BJORN 679 Posted August 21, 2013 The Buffalo Bills. Manuel hits the ground running giving them the most dynamic backfield with EJ and CJ. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jules 98 Posted August 22, 2013 (edited) I guess I could also be talked into the Chiefs. And I don't want to be but damnit they sound like a sexy pick right now. And then you got that last to first thingie trend too. No, No. You won't get me into the Browns right now. Nope.... Been down that road before with them. And I think the division is just too tough overall. Edited August 22, 2013 by Jules Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BUCK3Y3 44 Posted August 22, 2013 I guess I could also be talked into the Chiefs. And I don't want to be but damnit they sound like a sexy pick right now. And then you got that last to first thingie trend too. No, No. You won't get me into the Browns right now. Nope.... Been down that road before with them. And I think the division is just too tough overall. The Bengals are the Bengals, The Steelers are literally dying. The Ravens lost half their team and the Browns have young talent. Its a good time to invest in the Brown. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jules 98 Posted August 22, 2013 The Bengals are the Bengals, The Steelers are literally dying. The Ravens lost half their team and the Browns have young talent. Its a good time to invest in the Brown. Well I would not mind if you were right. I mean, I always felt Browns fans have suffered enough as is. The Steelers are a wait and see team for me. I am not too high on them but at the same time they can be an X factor in the AFC in any given season if Ben stays healthy and they make the playoffs. Bengals? I know the talent is there, yes. Everyone is high on them in the media I believe. But, I am not sure I am quite sold on Dalton either to be "that" QB to take them to the next step either. I guess we'll see. I still favor the Ravens. I don't think just because they lost a few guys they are suddenly doomed. A solid foundation at the top is still there and of winning. Those guys have made the playoffs every season since Flacco has been there too. I will never count them out and the defense might actually be improved, it was overrated IMO last season. I guess I will get a better "feel" for the Browns after they come to Indy this weekend too. They have often given the Colts tough games too even going back to Manning being here. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Crash 105 Posted August 22, 2013 The bengals. BIG TIME!!! They could be very very very good this year on both sides of the ball and have been one of the better drafting teams in the league the last 3-4 years. One of the top tier teams in the AFC I'm betting! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
housemd 338 Posted August 22, 2013 The Bengals are the Bengals, The Steelers are literally dying. The Ravens lost half their team and the Browns have young talent. Its a good time to invest in the Brown. Steelers are not literally dying. Yeah, we lost Wallace and Harrison but we still have some young and good players to fill their spots. As long as Ben is our starting QB, Steelers are far from dying. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F 2,241 Posted August 22, 2013 Idk if the Bengals can qualify as a dark horse... Everyone and their mom has them being a championship contender now.. Anyway, as much as I think they won't do well this year, the Eagles get my vote. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Barracuda 629 Posted August 22, 2013 It's to easy for non-Browns fans to pick the Browns. I know better than to get my hopes up only to be left beaten, starved and left for dead. With that said: AFC: Not many great choices. I guess you could go with the Dolphins. NFC: Someone in the South has to step up with the Falcons. Saints are the safe bet but I'll take the Panthers for the hell of it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch 874 Posted August 22, 2013 I know better than to get my hopes up only to be left beaten, starved and left for dead. God I know this feels... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KempBolt 498 Posted August 22, 2013 I think the Ravens and Steelers are being written off too easily. Baltimore looks to me to have upgraded at FS, SS, CB1, both ILB positions, the defensive line, and at OLB (either through FA acquisition, drafting, or getting players healthy). I think they could be a top 5 defense this season. WR is an issue and losing Pitta hurts, but overall I think this is a better team than the one that won the superbowl 6 months ago. And the Steelers, while old, were still #1 in total defense, #1 in passing defense, #2 in rushing defense, and #6 in scoring defense last season. And that was with their fair share of injury. I hardly think they're going to go from that to "dead" in one offseason. Also, before Roethlisberger went down he was on pace for 4352 yards, 63%, 7.2 YPA, 35 TD, and 11 INT. The team was also 7-5 in games that he played. The Bengals are a very strong team as well, and the Browns have a lot of young talent. That's what makes this the toughest division in football. But I think you're fooling yourself if you write off the Steelers and Ravens. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F 2,241 Posted August 22, 2013 Everyone looks at the players they lost... not the ones they gained. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KempBolt 498 Posted August 22, 2013 Everyone looks at the players they lost... not the ones they gained. Yep. IMO: Daryl Smith > Dannell Ellerbe Arthur Brown > Ray Lewis (the 2012 version) Michael Huff > Ed Reed (Again, the 2012 version) Matt Elam > Bernard Pollard Elvis Dumervil = Paul Kruger Then you consider that they get a top 5 CB back in Lardarius Webb, a top 5 pass rusher back in Terrell Suggs, and that Haloti Ngata played hurt last year and is now healthy. Three top 5 players at their positions-- those are huge gains. And Chris Canty has reportedly been great on the line since coming in (and has looked that way in preseason games). And they have depth basically everywhere. The concerns at WR and TE are legitimate. But the same OL configuration that dominated in the playoffs is coming back and they are built to run the football with the power. With a better defense, they'll be able to lean on the running game. Too much was made about the losses, which were mostly washed up players (Lewis, Reed), overrated (Pollard, Ellerbe), or overpaid and replaceable (Kruger). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch 874 Posted August 22, 2013 (edited) Yep. IMO: Daryl Smith > Dannell Ellerbe Arthur Brown > Ray Lewis (the 2012 version) Michael Huff > Ed Reed (Again, the 2012 version) Matt Elam > Bernard Pollard Elvis Dumervil = Paul Kruger Then you consider that they get a top 5 CB back in Lardarius Webb, a top 5 pass rusher back in Terrell Suggs, and that Haloti Ngata played hurt last year and is now healthy. Three top 5 players at their positions-- those are huge gains. And Chris Canty has reportedly been great on the line since coming in (and has looked that way in preseason games). And they have depth basically everywhere. The concerns at WR and TE are legitimate. But the same OL configuration that dominated in the playoffs is coming back and they are built to run the football with the power. With a better defense, they'll be able to lean on the running game. Too much was made about the losses, which were mostly washed up players (Lewis, Reed), overrated (Pollard, Ellerbe), or overpaid and replaceable (Kruger). How do you deem Matt Elam a rookie better than Benard Pollard? No, but in all seriousness I wholeheartedly agree. The Ravens got significantly better on the defensive side of the ball in my opinion. Ozzy Newsome was pure excellence this offseason. He replaced aging vets no longer in their primes with younger seasoned and talented veterans. Chris Canty will most definitely improve that D-line, Elvis Dumervil will significantly improve their pass rush with Suggs in my opinion, Michael Huff is a good and talented piece in the secondary, and Daryl Smith can play barring he recovers from his injury. Ozzie put the Ravens in position to reclaim their identity of old which is being a great defense. The only concerns are on the offensive side of the ball. Anquan Boldin was Flacco's life line and it's yet to be seen if Torry can be that #1 guy. The loss of Pitta also hurts as well. They are very thin at receiver so it will be a huge test for Flacco and it will be interesting to see if he can break out that inconsistent and average performance in the regular season. However, it will be interesting to see Jim Caldwell run that offense from the beginning of the season. It's no denying the fact that the Ravens were a completely new team after he took over the reigns at Offensive Coordinator. With the lack of throwing options and the emergence of Benard Pierce complimenting one of the best backs in the league Ray Rice, I forsee the Ravens being a running team; possibly a good running team at that. It seems like a very logical approach trying to build a great defense with a running game to support it which in turn will take a huge load off of Flacco with his inconsistent regular season play (possibly putting him more in a game manager role) and a thin receivers corps. Edited August 22, 2013 by dutchff7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KempBolt 498 Posted August 22, 2013 How do you deem Matt Elam a rookie better than Benard Pollard? No, but in all seriousness I wholeheartedly agree. The Ravens got significantly better on the defensive side of the ball in my opinion. Ozzy Newsome was pure excellence this offseason. He replaced aging vets no longer in their primes with younger seasoned and talented veterans. Chris Canty will most definitely improve that D-line, Elvis Dumervil will significantly improve their pass rush with Suggs in my opinion, Michael Huff is a good and talented piece in the secondary, and Daryl Smith can play barring he recovers from his injury. Ozzie put the Ravens in position to reclaim their identity of old which is being a great defense. The only concerns are on the offensive side of the ball. Anquan Boldin was Flacco's life line and it's yet to be seen if Torry can be that #1 guy. The loss of Pitta also hurts as well. They are very thin at receiver so it will be a huge test for Flacco and it will be interesting to see if he can break out that inconsistent and average performance in the regular season. However, it will be interesting to see Jim Caldwell run that offense from the beginning of the season. It's no denying the fact that the Ravens were a completely new team after he took over the reigns at Offensive Coordinator. With the lack of throwing options and the emergence of Benard Pierce complimenting one of the best backs in the league Ray Rice, I forsee the Ravens being a running team; possibly a good running team at that. It seems like a very logical approach trying to build a great defense with a running game to support it which in turn will take a huge load off of Flacco with his inconsistent regular season play (possibly putting him more in a game manager role) and a thin receivers corp along . It's my guess based on three things: 1) I loved Elam at Florida, 2) Camp and preseason have been positive for him, and 3) Bernard Pollard is shit. And I agree with everything you say here. But I don't think he have to even add that piece in bold anymore. Smith has looked superb in preseason action- totally healthy. I'm pretty happy for the guy. He's been very good for a long time and now that he's in Baltimore, that will probably finally get noticed. Solid point re: Caldwell. Cameron was a joke. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch 874 Posted August 22, 2013 (edited) It's my guess based on three things: 1) I loved Elam at Florida, 2) Camp and preseason have been positive for him, and 3) Bernard Pollard is shit. And I agree with everything you say here. But I don't think he have to even add that piece in bold anymore. Smith has looked superb in preseason action- totally healthy. I'm pretty happy for the guy. He's been very good for a long time and now that he's in Baltimore, that will probably finally get noticed. Solid point re: Caldwell. Cameron was a joke. Edit: Misread your post. But yeah, Daryl Smith has been a great linebacker for years and has severely been underrated and overlooked because he played for the Jags. I hope he finally gets the recognition he's been deserving for years. Edited August 22, 2013 by dutchff7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the Lions fan 19 Posted August 23, 2013 AZ, TB and CLE made huge strides in correcting long term problematic areas and are definitely capable of playoff caliber win totals, but TB has the most realistic chance of winning its division. They are built for beating the NFC South and have on paper turned their biggest weakness into a strength. AZ and yes CLE could suprise people but those divisions are already providing 5-6 playoff teams. That's ridiculous to consider but SF, SEA, CIN, PIT and BAL are all playoff-bound, arguably moreso than IND (statistically a 7-9 team, teams who's record is higher than their point totals indicate usually regress) SD or KC (DEN gets this right? Will they have higher win totals than AFC N compadres?) And MIA has a lot to prove and isn't doing it yet. Lots of hype, but we've seen this before. They may achieve success soon, not this year though. Hope I'm not forgetting anyone. But my dark horse is DET. Remember 2011 Lions? Scoring at will. Winning if they had the last possession. Making the playoffs then having an injury plagued rebound year (that officiating in NO was terrible, apparently TOs were illegal that game). We are not that far removed and arguably improved in every area except maybe LBs. Hope we stay healthy and shock the world again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F 2,241 Posted August 23, 2013 AZ, TB and CLE made huge strides in correcting long term problematic areas and are definitely capable of playoff caliber win totals, but TB has the most realistic chance of winning its division. They are built for beating the NFC South and have on paper turned their biggest weakness into a strength. AZ and yes CLE could suprise people but those divisions are already providing 5-6 playoff teams. That's ridiculous to consider but SF, SEA, CIN, PIT and BAL are all playoff-bound, arguably moreso than IND (statistically a 7-9 team, teams who's record is higher than their point totals indicate usually regress) SD or KC (DEN gets this right? Will they have higher win totals than AFC N compadres?) And MIA has a lot to prove and isn't doing it yet. Lots of hype, but we've seen this before. They may achieve success soon, not this year though. Hope I'm not forgetting anyone. But my dark horse is DET. Remember 2011 Lions? Scoring at will. Winning if they had the last possession. Making the playoffs then having an injury plagued rebound year (that officiating in NO was terrible, apparently TOs were illegal that game). We are not that far removed and arguably improved in every area except maybe LBs. Hope we stay healthy and shock the world again. We are a pretty top heavy team. If any of our big guys go down we are in deep waters. Especially on the offensive side its not gonna be pretty... I think we can compete for second in the division and a wildcard if we stay healthy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SolomonGrundy 10 Posted August 23, 2013 I think I'm a year off here but I'm going to go ahead and go with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Crash 105 Posted August 24, 2013 Yep. IMO: Daryl Smith > Dannell Ellerbe Arthur Brown > Ray Lewis (the 2012 version) Michael Huff > Ed Reed (Again, the 2012 version) Matt Elam > Bernard Pollard Elvis Dumervil = Paul Kruger Then you consider that they get a top 5 CB back in Lardarius Webb, a top 5 pass rusher back in Terrell Suggs, and that Haloti Ngata played hurt last year and is now healthy. Three top 5 players at their positions-- those are huge gains. And Chris Canty has reportedly been great on the line since coming in (and has looked that way in preseason games). And they have depth basically everywhere. The concerns at WR and TE are legitimate. But the same OL configuration that dominated in the playoffs is coming back and they are built to run the football with the power. With a better defense, they'll be able to lean on the running game. Too much was made about the losses, which were mostly washed up players (Lewis, Reed), overrated (Pollard, Ellerbe), or overpaid and replaceable (Kruger). Matt Elam and elvis dumervil are not starting. It kinda shows something that Courtney upshaw is going to start in front of dumervil. The ravens defense will be better next year but they are expecting way way way way too much out of rookies Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KempBolt 498 Posted August 24, 2013 Matt Elam and elvis dumervil are not starting. It kinda shows something that Courtney upshaw is going to start in front of dumervil. The ravens defense will be better next year but they are expecting way way way way too much out of rookies Lol. So they're expecting "way way way way too much" out of their rookies, even though their #1 pick isn't even in the starting lineup? Elam has outplayed their starter at SS. It's just a matter of time. And Arthur Brown has looked good as well. Also Kruger wasn't a starter either. Pass rush specialist until Suggs got hurt. That's how they are and should use Dum. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oochymp 2,393 Posted August 24, 2013 The Browns no longer classify as a team you can pick to be a blackhorse. Everyone and their brother is on their dick right now. I don't know, a lot of people think they'll be better, but most people are still putting them last in the AFC North Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
