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The official NFL thread

Who knows why the texans came out flat yesterday.. But last season, those young players really came on at some points of the season and played very physical against some good teams.

A team in their division that should be on the look out is Tennessee. Very physical defense and a strong offensive line. That new RB they got in the first round looked excellent yesterday (although Vince Young had a knee injury yesterday and we'll have to see how Collins does).

Holding that Jacksonville team to only 33 yards rushing yesterday (at under 2 yards per attempt) was pretty impressive.
 
Does any team have a better O-line/D-line combo than the Minnesota Vikings ?

Getting Jared Allen added to that D-line makes them one of the very best D-lines in the league. And holy crap that O-line of theirs is amazing. There were plenty of times last year where they opened up holes big enough to drive two tanks through, reminiscent of the old cowboys line.
 
The Vikings have a dangerous D line/O line combo, but their O-line took a big hit with LT Bryant McKinnie getting suspended in the pre-season. He is one of the best run-blocking tackles in the league, and if I'm not mistaken, he was on the Seahalks the year Sean Alexander had the 28 TD season. Alexander then went on to completely dismantle (age had a bit to do with that as well) when McKinnie jumped ship to the Vikings.

Their season will depend on the progression of Tarvaris Jackson, and the play of receivers Bernard Berrian, and youngster Sidney Rice. A passing game that will keep the defense honest will open up all kinds of holes for a dynamic running game, and give them a real shot to do some damage this year.
 
leaffan2005 said:
The Vikings have a dangerous D line/O line combo, but their O-line took a big hit with LT Bryant McKinnie getting suspended in the pre-season.
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That's right, forgot about that.. McKinnie will be out with suspension for the first 4 weeks, correct ?

Their weakness was the secondary.. If they can shore that up with the additions they brought in, they make for a heck of a good team.. Although I don't trust Tarvaris Jackson, but their coach has been extremely high on him during the preseason just glowing about him.
 
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leaffan2005 said:
The Vikings have a dangerous D line/O line combo, but their O-line took a big hit with LT Bryant McKinnie getting suspended in the pre-season. He is one of the best run-blocking tackles in the league, and if I'm not mistaken, he was on the Seahalks the year Sean Alexander had the 28 TD season. Alexander then went on to completely dismantle (age had a bit to do with that as well) when McKinnie jumped ship to the Vikings.
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That was Hutchenson the LG, who dispelled the notion that guard play wasn't worth the big bucks. Maybe the best O-lineman in the game.

McKinnie was a Minnesota draft pick.
 
How about Minnesota's center (weird name that escapes me now). Damn that guy is good. He has a good element of "mean and nasty' to his game.
 
Ahhh, Hutchinson. My bad.

BTW, did Willie Parker ever look possessed yesterday?

I think all the talk about his carries being lowered due to the emergence of Mendenhall, and the year he had last year has motivated him to elevate his game back to where it was a few years ago. He already has more TD's than he did all of last year.
 
It also helps that Marvel Smith is in the best shape he has been in. His surgery has allowed him to play painfree now and absolutely manhandled Mario Williams in rush blocking assignments. He created many nice little lanes for Parker to scoot through. Mario being a pass rush specialist, got schooled. He beat out Marvel a number of times in Pass pro though.
 
Roethlisberger only had to throw 14 passes. That happens when you're ahead by a few scores and have a running game.
 
yeah, mckinnie is the guy who replaced korey stringer.


and yeah, birk's one hell of an o-lineman. if i'm not mistaken, he lined up alongside adam timmerman, with pace securing the blindside tackle on the rams incredible line in the late-90s/early-2000s.
 
That should be a very interesting game tonight..

You have the Vikings who have had a very positive offseason and a good attitude going into the season.

And you have the Packers AT HOME, who have a very good team, trying to stand pat as one of the best teams in the conference without Favre.
 
well, this is a good test for aaron rodgers, that's for sure.

he won't find a bigger stage than the first monday nighter of the year, at lambeau no less.
 
Speaking of Center's, anyone notice how sieve-like the Colts O-line was up the middle without one of the best center's in Jeff Saturday ?

They were also missing their guard Mike Pollack who has a knee injury as well.
 
Can anybody spare some offensive linemen for my Rams? Absolutely embaressing outing yesterday, and Linehan better get fired soon because the stupid number of false starts and missed assignments is getting into the ridiculous stage.

Steven Jackson is still a beast. Anyone see when he was clobbered yesterday after a 15 yard catch, and the guy that hit him thought he had hurt him, when Jackson pops right back up and starts going crazy and posing for the crowd, haha.
 
I never liked Scott Linehan. He wasn't bad when he was Miami's Offensive co-ordinator (not really great either).. But when I saw his demeanor with the dolphins, I never thought he would be a good head coach .
 
LeafNation said:
Speaking of Center's, anyone notice how sieve-like the Colts O-line was up the middle without one of the best center's in Jeff Saturday ?

They were also missing their guard Mike Pollack who has a knee injury as well.
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it's amazing how important an offensive line is, and how to the casual or even intermediate fan, its importance can be so easily overlooked.

definitely the most unheralded in position and possibly in all of sports.
 
Yeah, I watch line play over half of the time when watching games. The casual fan just doesn't understand how much technique goes into being a very good O- lineman.

Coaches certainly know the value of these guys. I was looking for some good O-lineman to be cut on final cut down day last week (teams carry 8 or 9 offensive lineman). And there just weren't any quality ones cut. I mean, you had a guy out there like LeCharles Bentley who was coming off some serious injuries, and who were good at one time, but will never be the same player again.. And you had guys cut with terrible attitudes... But teams keep all the good o-lineman they can find.

Sure, you can find some decent receivers (and other positions) who were cut, but VERY rarely a good offensive lineman.
 
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