NFL 2006 - the only constant is change - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Bobblehead · 07-28-2006, 01:07 PM

I created this thread to talk about the 2006 NFL season.

Roaf just retired - that's got to hurt Larry Johnson
Will Culpepper get back his mojo with the Fish?
Will the loss of Steve Hutchinson hurt the Seahawk ground attack?
How will TO do under Purcells?
Have the Pats finally lost too much talent to contend?
Can the Eagles rebound from an off year?
Do the Vikings perform like they were expected to last season, or do the off-field shenannigans keep taking their toll?
The Cardinals are a common dark-horse playoff pick (again). Can they do it this year?
Does Eli make take another step this season, or is he Keith Gretzky to Peyton's Wayne?
Are the Bengals a team to watch, or is their gameday program going to be comprised of mug shots?
Will you miss MNF on ABC? Or will Sunday Night on NBC be even better?

Pagal4321 · 07-28-2006, 02:39 PM

Let see if I can answer some of these...

Roaf retiring is HUGE for the Chiefs...he was the anchor of their line IMO. So it hurts them for sure.

I hope Culpepper get's his mojo back, but being a Viking fan I can't help but have a sour taste in my mouth after the way he acted before the trade.

Loosing Hutch will hurt Shaun's options on the left, but as a whole I think the Seahawks can continue to dominate on the ground. It will just take some time to find a comfortable groove for them.

Parcells will help TO, I think. There will still be drama with TO and Bledsoe, but TO will tone it down in comparison to his Philly days.

I will not count out the Pats until they show me that losing that talent will make them a worse football team. But they have lost ALOT of people and McGinest was a huge loss for them.

I'm not sold on the Eagles passing game, their WRs are fairly weak and that will hurt them. And adjusting to a new offense might make it hard for them to do anything.

Well as a Vikes fan, I'm optimistic the shenannigans don't affect the team. I think they will content in the NFC North...and I just hope and pray Brad Johnson holds up. The defense will be fun to watch.

The Cards will live and die by their offensive line. If their O-Line can run block for Edge, they will do well. If they can't....well then, for all intents and purposes they will do no better then last year.

I don't think Eli is that great, truthfully. And living in his brother's shadow and dealing with the NY media pressure, might be enough to make him snap.

Bengals are still a team to watch because Marvin Lewis is a good coach. They NEED to disipline the turs though, to set an example.

I'm interested to see Sunday Night on NBC and MNF on ESPN. But NBC has the far superior schedule to ESPN's MNF.

And the loss of LeCharles Bentley to Cleveland just made them one of the worst teams in the league again.

Bobblehead · 07-28-2006, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pagal4321

...stuff...
And the loss of LeCharles Bentley to Cleveland just made them one of the worst teams in the league again.

Nicely done.

Although I wasn't expecting someone to answer all of them, I just started typing and that was off the top of my head. I didn't even try to cover the Chargers, Saints, Jets, Rams, Bills, Ravens or my beloved 49ers.

I just don't recall many off seasons with so many teams with so many changes. It didn't really seem like a whole lot 'big' happenned, but in retrospect, holy cow.

My FF drafts are going to be brutal to prep, and I'm not sure LT will be my #1 lock like he has been, but I don't see anyone better (and I've never trusted Alexander).

And this season I guess we see if Brees can do it without LT. McAllister is good, Bush is unknown (as far as NFL), Bennett is fragile, but will the line be more confident now that they don't have Brooks back there?

And Bentley - torn patellar. Ouch for all concerned.

StoneCole · 07-28-2006, 03:54 PM

Is anyone else preparing for fantasy leagues having a particularilly difficult time ranking players this year? I'm finding it very difficult.

Normally, I see things in black and white, but this year is full color, and a lot harder to see IMO.

I guess I'm feeling like this year, more than year's past is a big transition from older to younger guys.

Bobblehead · 07-28-2006, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StoneCole

Is anyone else preparing for fantasy leagues having a particularilly difficult time ranking players this year? I'm finding it very difficult.

Normally, I see things in black and white, but this year is full color, and a lot harder to see IMO.

I guess I'm feeling like this year, more than year's past is a big transition from older to younger guys.

Absolutely.

One of my leagues has 14 teams, and has 2 starting QBs, 2 starting RBs.
I've usually been strong in the RB side, but that kills me in the QB side. This year seems way more difficult.

This league I also pick individual defensive players (I have 2 leagues like that - its all about the tackles). I was middle of the pack, but no realistic chance of moving up. I asked one guy what it would take to get Eli, since that was my only realistic chance at a starter that was putting up any points at the time. I gave up my entire starting D. The rif raf I picked up to fill in did as well as I could have hoped, but then Eli went in the tank, throwing more INTs than TDs. *sigh*

I won my other 2 pools on the strength of strong RBs. A bad day by an RB is always better than a bad day by a QB, and their good days are usually comparable.

Just make sure you don't get an RB that is pulled around the goal line (aka - the Warrick Dunn/TJ Duckett rule of thumb).

Pagal4321 · 07-28-2006, 05:47 PM

Fantasy football is looking tough this year. Like Bobble said, usually it's pretty black/white...but this year there seems to be so many question marks and even injuries so far.

Saint Troy · 07-28-2006, 07:12 PM

Being a huge Saints fan, this is going to be a great season back in the Big Easy. After last years debacle, the Saints have some hope, Brees replacing Brooks is good for at least three more wins by himself, he is a leader and a competitor, areas where Brooks failed miserably. Bush will get signed this weekend and will be in camp and ready to go Monday, from TC reports I received today say Deuce is still favoring the knee pretty heavily and wil not be 100% until the first month is over (beware ff fans). Unfortunately the defence is a complete wildcard, cutting Smith was a nice move to show Payton has complete control, but the guy did have talent and will have to be replaced, but we have six safeties in camp. Geaux Saints

Sylvanfan · 07-29-2006, 04:12 PM

Well I don't know if fantasy football this year is any less predictable as any other year. Look back at last year and how things were supposed to go and what actually happened. Most would have grabbed Priest Holmes and overlooked Larry Johnson. Duante Culpepper likely went really high, and Brad Johnson likely never got picked up till mid season. Change happens every year in the NFL, and this year is no exception. Difference is most people who played fantasy ball last year have an extra year experience going into the season and that could explain the extra caution.

Bobblehead · 07-29-2006, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Well I don't know if fantasy football this year is any less predictable as any other year. Look back at last year and how things were supposed to go and what actually happened. Most would have grabbed Priest Holmes and overlooked Larry Johnson. Duante Culpepper likely went really high, and Brad Johnson likely never got picked up till mid season. Change happens every year in the NFL, and this year is no exception. Difference is most people who played fantasy ball last year have an extra year experience going into the season and that could explain the extra caution.

There are alway surprises, but usually 7 of he top 10 are pretty standard on most people's lists. This year it seems to be a bigger crap shoot. Usually a top 3 pick is almost a lock (barring injury) but this year appears to be more of a crap shoot. I don't think draft position is going to matter quite so much.

transplant99 · 07-29-2006, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saint Troy

Bush will get signed this weekend and will be in camp and ready to go Monday, from TC reports

Done deal...6 years. He will be in camp Sunday.

transplant99 · 07-29-2006, 09:13 PM

Also...AJ Hawke has signed a 6 year deal with Green Bay for 37.5 million.

Not a single holdout in Packers camp now.....so at least they have that going for them.

Saint Troy · 07-30-2006, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by transplant99

Done deal...6 years. He will be in camp Sunday.

A day earlier than expected (thanks Vince Young), great news for Saints fans. Hopefully the front office follows through on the rumours and nabs Donnie Edwards from the Chargers to anchor the LBers.

Saint Troy · 07-30-2006, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by transplant99

Also...AJ Hawke has signed a 6 year deal with Green Bay for 37.5 million.

Not a single holdout in Packers camp now.....so at least they have that going for them.

Barring injury Hawk will be the defensive rookie of the year, the Saints were trying to move down a spot or two in the draft to select him before the Texans meltdown. I think he's the second best player coming into the league this season, the Pack could surprise in a division that is up for grabs. Lions are mediocre, Vikings will be better maybe? Bears still have no offence.

Bobblehead · 07-30-2006, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saint Troy

Barring injury Hawk will be the defensive rookie of the year, the Saints were trying to move down a spot or two in the draft to select him before the Texans meltdown. I think he's the second best player coming into the league this season, the Pack could surprise in a division that is up for grabs. Lions are mediocre, Vikings will be better maybe? Bears still have no offence.

Bears haven't had offence in years. Will Grossman be able to play more than half the season? The D is great, but at some point in time someone will figure out a weakness, or a key player will get hurt, then they will be fighting with the Lions for last spot.

The Pack are still a mess - one player won't change that. As good a Favre has been, it would have been better for the long term if they could have played Rodgers this season. One great draft pick won't take them to the promised land, and realistically how much more does Brett have in the tank?

I'm wondering if the Lions might not be worth picking players a bit earlier this year? With Martz running the offense they may put up some nice totals. They may not contend, but they are going to pressure some defenses.

burn_baby_burn · 08-01-2006, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Well I don't know if fantasy football this year is any less predictable as any other year. Look back at last year and how things were supposed to go and what actually happened. Most would have grabbed Priest Holmes and overlooked Larry Johnson. Duante Culpepper likely went really high, and Brad Johnson likely never got picked up till mid season. Change happens every year in the NFL, and this year is no exception. Difference is most people who played fantasy ball last year have an extra year experience going into the season and that could explain the extra caution.

Peyton Manning didn't put up the unbelievable numbers like he had the previous season as well. Every year is tough. I picked up Carson Palmer in the fourth round last season. But I will admit that I didn't expect him to do as well as he did.

Bobblehead · 08-01-2006, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

Peyton Manning didn't put up the unbelievable numbers like he had the previous season as well. Every year is tough. I picked up Carson Palmer in the fourth round last season. But I will admit that I didn't expect him to do as well as he did.

4th round!? Wow, I snagged him in the 2nd round of 2 drafts and thought him a steal there. I'm worried about where I could get him this year. Great season would put him into the top 3 QBs in my mind, but the bad wheel means he may be hobbled for the start of the season.