GFH's Roar Profile

I think my outlook on Tampa is part a reflection of the strength of the NFC South. They are going to face tough opponents in Atlanta, Carolina and even New Orleans for six games, and while Atlanta are probably the pick of the lot, there’s no easy games there. They also face Minnesota and Green Bay away, and tough games against the Giants and Patriots. The NFC East and South, and the AFC West are the three toughest divisions in football, in my opinion. I’d be picking better than 8-8 if they were in the NFC West, that’s for sure!

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The irony is that the NFL has been trying for years now to have the regular season extended to 18 games by removing two of the preseason fixtures, along with introducing another playoff team to make it seven per conference (only the #1 seed having a bye).

It’s arguable however that having a longer season is actually a benefit to most teams as it reduces the variance each side has in a year. If a team starts 1-5 in a 16-game season, you’d almost be prepared to call it quits. In a 26-game season however, there’s still plenty of time to turn the ship around. The teams that are actually good, rather than lucky, are the ones who play in September the way thing’s stand.

The NRL must look to the NFL for solutions

League

Dragging up Phil Hughes when your national captain injures their shoulder is pretty poor taste, Laxman. The two are hardly comparable.

Aussies defied spirit of cricket: Laxman

Cricket

But Moneyball was about statistical evidence as well – the Oakland A’s picked players not on reputations or looks, but for their on-base percentage and cost. In any event, this idea of “can’t play because the ball is wet” is absolutely ridiculous. That logic might work in under-10’s, but not for a professional cricket team. What, you think he’s never bowled with a wet ball before? How insulting.

What to do about Adam Zampa?

That game reminded me so much of Superbowl XLVII where the 49ers came roaring home with a wet sail against the Ravens and so very nearly pulled it off. Goes to show you that sometimes momentum is everything, and when the rules are set up to encourage close games – the opportunity for 2pt conversions, clock stops when ball goes out of play, 2-minute warning, use of timeouts, etc – you sometimes get these results.

I feel for Atlanta. They have a nucleus of a young, dynamic team, but the mental scarring is going to take many years for them to shake off. There’s a real fear that they might not ever get over the hump now – Ryan and Jones alone take up a whopping 22% of their salary cap, and they’re going to start bleeding players and cap space when Ryan, Trufant and Freeman want extensions. Sometimes you need a bit of luck to win, and for three quarters yesterday they had it.

The Falcons find a way to lose a championship they’d already won

Hi Josh, great article.

Almost as interesting as the rebuilding of the 49ers is the analysis into how their roster got to where it is from the end of 2012. Their roster was absolutely *jacked* – their skill players in the offense were Colin Kaepernick / Frank Gore / Bruce Miller / Vernon Davis / Delanie Walker / Michael Crabtree (add an veteran Randy Moss if you want a trip down memory lane). Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman were one of the best ILB combos ever seen. They had a young Aldon Smith back when he wasn’t suspended, a good group of young CBs and excellent special teamers. I’m not sure how Baltimore beat them in Superbowl XLVII, but I think if you played that game 100 times, I reckon San Fran win 85 of them at least.

Then it all just feel apart – Kaepernick proved he struggled as a passer, Gore, Davis, Walker and Crabtree left in free agency, Willis retired, Bowman got seriously hurt, Smith got suspended… and just like that, a roster is gutted and missing anything resembling star quality.

The problem they have is that those positions listed (#1 WR, OLB) are really hard to fill outside of the draft – they simply don’t hit the market very often. If Cleveland somehow (!) don’t take Garrett #1, I’d think their reps on draft day would be falling over themselves to hand that card in. Jeffery would be a good signing for them in theory, but I’m super-scared of him suffering the “Torrey Smith” effect and being frozen out of their offense. Their last two season openers (v Min 2015; v LA 2016) have shown how good they can look playing 2TE sets and running the ball – if only their defense could get their offense back on the field! I’d love to see them get their hands on OJ Howard if they traded down in the first round and perhaps sign Ronald Leary from the Cowboys to help their O-line. I don’t think they should trade for Romo – they’re not a QB away from playoff contention, and he might end up being released anyway. I’d prefer them to keep their picks and pray that another QB-crazy draft starts to play out from the #2 spot (it probably won’t, but as they say, it only takes one team…)

The embattled 49ers can build a competitive team in just two seasons

Ryan got the nod for the AP All-Pro team announced last night. Same 50 voters choose the MVP. Don’t hold your breath.

No more frauds in Atlanta: Matt Ryan is the MVP

I don’t know why David Johnson isn’t getting a look-in for MVP honours. 2k+ yards from scrimmage and 20 (!) total touchdowns on an offense that has misfired all year. 15 straight games with over 100 yards rushing + receiving until he got injured in the season finale. Elliott isn’t even the best RB in the league!

Aaron Rodgers is your 2017 NFL MVP

I’m now glad at the Browns fumbled the ball from 1st-and-goal with a minute to go! I’d hate for them to go “full-Brown” and play themselves out of the #1 pick.

Ain’t nobody stopping the Pats reaching the SuperBowl. KC at a pinch. Big Ben if he has a game for the ages. Do you think the names “Tom Savage”, “Matt Moore” and “Connor Cook” strike the fear of God into a New England team meeting? Didn’t think so.

If you’re a hardcore Pats fan, you might as well book your flight with Qantas direct to Dallas right now.

New England Patriots take AFC top seed ahead of playoffs

The Giants will make the playoffs interesting if they end up in the NFC Championship game. They match up very well against the Dallas Cowboys; they play stout run D, they have the corners and secondary to compete with Bryant and co, and they can play good enough offense against the Cowboys defense (which is really yet to be tested by an opponent without a sizeable lead).

The Giants won’t fear the Cowboys, even at JerryWorld, having beaten them twice this season already. They won’t fear the Patriots after 2007 and 2011. Crazy Superbowl catch by Larry Donnell to etch his name into folklore a-la Manningham and Tyree?

If the Giants get out of the wildcard round, they might not need Manning to win them games, just not lose them. The heroics can wait until the 4th quarter of the SuperBowl.

Is Eli Manning about to derail the Giants?

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