NFL/NCAA 2006 season thread

**strangeirish** · 09/01/2007, 11:35 PM

Ever been to Jacksonville, OneRedArmy? Mike Peterson plays for the Jags and has been outstanding for us. Since we got him from the Colts, he has been our leading tackler, although he was injured for most of this year. We also drafted CB Dee Webb this year and of course, we still have the great Fred Taylor. Without a doubt, Freddie T. has got to be the most underrated, if not the most unappreciated RB in the NFL.

Have to agree with you on the Wuerffel/Leak comparison as to the NFL. Leak has been fairly inconsistent in his career at Florida, although he looked like a first round draft pick last night and what a time to have one of your most composed games. Unfortunately, I don't think he will be able for the physical nature and speed of the NFL. Wuerffel's lack of arm strenght didn't help his career as a pro and like you said, both have reached their potential in college.

Latest bumper sticker around Gator Nation...Urban Legend

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**Aberdonian Stu** · 10/01/2007, 10:38 AM

The plan at the moment seems to be to stick with the current BCS formula until 2010 (though the contract for it runs out before then) and add a plus one game system, effectively making two of the BCS bowls semi-finals.

The best, by which I mean most sellable to the schools, playoff option I've heard is to make the four BCS bowls count as quarter finals with semis afterwards. Basically it means the "traditional" berths in these bowls remain with at large spots allowing a Boise State type school to make it. There is a problem with this though as under this system Boise wouldn't have made it this year and that would have been farcical.

**OneRedArmy** · 11/01/2007, 6:08 PM

Originally Posted by strangeirish

Ever been to Jacksonville, OneRedArmy? Mike Peterson plays for the Jags and has been outstanding for us. Since we got him from the Colts, he has been our leading tackler, although he was injured for most of this year. We also drafted CB Dee Webb this year and of course, we still have the great Fred Taylor. Without a doubt, Freddie T. has got to be the most underrated, if not the most unappreciated RB in the NFL.

Have to agree with you on the Wuerffel/Leak comparison as to the NFL. Leak has been fairly inconsistent in his career at Florida, although he looked like a first round draft pick last night and what a time to have one of your most composed games. Unfortunately, I don't think he will be able for the physical nature and speed of the NFL. Wuerffel's lack of arm strenght didn't help his career as a pro and like you said, both have reached their potential in college.

Latest bumper sticker around Gator Nation...Urban Legend

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Yes, I've been to Jax a few times, although didn't make it to the Worlds Biggest Cocktail Party (Georgia v Florida) which I believe is a great week.

Mike Peterson went to High School with a ex-girlfriend of mine in High Springs just North of Gainesville, a real nice guy.

I remember meeting Taylor on campus and even then he was one mean looking guy. I'd hate to be a trying to bring him down when he's at full pelt. Shame he's been so injury ridden this year but he's had a real solid career, coming up on 10 years now which is pretty good going. He lacks the real explosive speed and twinkling feet that sets peopel like Emmett Smith and LaD Tomlinson apart, but to have such a long career in a high profile, high intensity position is exceptional.

If he can stay healthy he could have a shot at 10,000 rushing yards.

**strangeirish** · 11/01/2007, 6:34 PM

Originally Posted by OneRedArmy

If he can stay healthy he could have a shot at 10,000 rushing yards.

9513 through this season, so next season he should easily reach that plateau. Hopefully, he will still be with the Jags. He has one more year left on his contract, but wants to renegotiate it for a little bit more money.

As for the Florida/Georgia game in Jax, the only thing I'll say about that is, it's like St.Patricks day and Mardi Gras rolled into one, and that's on top of the cross border rivalry. 'Nuff said.

**Dodge** · 11/01/2007, 9:49 PM

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/9923505

Buffal Bills v NT Giants in Wembley anyone? I'll be trying for tickets anyway

**Danny** · 12/01/2007, 9:46 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/9923505

Buffal Bills v NT Giants in Wembley anyone? I'll be trying for tickets anyway

Its actually Dolphins v Giants/Bills but i'll defo be lookign for tickets anyway

**Dodge** · 12/01/2007, 10:43 AM

FFS I knew it was the Dolphins as its their home game. Stoopid fat fingers and stoopid lack of concentr...

**Soko** · 12/01/2007, 11:37 PM

Leak is a pansy, he won't even make a practice squad. As you said, he's already topped out. I'd say the same thing about Troy Smith. He's not even 6ft tall, doesn't have a very strong arm and just isn't as good as people think. He shouldn't be a day 1 pick but someone will panic and take him far higher than he grades out

And no to a playoff system but maybe a plus one. A playoff basically demeans the regular season and all the great games throughout the year. Tell Boise State to schedule some real teams and then maybe they could be in with a shout to play for the whole thing. The last time they played a real team, excluding OU, Georgia wiped the floor with them.

**Aberdonian Stu** · 13/01/2007, 12:54 AM

As a tall guy I find it weird how I seem to always end up defending relatively short QBs.

Drew Brees and Doug Flutie have both proven against the odds (because guys were afraid to play/pick them because they were supposedly short) that height isn't mandatory.

Smith is very similar in style to Brees and has great potential in the pros. Quinn may be better but being second to him in ability is no disgrace. This year's QB class has be horridly under-rated, it's up there with most good years. It's only because of last year it doesn't look so great, last year was freakish for QBs and RBs, but there are still good QBs that will declare. Smith is one of them.

Say it with me: It's ok to be short and throw the ball in the pros

**Soko** · 13/01/2007, 2:52 PM

Originally Posted by Aberdonian Stu

As a tall guy I find it weird how I seem to always end up defending relatively short QBs.

Drew Brees and Doug Flutie have both proven against the odds (because guys were afraid to play/pick them because they were supposedly short) that height isn't mandatory.

Smith is very similar in style to Brees and has great potential in the pros. Quinn may be better but being second to him in ability is no disgrace. This year's QB class has be horridly under-rated, it's up there with most good years. It's only because of last year it doesn't look so great, last year was freakish for QBs and RBs, but there are still good QBs that will declare. Smith is one of them.

Say it with me: It's ok to be short and throw the ball in the pros

Smith grades out as anywhere between the 5th and 8th best QB coming out this year. I can't think of any QB currently playing that is under 6ft tall. I can think of 1 QB drafted in the first round that wasn't at least 6'3, a certain Michael Vick

Drew Brees is a pure pocket passer. Troy Smith is not. Part of his enamour in college was his mobility, he is not an extremely accurate passer and he doesn't possess a very strong arm. Brady Quinn, JaMarcus Russell, Drew Stanton and Trent Edwards are all better QBs and at least 6'3. Smith should be in the mix with Isiah Stanback and Kevin Kolb as the next passer selected but I suspect someone will panic and take him too early. I can't see him succeding in the NFL, he would be lucky to be a career backup

**theworm2345** · 15/01/2007, 1:23 AM

Bears won

**OneRedArmy** · 15/01/2007, 12:26 PM

The reasons big QBs predominate is simply a result of the way US (and many other pro sports) rate talent, ie a good big one is better than a good small one.

Bigger QBs generally have a stronger arm, which is obviously a strength when you consider pro players are quicker and cover better than college, allowing them to release the ball quicker and also allowing receivers to receive it quicker.

Also, your average NFL lineman is, at a guess, in the 6-5 to 6-8 height range, a couple of inches taller than in college. Being able to see over the linemen and releasing the ball a few inches higher is obviously advantageous to a QB and this clearly benefits taller players, reducing blockdowns.

Finally, as was noted above, with very few exceptions (Vick, McNabb), the pro's obviously favour pure pocket passer QBs, whereas option QBs and other trick-type football where the QBs moves around more are always more in vogue in the NCAA.

**Soko** · 15/01/2007, 12:38 PM

Originally Posted by OneRedArmy

Also, your average NFL lineman is, at a guess, in the 6-5 to 6-8 height range, a couple of inches taller than in college. Being able to see over the linemen and releasing the ball a few inches higher is obviously advantageous to a QB and this clearly benefits taller players, reducing blockdowns.

Thats probably the key point. Joe Thomas, the top rated OL this year, is 6-8. He has 9 inches on Troy Smith. With guys this big the passing lanes become smaller and the risk of tipped balls is far greater. Rex Grossman is another small QB, 6-1. He is just horrible

**RogerMilla** · 15/01/2007, 4:02 PM

they sure did worm but Grossman is a liability , the saints to upset the odds at soldier field next week

**OneRedArmy** · 15/01/2007, 4:17 PM

Originally Posted by Soko

Thats probably the key point. Joe Thomas, the top rated OL this year, is 6-8. He has 9 inches on Troy Smith. With guys this big the passing lanes become smaller and the risk of tipped balls is far greater. Rex Grossman is another small QB, 6-1. He is just horrible

Have you got something against Florida QBs?

**Kerry Blue** · 15/01/2007, 5:33 PM

Originally Posted by theworm2345

Bears won

Looking for a repeat of Superbowl XX?

**strangeirish** · 15/01/2007, 10:57 PM

Reggie Bush gets jacked up by the Eagles defense. Sheldon Brown says 'Howya'. Ouch!

**Aberdonian Stu** · 16/01/2007, 10:29 AM

Man that was a good hit.

**Dodge** · 16/01/2007, 10:37 AM

In fairness to Bush he didn't let it affect him at all and he had a very good game (bar the fumble with 3 minutes left)

**eamo1** · 16/01/2007, 12:07 PM

will be harder then tickets to monaghan vrs kilkenny next season

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an article on the sky sports site says the average attendances for nfl games this past season was a new record,over 67,000,thats amazing and 97% of games were sold out but thats because the stadiums are nearly all season ticketed now,i couldnt imagine all the oakland raiders games were sold out every week