Bored and can't sleep

I'm gonna go ahead and do a quick roster prediction. I'm usually pretty good at it. I usually screw up on one group (last year it was defensive tackles). This year the hardest group to get will be the defensive backs (particularly corner). Had plenty of turnover at this position with Marlin Jackson, Tim Jennings, and Tj Rushing gone. Add in the fact that Kevin Thomas is gone for the year with a injury (in his first flippin mini-camp). Ok here it is

QB: Peyton Freakin Manning, Curtis Painter

RB: Joe Joe, Donald, Mikey Hart

FB/HB: Brody Eldridge (can't wait to see him)

TE: Dallas, Jacob Tamme, Tom Santi (if he can keep himself together)

WR: Reg, Pierre, Gonzo, Austin, Giguire

C: Jeffy, Jamey Richard

OG: Pollak, McCLendon, Devann, Alleman

OT: Diemer, Charlie, Ugoh, ADAM TERRY

DE: Dwight, Bert, Jerry, Riccardo Matthews

DT: Danny, Mookie, E-FO, Fili

WLB: Clint, Humber

MLB: Gary, Pat

SLB: Phillip, Flying Death Squirrel, Cody Glenn

CB: Kelvin, Jerraud, Jacob, Brandon King, Thad Turner

FS: Antoine, David Caldwell

SS: Bobzilla, Melvin, Mike Newton

K: Adam

P: Pat McAfee.........athlete

LS: Justin Snow

KR: Brandon James

Thats my first 53 man prediction. If you don't like it............................whatever.

BACK!

I've completely forgotten about this. 3 weeks til camp starts. I'll start it up again once that happens. Roster prediction after first preseason game. Football is creeping closer!

Correction

Got a quick Correction to make, Cody Glenn was not added to the PS. He was added to the Roster. Not sure who was cut to make the room......I'm waiting on the local coverage to find out. That might be sometime next week knowing how slow the local news and papers are to freaking find stuff out.

the lovely waiver claims and the PS

as it has been the last few years we're making moves after cuts on the waiver wire. not surprising though. I was kind of surprised when I saw that Matt was cut. He is a good special teamer and can play on the spot in games.....I guess they felt this Francisco kid is better. Could be so if he has been the captain of the Cardinals Special teams the last 3 years. Bring the guy in...what the hell. Also a linebacker, Cody Glenn has been claimed. No idea who he is, but he's on the team now so he'll be a guy to watch.

Giguire, Thomas, Gill, Hart, MATHEWS (I know I know WTF on this one), Taj, Colin Cloherty, and Glenn round out the practice squad. I'm really happy to see that Mike hart is on here, maybe around mid season when he's completely healthy and ready to go he can get signed onto the squad and contribute. I was definitely shocked to see niether Grady or Terrence Taylor to be added on here. They both had such promise. Gill sucked in my opinion. The guy played damn near two full games and never sniffed a tackle or applied pressure. Grady Seemed to constantly be penetrating and Taylor was the 4th round pick I was really excited about. Oh well.........I don't call the shots.

it almost counts......

preseason over, cuts done, football that counts is almost here.

I like what I saw in the cuts. although I do believe Tauilili is better than keiaho, but oh well. I was a little surprised to see Grady AND terrance taylor both getting the axe, but again who cares. They'll probably both get thrown on the practice squad and called up in mid season when somebody goes down. I wasn't that surprised when Mike Hart and Marcus Howard both were cut. Mike couldn't stay healthy, devestating injury first year plus constant sitting for minor injuries will get you axed. Howard was a beast in college, but was way way too small. He's like Kieaho (another tony dungy speed first BS player). yes he had the speed to be a good edge rusher, but he was weak. When a tackle flicked him with an inded finger he went flailing into the turf and was ultimately out of the play. Steve justice, josh thomas....good riddance.


One guy I liked seeing make it was Ramon Humber. He is a bomber. I think he'll be comparable to Darrell Ried. Good special teamer that will rarely see the field on D.

It's good to see that Caldwell isn't against axing players with "promise". I think Tony hung on to players for WAY to long.....the same with coaches. It didn't take a football person to realize that Marcus Howard sucked. Doesn't take a brilliant mind to see that Josh Thomas was horrible, or Steve Justice couldn't block a cardboard box, or that Freddy Kieaho was a HORRIBLE middle linebacker. It is good to know that Jim can separate from these guys and realize that a good person can be a sucky professional football player.

Bob was activated from Pup, doubt he plays in the opener but one can hope for it. only a week away from actual football. Stay tuned......................

Boring game, bad memories, and a new roster prediction

As you can tell from the title of this post, you know my feelings on yesterday afternoons game. Ugly defensive sequences, no running lanes, dropped passes, and horrible tackling. Boy do those 4 descriptions remind you of last season? They sure as hell do to me. Now I will lighten up here and say that the defense was missing 6 starters, and the offensive line was missing Lilja (who is absolutely KEY) so there were some people in spots they certainly should not be (FreddyKieaho is an absolute HORRIBLE middle linebacker and should be cut, Josh Thomas can't do anything but get stood up by the left tackle on every flippin play, and steve justice doesn't deserve to be the second string center). The defense was almost identicle from last years. Great on 1st and 2nd downs. Then we get to 3rd and 11 and we can't cover a reciever, tackle a back, or even rush the damned QB. Detriot was peobably 6/7 on 3rd and LONG. Some of those third downs are 11 plus yards. That is what lost the game for us last year in January. HOw many fucking times are we going to go through this. It's embarrassing. The offense had the ball 3 times in the first half. That has to change. Absolutely HAS TO CHANGE. I already took my shots at Josh Thomas and Kieaho. They are horrible players that don't deserve roster spots.

The offense was mediocre. Peyton was wonderful as usual. 12/15, 123 and 1 with no picks. He and dallas were pretty damn good. He probably would have had another 35-40 yards.....maybe make that 60 and another touchdown if Gonzo catches that perfect touch pass on the stop and go....but I think that is just a blunder. Gonzo's got good hands. One person that doesn't have good hands........John Mathews. 3 drops. One of them tipped right into a detriot safety's hands which would lead to detriot taking the lead. I don't wanna say he was the reason we lost........ehhhhh yeah I do. That play came at a crucial part of the game, when painter was hot....so he did. I can safely say he's gone. He is a disgrace to the number 83. THe running game was yuck. Very little room. Joe and Donald had a good run each. JOe also made a good move and got 2 on 4th and 1. Still the guard play absolutely Sucks. I think Mike Pollak is a Pussy. He doesn't have that nasty edge that Lilja has, and every NFL guard should have. I think he'll be subplanted next year when Jamie Thomas gets moved up. I took my shot at Steve Justice already, he got outplayed by a former MINOR LEAGUE ARENA PLAYER. That's pathetic. oh well. Kyle devan will be on the roster this year.

One good thing I saw yesterday was Donald Brown scoring on the goal line with ease. That is a rarity. 2 rushes from the 8, first went for 6, second for 2 and the score. That is good Goal line O.


Curtis Painter looked pretty good yesterday. I like him more than sorgi. He has more zip and is a better athlete. Not sure if he'll be on the roster or not. They obviously drafted him for a reason, and like him so who knows. If sorgi is healthy I think he's their back up. Polian LOves him and Caldwell is the old QB's coach so I doubt he gets cut. the more I type the more I lean towards him being on the Practice squad. He'll probably become the next Tom Arth/Josh Betts who both were on the damn practice squad for 3 years each. Us die hard fans only know those names and at the times were waiting on seeing those two subplant Sorginator on the roster but it never happened...........only time will tell the story on Curtis Painter.

Pierre Garcon finally showed some tallant this pre-season. His first two games were filled with 4 dropped passes and only 2 catches. Yesterday he had 2 catches for 76 yards. His big one coming on a nice crossing route, great catch on a ball thrown behind him, he broke an arm tackle and nicely scooted up the field for 66 yards. That boy can run.........good stuff


Now onto the Glorious prediction:

QB: 18, Sorgi
RB: Joe, Donald, Mike Hart
H-B: Gijon
TE: Dallas, Tamme, Santi
WR: Reggie, Gonzo, Collie, Garcon
C: Jeff, Devann
G:Lilja, Pollak, Richard, Thomas
T:Diem, Ugoh, Charlie, Federkiel

DE:Dwight, Robert, Howard, Johnson, Brock
DT: ED, Antonio, Fili, TT, Eric Foster
OLB: CLint, Wheeler, Senn, Hagler
MLB:Gary, Tauilili
CB: Kelvin, Marlin, Jerraud, Jennings, Hughes/Lacey (not sure yet hughes sucked yesterday)
SS: Bob, Melvin
FS: Antoine, Giordano, Silva

LS: Snow
K: Adam Nougatieri
P: Pat Mcafee (future pro bowler)

Practice Squad
Curtis Painter
Adrian Grady
Lance Ball
Ramon Humber
Jacob Lacey (if he doesn't make the roster)
Sam Giguire

and two other people who have yet to really stand out probably an offensive lineman and another defensive back. Painter and Grady are good enough to make the roster I think, there just isn't room for them.... Humber is a good special teamer....that is how EVERY SINGLE UDFA makes it on every NFL team especially the colts so keep an eye on him.

It's finally here and Ryan Diem PLEASE COME BACK!

after that wonderful display of our usual pre-season awfulness I've got a few things to write about.

I'll start with the negatives:

Corey Hilliard Blows. He his a fringe player that has third string written all over him. 3 sacks in 6 plays ALL from the right side.......Thankfully Diem only has a muscle strain in his back.

Third down defense didn't do very well at all. Although two of the vikings first downs came from going for it on 4th and 1 and 4th and 2. So technically they stopped them on third. Would Minny have gone for it in the regular season? I don't know. Phillip Wheeler got beat twice by Shiancoe for gains of 12 and 14 but I think that's just something that Phillip will have to get down. It's his first action at OLB in a while and considering he played the Mike in college.....he'll come along.

Special teams still worry me. Yes Pat Mcafee played awesome and he will probably be a good, if not better option than Hunter was. But returns still suck. I think it's the players. We have plodders that can barely get to the 20 without getting bombed. Simpson couldn't do it last year, and garcon hasn't showed that much either. WE need a roscoe parrish/sproles/hall type guy. A burner "lightening in a bottle" type guy. Part of me thinks BP and Co. don't really give a shit about that. Yes they care that the guy gets the ball in a decent position, but they think they don't really need to waste a pick on a guy because they Have Peyton. I wouldn't be surprised if that was their attitude. As long as P is leading the offense down the field if we start at the 18 or the 46 doesn't matter. I say we get a burner......but I don't call the shots.

Now onto the good stuff:

Running backs: Joe looked like his old self again on that first stretch. Pollak on the pull knifed down Ej Henderson, joe showed some shake and bake, and BOOM 14 yards on the stretch. Haven't seen that in about 2 years now. Donald brown was great. Quick to the hole, fast through it, decisive cuts, 55 on 3. I was hoping he would get the time Painter got but he strutted his stuff in about 4 minutes of play time and that was enough for the coaches and the fans. I can't wait to see him again.

already mentioned it, but Pat Mcafee can bomb it on the punts. Good to see that.

One subtle thing I saw was on the first third down, was the communication between Peyton and Collie. 3rd and 6 P looked at Collie, they both pointed at the same thing, snap, throw, 7 yards, first down. Right now I think Collie is the guy over pierre.

that's it..........next post....probably friday.