09-11-2004 22:21									#301
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Interestingly, Reeves announced last week that he's loving retirement and is never coming back. He did use the " 'never' is a bad word" line, but sounded serious and sincere.

The hot rumor out of Florida is that Spurrier wants the team next year, and that's why he turned down the Gators. And Huizenga might be goofy enough to do it.

	09-11-2004 22:24									#302
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Not like Miami can get much worse, so why not give Spurrier a go. He'll put buts in the seats at least.

	10-11-2004 01:39									#303
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quote: Originally posted by bfg9000 ..and win first round playoff game at home vs. wild card, but the following week get destroyed by Eagles in Philly...

After the Steeler game, even TO is being quiet.

	10-11-2004 02:06									#304
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quote: Originally posted by pchang After the Steeler game, even TO is being quiet.

It was only ONE game.


The rest of the year we go 7-1.

GB, Rams, Bengals, DAL twice, WAS twice, NYG.

Only loss will be last game of regular season vs Bengals because we will have NFC first seed wrapped up going into that game and will be playing our scrubs.

	10-11-2004 02:08									#305
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Eagles vs. Dallas

Monday Night

I hope the Eagles choke

	10-11-2004 02:10									#306
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quote: Originally posted by Japher Eagles vs. Dallas Monday Night I hope the Eagles choke

TO will dance on the star at midfield again Monday night.

	10-11-2004 03:45									#307
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Great headline from the Miami Herald on Wanny's retirement...

The End of an Error

I think Spurrier would be a big mistake. Lou Saban of LSU and Charlie Weis of NE are being mentioned.

	10-11-2004 04:39									#308
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quote: It was only ONE game.

No, it was ONE destruction! The dismantling of the Eagles was incredible and the BIG weakness of stopping the run was exposed... look for Green Bay to use that when they face off with Philly.

	10-11-2004 06:55									#309
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quote: Originally posted by Ming The Bears defense looks promising... but the best... NAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. We do look forward to them getting better, and most like the attacking style... but, if we can't score points...

We shall see. I think the defense with everyone healthy is excellent. They can dominate games. The Bears have been in virtually every game due to its defense even when its injuries were at the greatest.

The D-Line looks great. The linebackers look great. The secondary is looking up with Azumah back. This is the very same formula that produced the great Bears defenses of the mid 80s.

The only defense right now that may be better is Pittsburgh's. But I think the Bears could give Pittsburgh a run for its money.

Now, if the Bear offense improves, this will be formidable team. It has Superbowl quality reaking from every pore. I am impressed with this team now just as much as I was depressed with it off the opening loss to the Lions.

	10-11-2004 07:30									#310
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If you rank defense by points allowed then you have
Baltimore
Philadelphia
Washington
Tie Denver, Buffalo, Pittsburgh

If you rank defense by yards allowed then you have
Washington
Pittsburgh
Buffalo
Denver
Baltimore

ranked by run defense you have
Pittsburgh
San Diego
Washington
Buffalo
Seattle

	10-11-2004 07:37									#311
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quote: Originally posted by Ned We shall see. I think the defense with everyone healthy is excellent. They can dominate games. The Bears have been in virtually every game due to its defense even when its injuries were at the greatest. The D-Line looks great. The linebackers look great. The secondary is looking up with Azumah back. This is the very same formula that produced the great Bears defenses of the mid 80s. The only defense right now that may be better is Pittsburgh's. But I think the Bears could give Pittsburgh a run for its money. Now, if the Bear offense improves, this will be formidable team. It has Superbowl quality reaking from every pore. I am impressed with this team now just as much as I was depressed with it off the opening loss to the Lions.

If their defense improves, their offense improves, and everyone is healthy. You could say that about almost any team.

	10-11-2004 07:58									#312
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quote: If you rank defense by points allowed then you have Baltimore Philadelphia Washington Tie Denver, Buffalo, Pittsburgh If you rank defense by yards allowed then you have Washington Pittsburgh Buffalo Denver Baltimore ranked by run defense you have Pittsburgh San Diego Washington Buffalo Seattle

Yards mean sweet stuff all. All they mean is:

Passing Yards Allowed: You're winning early, so the opposition gives up the run
Rushing Yards Allowed: You won't give up many rushing yards if you're winning, or you have a good offense

Points allowed is the only important stat, and to a lesser extent red-zone %.

	10-11-2004 08:01									#313
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Total yards is useful too because it counts both run and pass so all situations are covered. Sometimes points allowed penalizes teams with poor offenses who turn the ball over deep in their own territory. Total yards does not penalize for that occurrence.

However, you will notice the order I listed:
Points allowed
Total yards allowed
Rush yards allowed

	10-11-2004 08:02									#314
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quote: It has Superbowl quality reaking from every pore.

The Nedaverse invades sports!

quote: Points allowed is the only important stat

No, Yards Allowed are more important. You can give up more TDs because of an crappy offense (that gets intercepted at lot in their end). Yards shows you how a D is actually performing, discounting a crappy offense.

And Yards Allowed is traditionally how defense rankings are done.

	10-11-2004 08:02									#315
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Beat me to it, pchang... we even used the same example .

	10-11-2004 08:07									#316
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Well, I think all 3 stats are useful because no one stat can give you the complete picture. If you notice, the teams the show up at the top of all 3 lists are:
Pittsburgh
Buffalo
Washington

Out of those 3, Pittsburgh is the only one with a real offense, but Buffalo appears to have recently discovered Mr. McGahee.

	10-11-2004 08:09									#317
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Buffalo is handicaped by the fact that Bledsoe is their QB instead of a guy that actually realizes that forcing the ball between 4 players isn't the best of ideas!

Hey, but at least he's better than Mark Brunell and his Social Security collecting arm!

	10-11-2004 08:14									#318
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Is the team that really breaks the mold.
They are in the middle of the pack in both defense (19 for total yards) and offense (14 for total yards), yet they are tied for the best record in the league. They are definitely a team that somehow finds a way to win.

	10-11-2004 08:18									#319
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Well they've played a number of good teams. Last year they were 7th in Defense Total Yards. Yards per attempt is also a good measure and they were 1 in YPA for passing and 6 in YPA for rushing.

Though in 2001, the Pats were 19th in Offensive total yards and 24 in Defensive total yards . Though somehow where 6th in points scored and 6th in points allowed. Very rare indeed.

	10-11-2004 08:22									#320
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Top 3 teams by record and by total yards

Pittsburgh - #2 defense, #13 offense (but #1 run offense)
New England - #19 defense, #14 offense
Philadelphia - #24 defense, #12 offense

Philly don't make sense until you realize that
Philly is #2 defense in points allowed => The Philly defense has been lucky


New England is #11 defense in points allowed so they don't make sense at all.

added

On the other hand New England is #5 offense in points scored => The New England offense has been lucky (or opportunistic)

	10-11-2004 08:24									#321
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Teams haven't figured out that Philly's run defense isn't that good yet. With the Steelers' win, that may change.

	10-11-2004 08:28									#322
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I think teams were trying to catch up via the pass because McNabb - Owens got Philly the early lead.
After Pittsburgh, teams will realize the best defense against McNabb - Owens is to run (and keep) the ball.

	10-11-2004 08:30									#323
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It'll be interesting to see how well it works... or if it just worked because Pittsburgh is amazing .

	10-11-2004 08:30									#324
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At the beginning of the season, there is too much parity to accurately predict how teams will do. However, now that we have a half season's worth of stats, I really believe careful examination of the numbers (along with the latest injury report) can accurately predict winners.

	10-11-2004 08:38									#325
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quote: accurately predict winners

I wouldn't go that far .

	10-11-2004 08:53									#326
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reismark presents...

Why I Am Better Than You

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This has been downloaded 58 time(s).

	10-11-2004 09:00									#327
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Looking at the chart, I'd actually say that zoom155, Zopperoni, rah, and Ned are better than you .

	10-11-2004 15:40									#328
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Guys, I think going on season stats is misleading in the case of the Bears given the number of injuries to key players. Now that they are getting healthy (except for Brown), the defense is looking real good. I don't think what happened in NY was a flook.

On the stats, another key stat is takeaways. Chicago is tied for fifth. But they are also near the bottom on giveaways -- which has lead to a lot of points given up by the offense. The offense this year has been really poor, adding to the team's points given up by quite a few, IIRC. All things being considered, I think Chicago is near the top in defense right now. But the are looking better game after game as players come back from injuries.

	10-11-2004 18:53									#329
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quote: Originally posted by pchang Philly don't make sense until you realize that Philly is #2 defense in points allowed => The Philly defense has been lucky

They are not "lucky". Most of the yardage given up on defense has been given up late in games when they have had a comfortable lead.

	10-11-2004 18:57									#330
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quote: I think going on season stats is misleading in the case of the Bears given the number of injuries to key players.

So what happened last year? They were upper-mid pack. How did they suddenly become Top 5 just because of injuries?

And, sorry to tell you, but the Giants aren't really that good of a team. A few weeks ago, the Lions pasted them.