tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6236498470662179494.post4239933550532135231..comments2023-09-26T07:20:31.638-04:00Comments on Talkin' S-Mac: 10 Questions that Need AnswersTalkin' S-Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01986228427076682662noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6236498470662179494.post-469887104763334292010-07-21T21:32:08.193-04:002010-07-21T21:32:08.193-04:00Great to read both of you chiming in...football is...Great to read both of you chiming in...football is so near, I can taste it.<br /><br />Vargas, doesn't it scare you to hear the thought that JJ might steal time from DD? To me, that would signal a dramatic decline in DD's game. Tough for me to imagine JJ improving that much in an offseason unless they return to throwing that short underneath crossing route to him that he so effectively ran until Charles Tillman stripped him multiple times in '07.<br /><br />Wonder if there will be any veteran OLB that have gas in the tank and can beat out Poppinga. His best isn't Super Bowl worthy. We know that. We need depth. Not sure that Obi is the guy. We'll find out early in camp. If Jones & Pop are going to battle it out, it better be Jones that wins the contest.<br /><br />The "snow plow" package would bring back the vision of Vince Lombardi. If every man blocks his man, even if the defense knows what we are calling, the play should work...<br /><br />As for Jolly, I heard speculation that he was essentially running a drug ring. Nothing confirmed. Just that he was funding and transporting heavy amounts. Not sure. Surprised that the fine was as heavy as it was - seems steep, no doubt. Almost unprecedented unless there is more than has been conveyed.Talkin' S-Machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01986228427076682662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6236498470662179494.post-67162824824093526112010-07-20T17:43:28.346-04:002010-07-20T17:43:28.346-04:00Invoking the name of Greg Lloyd. Oh boy. Wouldn&...Invoking the name of Greg Lloyd. Oh boy. Wouldn't it be nice if Brad Jones bursts off the corner and drills Brett Favre right in the face, knocking him back a full three yards IN THE AIR, leaving him doubled over, vomiting on the tundra. Oh, if only that history would repeat itself...about three times on October 24. <br /><br />There has been plenty of talk about Brad Jones as being ten pounds heavier and looking more physically mature. You can count on that, but let's see pass coverage in training camp. I'm not a fan of seeing Jones and Pop split time either. I hope one of them is good enough to win it outright. <br /><br />I too wonder about Mike Neal. There has been nothing but silence on the topic when there should be a microphone in his face and a question about Mike Neal to everyone not named Mike Neal. Makes you wonder. Nothing on the guy anywhere. <br /><br />The OL...well, it is the number one question....Stackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07525835033475133809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6236498470662179494.post-69268418715030018522010-07-20T17:30:05.988-04:002010-07-20T17:30:05.988-04:00I might in the minority on this, but I am still wa...I might in the minority on this, but I am still waiting for the NFL to explain to me why Johnny Jolly is suspended for the entire season. He has pending felony drug charges, I know. But he was suspended for the nebulous "violation" of the league's drug policy. I was curious, why, since he has not been convicted of anything, is Jolly suspended. From my reading, I understand that Jolly violated the league's substance abuse policy, the specifics of which are not made known to the public. I believe it was confirmed that it was not Jolly's first offense, thus the length of the suspension. However, why, as a consumer, should I not be able to know my product? I feel unsettled that a person may be suspended for a year for reasons that are not made known to an organization's shareholders. <br /><br />Roger Goodell, Greg Aiello, what's the harm in being honest? Being forthright? <br /><br />Hey, so-and-so tested positive for such-and-such. Let me decide if I want to buy a jersey, don't scuttle the truth under the table. Don't patronize me, I'm your customer. <br /><br />If Goodell polices the league, who polices Goodell? <br /><br />Jolly may be a creep. He may be a good guy. I don't know him. Maybe the information is suppressed in some way to due legal proceedings, but that's not what was said. <br /><br />I would also mention that Roethlisberger got 6 games for whatever you think happened in that bathroom stall. And Jolly gets a year for drugs.Stackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07525835033475133809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6236498470662179494.post-84016926984647480932010-07-20T17:14:36.281-04:002010-07-20T17:14:36.281-04:00Perhaps Nelson has improved as a return man. Perh...Perhaps Nelson has improved as a return man. Perhaps Blackmon can come back and dance once again. Perhaps our special teams will be so fucking good every good damn player will be blocked and we'll just have to outrun the kicker. <br /><br />On the other hand, you wonder if this isn't when Brett Swain makes a push. Can Sam Shields play gunner? Still a tough keep if he can't field a punt. Looking forward to seeing Starks. <br /><br />Crosby, make kicks. <br /><br />I agree Josh Bell deserves another season. I saw enough things to like out of him. I am still behind P. Lee too. Shouldn't have sat him down last year, but hindsight...it's cool, Ted. I ain't mad at ya. Dude is an athlete. Will make plays. <br /><br />Blackmon could be in limbo. He was unsuccessful as a corner. Couldn't find the ball. They moved him to Safety. Changing positions, off of an injury, behind a pro-bowler, Burnett and Atari. Declining ST production. Bush, Bell, Martin. Lots of names back there.Stackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07525835033475133809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6236498470662179494.post-42777926640183442182010-07-20T16:59:16.338-04:002010-07-20T16:59:16.338-04:00Indeed, training camp is nearly upon us. Good to ...Indeed, training camp is nearly upon us. Good to be back. Life is real. <br /><br />Who will win the Battle of the Bush? For a long time, we've held J-Bush as the Special Teams Ace, yet he has failed to develop into a feared, impactful player in that area. Again, we're staring at the same dilema. We want someone to be better. If it's Bush, great, but based on the body of work, you would hope that young talent and open competition would put Bush below the waterline. I have to think we can get something for him. A fifth, at least. <br /><br />The James Jordy question carries a lot of loaded contributors. The story about Jones' development prior to this season was positive, but felt like I'd heard it before. Let me say, I am fully behind JJ. Just like A-Rod getting his start, you wanted to see it for a full season. Fear the Dingo!<br /><br />I wonder if Jordy doesn't come in tow. He and Jones seem to be partners, I wouldn't be surprised to see them both step their game up. <br /><br />We have good depth. The ability to spread the ball around should be able to take pressure off of any one player or position. Greg, Donald, J-Mike, all Pro-Bowl type players. D Lee, Jones, and others make their meals in the soft spots in between and underneath. Somebody is going to find themselves in space, and A-Rod will find them. <br /><br />I know that MM will use J-Mike and AQ together. It's simple. It works. Cant' cover it. Just can't. Of course, AQ has to develop along the lines of Finley, but I like the seat he fills. Like Finley, he had to get his head straight at one point, but seems to love football. <br /><br />I noticed this past week for the first time that the Packer Pro Shop started selling authentic Finley jerseys. Indicative of his upcoming break-through year. Importantly to note, I thought I saw the young man mature over the last year or so. His maturity seems to have ascended not with his game, but perhaps just a nose ahead of it. <br /><br />We all loved the U-71 package with Racine native Kevin Barry. Why not the Snow Plow package...? J-Mike, D Lee, Kuhn, Havner, Johnson...some combination of the group. <br /><br />When it comes to the back-up RB role, James Starks must be ready to contribute. We know what we have in Grant. We would have more if we could get impact out of #2 while Grant caught a blow on the bench. This is on Starks. Jackson is steady if unspectacular. You feel thrilled when he gains fourteen yards. That sucks. And I'm sure he'll be on the team. Good mudder, I guess. <br /><br />Starks will also hopefully take some screens and misdirection plays away from Jackson and Jordy Nelson. <br /><br />Excited to see Burnett go after the Safety job. Excited to watch Atari battle. No questions, no answers, just get me some popcorn. <br /><br />Block that kick-off! Can we do that? The Mike Prior reference is priceless.Stackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07525835033475133809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6236498470662179494.post-72756206626375108022010-07-19T15:59:13.272-04:002010-07-19T15:59:13.272-04:00I like your idea with the TE's...almost like t...I like your idea with the TE's...almost like the keith jackson/Chmura tandem in 96. If we could get that going we could be deadly. <br /><br />Since i've moved back I'm hearing really positive things about James Jones and this is his year to challenge DD for playing time. I truly hope so. Jordy needs to prove his draft selection a bit this year as well. <br /><br />Hopefully TT can make a few veteran pickups from the summer training camp cuts...Doubtful though.Vargashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13394544183501361893noreply@blogger.com