Commentary: Aqua's off-season rankings

[DaBruinz]

We'll he'd have to catch him first and I just don't see that happening. Ginn is way faster and more quick than anyone on your team. Get the ball in his hands and SEE YA!

Ginn is fast, but he's not quick. Maybe you should actually know something about the players on your team. Ginn purposely didn't do agility drills because he KNEW it would hurt his stock. One of the biggest knocks on Ginn is that he lacks lateral agility and has stiff hips.

Ginn = Bethel Johnson

 

[sebman2112]

Ginn is fast, but he's not quick. Maybe you should actually know something about the players on your team. Ginn purposely didn't do agility drills because he KNEW it would hurt his stock. One of the biggest knocks on Ginn is that he lacks lateral agility and has stiff hips.

Ginn = Bethel Johnson

What's funny is I was almost going to say that (he's B. Johnson) in one of my earlier post.

 

[coltsfan]

Ginn is fast, but he's not quick. Maybe you should actually know something about the players on your team. Ginn purposely didn't do agility drills because he KNEW it would hurt his stock. One of the biggest knocks on Ginn is that he lacks lateral agility and has stiff hips.

Ginn = Bethel Johnson

I was as shocked as anyone by the Ginn pick, but that's a bit much. Ginn's lateral agility looked pretty good to me when he left a fast Florida Gator special teams unit in the dust on the first play of that game. I like Welker as a player, but he's no Ted Ginn in the return game.

In reality, the Dolphins are going to be judged on John Beck as much as anyone else. I agree with their assertion that Brady Quinn has somewhat limited upside. I think he'll be a Trent Green type in the NFL, which isn't bad at all, but isn't a guy who can carry a team. But Beck better become a good QB and not be a guy who was just a product of a pass happy system in college.

 

[fair catch fryar]

I was as shocked as anyone by the Ginn pick, but that's a bit much. Ginn's lateral agility looked pretty good to me when he left a fast Florida Gator special teams unit in the dust on the first play of that game. I like Welker as a player, but he's no Ted Ginn in the return game.

In reality, the Dolphins are going to be judged on John Beck as much as anyone else. I agree with their assertion that Brady Quinn has somewhat limited upside. I think he'll be a Trent Green type in the NFL, which isn't bad at all, but isn't a guy who can carry a team. But Beck better become a good QB and not be a guy who was just a product of a pass happy system in college.

IMO you guys got a better player in Gonzales than the Fins got with Ginn.

 

[TomBrady'sGoat]

I was as shocked as anyone by the Ginn pick, but that's a bit much. Ginn's lateral agility looked pretty good to me when he left a fast Florida Gator special teams unit in the dust on the first play of that game. I like Welker as a player, but he's no Ted Ginn in the return game.

In reality, the Dolphins are going to be judged on John Beck as much as anyone else. I agree with their assertion that Brady Quinn has somewhat limited upside. I think he'll be a Trent Green type in the NFL, which isn't bad at all, but isn't a guy who can carry a team. But Beck better become a good QB and not be a guy who was just a product of a pass happy system in college.

But you can actually win a superbowl with Trent Green. Miami hasn't had a QB you could say that about since Marino and it is their most pressing need.

Are you saying Ginn is going to carry a team? If not, then why hold Quinn to that standard but not Ginn?

Heck, I wouldn't be so rough on them if they drafted an important cog like a big lineman or something. they got cute and drafted a freaking speedster. they drafted a position that is not very important and has a high failure rate.

 

[coltsfan]

But you can actually win a superbowl with Trent Green. Miami hasn't had a QB you could say that about since Marino and it is their most pressing need.

Are you saying Ginn is going to carry a team? If not, then why hold Quinn to that standard but not Ginn?

Heck, I wouldn't be so rough on them if they drafted an important cog like a big lineman or something. they got cute and drafted a freaking speedster. they drafted a position that is not very important and has a high failure rate.

Good point on Green and winning a Superbowl. That's why they better be right on John Beck. Their thinking is that he is on par with Brady Quinn and will be a solid NFL QB. They better be right on that, and Beck better not be another QB who got overhyped going into the draft b/c teams so badly need QBs.

As for Ginn, if he can do for them close to what Devin Hester did in the return game, and also give them two or three big plays a game at WR, then there is some merit in that pick.

 

[Jacky Roberts]

10. Seattle Seahawks- Despite having no pick in the first round of the draft the Seahawks made out pretty well this off-season having a big free agent period. The team continued to bulk an already strong defense adding pro bowl defensive end Patrick Kerney, and Jacksonville safety Deon Grant. Grant takes over for Hamlin which was a monster loss until the signing of Grant. Darrell Jackson was traded to division rival San Francisco and I hated the move. The Seahawks are depending on Nate Burleson and DJ Hacket to pick up the slack at WR.
Best add: Patrick Kerney DE
Worst loss: Ken Hamlin S
Outlook: 9-7 and right with everyone else in the NFC West.

9. New Orleans Saints- New Orleans is fresh off of a miracle season that ended in Chicago in the NFC Championship game. The big surprise of that team was the defense playing solid all year long. This off-season the Saints decided focus on that side of the ball in the draft and free agency. Veteran WR Joe Horn is gone to division foe Atlanta but New Orleans replaced him with former Tennessee WR Robert Meachem. Eric Johnson is the new tight end from San Francisco and I really like that move. Brian Simmons, Jason David and Kevin Kaeshivarn are new additions on defense. The Saints will have a hard time with a repeat performance but should compete again.
Best add: Brian Simmons LB
Worst loss: Joe Horn WR
Outlook: 10-6 winning the NFC South.

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- The Bucs were already notorious for a stout defense and this off-season they’ve only become stronger. Kevin Carter is the new defensive end and he is joined by Gaines Adams on the opposite side to make for a strong pass rush. Cato June brings his Super Bowl bling down to Florida to man a linebacker position. Luke Pettigout is new on the line and the quarterback position has been a mess to say the least this off-season. The Bucs picked up Jake Plummer and Jeff Garcia only to see Plummer retire. Bruce Gradkowski and Chris Simms will be given a chance to win the job but it’s all but Garcia’s at this point. The Bucs failed to find another WR and I’m still not high on their offense.
Best add: Gaines Adams DE
Worst loss: Jake Plummer QB (I know he was never a Buccaneer, but would’ve been nice to have him.)
Outlook: 5-11. The defense is great but I don’t like the offense, at all.

7. Detroit Lions- All of April everyone was saying Gaines Adams at number 2 for the Lions. Detroit opted to go for their 3rd WR in 4 years with Calvin Johnson and rightfully so. Johnson is a freak with his abilities and will absolutely be a star receiver in this league. Couple Johnson with Roy Williams and Jon Kitna can only smile thinking about his targets. Detroit was also aggressive in free agency building that offense gobbling up running backs Tatum Bell and TJ Duckett to make for a great thunder and lightning combo. Shaun McDonald is also a new addition at receiver as the Lions are running out of room for pass catchers. George Foster, Edwin Mulitalo and Zach Piller are all new on the offensive line. This offense is entirely new but what about the defense? The Lions continued their spree in the 2nd round drafting Drew Stanton to groom behind Kitna. On defense Dre’ Bly is gone and Travis Fisher is in at corner back. The Lions will score some points, but are they going to stop any one from doing the same to them?
Best add: Calvin Johnson WR
Worst loss: Dre’ Bly CB
Outlook: 4-12. They’re on their way; believe me, just a couple of years off.

6. Cleveland Browns- The Browns are building a solid core on the offensive line. Last year they signed LeCharles Bentley to play center, and this year they made Eric Steinbach the highest paid lineman in league history, and also drafted the best OT in the draft in Joe Thomas. Brady Quinn and Eric Wright were the succeeding picks in what was a very solid draft. Brady Quinn will probably be the starter this year and the Browns will go through some growing pains. They lost Rueben Droughns but added Jamal Lewis at running back. Perhaps the best moves the Browns made were getting Kellen Winslow and Braylon Edwards healthy. However, it will still be a tough year for the Browns.
Best add: Joe Thomas OT
Worst loss: Rueben Droughns RB
Outlook: 4-12. Similar to the Lions, they are on their way, just not yet.

5. Oakland Raiders- Calling the Raiders’ offense average last year would be an insult to average. Randy Moss was complaining, Jerry Porter didn’t even want to play and Aaron Walter was on his backside most the time. Perhaps this is the reason the Raiders overhauled the offense. New quarterbacks are in with Jamarcus Russell and Josh McCown, new runners with Dominic Rhodes and Michael Bush, new receivers with Mike Williams and John Lee Higgins, a rookie tight end in Zach Miller, and finally a new line with Jeremy Newberry and Marion Henderson. Quentin Moses was their first defensive pick at DE but he was the only real addition on defense. This Raiders’ team is entirely new which can’t be a bad thing after finishing 2-14, but I don’t see a lot of upside this year either.
Best add: Dominic Rhodes RB
Worst loss: Randy Moss WR
Outlook: 4-12. No defense and still some instability at QB and WR.

4. St. Louis Rams- This team is making all the right moves at this point. The offense is probably the best in the NFC after adding tight end Randy McMichael, WR Drew Bennett, iron man fullback Brian Leonard. Defense was their weakness in 2006 however, and the Rams went out and got linebacker Chris Draft from Carolina, and Adam Carriker and James Hall in the draft. The greatest show on turf just might be back with Tory Holt (the best WR in the NFL in my opinion) Issac Bruce, Drew Bennett, Randy McMichael, Steven Jackson and Marc Bulger. The Rams are my sexy pick for this year.
Best add: Randy McMichael TE
Worst loss: Kevin Curtis WR
Outlook: 12-4 and my surprise team taking the NFC West by storm.

3. New England Patriots- The Patriots have done everything they never did before. They went out and signed a lot of big names in free agency rather than keeping the core guys in and believing in the system. To run through the list, Adalius Thomas, Donte Stallworth, Randy Moss, Kyle Brady, Wes Welker, and retained standout corner Asante Samuel. Moss and Stallworth have question marks but would be huge if they pan out, Wes Welker is a nice 3rd option and an average punt returner and Adalius Thomas is one of the best linebackers in football. Brandon Meriweather (another troubled player) was their first selection in the draft. I see two possibilities with this team, either they sweep through the league and take the title, or all these question marks blow up in their face.
Best add: Adalius Thomas LB
Worst loss: Corey Dillon RB
Outlook: 11-5 and winning the AFC East again.

2. San Francisco 49ers- Who isn’t picking the 49ers to do very well this year? The reason is the off-season this front office has put together. Alex Smith is progressing and they surrounded him with loads of talents. Vernon Davis and Frank Gore are still there and in come Ashlie Lelie, Darrell Jackson and drafted speedster Jason Hill. On defense Nate Clements got a huge contract, Tully Banta-Cain is in at LB, first round selection Patrick Willis, and Michael Lewis is a new safety. This is a pretty balanced team and depending on Alex Smith, could be pretty darn good. Antonio Bryant is out but this team is on its way. Everyone is drinking the kool-aid but I’m not 100% sold yet.
Best add: Nate Clements CB
Worst loss: Antonio Bryant WR
Outlook: 9-7 challenging for a playoff spot in the NFC

1. Denver Broncos- I’m beginning to think I could run for 1000 yards in the Denver running scheme. Bring in Travis Henry and you have a dangerous ground attack. Henry led the Titans to 6 straight wins and a near playoff birth last season running for 1211 yards. Daniel Graham is the new tight end from New England and Patrick Ramsey will back up 2nd year man Jay Cutler. Dre Bly joins the Broncos giving them the stingiest set of corners in all the NFL. The Broncos knocked out the draft also getting pass rushers in Tim Crowder and Jarvis Moss. Al Wilson is the only big loss this team took but I still love the Broncos to do very well this year and I’ve given them my early Super Bowl pick.
Best add: Travis Henry RB
Worst loss: Al Wilson LB
Outlook: 13-3 and Super Bowl champions.

Well there it is. It may be objective in some ways but that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. There are always winners and losers in the off-season but no matter how you slice it, it’s always difficult to forecast. I really believe the Dolphins can sneak into the playoffs and be the surprise team this season. If the offense can get Chambers and Brown going and figure out the QB spot, that would be enough with the awesome defense. And my early picks for the Super Bowl are in; I’ve got Denver beating St. Louis at this point. Take it how you like, but it’s still very early. Here’s to looking forward to a great NFL season, it can’t come soon enough.

So basically a rookie QB, a loss of a young DB and starting linebacker and the Broncos are SB bound? Seriously, take a long walk off a short pier. Youre writing abilities are horrible and your biases are obvious. Go back and tell your high school guidance counselor you want to work at Taco Bell, it'll be better for everyone.

 

[Aqua4Ever04]

Ginn is fast, but he's not quick. Maybe you should actually know something about the players on your team. Ginn purposely didn't do agility drills because he KNEW it would hurt his stock. One of the biggest knocks on Ginn is that he lacks lateral agility and has stiff hips.

Ginn = Bethel Johnson

Yeah he's not illusive or agile to make tacklers miss? Are you kidding me? He was the most illusive player in college football last year hands down. How else do you think he takes those punts and screen passes to the house? He didn't do the drills because his ankle was only 75%.

 

[pats1]

Let's keep it clean and relevant, folks. The post was in no way, shape, or form made in a contentious manner. Please respond comparably. If this degenerates into a flame fest, the only thing that will come out of it is more work for the moderators.

If you have a problem, work it out elsewhere. It's called PM's...

 

[Aqua4Ever04]

Agreed with you pats1.

 

[hartleeyikes]

      W    L           W     L
            
Ne   11    5    Phi   11     5
Mia   8    8    Dal   10     6
Nj    7    9    Nyg    5    11
Buf   5   11    Was    4    12
            
Bal  11    5    Chi   11     5
Cin  11    5    Gb     6    10
Pit   8    8    Min    6    10
Cle   4   12    Det    4    12
            
Ind  10    6    No    10     6
Jax   8    8    Car    8     8
Hou   7    9    Atl    8     8
Ten   4   12    Tb     5    11
            
Den  13    3    Stl   12     4
Sd   11    5    Sea    9     7
Kc    6   10    Sf     9     7
Oak   4   12    Ari    8     8
            
    128  128         126   130

Well, there is that problem with the league as-a-whole finishing under .500

(It's late, maybe I missed one...)

How is it that every year everyone is worried about all the 8-6 teams that
will finish 10-6 and not make the playoffs while ignoring the fact that they
have games against each other???

 

[spacecrime]

Let's keep it clean and relevant, folks. The post was in no way, shape, or form made in a contentious manner. Please respond comparably. If this degenerates into a flame fest, the only thing that will come out of it is more work for the moderators.

If you have a problem, work it out elsewhere. It's called PM's...

So if you have a problem, why didn't you use a PM?

Feel the need to display your power? Delusions of grandeur? Chill out. There are many heated discussions all the time that work themselves out, and the board is better for it.

Regarding this thread, consider that the original post is from a long time pot stirrer whose goal is NOT the discussion of the New England Patriots, but continual sniping at the Pats. People are responding to the body of work.

If you want to do soemthing, consider reading the forum rules regarding fans of other teams.

Or consider following your own advice: If you have a problem, work it out elsewhere. It's called PM's.

 

[DaBruinz]

Agreed with you pats1.

Shut up, Aqua. I don't know which post Pats1 deleted, but you a loser who welches on his bets, no matter if they are money bets or not.

 

[pats1]

Shut up, Aqua. I don't know which post Pats1 deleted, but you a loser who welches on his bets, no matter if they are money bets or not.

It's more like which one's I didn't. There were 22 posts that were fit for some VLR thread - which this is not. I don't care about an internet bet (of all things), nor do I care about what Aqua has said in the past. We're here to talk football folks. And in this case, it was Aqua who did so and many of us who did not. We're above that. Let's show it. There are more important things to life than worrying about somebody sitting behind their computer 3,000 miles away not making good on a bet.

And on that note, I think getting back to a relevant debate would be in order.

 

[DaBruinz]

Yeah he's not illusive or agile to make tacklers miss? Are you kidding me? He was the most illusive player in college football last year hands down. How else do you think he takes those punts and screen passes to the house? He didn't do the drills because his ankle was only 75%.

Well, there are a few problems with your HYPING Ginn the way you are. First off, Ginn only put up an 11 YPR on his punts. Ginn's YPR on kick-offs was 24.4. Again, pretty good, but helped out by a good special teams unit. And that was with a pretty damn good special teams group in front of him. He won't have that in Miami. Miami has some of the worst special teams that I have ever seen, so I fully expect Ginn to NOT be as good because the blocking isn't there.

Oh, BTW, the success of a screen pass has as much to do with his O-line and TE and other WRs getting out to block for him as it does his ability.

What I find truly amazing, Aqua, is that you clearly didn't like the pick, yet you are such a hypocrite that you are defending it as if your life depended on it. Heck, you've gone beyond the point of being sensible.

 

[DaBruinz]

It's more like which one's I didn't. There were 22 posts that were fit for some VLR thread - which this is not. I don't care about an internet bet (of all things), nor do I care about what Aqua has said in the past.

So its a bet over the internet. A bets a bet. The fact is that Aqua didn't live up to his end and has since made a fool of himself.

His hiding behind the mods is ridiculous.

 

[PATRIOT64]

What I don't understand Aqua is you feed us this trash about Miami actually a threat to New England in 2007 and there you go posting Miami's record at 8-8?

Last time I looked 8-8 will get you 3rd best in this division and well gone from the playoff picture.

Its bad enough if you feed us dirt about Miami even getting a chance to sniff the top of the AFC East but when you can't fathom anything other than an 8-8 yourself its pretty much time to stop us hearing of how good the Miami team is - You yourself don't think so.

I suggest to kind of cutting out defending that Miami team being good overall until they are contenders...or at least until you yourself think they are...Obviously you don't and we don't either.

See us in 2008-you may get a whiff of a shot at the top then,This year its probably true at 8-8 which sounds about right,the Dolphins are m-e-d-i-o-c-r-e at best and thats agreed by us all.

 

[Double G]

When someone is a total homer like Aqua is, it is impossible to write anything without bias for your team and against your #1 rival.

To say Miami will finish 8-8 and have a shot at the playoffs at the same time makes no sense. Aside from the pathetic NFC, when was the last time an 8-8 AFC team had any shot at making the playoffs.........

 

[Kdo5]

Broncos had a better season than the Pats? LMFAO. That is a joke.

The 49'ers picked up a bunch of overrated players and over paid them. The Pats had the #1 offseason easy.

 

[primetime]

I don't think the Broncos will win the Super Bowl. I also think so many people underrate the Buffalo Bills. Sure, they lost some good players, but they also have alot of young talent, a young QB who I'd put on the verge of entering the top 10 in the league and is only getting better, and a good coaching staff; I see this team contending for a wild card spot.