch of talent around him...

The Giants and Skins have improved as well...filthy will be exposed now...

By the way Hollywood congrats on 2,000 posts. 1,999 mention or refer to Zimmer but what the heck.

Congrats anyway!

[MichaelWinicki]

Originally Posted by blindzebra

The only one's close would be Namath going to the Rams, Unitas in SD but they were both in their last year.

The only one I can think of who really fits the Bledsoe mold of being replaced is Warren Moon with MIN, SEA, and HOU.

Unless you want to throw out a journeyman like DeBerg.

Good list Z

Pretty short list huh?

[LaTunaNostra]

Originally Posted by MichaelWinicki

By the way Hollywood congrats on 2,000 posts. 1,999 mention or refer to Zimmer but what the heck.

Bawhaaaahaaaahahaaa!!!!!!

But ditto...props to ya, HH!

[blindzebra]

Originally Posted by MichaelWinicki

Good list Z

Pretty short list huh?

Craig Morton fits as well with Dallas and Denver.

[AsthmaField]

Originally Posted by AJM1613

Tight end, strong safety, left cornerback, nickelback, left guard, center, left wide receiver, slot receiver, Ferguson over Walker, Glover over Simon.

Tight end:

Jason Witten
Dan Campbell
Sean Ryan

L.J. Smith
James Whalen


Here, I disagree. Witten went to the Pro Bowl and is generally considered one of the best young TE's in the league. He has everything: Toughness, speed, hands, love for the game. I'd take him over L.J. anyday... but that's just me. Likewise, Campbell is considered one of the best blocking TE's in the NFL.

Who is your blocking TE? Am I missing someone there? I'm not real familiar with your roster.

Strong Safety? You think Michael Lewis is better than Roy Williams? Perhaps you were thinking that Williams is a FS, because I don't think many would call Lewis better than Roy Williams.

Now, FS... there you're definately better off. Keith Davis vs. Brian Dawkins is no contest at this point... but Roy is better than Lewis at SS.

Left Corner. Lito Sheppard over Terence Newman... I'll give you that since Lito went to the pro bowl last year. However, the difference isn't that great. Newman struggled in part because the entire defense struggled and they asked him to do too much. Our pass rush was horrible and he was left out there too long (I know you remember McNabb's 120 second scramble).

Nickelback. Aaron Glenn will be one of the best nickelbacks in the NFL. Hood is a pretty solid guy in the nickel, but I don't think he's as good as Glenn. I'm not sure how you figure this one to be advantage Eagles.

At Left Guard, Mayberry may be a little better than Larry Allen at this point overall... but Allen is still the better run blocker and the difference between the two isn't that great. I wouldn't count on too much of an edge there.

Center: Watch Al Johnson closely this year. That guy is going to be a pro bowler for years to come. He's going to be better than Fraley very soon, if he isn't already. He's a mean SOB and he'll be a mainstay in Dallas for the next decade... He played well enough last year as a first year starter coming off of a rookie knee injury, to be considered for the pro bowl, IMO. I wouldn't even think about trading him straight up for Fraley.

Left WR. Agreed.

Slot WR. I'm not even sure I know who is your third WR. Anyway, I don't think the difference is that much between Quincy Morgan and whoever you have.

If you break down the rosters like this, the difference isn't that great. McNabb being the big difference maker, I think.

Like LaTunaNostra said already, the main difference between the two clubs is the continuity the Eagles have in the system and the chemistry that's been there for a few years.

In the past few years, Dallas has had some malcontents on the team and not a whole lot of talen, especially at the Qb position. Now, the talent has taken an upwards spike because of a few years of good drafting and a big free agency period this year.

The gap has closed some. How much will be determined on the field this year... it should be a fun season for both teams, and as usual, injuries will play a big part in what happens.

Thanks for the analysis that I asked for, by the way.

[blindzebra]

Originally Posted by AsthmaField

Tight end:

Jason Witten
Dan Campbell
Sean Ryan

L.J. Smith
James Whalen


Here, I disagree. Witten went to the Pro Bowl and is generally considered one of the best young TE's in the league. He has everything: Toughness, speed, hands, love for the game. I'd take him over L.J. anyday... but that's just me. Likewise, Campbell is considered one of the best blocking TE's in the NFL.

Who is your blocking TE? Am I missing someone there? I'm not real familiar with your roster.

Strong Safety? You think Michael Lewis is better than Roy Williams? Perhaps you were thinking that Williams is a FS, because I don't think many would call Lewis better than Roy Williams.

Now, FS... there you're definately better off. Keith Davis vs. Brian Dawkins is no contest at this point... but Roy is better than Lewis at SS.

[View Full Quote]Left Corner. Lito Sheppard over Terence Newman... I'll give you that since Lito went to the pro bowl last year. However, the difference isn't that great. Newman struggled in part because the entire defense struggled and they asked him to do too much. Our pass rush was horrible and he was left out there too long (I know you remember McNabb's 120 second scramble).

Nickelback. Aaron Glenn will be one of the best nickelbacks in the NFL. Hood is a pretty solid guy in the nickel, but I don't think he's as good as Glenn. I'm not sure how you figure this one to be advantage Eagles.

At Left Guard, Mayberry may be a little better than Larry Allen at this point overall... but Allen is still the better run blocker and the difference between the two isn't that great. I wouldn't count on too much of an edge there.

Center: Watch Al Johnson closely this year. That guy is going to be a pro bowler for years to come. He's going to be better than Fraley very soon, if he isn't already. He's a mean SOB and he'll be a mainstay in Dallas for the next decade... He played well enough last year as a first year starter coming off of a rookie knee injury, to be considered for the pro bowl, IMO. I wouldn't even think about trading him straight up for Fraley.

Left WR. Agreed.

Slot WR. I'm not even sure I know who is your third WR. Anyway, I don't think the difference is that much between Quincy Morgan and whoever you have.

If you break down the rosters like this, the difference isn't that great. McNabb being the big difference maker, I think.

Like LaTunaNostra said already, the main difference between the two clubs is the continuity the Eagles have in the system and the chemistry that's been there for a few years.

In the past few years, Dallas has had some malcontents on the team and not a whole lot of talen, especially at the Qb position. Now, the talent has taken an upwards spike because of a few years of good drafting and a big free agency period this year.

The gap has closed some. How much will be determined on the field this year... it should be a fun season for both teams, and as usual, injuries will play a big part in what happens.

Thanks for the analysis that I asked for, by the way.

I actually think that list was where Dallas was better.

Note Ferguson over Walker and Glover over Simon.

[AJM1613]

I think you misunderstood what I said. I meant those positions DALLAS had the better players.

And Mayberry plays for the Saints.