I'm curious to know what y'all feel are the most overrated and underrated units in the NFL right now. If there's one that stands out to you that you'd like to bring to the table, don't hesitate to chime in!
Can I rephrase my ?. By unit, I am referring to an element of a football team (i.e. offense, defense, special teams). I am asking if there is a team out there that you think has a particular element that is overrated, and if there's a team out there that you think has one that's underrated.
I'm feeling the love Miami bear, I'm feeling the love!
Oh, there' no love here whatsoever. I HATE the Vikings more than I do any other team, Packers included. Still, they are a damn good football team, solid all around, and no one is really talking about them.
Vanni.......I'm guessing reading comprehension may have been an "issue" in grade school for some.
Anyway........I think the Chicago Bears DEFENSE is overrated. The Cardinals proved it on MNF.
I think the Colts offense is overated. It is of course very good.......but it seems they're always playing cupcakes and when the GOOD teams with truly strong defenses come around in the playoffs Payton Manning ends up pouting, complaining for calls, kicking the dirt.....and not going to Superbowl.
-- Edited by Backinthesaddleagain at 13:07, 2006-10-28
vanni, i'm prepared to duck as i say this, cuz i know you're a birds fan, but you know i am too...
overrated: can i nominate jim johnson's d's as having been overrated for quite some time now? shack, i know i defended them in the context of the bucs game, cuz that loss was truly on the offense's back for all those turnovers, and the special team's inability to stop a 37 yard return when they MOST needed to do it the most, but all your points about the problems this d is having are well taken, and i have felt the same way for awhile now.
underrated: maybe the bronc's d. i mean, all we hear about are baltimore's d, and chi-town's d, but the broncs are the ones averaging 7.13 points against per game, right? aint no rookie california pretty boy gonna torch them on national tv.
overrated: i guess it's too late to call miami overrated (whole team...sorry, i know you want units, but i can't resist), but hey...only a few of us on this board saw that S.I. super bowl prediction as a ridiculous bit of inflation. suddenly, the nicktator is no longer on people's short list for a mount rushmore of coaches either, huh? weren't y'all ready to annoint him?
most underrated of all: every special teams unit in the nfl that helps their teams win the field position battle. it's so crucial.
and on this note, here's a challenge to the message board that may prove just how underrated special teams in general really are: besides having knowledge of how good our favorite team does on special teams, can we even name the good special teams units from around the league? this does not mean simply naming good punt and kick returners, either. i know i can't discuss the special teams of any besides the eagles, and i'm a stone cold football knucklehead. seems we all talk the talk, but....how much do we really know?
prove me wrong, pft message board, prove me wrong...
I will say for example last season the Steelers special teams units down the stretch were huge. The coverage units were outstanding on Sean Morey (remember him Eagles fans?) Chidi Iwuma, James Harrison, and Clint Kreiwaldt were healthy. In the Super Bowl, we dominated the game on special teams, in all phases of specal teams.
This year special teams has been a let down for the Steelers. Brett Keisel steps in as a starter at DE, leaving him off the punt and kick overage teams. Made a huge difference. Andre Frazer yelled at Cowher in camp this year and was realeased, the guy was also great on coverage teams. Porter has been burt, so now Frazers replacement Arnold Harrison is forced to start defense, and he isn't even as good a Frazer on sepcial teams. Chidi was realsed, so there goes out best gunner. Colough is now on IR, so there goes out 2 gunners from last season. Bryant McFadden has a bigger role in the starting defense, cutting down his special teams time.
Quincy Morgan was released, so say goodbye to the best kick returned we had. Randle El is gone, so say goodbye to our best punt returner. Gardocki is a year older, and isn't booming punts. Jeff Reed has looked spotty this season.
The return teams have been terrible. In years past, Steeler special teams that have been a newer bunch early in the season have struggled, only to come on stronger as the teams gel late in the season.
Special teams is a 1/3 of the game, period. If the Steelers were playing sepcial teams like we did late last season we would be 4-2. I have seen special teams lose AFCCG (2001 vs. NE) and be the deciding factor is Super Bowls (1996 GB vs. NE 2005 PIT vs. SEA)
I will say that NE usually has excellent special teams. Coach BB doesn't hesitate to use starters on his special teams. Cowher typically does.
saturn11 wrote: underrated: maybe the bronc's d. i mean, all we hear about are baltimore's d, and chi-town's d, but the broncs are the ones averaging 7.13 points against per game, right? aint no rookie california pretty boy gonna torch them on national tv.
I agree with this. The Bronco D is stiffling. Not as hyped or "flashy"as some other defensive units......just stiffling
saturn11 wrote: most underrated of all: every special teams unit in the nfl that helps their teams win the field position battle. it's so crucial.
and on this note, here's a challenge to the message board that may prove just how underrated special teams in general really are: besides having knowledge of how good our favorite team does on special teams, can we even name the good special teams units from around the league? this does not mean simply naming good punt and kick returners, either. i know i can't discuss the special teams of any besides the eagles, and i'm a stone cold football knucklehead. seems we all talk the talk, but....how much do we really know?
prove me wrong, pft message board, prove me wrong...
You're right.....most everybody misses the importance of special teams play.......or at least the media relegates special teams to a lesser level. Also, unless there is an explosive kick or punt returner, the squads almost seem to be made up of nameless drones when compared to all the familiararity we get with the players on the O and D.
A really good special teams unit......Buffalo Bills.
Vanni.......I'm guessing reading comprehension may have been an "issue" in grade school for some.
Anyway........I think the Chicago Bears DEFENSE is overrated. The Cardinals proved it on MNF.
I think the Colts offense is overated. It is of course very good.......but it seems they're always playing cupcakes and when the GOOD teams with truly strong defenses come around in the playoffs Payton Manning ends up pouting, complaining for calls, kicking the dirt.....and not going to Superbowl.
-- Edited by Backinthesaddleagain at 13:07, 2006-10-28
What did the Cardinals prove on MNF? Did you actually watch the game?
Considering that the Bears D/ ST Scored 3 touchdowns in that game kinda makes you look like an idiot saddle.
The Bears D was stuck in short field conditions 5 times in that game and yielded 1td and 3 FGs from those situations...Go and look at the statistics from that game...Then go and look at their statistics from the prior 5....Overrated means ranking someone above their spot statistically. Hardly the case for the Bears.
I respect that that is your opinion, but it is not a very intelligent one.
If you want to say that about the Bears offense, then that would be more fair.
Vanni.......I'm guessing reading comprehension may have been an "issue" in grade school for some.
Anyway........I think the Chicago Bears DEFENSE is overrated. The Cardinals proved it on MNF.
I think the Colts offense is overated. It is of course very good.......but it seems they're always playing cupcakes and when the GOOD teams with truly strong defenses come around in the playoffs Payton Manning ends up pouting, complaining for calls, kicking the dirt.....and not going to Superbowl.
-- Edited by Backinthesaddleagain at 13:07, 2006-10-28
What did the Cardinals prove on MNF? Did you actually watch the game?
Considering that the Bears D/ ST Scored 3 touchdowns in that game kinda makes you look like an idiot saddle.
The Bears D was stuck in short field conditions 5 times in that game and yielded 1td and 3 FGs from those situations...Go and look at the statistics from that game...Then go and look at their statistics from the prior 5....Overrated means ranking someone above their spot statistically. Hardly the case for the Bears.
I respect that that is your opinion, but it is not a very intelligent one.
If you want to say that about the Bears offense, then that would be more fair.
If you want to crown them, then CROWN THEIR A$$ES!!!
Backinthesaddleagain wrote: Vanni.......I'm guessing reading comprehension may have been an "issue" in grade school for some.
Anyway........I think the Chicago Bears DEFENSE is overrated. The Cardinals proved it on MNF.
I think the Colts offense is overated. It is of course very good.......but it seems they're always playing cupcakes and when the GOOD teams with truly strong defenses come around in the playoffs Payton Manning ends up pouting, complaining for calls, kicking the dirt.....and not going to Superbowl.
-- Edited by Backinthesaddleagain at 13:07, 2006-10-28
LOL, 2 defensive TDs, carrying the team to a win after 6 turnovers, and holding Edge for 55 yards on 36 carries (worst yardage for that many carries IN THE HISTORY OF THE GAME), yeah, clearly overrated.
Yes I watched the game and I was disgusted that the Cards coughed up a fur ball to lose.
They completely out played the Bears in the first half and if they didn't revert to being....The Cardinals.....they should easily been able to finish with a win.
I watched the game........they moved the ball very effectively on the Bear defense:
* 17 first downs
* 286 yards of offense
* They held the ball with their offense for 39:43 minutes
The Cardinals LOST that game by their own ineptitude more that any other factor.
The Bears D is certainly a solid unit. All I'm saying is that they can be had......I witnessed it on MNF. The point is that I believe they're over rated because some people seem to think they're the second coming of the 85' Bears defense and are getting carried away.
I didn't say that the Bears Offense is over rated because most people don't consider them a great offense anyway.
Why is it "PREPOSTEROUS" that I could have the opinion that the Bears Defense is over rated after I watch the THE CARDINALS move the ball very effectively against them???
EVERY defense can be moved on, even the 85 Bears. You are going off ONE game in which, coincidentally, one of our defensive end starters was out (Wale Ogunleye). I love the rookie that replaced him as much as anyone but he clearly does not command the double team that would have freed up Tommie Harris on alot of plays. Sorry my friend, teams and units are going to have off games. Especially in games where the offense turns the ball over SIX TIMES.
By your logic, back in '85 you woulda have watched the Bears vs Dolphins game and called THAT defense overrated because they got "exposed" in their only loss that season.
Saddle, there is no such thing as a completely impenatrable defense. Players have bad games...teams have bad games....Opposing teams have good games. Thats just the way it is. And if you want to say that the cardinals moved the ball effectively against the Bears, that is indeed your opinion, but the statistics, the final score of the game, and the manner in which the Bears achieved that victory says your opinion is crap.
The Bears will be tested against the Giants, Patriots...and maybe even the Jets. Let's revisit this topic after those games, and then your opinion may hold some weight. Based upon the last 6 games, that opinion is way way way off base.
And to have to be on the field for 39 minutes (because of 6 f-in turnovers most of which put the d on the short end of the field) and to only come away with 2 tds and 2 field goals???....How dare you say that's bad saddle.
There were maybe three possessions in which the Cardinals effectively moved the ball down the field. That appears to be the exception, and not the rule in the Bears' case.
Statistically speaking, right now the Bears are a better team than the 85 Bears. How the rest of the season plays out will determine where they stay in that regard...
So based upon that fact, how can they be at all considered overrated?
so much for the bronco's d being underrated: hyped all morning on all the pre-game shows, and then they let peyton and reggie wayne dance all over them.
The weakness with the Broncos D is their pass rush, which pretty much got exploited today. Their front 4 got nowhere near Manning, especially during the crucial drives late in the game.
As Sad as it is to say this...They need to shelve Roethlisberger. The guy has to be injured in some way and hes not telling anyone for fear of more lashback from his motorcycle BS.
I'm not drinking the koolaid that they are serving up. Eventually it will come to light.
As Sad as it is to say this...They need to shelve Roethlisberger. The guy has to be injured in some way and hes not telling anyone for fear of more lashback from his motorcycle BS.
I'm not drinking the koolaid that they are serving up. Eventually it will come to light.
-- Edited by GoBearsGalason at 11:23, 2006-10-30
He is no doubt feeling the effects of the concussions/head injuries he has had. Just by watching him I can tell his decision making is slow, and that was his strong point. We will see how Coach Stubborn monitors the situation.........