2009 Regular Season - Week 1 - Bears vs Pack - 9/13 7pm NBC

[dew1679666265]

I kind of question those projections. The Titans having a top 5 offense and a 32nd ranked special teams, the Steelers having an average defense (13) and the Ravens with a 29th ranked offense are all really odd projections.

 

Though if they're right about the Titans there (#5 offense and #6 defense), I'll be plenty happy.

Actually, one of the FO guys responded directly to that question:

 

Have you seen Craig Hentrich kick lately? Have you seen them coverage? Have you seen the returners the past 6-8 years other than Carr and Pacman, neither of whom is on the team this season? Decent backup LBs are normally the mainstay of your special teams, and their LB backups are Keglar, Allred, and McRath, all of whom are young. I don't really think they'll end up #32, but if I had to guess I'd say they end up in the bottom quarter of the league, and, well, somebody has to be #32 in the preseason projections.

 

I'll also point out that Bironas, despite a strong leg, has never really had a down year of the sort all PK's have, and has missed FGs he normally makes in both playoff games, probably his two biggest/most valuable FG misses as a Titan.

 

Thanks, I hadn't seen that.

 

It still only raises more questions, though. Hentrich's issues are legitimate, but they're knocking Bironas down because he missed a couple of field goals, even after admitting that he hasn't had a down year yet? The kickoff defense average was bad last year, but the Titans also recorded the second most touchbacks in the NFL. They also held opposing returners to a 9.1 yard average, which is middle of the pack. They were also 7th in the league in pinning teams inside the 20 on punts. Titan returners were average at best last year, but both will be new this season (Finnegan likely returning punts and Javon Ringer likely returning kicks). Titans also finished last year middle of the pack (15) in ST, according to DVOA.

 

I don't think the ST should be ranked that highly, but last in the league is overdoing it, I'd say. That's probably the least questionable ranking of the ones I mentioned, though. I still don't grasp the idea of the Steelers having an average defense this year.

[David]

Funny thing is, Kiper was really down on Cutler in the 06 draft, IIRC.

 

I don't have insider access, but his 06 draft article is here:

 

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft06/insider/columns/story?columnist=kiper_jr_mel&id=2428772&action=upsell&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnfl%2fdraft06%2finsider%2fcolumns%2fstory%3fcolumnist%3dkiper_jr_mel%26id%3d2428772

 

 

http://www.broncosforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34797

 

 

The weirder thing is he was saying those things just months ago, and now he's saying what he just said about the Bears...

 

 

Kiper says Cassel would have been an "upgrade" over Cutler and that Cutler, to put it mildly, overrated.

 

"[Cutler] throws one pass, he's a Hall of Famer," Kiper says. "I've seen the media put him in the Hall of Fame. I had to run to the bathroom quick. It was making me ill. I've been hearing this overhype.

 

"This guy was overhyped at the combine, he was overhyped at Senior Bowl week, he's been overhyped before he was drafted. The media, they love Jay Cutler. Jay Cutler can do no wrong I've been saying he's overrated since Day 1. Everyone's been pounding their chests saying, 'Oh, I love Jay Cutler, I'm a genius.' They have egg on their face now."

 

Kiper points out that Cutler has yet to lead the Broncos to a winning record or a playoff appearance. Also, Kiper says, "[Cutler] makes throws that leave you scratching you head, which I said on draft day when he was picked. Yeah, he's got a strong arm, but my daughter knew he had a strong arm. She could've written that report."

[Banedon]

Haha...Kiper.

[dew1679666265]

Kiper points out that Cutler has yet to lead the Broncos to a winning record or a playoff appearance.

 

It's amazing how often this stat is misrepresented as being indicative of the play of an individual.

[bukie]

Studies show that Jay Cutler has yet to play a single down on the defensive side of the football in his career.

[dew1679666265]

Studies show that Jay Cutler has yet to play a single down on the defensive side of the football in his career.

 

I guess that's the difference between him and winning quarterbacks. Winning QBs play defense too apparently.

[bukie]

Studies show that Jay Cutler has yet to play a single down on the defensive side of the football in his career.

 

I guess that's the difference between him and winning quarterbacks. Winning QBs play defense too apparently.

Jay is selfish that way. Always has to be the quarterback.

[Banedon]

Studies show that Jay Cutler has yet to play a single down on the defensive side of the football in his career.

 

I think DVOA had him playing defense too...hence that #2 ranking. They might want to adjust.

[dew1679666265]

Studies show that Jay Cutler has yet to play a single down on the defensive side of the football in his career.

 

I guess that's the difference between him and winning quarterbacks. Winning QBs play defense too apparently.

Jay is selfish that way. Always has to be the quarterback.

 

He should look at all the snaps Peyton and Brady have played on defense and use that as an example of how a winning QB does it.

[ELCABALLO45]

Even though its not gonna happen, it would be so funny to see the Lions win the divison.

[ctcf]

Even though its not gonna happen, it would be so funny to see the Lions win the divison.

 

I don't think I'd even be upset actually.

[cbbryan]

Even though its not gonna happen, it would be so funny to see the Lions win the divison.

 

I don't think I'd even be upset actually.

 

I think I'd be upset, but it would be a great story.

[jersey cubs fan]

So is everybody bored with football already?

[Banedon]

So is everybody bored with football already?

 

Sunday night is sooooo far away!

 

I hate looking forward to Sundays...makes my weekends go too fast...heh.

[hawkeyecub]

Yeah, if you look at the projections, they're the only NFC team in the top 7, and the clear favorite (especially if the Williams Wall misses 4 games) as the only team projected with more than 10 wins.

 

They're cleared to play this season and nothing further will be decided until after the year.

[Banedon]

Yeah, if you look at the projections, they're the only NFC team in the top 7, and the clear favorite (especially if the Williams Wall misses 4 games) as the only team projected with more than 10 wins.

 

They're cleared to play this season and nothing further will be decided until after the year.

 

I was about to dispute that, but I see the decision finally came down today.

[Keener98]

Yeah, if you look at the projections, they're the only NFC team in the top 7, and the clear favorite (especially if the Williams Wall misses 4 games) as the only team projected with more than 10 wins.

 

They're cleared to play this season and nothing further will be decided until after the year.

 

What a bunch of BS

[jersey cubs fan]

Sunday night is sooooo far away!

 

I hate looking forward to Sundays...makes my weekends go too fast...heh.

 

Seriously, this is taking too long. I want football now.

 

 

 

 

And it better not be any of that unfair overtime nonsense football.

[Jon]

I can't believe we have to wait until October to get a noon kickoff. I love noon kickoffs...

[Magnetic Curses]

Yeah, if you look at the projections, they're the only NFC team in the top 7, and the clear favorite (especially if the Williams Wall misses 4 games) as the only team projected with more than 10 wins.

 

They're cleared to play this season and nothing further will be decided until after the year.

 

What a bunch of BS

 

the bright side is maybe they'll catch the shawne merriman disease.

[jersey cubs fan]

I can't believe we have to wait until October to get a noon kickoff. I love noon kickoffs...

 

I prefer 1:00 since I can get a little more sleep. But year, the early Sunday kickoffs are the absolute best gamedays. And the Bears don't get a 2nd one until late October.

[Brian]

if Cutler sucks i'm blaming it on his new twitter addiction

 

[ELCABALLO45]

About 48 hours to go!

[Banedon]

if Cutler sucks i'm blaming it on his new twitter addiction

 

 

Huh...I thought at one point I'd heard that was a fake account. Looks like it's verified now though.

[Brian]

if Cutler sucks i'm blaming it on his new twitter addiction

 

 

Huh...I thought at one point I'd heard that was a fake account. Looks like it's verified now though.

 

There was a fake one, he just started this one in the last week. Olsen must have talked him into it.