JimmyConway Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 Dr.Z > Inside the NFL Dare I pick Minnesota to win it all? Last year, I locked in my Super Bowl pick early and felt very good about the choice. For once, I wasn't trying to do a roster breakdown or getting myself all tied up in strengths and weaknesses. I was looking for a team with a chip on its shoulder, one that would be coming into the season with something to prove, a hungry team, nasty, etc. The Saints were my Super Bowl winner. Then they came out and lost their first four. And finished 7-9. All of which should make Brad Childress feel very nervous about the fact that I'm picking his Vikings to ... to ... dare I say, to win it all? Let's think this thing through. Dallas is the winter-book favorite. The Cowboys are loading up with all sorts of fancy names -- Zach Thomas, who has already carved out a place for himself in Miami's Hall of Fame, 'Pacman' Jones, whose pardon from the league office seems to be coming an inch at a time. Marion Barber got a new contract that stunned him by its magnificence. So did cornerback Terence Newman. They even gave Terrell Owens enough money to make him happy. This is their year, right? Sorry, but I just don't feel it. I look around the league, from the perspective of an individual coming off a nice, fat vacation, and I see the usual summer notes of unsettlement. Oakland's Javon Walker, who should be trying to prove himself after Denver became the second team to give up on him, was found unconscious in a Vegas alley after he had supposedly spent the evening spraying nightclub patrons with bubbly. "And they got mad at ME for carrying a gun," said the Cowboys Tank Johnson, who got busted by the league for building a home arsenal. Once again, Jeremy Shockey is pouting for the Super Bowl Giants, their wideout, Plaxico Burress, is unhappy with his contract. The team is in a mid-June disarray mode. People look at the almost-unbeaten Patriots, expecting to see cheat sheets falling out of their pockets. Elsewhere there are ... but why go on? This is about my Super Bowl team, right? And why I have such positive views about the Vikings. Dare I pick them to go all the way? They're a team for whom I never had much of a feel, and this goes back to their old Super Bowl days, when they were marched to the slaughter by any AFL or AFC team they faced. They're a team that turned timid and blew the NFC Championship game against Atlanta in '99, and then, two seasons later, brought a powerhouse offense into Giants Stadium for the same title match and got undressed, 41-0. Since then? One playoff season out of the next seven. So why do I get this real hunch about them? OK, yeah, right now they're my choice for the winner of Supe XXIII. And here's why: Let's get down to basics. Run the ball. Stop the run. Best in the league at both last year. I can't help it -- I'm hooked on the fundamentals. Their middle triangle of tackles Kevin and Pat Williams, backed up by E.J. Henderson, is classic, and now there's a serious element added to that mix. A trade with the Chiefs brought them defensive end Jared Allen in April. He brings with him the 2007 NFL sack title, plus a two-game DUI suspension at the beginning of the year. A gamble? Childress says no. Allen says he's on the wagon. "I'd be very surprised if he has any trouble in that area from now on," the coach says. "We're talking about a very bright, engaging person. When his plane came in here, our defensive line coach and both defensive tackles all went to pick him up at the airport." It's almost a miracle to get a guy like that in a trade. Sack specialists are like diamonds, and Allen's a young one -- only 26 years old! And he's not one of those wild-angle loopers who leaves a couple of acres inside for the runners. He's a technician who honors the down home of the game. Link it for page 2. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/dr_z/06/20/vikings/1.html ------------------------------------------- Dr.Z is an idiot. Just thought this would justify that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#98QBKiller Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 :yawnee: Dr. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tr1 Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 Green Bay without Farve is probably a more consistent team than with him. Everyone thinks the Packers will suffer this year...I don't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rdskn4Lyf21 Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 The weakest link on that team is Tavaris. If he can become a serviceable QB and a game manager, they'll have a shot to make some noise in the playoffs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubba9497 Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 Dr.Z Dare I pick Minnesota to win it all? Dare,.... Dare Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goaldeje Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 The weakest link on that team is Tavaris. If he can become a serviceable QB and a game manager, they'll have a shot to make some noise in the playoffs. He improved greatly over the last 4 games, but I still think that's a big if. TR1 is onto something with GB, imo. And as much as I hate to say it, the Iggles may be in the running. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rdskn4Lyf21 Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 He improved greatly over the last 4 games, but I still think that's a big if. TR1 is onto something with GB, imo. And as much as I hate to say it, the Iggles may be in the running. Except for having 4 touchdowns to 5 interceptions and 3 fumbles during those games.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Jones Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 I think GB will take a step back this year. MN should take a step forward. I thought they had a good team last year. As with the skins their QB is the key. Last year he failed. Winning the SB, however, No. No way, first they are MN and second their QB isn't that good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Califan007 The Constipated Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 He improved greatly over the last 4 games... Huh?...Are we talking about the same Tavaris Jackson? lol... Jackson had two games in weeks 12 and 13 where he posted QB ratings of 139.2 and 110.4...worthy of praise, yes. But over the "last 4 games", he posted two games back to back with QB ratings of 50.0 and 63.1. In those two games, Jackson threw 1 TD and 5 INTs. How exactly is that "improving greatly"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubba9497 Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 This is their year, right? Sorry, but I just don't feel it. nothing like deep thought out reasoning :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewEraofSkins08 Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 HAHAHA was this guy serious? Minnesota?? HAHAHA. We were up 25-0 AT their place. One sack specialist wont do crap.Hahaha Minnesota......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DWinzit Posted June 21, 2008 Share Posted June 21, 2008 HAHAHA was this guy serious? Minnesota?? HAHAHA. We were up 25-0 AT their place. One sack specialist wont do crap.Hahaha Minnesota.........If he was just a sack specialist I'd agree. He isn't. He is the best all around 4-3 DE in the game and he is being matched up with the best run defense in the league. Jackson will only be asked to manage games in similar fashion to Dilfer when he earned a ring with Baltimore. They not only have the #1 run defense, they have their top DB healthy again, the #1 rushing offense and new WR weapons. They may not make the Super Bowl but do not count them out of going deep into the playoffs.:2cents: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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