Plenty to dish, digest and discuss with a short post-Labor Day week already over...:
Roster reshuffle: Nice to see the hard work of Marcus Mason and Byron Westbrook pay off as both stuck with the team. Somewhat surprised to see the Skins keep just two quarterbacks-- although they were able to find a second year player to put on the practice squad...and a former Giant at that the week they play the G-Men! What were the odds?
Kelly comes through...for now. Second year pro Malcolm Kelly nabs the #2 wide receiver position...as a healthy and productive training camp turn a question mark into a major statement. Can he maintain the high play into the regular season?
Burgundy and Golden Calf: Cornerback Carlos Rogers will be playing against the Giants Sunday--one wonders after being mostly on the shelf in August how game-ready he will be. With playmaking but big play allowing Deangelo Hall on one side, the Skins need solid play from the rest of their secondary--and Rogers was very consistent in pass coverage last fall.
Fantasy Focus: The Dread Pirate Roberts embarked on another fantasy season... although I've been advised to change the name to "Down Periscope" in honor of the Kelsey Grammer film of dubious distinction... as my season very well might be headed there... week one starters: QB Tony Romo, RB's Michael Turner & Derek Ward, WR's Eddie Royal & Andre Johnson, TE Heath Miller, K John Kasay and the Steelers Defense.
No way they would have done this if Cosby and Cheers were still around: Thursday night football to open the season has become a fixture...but I'm not a fan of the late-season Thursday parade of games. Especially from a fantasy standpoint where you have to have your roster set while some of your players are still questionable until two days before the game.
ProFile: There's been a lot said about home games being blacked out in these economic times-- and although I don't think the rule should be completely ignored... there has to be a middle ground. Delay the deadline from 72 hours before kickoff to 40 for this season. Thus a team has until 9pm local time Friday for a Sunday 1pm game to sell all of its seats. Unfortunately, the Jacksonville situation might not benefit from even that.
Coordinator conundrum: evidently the NFL's version of the pitching coach this year is the Offensive Coordinator. Three have met the firing line so far...and all terminations came during the preseason! Thanks for playing, Chan Gailey, Jeff Jagodzinski and Turk Schonert. Their firings probably say more about the franchise stability and/or precarious situations their coaches are in.
Boom and Bust teams: traditionally each year about half of the previous year's playoff teams change...for recent surprises/slippages look no further than the Sunshine state: Miami (from 1-15 to 11-5) and Jacksonville (11-5 to 5-11). My 2009 boom? Sometimes an upturn is the product of ones environment...San Francisco plays in an awful division and Mike Singletary has them trying--which might be enough against the likes of St Louis and Seattle. 2009 Bust? Despite some exciting football over the last 40+ years, Atlanta has NEVER had back to back playoff seasons. Not with Michael Vick. Not with Jamal Anderson. Not with Steve Bartkowski. Can Matt Ryan and Michael Turner become the exception?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment