22 hours ago, BatteredFanSyndrome said:

I don’t expect him to trot out the exact same defense he had in Dallas, but he did bring Whitt with him because they share the same vision for what defense looks like.  Beyond that, they’ve added talent.  There are things to be skeptical about with the 2024 team, but defense shouldn’t be one of them.  It’s hard to go anywhere but up from where they were.  I mean the hallmark of JDR’s defense was guys running around confused.  I highly doubt you will see that this season.

As I said I totally agree that the defense will be better.  My confusion comes from posters who keep referencing Quinn's defense when Joe Whitt is the defensive coordinator so it's his defense and he will be the one to make this unit better.  And while I agree it will be much better I can't "not worry about" a defense that will start BSJ and Forbes and without a dominate pass rusher to protect them. 

I'm still confused.  People are referencing Quinn, what he did in Dallas and how his defense could do that again in Washington. Only he is not the Defensive Coordinator he is the Head Coach and with that comes a lot of responsibility outside of the defense. He is not sitting in a room game planning or is he?   Are we even going to run his defense?  

I got tired of commentators saying it's not true that Cliff does not run the ball as they break out the rushing rank of the Cards. Of course that stat was skewed by Kyler Murray and they didn't really run in a traditional sense with a RB all that often.  

7 hours ago, Skinsinparadise said:

 

Yes, call me a rebel.  i am indeed claiming it was a very good defense.  It's nuts.   Ranked #3 in yards.  Ranked #8 in DVOA.  #7 from PFN.   Rivera's defense fluctuated from very good, to bad in alternate years.  We can say we all thought the real story is only the bad was meaningful not the good.  But that's rewriting history.  I'd say 99% of the board expected the defense to kill it in 2023, plenty of pundits, too (if was the offense that was the big question) the defense looked very good in 2022.  I don't recall too many in the 2023 off season saying its a paper tiger and wait for the collapse of the unit. 

 

 

At least judging by PFF metrics, Chinn followed his rookie year with a good year #2, was so so the last 2 years, so not that long ago, he's 26. 

 

Quan you say can't even be considered an average starting safety by you.  But by PFF scores and comments from coaches he's an emerging very good player.    In my amateur opinion, I thought to my eyes he played very well towards the end of the season. I was rooting for losses for the higher draft pick and he was one of the pain in the ass players for me who I was hoping would cool it, especially in the Jets game.   And I loved his college tape, he was one of my fav players in that draft.  Guys like Logan Paulsen who rewatches tape to death, thought he was very good too. 

 

Darrick Forrest with a 67 PFF score, 4 picks in 2022 -- that feels below average to you.  Cool.  But not to many.   He was one of the players many of us and the coaches (based on their rhetoric) were jazzed to see last year.  And some reporters (if I recall Keim was one) referred to the poor communication in the backfield last year to partly be about missing Forrest.

 

Clearly, you are going glass half empty on this unit.  It's cool to each their own.  But as a dude that often likes to say I wouldn't bet money on this or that -- on this point I'd bet you end up wrong and I'd put money on this one.  I know you say you rooting to be wrong.   I don't think you got to worry about this.   I think the worry is can the O line hold up.  The defense at a minimum I'd be surprised if its not top half of the league. 

 

I do think this defensive coaching staff is loaded with studs.  I don't expect players to under acheive like last year.  Also, when you got a pass happy offense that can't convert that will downgrade most defenses.  You can't be on the field all the time without paying a price.  That will change digesting the rhetoric so far this off season.

 

And I am far from a pollyana type I was a pessimist like you seem to be now about the team heading into the last season.  I crapped on Ron and the off season moves all late Spring and summer long.

Actually I'm not that pessimistic about the team going into the season, I happen to believe if Daniels plays well they could challenge for a playoff spot.  And I totally agree with you on the staff. Where we differ is our assessment of the players.

8 minutes ago, Skinsinparadise said:

 

Chinn was #2 in rookie of the year voting.   He slid after as some say because he was misused after that.  But its not as if he hasn't shown anything.  Martin played well towards the end of the season and he was a very good college player.  They were missing Forrest for most of last year, and he played well the season before.

 

Whitt has a big time reputation as a teacher of the secondary.  Quinn for the defensive line. 

 

How did this defense rank #3 in 2022?  Was that all Kam Curl and Sweat because that's really the main assets they had over now.   Sweat had 8 sacks that year.  Same number as Armstrong who they just signed.  Curl was a nice player but not a game changer, doesn't do picks.

 

Wagner and Luvu are miles better than Holcomb and Davis.  It's taking a crap unit and making it great.  So not sure how that doesn't at least keep them treading water from that team.

 

You'd figure Newton makes some kind of impact.  My point is on paper its at least as talented as the 2022 defense.  With coaches who are known to be a lot better. 

 

 

We all  saw that 2022 defense, are you really claiming that was a great or even very good defense?  Chin's rookie season was a long time ago, and although he improved Quinn can't even be considered an average starting safety in this league at this point in time.   While they missed Forrest for sure he certainly is not in the top 50% of all starting safeties, thus average or slightly below.  

12 hours ago, Skinsinparadise said:

 

Will see.

 

LBs are IMO are VERY good.  The safeties IMO are good not average at best -- and deep.  DTs are among the best in the league.  

 

Dorance Armstrong, not even playing full time had similar production than the typical Montez Sweat year.

 

The 2022 defense was ranked top 3.  It fell apart last year.  Comparing 2022 and this year...

 

D line.  Only difference is Armstrong versus Sweat.   Ferrell, Fowler -- versus Toohill-Williams.   And the addition of Newton.  Feels like a wash to me at worst.

 

LBs.    upgraded dramatically from now to then.  From maybe one of the worst LB corp in the league to one of the best, will see.  Deep too.  Rivera had a crap LB crew and it wasn't deep either,

 

Safety -- feels the same to me or close enough.  Quan Martin emerged as the season progressed last year.  I admit I am biased towards Chinn, a dude I liked a lot before that draft.  Forrest was coming on the previous season but alas got hurt last season.   Hampton is a good depth piece. 

 

CB -- Sainstrill versus Fuller.  Not great then, not great now. 

 

And the coaches reputation wise are mountains better.  Heck I recall even with Logan Paulsen when working for this team back then saying he doesn't think Micah Parsons here would be what he is in Dallas because in Dallas Quinn was a master of finding matchups for him which is something this team doesn't do.

 

Luvu -- Armstrong as to pass rush i think will match Sweat and Williams or close enough maybe beat them.  You'd figure the DTs should be better with Newton in the mix,

 

Then you got Chinn who is a great blitzer, Sainstrill too now in the mix.   

 

When Quinn inherited the Dallas defense, it sucked, gave up the 4th most points in the league the year before.  Back then we took it for granted almost that Dallas would have a crap defense and ours would hopefully be better.  All of a sudden that all changed.  That all changed with Quinn.  The next year they were ranked 6th best in points allowed.  From zero to hero.  

 

 

I hope you are right but I just don't see it this way, and I know this is the Daniels thread but we don't have much to talk about these days so let's have a go at this. 

I love the LB additions, I think that is obvious.  I certainly do not see the same improvements with the safeties as Martin is totally unproven and Chin, well we are not sure what we will get there just yet.  You are right about Quinn vs Old Jack. But the defensive coordinator is Whitt not Quinn and although exciting we don't know if his defensive will transfer this group from one of the worst to one of the best in one season as Quinn did in Dallas. He also has nothing like Micah Parsons to help make that happen.  

While the DTs may in fact be one of the best duos in the league neither is an impact player. Other than Luvu and perhaps Wagner (loved that signing) they do not have one impact player on this defense, and of course great LBs are not as important today as they were in the past.  And the corners are simply below average to bad.  Dicey corner play can kill a defense alone, especially since they have no real impact pass rushers.  .   

On 5/19/2024 at 2:40 PM, Skinsinparadise said:

While I appreciate @Going Commando's temper your expectations vibe.    It's always better IMO to feel that way with a new roster with a ton of new faces where rookies have to play key parts.

 

My take though is I can't think of a season that felt so wild cardish to me.  A season that could go either way including even making the playoffs.

 

I do think this roster has some potential.   Especially if McCaffrey blossoms, the WR crew will be good.  Sinnott was one of my favorite players in the draft and I've heard Ertz has looked sharp so far.  Strong RB room IMO.  I like the interior of the O line.  I didn't feel that way last year.  Don't love the tackle position.  My gut is this O line ends up about average to maybe slightly below.  Last year, I had low expectations for the O line.  

 

Defense I think goes top 10.  It was #3 2 years ago.  I think the talent is as good as it was then and the coaching is MUCH better on that side of the ball.

 

I do think tough the Texans were more loaded than we think is an overplayed point.  So I can't help harping on that one.   Most of the NFL pundits before that season thought they were bad enough to be the front runners for the first pick in the draft.

 

Players like Nico Collins were just a guy before last season.  He gets Stroud he becomes a superstar.  No coincidence IMO.   Similar to how Nabers stats were meh at LSU the season before Daniels arrived.  There is some clear symphony between great QB play and WR production.   

 

Texans had a roster that wasn't that well regarded coupled with being the most injured team in the NFL in 2023.   If you told most before the 2023 season, the Texans would be the most injured team in the NFL and especially at the O line -- I'd bet 99% of the pundit types would prredict they'd have the #1 pick in the draft.

 

What was the difference?  Much better Qb play. Much better coaching.  Does that happen here?  We don't know but it feels like there is at least a fighting chance it does.

 

 

 

https://texanswire.usatoday.com/2024/03/10/texans-overcame-leagues-highest-injury-total-in-2023/

Texans overcame league's highest injury total in 2023

the Texans led the league in injuries to significant players, according to the adjusted games lost metric (AGL) from FTN Fantasy.

Despite the rash of injuries, Houston finished 10-7, won the AFC South and made the playoffs for the first time since 2019. The Texans then beat the Cleveland Browns, who also had several injuries of their own, in the wild-card round.

FTN Fantasy charted the AGL for each team and found that injuries declined in 2023. However, the Texans did not have that luxury — especially on the offensive line.

 

Houston set a new record with 82.1 AGL, which surpassed the previous record set by the Los Angeles Rams in 2022. The Texans shuffled constantly throughout the regular season, starting seven different offensive line combinations. No group up front played more than four consecutive games together.

Texans right guard Shaq Mason was the only lineman to play all 17 regular season games. Green, tackle Tytus Howard, and rookie linemen Jarrett Patterson and Juice Scruggs each accounted for 10 AGL.

The lack of continuity up front likely contributed to the running game struggles. Houston averaged 3.7 yards per carry, tied with the Las Vegas Raiders for fourth-worst in the league. The Texans’ pass blocking was slightly better, with 47 sacks surrendered — just outside the bottom-10 in the league.

 

The injury bug also bit Houston’s defensive back room. Eric Murray, Jimmie Ward, Tavierre Thomas and Derek Stingley combined to account for 33.4 AGL. General manager Nick Caserio made savvy moves on the waiver wire, like signing safety DeAndre Houston-Carson to plug the holes caused by injury.

Houston receivers accounted for 17.2 AGL, the fifth-most in the league. Noah Brown and rookie Tank Dell were the biggest contributors to this metric.

 

Brown, who signed in 2023, was hampered by a multitude of injuries throughout the regular season as well and ended the year on injured reserve with a shoulder injury he suffered in the wild-card round. Dell sustained a broken fibula in the Texans’ Week 13 victory over the Denver Broncos and missed the rest of the season.

 

Don’t forget about quarterback C.J. Stroud, either. His two-game absence from a concussion accounted for 2.3 AGL.

In total, the Texans collected 159.1 AGL — 30 more than the New England Patriot, who finished with the second-most significant injuries. Houston’s offense contributed 106.6 AGL, again, 30 more than the second-highest team. New England had the most AGL on defense, with the Texans having the fourth most.

I sure don't see this as a top 10 defense. The corners blow, safeties are average at best and despite signing a bunch of second level DEs they do not have one impact player at that key position for a defense. 

LOL at being busted for marijuana possession in 2024.  

So happy to hear this.  I can't stand this man, blaming Kyle when he was the only person in the league who was able to make this clown productive was just too much for me.  

Seeing this thread finally motivated me to purchase a cordless leaf blower. We have a lot of maple trees which drop those annoying helicopter seeds all over the deck and back patio.  And of course a ton of leaves in the fall.  

I was never a big avocado guy other that guac.  Kind of slimy with not much taste.  I tried avocado toast from Dunkin and it was only OK. Then I saw a FB friend post a pick of avocado toast with scrambled eggs. I added a slice of really good cheddar and now it's our favorite breakfast. I use the spread on a turkey sandwich and it is fantastic. I can't believe I have been sleeping on how good avocado is. 

In fairness those names sounded difficult to pronounce.  

21 hours ago, The Sean and Laron show said:

Don't forget about Ekeler and Ertz

I haven't, I expect them both to be productive. But to just plug in Dotson at WR2 when he really has never done anything in the NFL is my concern.  

They sure appear to be putting a lot of trust into Dotson and that seems dangerous to me.  

 A former Capitol Hill officer who was there on January 6th is a Democratic candidate, a former rioter who served time for assaulting a police officer is a Republican candidate.  Seems about right, this is the state of our country today.  

I'm all for these debates. It will give those still undecided another look at just how unhinged Donald Trump is and always will be.  Biden may appear slow but just like last time he will keep his cool and let Trump make an ass out of himself. Again.  

15 minutes ago, spjunkies said:

 

She seems to have some weird personal relationship with Russell and Doc which is why she's always on with them. My guess is she kisses their asses at games in order to get priority for her predictable nonsense calls. I have a feeling we'll still he hearing about her Heinicke calls in 2032.

Doc Walker is another I can't stand. His "I know a little something about winning" persona is so f-ing annoying. He was a role player on a great team and he acts like he was Joe Montana.  

I was a big fan of Knocke, Czabe and even Andy Polin. I can't stand The Rooster and he's now on all the time when I happen to be driving. Sabah is a joke, her love for Taylor Heinke shows she has zero credibility and she is on constantly. When I hear they are taking her call I instantly move on.  

17 hours ago, profusion said:

The window of accuracy is smaller in the NFL, and I keep thinking back to Belichick's draft-day analysis that Maye was missing on throws to narrow windows that are considered "open" in the NFL.

 

I'm not rooting against the guy (unless he's playing the Commanders). It's just that maybe we're starting to see why Peters wasn't interested in him.

I am shallow enough to want Maye to struggle in NE. Why would I want the guy we passed on to turn into Ben Roethlisberger should ours struggle?   And why would I want the fans of New England to get to enjoy yet another franchise QB after so many fan bases have been searching for their guy for generations.    

So we have a study by the Library of Medicine which referenced 25 college athletes and the conclusion was return to play in 3.6 weeks on average. We have this very player who had surgery in January but was ready for a pro-day on  April 16, which is more like 3 months depending on when in January the first surgery took place.  So anywhere from 3.6 weeks to a little over 3 months is what it looks like to me.  

5 hours ago, illone said:

Portis paid Oxalate $40k for #26. 
 

Some players gotta have their number. 
 

Maybe Daniels can take #15?

 

#3?

 

Mariota took Mikey Sainristil’s #0, too. 

Could potentially hurt Jersey sales, too. Cuz eventually JD might switch back to #5 if he outlasts Way over the next few years. 

I think numbers are announced soon…

 

Correction:  Portis promised to pay Ohalete but didn't actually pay him until threatened with a law suit years later.  I lost a lot of respect for Clinton after that. His involvement in the medical equipment scheme confirmed to me that he is a POS and I won't change that opinion simply because he was a good player.  

On 5/4/2024 at 7:25 AM, DWinzit said:

I was disappointed they didn't keep Howell or Brissett, both seemed like better backups than Mariota...I am just not a fan of his. However by having him, it removes competition. No one is going to cry for Mariota to receive play time

Marriotta is universally disliked (as a player). I don't recall a player where I have laterally not seen one single fan or poster support;.  .  

My concern is corner as much as OT.  Life in today's NFL sucks with crappy corners and that's what we have today.  

10 minutes ago, Est.1974 said:

Agree. We’re missing another go to WR in my opinion.

I really though this was the draft they would find that guy, but with that said we all know they can't fill every need and I'm happy with the picks. 

2 hours ago, DogofWar1 said:

17-0 until proven otherwise.

 

 

Realtalk, I feel like anywhere between 7-10 and 10-7 is very possible.  Pretty much a perfect bell curve.

 

Like sure, this is an incomplete team, BUT, overall, there's some thing to be optimistic about.  I think our coaching will be much improved, especially on defense, and that should hopefully elevate that side of the ball from...bad...to at least good.  Unit to unit, DT rotation should be good.  Edge rushers are not gonna be elite but should be serviceable.  Linebackers have the potential to surprise us, I am never gonna bet against Bobby Wagner's unit.  Secondary is the iffiest but if there was ever a guy who could turn around that unit it's probably Quinn.

 

Offensively, the biggest hole, aside from the ?? that is QB, is tackles.  But I like our interior OL for the most part, and I like our skill position guys.  Are they elite (outside of maybe Terry)?  No.

 

But like, a lot of our units are now likely "good" even if they aren't great.  So we should be able to score some decent point totals, and if the secondary can hold up (or the DLine can bully opposing Olines) then I feel like we can win some games in a decent fashion.

I too am optimistic and would bet the over on 6 1/2 wins. But I don't agree with you on the weapons. Terry is very good, he also had a lot of drops last year and is at the low end of the WR1 group throughout the league IMO.  On the other side is a receiver who in year 3 is still an unknown and had really bad moments last season.  Other than they they have an unproven rookie and a bunch of JAGs.  

2 hours ago, TheGoodBits said:

The drive is much further and I’ll admit I don’t know much about summer rates, but we’ve been to Maine a number of times in early fall. Some towns we love (no order, just south to north, with a * besides ones we’d prioritize a return to): 

 

-York/kittery (or Portsmouth NH)

-Portland (going to be $$$) 

-boothbay harbor*

-Rockland (likely cheapest on this list)

-Camden* 

-Bar Harbor/Southwest Harbor on Mt Desert Island 

 

All of these places will be overrun by tourists during the summer fwiw. 

(double post sorry)

Thanks for this.  We have been to Maine and a number of towns you mentioned. We loved Bar Harbor, reminded us of Annapolis. It was like going back in time with restaurants proudly advertising they have air conditioning!   I really want to go in summer, I'm a hot weather guy and love taking an evening bike ride without putting on a jacket.  I'll look into Portsmouth NH and am open to other suggestions. 

I have always envisioned a trip to a beautiful coastal town in New England. A quick search found hotels in Nantucket go for $500/night in summer. Any cheaper suggestions?