Biggest Obstacles for our Fellow Contenders...

[HoleInTheRoof]

Okay, I'm in all out Homer-mode lately. I really, really, really, really believe 2010 is our year. That said, we all know our potential short comings along the offensive line, kicker, and secondary.

That said . . . no team is perfect.

The favorites in the NFC this coming year, along with Dallas, has to be (in no particular order) Green Bay, Minnessota, New Orleans, and maybe a dark horse like Atlanta/NYG/Philly.

With that in mind, as you look at those teams, lets talk about what some of THEIR short comings are:

Minnesota - Farve and his health... secondary...
New Orleans - Resting on their laurals, the flat out flakey nature of the NFC South (team to finish last wins division past several years, etc), Sharpers older.
Green Bay - ~drawing a blank~ They shored up their Oline issues. They could be real tough.

Thoughts?

 

[Boyzmamacita]

Okay, I'm in all out Homer-mode lately. I really, really, really, really believe 2010 is our year.

Many fans have expressed the same sentiment. This will be one pressure-packed season with expectations this high and THE GAME being played in our own back yard. I am optimistic too, but I am trying to guard against the biggest letdown ever.

 

[Sandman52]

Hope that GB's secondary gets old quick and that Grant has a setback.

 

[Alexander]

Minnesota - Farve and his health... secondary...

No Favre, no chance. .500 would be the best they could hope for if they have to play Tarvarris Jackson very much. They also better hope like we do that their offensive line stays intact as their depth is as bad as ours.

New Orleans - Resting on their laurals, the flat out flakey nature of the NFC South (team to finish last wins division past several years, etc), Sharpers older.

They seem to act like it is not a big deal, but I think losing Fujita and not replacing him was a big miss on their part. Their DL will be different with Brown but it does not look much stronger. Their draft was short on impact as well as Patrick Robinson does nothing for me. They led a charmed existence last year and will not be able to sneak up on anyone.

Green Bay - ~drawing a blank~ They shored up their Oline issues. They could be real tough.

Green Bay is good. If they had got another running back and Bulaga, they would be downright scary. But they only got one piece of the puzzle. They will able to pass on anyone but they had better hope Al Harris makes it back.

As usual, I am more concerned about the competition from our own division. If we can stay ahead of them, we should be able to handle practically anyone else in the conference.

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

Dez Bryant looks like the Deon type player to push Dallas over the top, no other pick in the Draft could have made this kind of difference.

Dallas presents alot of problems for any teams Defensive Backfield, if the Oline can hold up all season the running game should excel.

However discounting "The Dezferrence" where has Dallas actually improved enough to get over the perverbial hump in the road?

 

[Hostile]

Okay, I'm in all out Homer-mode lately. I really, really, really, really believe 2010 is our year. That said, we all know our potential short comings along the offensive line, kicker, and secondary.

That said . . . no team is perfect.

The favorites in the NFC this coming year, along with Dallas, has to be (in no particular order) Green Bay, Minnessota, New Orleans, and maybe a dark horse like Atlanta/NYG/Philly.

With that in mind, as you look at those teams, lets talk about what some of THEIR short comings are:

Minnesota - Farve and his health... secondary...
New Orleans - Resting on their laurals, the flat out flakey nature of the NFC South (team to finish last wins division past several years, etc), Sharpers older.
Green Bay - ~drawing a blank~ They shored up their Oline issues. They could be real tough.

Thoughts?

I like this topic. We spend a lot of time grousing about where our team is not perfect when no team is.

I think the Saints have a weak defense and if their Offense is struggling they are sitting ducks. To beat them you have to outplay their Offense and your Defense is the biggest key to that happening.

Minnesota as a contender begins and ends with whether Favre is there. Hate Grandpa Mind Changer all you want, but he is a difference maker. Their Defense is good and getting scarier. Their home stadium noise level is a true home field advantage. Oh how I wish we could replicate that.

I think the Giants will push us in the East. I think Washington will certainly improve and Philly will struggle a little. The Giants put a lot of emphasis on DL this off season. They ignored the LBs. I think to beat them you run sweeps and bubble screens wide then throw deep. Or you throw it a lot and wear those big suckers flat out. You definitely need a RB who can pick up a blitz.

I think Green Bay is a team on the rise, and if Favre doesn't come back or does the unthinkable and gets hurt they are a threat. I think to beat them you shut down the run and come after Rodgers who gets sacked a lot.

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

As usual, I am more concerned about the competition from our own division. If we can stay ahead of them, we should be able to handle practically anyone else in the conference.

Who in the division worries you more than the Packers, Vikings or Saints?

 

[CATCH17]

Who in the division worries you more than the Packers, Vikings or Saints?

Some other team will step up. Prolly Atlanta. That a team with slot of upside.

 

[StylisticS]

Green Bay is going to be very tough out there. They have the defense and the skill players on offense. If the oline improves, they will be tough. Does anyone see a team to come out of nowhere to make a run? There's at least one every year. It may come out of the NFC South with Atlanta or Carolina.

 

[Hostile]

Who in the division worries you more than the Packers, Vikings or Saints?

I agree with Alexander in this respect. We are a better team if we can control our own destiny. To do that we have got to win the NFC East first and that is never a picnic. If we struggle in the East we give the teams like Nawlins, Green Bay, and Minny an advantage simply by going to their yard.

 

[Alexander]

Who in the division worries you more than the Packers, Vikings or Saints?

The Eagles and Giants will be just as tough as most of them.

Give me the division first. Take that and homefield and I will then worry about the best the North or South have to offer.

 

[Hostile]

The Eagles and Giants will be just as tough as most of them.

Give me the division first. Take that and homefield and I will then worry about the best the North or South have to offer.

I think the NFC West is an absolute mess, don't you?

If I were San Fran I would have given my 2nd for McNabb and still had 2 firsts. I don't fear Alex Smith the way I would McNabb with the kind of talent they have plus that Defense.

The Caridnals without Warner and Boldin are a lot less scary.

 

[CATCH17]

Yeah NFC West is the new NFC North.

 

[Alexander]

I think the NFC West is an absolute mess, don't you?

If I were San Fran I would have given my 2nd for McNabb and still had 2 firsts. I don't fear Alex Smith the way I would McNabb with the kind of talent they have plus that Defense.

The Caridnals without Warner and Boldin are a lot less scary.

The NFC West is always a mess. Easily the weakest division in football with some of the more poorly run organizations in the league. It is a harsh indictment when Pete Carroll can step right in from the college game and instantly look more aggressive and competent.

The sad thing is that all these teams like SF and Arizona needed to do is get a QB. But they didn't. I'd give anything to play in that division for a few years.

 

[Hostile]

The NFC West is always a mess. Easily the weakest division in football with some of the more poorly run organizations in the league. It is a harsh indictment when Pete Carroll can step right in from the college game and instantly look more aggressive and competent.

The sad thing is that all these teams like SF and Arizona needed to do is get a QB. But they didn't. I'd give anything to play in that division for a few years.

Very well said.

I expect Seattle to get back to the top of that division eventually, but I don't fear them. I can't understand teams that can't see the brass ring and grab it.

 

[nalam]

Green Bay is going to be very tough out there. They have the defense and the skill players on offense. If the oline improves, they will be tough. Does anyone see a team to come out of nowhere to make a run? There's at least one every year. It may come out of the NFC South with Atlanta or Carolina.

Atlanta has improved their defense this year in the offseason. They have a good offense with Ryan, white and Turner. Their division is also bit easier than ours and so they can defintely be one of this years upcoming teams.

Giants have addressed the DL & secondary exclusively but that means their last year acquisitions didn't pan out. Their offense has to be seen how good is , as big bad RB jacobs can be given a boot. Still a good team and they will compete .

 

[Plankton]

Here's the main competition, and their potential weaknesses:

In the East, the Giants and Eagles will be the competition, and as Alexander mentioned, winning the East and securing home field is paramount:

Giants - their offensive line is being shaken up a bit (Beatty to LT, Diehl to LG, Seubert to the bench), but Kareem McKenzie is rapidly aging, and there's no replacement for him on the roster. On defense, they will be changing the coordinator (Perry Fewell), and playing more cover 2 schemes. They have gaping holes at two LB positions (MLB and SLB - Kiwanuka and Sintim are not good fits here because they don't play well in reverse - a key in the cover 2). Despite adding Antrel Rolle, their success in the secondary is hinging a lot on Kenny Phillips recovering from knee surgery, which has been slow to this point. Aaron Ross is made of glass, and the backups are not great.

Eagles - Despite the changes, they have some questions with Kevin Kolb and LeSean McCoy. Neither guy has much of a track record in the NFL (McCoy has a little bit), and they will be critical to the team's success. This is the lynch pin for them. If they can effectively replace McNabb and Westbrook, then they will contend. If they can't, they will be .500 or worse. The defense cannot carry them anymore.

Outside of the NFC East:

Green Bay - Possibly the favorite to win the NFC. They are young and relatively deep at most positions except one - cornerback. They have a lot of age, and one player coming off of knee surgery at age 35. If Al Harris isn't the Al Harris of old, then they will have problems. Their pass rush isn't varied enough to make up for poor coverage in the secondary.

Minnesota - Two issues here. If Favre doesn't return, they aren't in any conversation about contending. Second, depending on how the Star Caps case turns out, if the Vikings lose the Williams Wall for four games, their hopes at home field will go up in smoke, as will their chances to contend. Their cornerback situation is even worse than Green Bay's, with Cedric Griffin coming off of an ACL and Winfield breaking down.

New Orleans - Their defense is still weak, and with the Vicodin distraction, I see this as being a nightmare season for them.

Carolina - I see them surprising people quite a bit. Their style of play will keep them in a lot of games, and with Fox fighting for his job, I see them being a bit more inspired. If Matt Moore or Jimmy Clausen can protect the football, I can see them rebounding to win the NFC South.

San Francisco - Potentially the best of a bad lot out West. Their draft went a long way toward reshaping their offense, giving them an even greater ability to pound the ball on the ground. This will help Alex Smith out a lot. On defense, adding Navorro Bowman will give them two rangy active hitters at inside LB. Their safeties are not good, and they need more of a rush from Ahmad Brooks, Parys Haralson and Manny Lawson, but they have been building for this. In a lousy division, I see them winning it.

In short, the division for the Cowboys and Green Bay are the toughest competition. If the Cowboys offensive line stays healthy, this could be a fun year.

 

[28 Joker]

I agree that the Giants will have to be dealt with, as always. They like to brag about mental toughness and accuse the Cowboys of having none, except they ignore the fact that they folded like a lawn chair, after they beat us in NY and bragged about this. Some mental toughness.

However, I think Washington has a chance to finish second in the division. If you can do that, you should make the playoffs. I'll stick with the pick.

McNabb is Giants' and Eli's daddy. The Commanders have the defense to win games with. They have a QB, a head coach, and their running game should get better this year. They will ride big plays, rushing the football, and defense. The Giants have a lot to prove, because their mighty defense was shredded like paper last year. They did address some needs and spent a lot of money. They should be better, but the Commanders can beat them.

Kevin Kolb, while he is talented, has only started two games. He hasn't even been through the division one time. They have an issue at CB, too. There is no way they will get away with sending McNabb to the Commanders. That was arrogant and a big, big mistake. I look for the McNabb to make them pay.

 

[Hostile]

Here's the main competition, and their potential weaknesses:

Your sig pic is hilarious.

 

[AtlCB]

Here's the main competition, and their potential weaknesses:

In the East, the Giants and Eagles will be the competition, and as Alexander mentioned, winning the East and securing home field is paramount:

Giants - their offensive line is being shaken up a bit (Beatty to LT, Diehl to LG, Seubert to the bench), but Kareem McKenzie is rapidly aging, and there's no replacement for him on the roster. On defense, they will be changing the coordinator (Perry Fewell), and playing more cover 2 schemes. They have gaping holes at two LB positions (MLB and SLB - Kiwanuka and Sintim are not good fits here because they don't play well in reverse - a key in the cover 2). Despite adding Antrel Rolle, their success in the secondary is hinging a lot on Kenny Phillips recovering from knee surgery, which has been slow to this point. Aaron Ross is made of glass, and the backups are not great.

Eagles - Despite the changes, they have some questions with Kevin Kolb and LeSean McCoy. Neither guy has much of a track record in the NFL (McCoy has a little bit), and they will be critical to the team's success. This is the lynch pin for them. If they can effectively replace McNabb and Westbrook, then they will contend. If they can't, they will be .500 or worse. The defense cannot carry them anymore.

Outside of the NFC East:

Green Bay - Possibly the favorite to win the NFC. They are young and relatively deep at most positions except one - cornerback. They have a lot of age, and one player coming off of knee surgery at age 35. If Al Harris isn't the Al Harris of old, then they will have problems. Their pass rush isn't varied enough to make up for poor coverage in the secondary.

Minnesota - Two issues here. If Favre doesn't return, they aren't in any conversation about contending. Second, depending on how the Star Caps case turns out, if the Vikings lose the Williams Wall for four games, their hopes at home field will go up in smoke, as will their chances to contend. Their cornerback situation is even worse than Green Bay's, with Cedric Griffin coming off of an ACL and Winfield breaking down.

New Orleans - Their defense is still weak, and with the Vicodin distraction, I see this as being a nightmare season for them.

Carolina - I see them surprising people quite a bit. Their style of play will keep them in a lot of games, and with Fox fighting for his job, I see them being a bit more inspired. If Matt Moore or Jimmy Clausen can protect the football, I can see them rebounding to win the NFC South.

San Francisco - Potentially the best of a bad lot out West. Their draft went a long way toward reshaping their offense, giving them an even greater ability to pound the ball on the ground. This will help Alex Smith out a lot. On defense, adding Navorro Bowman will give them two rangy active hitters at inside LB. Their safeties are not good, and they need more of a rush from Ahmad Brooks, Parys Haralson and Manny Lawson, but they have been building for this. In a lousy division, I see them winning it.

In short, the division for the Cowboys and Green Bay are the toughest competition. If the Cowboys offensive line stays healthy, this could be a fun year.

The Falcons should be a lot better than Carolina and San Francisco.