| 9/2/2008 6:05:06 PM |
Who will be the surprise NFL team of 2008? |
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jimirayclapton
Denver, CO
age: 49
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I've been paying close attention to the Denver Broncos during training camp and pre-season. I don't think this club will have much of a problem puting points on the board, as they have a very potent offense. The defense looks much better than last year, particulary in the linebackers and defensive line (which still can be improved, but MUCH better than last year. Special teams is much improved, and their new field goal kicker put one through the uprights in practice from SIXTY EIGHT YARDS AND HAD 10 YARDS TO SPARE! This guy has a LEG and looks like a great find for the Broncos. A very young club now with a lot of veterans gone. But they are quick and fast to the football and I believe will get better as the season goes on, unless they have key injuries.
So I will say that the Broncos are going to surprise some people this year by being a LOT better than expected. San Diego is still the class of the AFC west, but I think Denver might challenge their supremacy before too long unless some miracles happen in Kansas City and Oakland. They had a 7-9 record in 2007. I'll bet they win at least 10 games this year. (San Diego's defensive coordinater in an interview with NFL.com admitted that his biggest concern within the division is Jay Cutler and how to try to play defense against him. He is expected to have a breakout year in his 3rd year in the league).
Look for the Broncos to be on the way back up. (Now that I said this, it will probably be the KISS OF DEATH for them! LOL!)
JRC
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| 9/2/2008 6:51:04 PM |
Who will be the surprise NFL team of 2008? |
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notfit1
Titusville, FL
age: 47
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Who do they have for running backs? I agree on Cutler. Don't know much about their defensive backs and running game. They just cut Bell didn't they?
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| 9/2/2008 7:21:58 PM |
Who will be the surprise NFL team of 2008? |
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jimirayclapton
Denver, CO
age: 49
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The Broncos are starting Selvin Young as their feature back. As always, they run by commitee, but have Michael Pitman, Andre Hall, Ryan Torain, Anthony Alridge (speedster), and Cecil Sapp. That is the core of their running game.
Also, they have Brandon Marshall as a wide receiver that caught more passes than any other receivers on the team last year (and I think he also caught most passes in the league during the regular season if I'm not mistaken). Now they have added Eddie Royal, Keary Colbert, Darrell Jackson, Brandon Stokley, Edell Sheppard.
Denver almost always has a good running game because of their offensive scheme. But with a quarterback like Cutler learning how to use all those weapons, they could be dangerous.
In the defensive backfield they have Champ Bailey and Dre' Bly as the two shutdown corners, Carl Paymah and Jack Williams also play corner. Hamzah Abdullah, Calvin Lowry, Marquand Manuel, Marlon McCrea (took over John Lynch's spot) all play safety. All hard hitters and quick to the ball.
They signed Champ Bailey's brother, Boss Bailey as an addition to the linebacking core during the off season. They have put D.J. Williams back to playing weak-side linebacker where he's most comfortable and effective. The linebackers as a group are quick to the football, and with the new defensive coordinater and defensive scheme, the guys look like they know their assignments and responsibilities. It will be fun to watch and see how well they play.
If the defensive line can put up a pass rush, other teams are going to be in trouble. That's the only question mark I see. Pass rush. If they can put one on this year, the
Broncos will be in the playoffs.
JRC
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| 9/2/2008 8:30:30 PM |
Who will be the surprise NFL team of 2008? |
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notfit1
Titusville, FL
age: 47
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Damn good info there, JRC!!! ESPN didn't even come close to this on their outlook! Stokely will add a McCaffrey-like component to the receiving corps. You may just have something there. Pittman is no slouch and it looks like the defensive backfield is up to par. Thanks for the update! You really might be on to something.
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| 9/3/2008 4:47:01 PM |
Who will be the surprise NFL team of 2008? |
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rlynn_3
Martinsburg, WV
age: 39
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lions maybe
dolphins 
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| 9/3/2008 5:12:20 PM |
Who will be the surprise NFL team of 2008? |
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jimirayclapton
Denver, CO
age: 49
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I think that the Dolphins also are going to surprise a lot of people. I don't know if they will gel this year, but by next year they should have their game together and make some noise on their own right.
The Lions? I don't know. They always seem to be disorganized and the quarterback situation there hasn't really been stable in a long time. I'm curious to see how they do also, because I have family back in Detroit that are big sports fans and want the Lions to do well. LOL.
This weekend starts it all off.
JRC
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| 9/3/2008 6:49:34 PM |
Who will be the surprise NFL team of 2008? |
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doll121
Middleport, OH
age: 51
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Eli Manning and the New York Giants one more time. remember the super bowl champs.
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| 9/3/2008 7:32:59 PM |
Who will be the surprise NFL team of 2008? |
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jimirayclapton
Denver, CO
age: 49
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The defending Super Bowl Champions are hardly a surprise team. LOL.
I'm talking about a team that is a sleeper. One that is better as a group than the sum of it's players would lend you to think they would be.
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| 9/3/2008 9:08:58 PM |
Who will be the surprise NFL team of 2008? |
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jakeup29
San Antonio, TX
age: 30
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My pick for surprise teams of '08
1.)Jets (for obvious reasons)
2.)Raiders
3.)Eagles
4.)Vikings
But Cowboys will be #1  
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| 9/3/2008 10:10:41 PM |
Who will be the surprise NFL team of 2008? |
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jimirayclapton
Denver, CO
age: 49
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My pick for surprise teams of '08
1.)Jets (for obvious reasons)
2.)Raiders
3.)Eagles
4.)Vikings
But Cowboys will be #1
You may be right about the Vikings. They are going to be a monster this year I think. Green Bay is another that could really make a run at going deep into the playoffs.
What do you see in the Raiders that I don't? Both Oakland and Kansas City in my mind are worse teams than Denver or San Diego in that division. Kansas City still rebuilding and Oakland has problems from the owner down. Nobody knows who's in charge there and that team remains in disarray.
Donovan McNabb is back and maybe the Eagles can bounce back to where they were 3 or 4 years ago. I'm just not sure where they stack up in the NFC East with the Cowboys and Giants also in the division. But who knows? It's a long season and injuries can shape a team's fate.
JRC
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| 9/3/2008 10:33:58 PM |
Who will be the surprise NFL team of 2008? |
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jakeup29
San Antonio, TX
age: 30
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There pre-season (raiders) record was only 1-3 but the play from there starters wasn't the reason I think San Diego wins that division hands-down and then the next slot could be anyones. As far as the Packers I'm not sold on Rogers just yet. I'll take the Vikings in that division this year in a close one. As far as a Cowboy fan I'm more worried about the Giants, Eagles, and Seattle than the Pack. but not too much. Rogers could very much prove me wrong. Hey NFL fans play the NFL weekly pick game
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| 9/4/2008 5:01:53 AM |
Who will be the surprise NFL team of 2008? |
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10snut
Haughton, LA
age: 61 online now!
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I think the New Orleans Saints are going to surprise a lot of people this year.
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| 9/4/2008 11:54:07 AM |
Who will be the surprise NFL team of 2008? |
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notfit1
Titusville, FL
age: 47
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Preseason? New England was 0-4, I don't think it is much of a barometer. When I see Rodgers throw a 68 yard TD pass in a real game, then I might see your point.
JRC, will the Vikings starter be the starter all year? Or how bout McNabb? You are right about injuries playing a big part of the outcome.
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| 9/4/2008 2:53:43 PM |
Who will be the surprise NFL team of 2008? |
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be4eyedie
Janesville, WI
age: 44
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Jets
Saints
and hopefully the Packers.
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| 9/4/2008 5:41:23 PM |
Who will be the surprise NFL team of 2008? |
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jimirayclapton
Denver, CO
age: 49
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Preseason? New England was 0-4, I don't think it is much of a barometer. When I see Rodgers throw a 68 yard TD pass in a real game, then I might see your point.
JRC, will the Vikings starter be the starter all year? Or how bout McNabb? You are right about injuries playing a big part of the outcome.
The core of the Green Bay Packers is a sound team. A young club but been together a few years now. They have a solid defense. The defense last season was as much the reason they made it as far as they did, as Favre was. They have a good running game. A solid offensive line. If Rodgers can manage the game and not commit too many turnovers, or get hurt, that team could go very far. I think that may have played into Brett Favre's thinking when he decided to unretire and want to play again. The Packers are a solid football team and may well surprise a lot of people (one way or the other).
As for the Vikings, they have Tarvaris Jackson back and healthy, Adrian Peterson, Chester Taylor, Maurice Hicks will absolutely run all over people this year if the offensive line can hang tough. The defense only has three guys that have been in the league for more than 10 years. Very athletic with a bunch of unknown names that last year were pretty good and should be equal or better this year. We will see. If the starters will start all year? I would say probably so, if they don't get injured.
McNabb? I don't know. We will see. But if the Eagles don't do something this year, Andy Reid will be gone. I can't see them keeping him any longer if they don't show they have a pulse this year. And I would have to believe that McNabb might be gone as well, along with a lot of high payroll players so they can cut their losses and rebuild again.
JRC
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