7/2

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@Raiders22

@Raiders22

Good luck Raiders.  

22 good luck! Have any offseason football (NFL specifically I think is your main not NCAA?) obserations?

@MatthewJL46

 Some.  I have some futures I am looking at as well as some team over/under wins.  I am interested in how well Mendoza develops, of course.  I think Cousins, and even Brady, will be a big help with that.   I have a couple of teams I expect to make great improvements this year and a few that I think have peaked and will now head down a bit.  I think Myles Garrett is easily the best defensive player and moving to the Rams will be huge if the key players on offense stay healthy. 

But I am not all the way onboard with the new onside kick rules.  They will be changing it a bit this year where you can declare one at any time now.  But I still do not like that you have to declare it.  

I like that they are going to move away from overlapping Monday games.

There will be some replay assist expansion.  I am not sure yet how much it will slow the game down.  I understand wanting to get the calls right but I do not like too many reviewish-type things.

The new emphasis on standard field-surface practices is a good thing.  There is a lot the NFL can take from some of advanced soccer fields to help with safety and surface consistency.

Overall, most of these changes are driven to make it a better thing for the TV-viewer fan.  I get that, I guess.  But sometimes too much change is bad.

I do not like international play.  Now there will even be a game in Australia.  I think these games are mostly sloppy and unpredictable.  It also tends to show in the games following them and even in the preceding ones.

But I am excited that it is not far off.

You got any thoughts on it?

@Raiders22

 Here's a quick thought, and very far away from the NFL season. 

The Minnesota Vikings have the best coach in that division, and the best defense. I know....qb is the biggest question mark, and a very important position.

But no one is talking about them, it's like they're left for dead and finishing last in the nfc north is inevitable. 

I think they'll be a good dog bet this year

@undermysac

 Yes.  Very good points.  I thought they were one of two teams that really should have gone after Rodgers last year.  They had everything in place to make a playoff run.

I am not really sold on McCarthy yet.  Not sure Murray would be a better choice either.

But for sure they have the makings a dark horse.

@undermysac

 The Minnesota Vikings have the best coach in that division

This was interesting.  Any particular reason?

How would you rank those coaches in that division too to bottom?

The reason I ask is do you think he had a big role in deciding to go with McCarthy?

@Raiders22

 His lone blunder was letting Darnold go, and drafting Mccarthy. There's no ifs, ands, or buts about it. He has to eat it, and I'm sure he'll want to right the qb position moving forward. 

The dude has had a long career of coaching qb's, guys like Kirk Cousins, Case Keenum, Alex Smith, Jared Goff, Mathew Stafford and Sam Darnold. 

I'm honestly semi optimistic about Kyler Murray. Let's see what happens. He's got the right coach now who's had a history of getting a lot out of middle of the road career type qb's.

But overall, I'm not super enthused about the Vikings qb room. I just know that the defense and coaching is there, and that's a good start when betting any dog in the nfl.

That's actually quite difficult, pretty damn good coaches in that division. 

Dan Campbell is the motivator.

Ben Johnson had the highest ceiling, we don't really know how good or not good he is yet.

LaFleur is just a pud whack. Ask any GB fan

@undermysac

  Nice breakdown.

   I think Lafluer is very good and maybe Campbell was exposed a tad last year.  Maybe Johnson had more to do with their success than realized. 
Nowadays coaches success is so tied to QB assessment and development.  
   So, whether he felt that Darnold was having an outlier year or whether JJ was going to develop or they did not needed a veteran like Rodgers to take the next step — is a huge question for me.  I would like to know his reasoning for going the way he did with JJ that soon.  
   It will be so interesting to see if Darnold has a big dropoff; if JJ, or even Murray can rally that team now — or if maybe they missed their opportunity when everything seemed to be in place by not getting Rodgers for a year or two to  allow JJ time to develop.

Teams only have very, very limited time when things are all aligned to take advantage of it.

Thanks. 

@Raiders22

 I think that KOC thought that he could get a lot more out of JJ, and sooner. Clearly he's been a disaster. If there's any talent there, and production to be made, I think that he's a long ways out.

I don't like him personally, his behavior and personality says a lot imo. Also, his play on the field is highly erratic. 

As of right now, it was a big swing and a miss by KOC.

But who knows, one day something may come of  JJ, could be a road similar to Sam Darnold's?

@undermysac