• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

NFL Preseason/Training Camp 2014 |OT| - This is our year!

squicken

Member
Greg at browns camp

BtoncTiIIAAGsAs.jpg

Apparently belongs to Joe Thomas' family
 

Pimpwerx

Member
Holy hell. I didn't realize the HoF game was this weekend.

FOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOTBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLL!

My pops and I didn't renew our season tix this year. They ended the promotion we'd been using the last few years, and it's just not worth paying nearly twice the last price to sit in the uncomfortable heat drinking Bud Light. So...more Red Zone in my veins this year, and split screen action at 1pm.

I haven't followed Phins training camp much outside of Worst Pouncey being a dumbass and other Phins getting in trouble. Local radio started the hype train last week. Lots of confidence in Lazor. My brother in law is actually fiends with him. It doesn't add anything to his qualifications. LOL. I'm just hoping he can put Tannethrill in position to succeed. Losing Pouncey to start the season won't help that offensive line chemistry, but hopefully the changes made in the roster can give Tanny some confidence in the pocket. My man has been running scared his first seasons. He has really been put in s terrible situation up to this point, but I think he's got the potential to be the best QB from his class.

It's that time for wild optimism. I don't want to say this is our year, but...THIS IS OUR YEAR, BABY! League, you done been put on notice. We want the glory and the gold, suckas. Tom Brady, we comin' for you, ninja. PEACE.
 

Bread

Banned
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

The 2013 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS had a phenomenal season, as TOM BRADY led his team to a 13-3 record and the FOURTH Super Bowl in NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS's history. While NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS has lost a handful of players, there is not too much concern as the NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS had one of the deepest teams of 2013, and have large expectations of "the next man up". They have also had some key signings and extensions in their attempt to keep the core of the team intact.


STRENGTHS: Secondary, running game
WEAKNESSES: Offensive line

KEY LOSSES: NONE

KEY FA SIGNINGS: ALL

KEY EXTENSIONS/RE-SIGNING: NO ONE LEAVES

Offense:

Seattle has been and will continue to be a run-first offense, led by TOM BRADY. Lynch has established himself as one of the best backs in the league, and has the most carries of any RB in the past few years. His age (28) and power running style has some concerned about the longevity of his career and how much longer he can continue to run at a high level.
TOM BRADY will be entering his 3rd season, and there is hopes that he will continue to improve. He had a very respectable season last year, posting a 101.2 passer rating, despite a very poor offensive line and a season-long injury to WR TOM BRADY. Fortunately TOM BRADY has been able to get healthy this offseason and is looking good so far. While Seattle will miss WR SHAWN JEFFERSON (who left for the Lions), if TOM BRADY and DANNY WOODCOCK can remain healthy the WR core might be one of the more underrated group of receivers in the league.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS's largest weakness is NONE.

Defense:

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS had perhaps the best defense in the NFL in 2013, in large part due to its excellent secondary starring TOM BRADY. Though NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS gained noted roider DB's Brandon Browner, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS should again have the best secondary in the league in 2014.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS also has a high quality defensive line and linebacker core.

Special Teams:

Last year NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS special teams was one of the best in the NFL, giving up an astoundingly low number of yards on punt and kick returns. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS should again have a high quality ST this year, though it could be argued it may not be as good due to the loss of some of its depth.

Overall, there are high expectations of the NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS this year, as most of its best players remain on the roster, and the front office/coaching staff remains intact. The largest threat remains division rival N/A, who also boast a high quality defense, and just narrowly missed defeating A +20 HANDICAP last year in the PLAYOFFS. MIAMI is also a threat, as they were the only team last year to SUCK THEIR OWN DICKS. The BILLS have also improved their defense and may be in the playoff mix as well.
 

chuckddd

Fear of a GAF Planet
What to watch for 2014:
Pittsburgh Steelers

Coming off of another disappointing 8-8 campaign, the Steelers will look to build upon a promising finish. Pittsburgh started last year 0-4 in the preseason and then followed it up starting 0-4 in the regular season. While many lesser teams with lesser coaches would have thrown in the towel, the Steelers rebounded to finish the season 6-2, being an Emmanuel Sanders drop and an Antonio Brown pinkie toe from being 8-0.


OFFENSE

The offense got on the same page towards the middle of 2013 and Ben bought into the quick passing game. Over the last 9 games, they averaged over 28 points per game. The only real changes in personnel occurred in the wide receiver corp.


QB - After Ben, comes Bruce Gradkowski. After Bruce Gradkowski comes Lightning Landry Jones. Has Jones improved since last year's preseason abomination?

RB - Le'Veon Bell is the starter after a promising rookie season. LeGarrette Blount was signed from the Patriots to help shoulder the load. Perhaps the most intriguing pick in the Steelers' draft was Dri Archer. He's an extremely fast back who will also play wide receiver and return kicks. The Steelers generally carry four running backs on the roster, and since Archer isn't a full time runner, someone else will almost certainly make the team. Who? I have no idea. Definitely something to watch for.

FB - Will Johnson is now working out with the tight ends full time. Does this mean he'll be an option at two positions or that the Steelers won't use a fullback or does it mean that they'll use combinations of Bell/Blount/Archer in the backfield? Or all of the above?

TE - Heath Miller looks to return to his 2012 form after a decent return last year from a torn acl. Matt Spaeth can't catch very well, but he can block. David Paulson has been lingering on the team, can he make some strides? Rob Blanchflower was drafted late. Can he make enough of a showing to make this team?

WR - Antonio Brown will be the #1 reciever. The next two receivers from last year left via free agency, leaving a massive void here. Markus Wheaton, a 3rd round pick last year, has been running as the number two through ota's. He had a total of 6 catches last year, so this time is important for him to grow. Lance Moore was signed from the Saints to play the slot and provide some veteran leadership. After those guys, there's going to be a full on battle to make the final 53. With Archer in the mix, I'd guess the Steelers only keep 5 total receivers. 4th round pick Martavis Bryant is a tall, athletic and raw receiver. Darius Heyward-Bey is an extremely fast former first round pick with bad hands. Justin Brown spent last year on the practice squad but has been getting noticed. Derek Moye is a tall receiver who's been with the team for a few years. Someone may need to stand out on special teams to make their mark.

OL - Perhaps the biggest addition to the offense is not a player, but former Titans head coach and now Steelers offensive line coach, Mike Munchak. He's a hall of fame lineman and always had solid lines in the past. Can he work some magic with the Steelers? Otherwise, the starters seem set, even though they've played a total of one snap together. Is it possible that Mike Adams or Marcus Gilbert progress to the point where they are acceptable NFL starters? Can late pick, Wesley Johnson, Chris Hubbard or David Snow - already injured show enough versatility to make the team?


DEFENSE

The defense was a major problem for the Steelers last year. They couldn't stop the run and gave up a myriad of big plays. Of the starting 11 players from opening day last year, only 6 remain.


DL - Cam Heyward emerged last year and is the only sure thing on the line. Steve McClendon returns as the starting nose. He had issues holding up against double teams and has put on 20+ pounds. Cam Thomas was signed from the Chargers to play the other DT spot, but has the body of a nose tackle. Stephon Tuitt was picked in the second round. He has the body and motor, can he get into the starting line up? Brian Arnfelt looked good last preseason, can he continue his progression? Daniel McCullers was drafted late. He's a massive man that needs a lot of technique work. Nick Williams, injured last year, Josh Mauro, an udrfa from Stanford and Hebron Fangupo, who's languished down the depth chart, will battle for spots.

OLB - Always a position of strength in the past, it is now possibly the weakest and thinnest on the team. Someone needs to step up. Jason Worilds returns on a transition tag contract. He's been often injured and needs to show he can stay productive and healthy. Jarvis Jones, last year's first round pick, needs to improve his technique, particularly while rushing the passer. Chris Carter needs to finally show something after four years of holding a roster spot. Arthur Moats was signed from the Bills, where he played mostly inside and will be transitioning to the outside. Howard Jones was signed as an udrfa. He's got the athleticism, but not the technique or experience.

ILB - In stark contrast to the outside position, LB coach Keith Butlers says the Steelers have inside line backers "out the butt." Uber-athletic Ryan Shazier was drafted in the first round and will be given the chance to start alongside Lawrence Timmons. Vince Williams was pressed into action last year, making 11 starts. He's more of a two down backer, lacking the speed to cover in space. Terence Garvin also saw a lot of playing time last year, he's pretty much the opposite of Williams, smaller but athletic. Jordan Zumwalt was drafted late but has the mental make up of a good player. He saw some snaps outside during ota's. Finally, perhaps the story of the training camp, is Sean Spence. He's missed the last two years due to a devestating knee injury. He's an athletic guy, much like Shazier. Can he return to form after missing so much time?

S - Troy Polamalu, to everyone's surprise, played every down on defense last year. He was often playing linebacker due to injuries, but he should be allowed to return to strong safety full time. Mike Mitchell was signed from the Panthers to play free safety. He's beginning camp on the pup list, due to a groin injury, but should provide a massive upgrade in speed and athleticism to the position. He will need to gel with the gambling Polumalu, so hopefully, he's gets healthy soon. Will Allen is an aging vet who will backup Mitchell. Shamarko Thomas lies in wait to take over for Troy. He played quite a bit last year as a third corner. Robert Golden rounds out the list. There is zero competition here.

CB - Ike Taylor took a massive paycut to return to the Steelers, but he's probably still overpaid given his declining skills. Cortez Allen and William Gay are solid veterans. It's possible one of them takes Taylor's spot as the number one. Some replacements need to be found going forward. Antwon Blake is super fast but has only played four defensive snaps in his career. Brice McCain was signed from the Texans. Perhaps he'll improve with some actual coaching. Shaquille Richardson was drafted in the fifth round and will be given every opportunity to show his wares.


SPECIAL TEAMS

A battle at punter looks likely between former 4th round pick Adam Podlesh and Brad Wing. Hopefully one of these guys is capable of varsity level punts. The aforementioned Dri Archer will be returning kicks and punts, although Coach Tomlin is loathe to put anyone back to return that won't hold onto the ball or do the right thing. So it's important that Archer is solid in that regard.



WRAP UP

Injuries have hampered this team for several years now. Coupled with an aging defense, it has kept the number of wins down. The offense could be fantastic, but it will probably take some time before the defense gets an identity.


I'm also going to write some about the hybrid players on this team and how they may be used. It may also be about the hybridization of the game in general. Keep an eye out for it.
 

cajunator

Banned
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

The 2013 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS had a phenomenal season, as TOM BRADY led his team to a 13-3 record and the FOURTH Super Bowl in NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS's history. While NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS has lost a handful of players, there is not too much concern as the NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS had one of the deepest teams of 2013, and have large expectations of "the next man up". They have also had some key signings and extensions in their attempt to keep the core of the team intact.


STRENGTHS: Secondary, running game
WEAKNESSES: Offensive line

KEY LOSSES: NONE

KEY FA SIGNINGS: ALL

KEY EXTENSIONS/RE-SIGNING: NO ONE LEAVES

Offense:

Seattle has been and will continue to be a run-first offense, led by TOM BRADY. Lynch has established himself as one of the best backs in the league, and has the most carries of any RB in the past few years. His age (28) and power running style has some concerned about the longevity of his career and how much longer he can continue to run at a high level.
TOM BRADY will be entering his 3rd season, and there is hopes that he will continue to improve. He had a very respectable season last year, posting a 101.2 passer rating, despite a very poor offensive line and a season-long injury to WR TOM BRADY. Fortunately TOM BRADY has been able to get healthy this offseason and is looking good so far. While Seattle will miss WR SHAWN JEFFERSON (who left for the Lions), if TOM BRADY and DANNY WOODCOCK can remain healthy the WR core might be one of the more underrated group of receivers in the league.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS's largest weakness is NONE.

Defense:

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS had perhaps the best defense in the NFL in 2013, in large part due to its excellent secondary starring TOM BRADY. Though NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS gained noted roider DB's Brandon Browner, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS should again have the best secondary in the league in 2014.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS also has a high quality defensive line and linebacker core.

Special Teams:

Last year NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS special teams was one of the best in the NFL, giving up an astoundingly low number of yards on punt and kick returns. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS should again have a high quality ST this year, though it could be argued it may not be as good due to the loss of some of its depth.

Overall, there are high expectations of the NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS this year, as most of its best players remain on the roster, and the front office/coaching staff remains intact. The largest threat remains division rival N/A, who also boast a high quality defense, and just narrowly missed defeating A +20 HANDICAP last year in the PLAYOFFS. MIAMI is also a threat, as they were the only team last year to SUCK THEIR OWN DICKS. The BILLS have also improved their defense and may be in the playoff mix as well.

I didnt take you for a Squicken
 
Rams DBs are awful. Best hope for them is Gregg Williams scheming up ways to disguise the problem and the front 4 getting home quickly

Thankfully since your line is ridiculous. Thank god we grabbed Veldheer and Cooper is back, I just hope they can learn the system and gel quickly. Scary defenses in our divison, it's going to be fun watching Denver go through the gauntlet.
 

squicken

Member
Thankfully since your line is ridiculous. Thank god we grabbed Veldheer and Cooper is back, I just hope they can learn the system and gel quickly. Scary defenses in our divison, it's going to be fun watching Denver go through the gauntlet.

Yeah curious to see how AFCW fares w/o those easy schedules
 

cajunator

Banned
Thankfully since your line is ridiculous. Thank god we grabbed Veldheer and Cooper is back, I just hope they can learn the system and gel quickly. Scary defenses in our divison, it's going to be fun watching Denver go through the gauntlet.

GW had the right idea, outside of the bounty thing. He blitzed with everybody and we didnt even have good pass rushers but it was risky on the back end.
With the Rams d line he wont have to blitz everybody. That defense will be frightening.
 

eznark

Banned
Time to panic, Browns fans.

LaCanfora is breathlessly reporting that six year NFL vet Hoyer is more comfortable during the first week of camp than Manziel.

BUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUSTBUST
 
Damn...you guys make it hard to browse during work...in more ways then one...anyways I can do a dolphins write up but not until Wednesday or Thursday, so Darkest if you want to do one you're more then welcome :)
 
Top Bottom