Read + Write + Report
Home | Start a blog | About Orble | FAQ | Blogs | Writers | Paid | My Orble | Login

Pro Sports Wrap - Sports Personality of the Day:Darrelle Revis

2011 NFL Kick-off preview

September 7th 2011 16:40
As I sit here in my comfortable abode on an all too crappy netbook typing this post out while blaring Tool, my mind is busy contemplating the rigorous ahead of us (NFL fans). The parity in the NFL makes predicting a difficult task, but I do know one thing for sure; this is going to be one hell of a season. Don't believe me? Well, why don't you just take a look at the season's first game between the Packers and Saints? I don't need to tell you how great these two teams are, and just how great these two teams will be in February. Oh wait...this is the NFL, where crazy happens.


The Eagles, Falcons, Saints, and Packers are the NFC's undisputed Big Four heading into the season. They have very little questions surrounding their teams, and these are the guys who you put your sports' dignity on the line when you make your predictions. But with a full season looming ahead, injuries, poor execution, and the usual unexpected twists and turns that happen during 16 weeks of football will make the guessing game an even more difficult affair. For now, I'll just stick to one game and break down how I think things will end up between the Packers and Saints.

Last year, I did an opening day preview that also involved the Saints, but they were playing against a different marquee franchise; the Vikings. My preview was right on, but the Vikings' season was far from a planned occurance. They were one of the biggest disappointments in football, and they gave rise to the surprise Bears. I don't think either of these two teams will have an epic collapse, but the important thing is that this is definitely the game to be watching.


Everybody raves about the Saints offense, and that's definitely for good reason. Drew Brees is unquestionably one of the elite quarterbacks in the game right now, and he has seven legitimate receiving threats to help him out. Jon Stinchcomb was a huge liability at right tackle, and Zach Strief should be an upgrade over him. Strief is relatively unknown, and he is an underrated player who you should become familiar with soon.

As far as the other parts of the line, Jerome Bushrod is a poor left tackle who was one of the two reasons- Stinchcomb was the other- why Brees had more picks than he should have last season. The man was constantly on the run because of pressure from the outside, but the interior remained calm thanks to one of the top guard tandems in the National Football League. The veteran Olin Kreutz replaces Jonathan Goodwin at center, and there really won't be a noticeable upgrade or downgrade at the position.

Defensively, I don't think the Packers line is going to win their battle against the Saints O-Line. Clay Matthews should be able to get some pressure on Brees, but I think the Saints interior should be able to get the better of the Packers D-Line. There isn't a huge disparity between both lines, but I like the Saints just a little bit better.

While the Saints have a plethora of receiving weapons, the Packers have enough talent in their secondary to mitigate their opposition's passing attack. Great passing offenses always beat great secondaries, but I honestly don't expect this to be a game where Brees completely rips the Pack apart. What should worry Saints fans the most is if Matthews forces Brees to make bad throws downfield that can get sucked in by Nick Collins, Tramon Williams, or Charles Woodson. And heck, Sam Shields isn't a guy you want to mess with either.

People talk too much about Gregg Williams's complex blitz schemes, and they don't realize that the Saints just don't have much of a pass rush at all. Roman Harper and Cameron Jordan are their only two legit QB threats who are healthy, and Harper is a safety who won't blitz all the time. I pointed out his ability to force quarterbacks to make mistakes in last year's preview against the Vikings, and a Harper hit on Favre caused a key interception for the Saints. And really, that's all the Saints want when they blitz; they want to make the opposition give them a gift (so to speak).

However, Aaron Rodgers doesn't waiver under pressure. It's yet another reason why I believe that the-guy-who-needs-a-way-bette r-nickname-than-A-Rod is the best quarterback- nay- best player in the game today.

While I do think that the Saints secondary is a tad overrated, they're still pretty good at the back with guys like Jabari Greer and Malcolm Jenkins. However, I do think that Rodgers will rip these guys apart because there are way too many weapons to cover.

These are two great teams and picking a winner between the two of them is a daunting task, but it has to be done otherwise this whole post is pretty pointless. Aren't you glad I didn't say "moot"? Man I hate that word, and it also reminds me of Fred Smoot. If you actually know who that is, then I think you need to stop being like me and get a life.

Anyway, I see the Packers taking this game in a relatively close game. I still think the Packers are the best team in the NFL, and that has a lot to do with the fact that they have Aaron Rodgers leading this badass bunch. My final prediction is 30 Packers 21 Saints with Aaron Rodgers being the game MVP.

Other Week Predictions

Titans over Jaguars
Texans over Colts
Bengals over Browns
Chiefs over Bills
Steelers over Ravens
Falcons over Bears
Eagles over Rams
Lions over Bucs
Panthers over Cardinals
Seahawks over 49ers
Giants over Redskins
Chargers over Vikings
Cowboys over Jets
Patriots over Dolphins
Broncos over Raiders
Best player in football
38
Vote
   


Well, we all know that the discussions for a new CBA have been extended for seven days. Free agency is still frozen and teams cannot re-sign their own players. They can only talk to the agents of their own players, but no deals can be done. However, at least both sides are willing to talk and want to come to an agreement. The extension of talks actually happened because the owners were scared and didn't want the Players' Association to decertify, so they caved into the demands of at least extending talks.

Mike McCarthy was given an extended deal, which comes as no surprise after he led his team to Super Bowl victory in the midst of injuries to several key players. McCarthy did a nice job this year, and he was a better coach in 2010 than Bill Belichick. The AP can say whatever they want. Zach Miller and Michael Bush were tendered by Oakland. Miller is a mainstay for the Raiders, and he is pretty much their entire passing game. Although it wouldn't be big news if Reggae Bush wasn't retained, he still is important if Darren McFadden- who has an injury history- was to be injured. Bush is a capable backup.

Kevin Smith and Julian Peterson are two poor players that don't give the Lions much these days, and it's no surprise that they were not re-signed. Smith had a decent rookie year, but he has been terrible of late. Julian Peterson was one of the best pass rushing outside linebackers in his prime. Nowadays, he is just some old JAG.

Plaxico Burress' time in prison was decreased due to good behavior, and he will be released in early June. Burress was actually a hard worker, but the media just never cared to look at him in that way. He made one very stupid decision, and he has paid for it. I would take a chance on him because another Michael Vick like redemption story could blossom.

As expected, teams wanted AJ Hawk right after he was released by the Packers; but they didn't know that he was going to be re-signed again. Hawk and the Packers were never going to part ways. Hawk loves the team, and he was a huge leader for them last year. Hawk would have made 10 million dollars extra had he not been released, but Hawk doesn't care about the money. It has to do with him helping the team win another one. Unlike quite a few players out there, Hawk isn't narrow-minded. He cares about his organization. The only reason why the Pack released him was to save cash. Hawk just wants to play, money or not.

Anyway, there are rumblings that Nick Barnett is now expendable. The top run-stuffing interior linebacker missed a huge chunk of the season with a wrist injury last year. Barnett could get traded because of the emergence- and extension- of fellow ILB Desmond Bishop. Barnett could also be released if nobody wants to trade for him. I really think a team like the Lions should go hard after Barnett. That would be a huge addition for a team with their horrible core of LBs.
Extended
43
Vote
   


Joe Soriano's Blogs

153 Vote(s)
7 Comment(s)
4 Post(s)
26694 Vote(s)
81 Comment(s)
293 Post(s)
78 Vote(s)
0 Comment(s)
3 Post(s)
Moderated by Joe Soriano
Copyright © 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 On Topic Media PTY LTD. All Rights Reserved. Design by Vimu.com.
On Topic Media ZPages: Sydney |  Melbourne |  Brisbane |  London |  Birmingham |  Leeds     [ Advertise ] [ Contact Us ] [ Privacy Policy ]