Hardy's ironic situation

It's just been a "perfect storm" type season for Carolina. They play in an otherwise putrid division, they played our putrid division, and they played the most putrid division in the AFC. that's 13-1 right there. their only wins against quality teams were GB and Seattle. But good luck to them. I'm pulling for them to win it. It's going to be tough. The Broncos held the Pats to 18 and the Pats have more weapons than Carolina.
 
It's just been a "perfect storm" type season for Carolina. They play in an otherwise putrid division, they played our putrid division, and they played the most putrid division in the AFC. that's 13-1 right there. their only wins against quality teams were GB and Seattle. But good luck to them. I'm pulling for them to win it. It's going to be tough. The Broncos held the Pats to 18 and the Pats have more weapons than Carolina.

I would be more willing to accept this if they hadn't utterly dominated almost everyone they've played. Furthermore, our putrid division played their putrid division and how did that work out?

This is a very well coached team who is missing arguably its second best offensive talent and still steam rolled people. Cam Newton is just so difficult to stop because he's got tremendous running ability and has really matured as a passer. He reminds me a lot of Roethlisberger, with better legs and athleticism. He also has a cannon for an arm and an offensive system built to showcase his talents, instead of force him to do what they want.

Carolina is just a very good all-around team and a well run organization.
 
A fair amount of teams have won it with mediocre defenses. But yes those 2 are the ideal foundation and have been for 20 years.

Challenge is how to elevate QB play while building that elite defense. It is a very tough equation.
Cam was a big enough hit at QB this year that the offense around him hasn't mattered but that is VERY seldom the case.
Rodgers has been elite for a decade and Brady for even longer but they both more than occasionally come up short based on offensive supporting cast.

At the end of the game with 2:00 left it is still mostly about that guy that goes and takes a win..

Imagine if Bill Belichick was as committed to getting Brady a big time threat at wide receiver? :omg:
 
Carolina has been drafting near the top of the draft for many years, so they should, in theory get more opportunities at higher draft picks than teams drafting lower than them. They are stocked with high draft picks. They should be good for the next 3 years, but they will start losing some of those picks this year to free agency, and they will have to replace those players while picking last, or next to last next year. They will probably get some compensatory picks out of it, but it gradually drains a team of talent and brings them closer to the middle of the pack.
 
he leaves Carolina (7-8-1) to join the Cowboys (12-4) with everyone (me included) thinking the Cowboys were SB contenders. Then his former team goes 15-1 and are 2 weeks away from the super bowl.

Funny how things works out right ?

I have been surprised up till this point there hasn't been any reports of hardy "losing it."

This is not a romo injury or Murray traded thread so do not turn it into one. I give mods my blessing to ban those who try to.

Addition by subtraction. That's why Hardy won't be back. At least I hope not.
 
Imagine if Bill Belichick was as committed to getting Brady a big time threat at wide receiver?

Won pretty big with that Moss/Welker combo :omg:

Part of being really good for a long-time is lack of special resources. If Brady has a top 10 WR... lord.
 
I don't think it's an either-or. It's both. You need an elite quarterback, and you need a great defense.
Denver is proving you don't need the elite QB. While Manning is historically among the greatest ever, he certainly is nowhere near "elite" this year.
 
Teams have won without an elite qb

We're talking about the norm not the exceptions. You can generally find an exception to any rule, but we as a society/group/people function from the norm.

Just because a particular family smokes but never gets cancer doesn't negate the fact that thousands of other families do and develop cancer.

I think you understand what I mean.
 
Won pretty big with that Moss/Welker combo :omg:

Didn't that combo go 18-0 and make it to the Super Bowl?

Part of being really good for a long-time is lack of special resources. If Brady has a top 10 WR... lord.

I don't quite understand what you're saying. Please explain. Thanks.
 
People forget Trent Dilfer has a ring...

No, they don't.
He gets brought up anytime someone suggests you need a good QB to win.
What people forget is that Dilfer was the 6th overall pick and is the Tampa Bay Bucs all-time winningest QB to this day.
He passed for over 20k yards in his career.

He wasn't special but he also wasn't some bum.
He did win a Super bowl largely because of the running game and defense but was a long-time starter at the time who'd been to a Pro Bowl and started playoff games before.

Can a mediocre QB play well enough to win a Super Bowl? Yes!
Eli is extremely hot and cold but there is no doubt he was very good in his SB runs.

Again, can you elevate the play at QB or can the QB elevate everyone else?
It's all about being effective.
With the offense having every advantage you better be able to score.
 
Like who?
Also, there are other ways to acquire a big threat receiver than the first round of the draft.

That's true in regards to drafting.

They'd probably be without McCourty and possibly Sheard.

They may not have been able to resign Gostkowski! ;)

All I know is, I hope they follow what people were saying here and cut Vollmer. I would snatch him up as Free's replacement in a heartbeat.
 
No, they don't.
He gets brought up anytime someone suggests you need a good QB to win.
What people forget is that Dilfer was the 6th overall pick and is the Tampa Bay Bucs all-time winningest QB to this day.
He passed for over 20k yards in his career.

He wasn't special but he also wasn't some bum.
He did win a Super bowl largely because of the running game and defense but was a long-time starter at the time who'd been to a Pro Bowl and started playoff games before.

Can a mediocre QB play well enough to win a Super Bowl? Yes!
Eli is extremely hot and cold but there is no doubt he was very good in his SB runs.

Again, can you elevate the play at QB or can the QB elevate everyone else?
It's all about being effective.
With the offense having every advantage you better be able to score.

I never said the guy was a bum, but he was a bus driver. As was Brad Johnson when he got his ring. This doesn't mean they had awful careers or were journeymen, but does show you certainly don't need an elite QB, which was the argument--in case you weren't following.
 
Denver is proving you don't need the elite QB. While Manning is historically among the greatest ever, he certainly is nowhere near "elite" this year.

Is proving you don't need the elite QB?
To do what? Get to the Super Bowl?
Manning led the Broncos to a 7-1 record before Osweiler got any significant time. Then the Broncos had to put Manning back in when Osweiler started slumping.

He may not be what he was, but he still has the intelligence and enough arm strength to manage the Broncos offense.

I don't think he's what he once was, but what he is is enough. And the Broncos aren't where they are if Osweiler is starting behind center, IMO.
 
Back
Top