2012 NFL Season Thread

[BlueSky]

Well, this seems as good a day and as good a subject as any to kick off the 2012 NFL Season thread. Do you trust Ryan Kalil? If so, go to Las Vegas and lay some cash on the Panthers.

[Kramerica Industries]

There's only one prediction I care to tender at this point, and "predicting" this is about as difficult as predicting the temperature range in San Diego during the summer.

The Bucs won't come anywhere close to reaching the playoffs.

Now go out and prove me wrong.

[Gary]

Well, this seems as good a day and as good a subject as any to kick off the 2012 NFL Season thread. Do you trust Ryan Kalil? If so, go to Las Vegas and lay some cash on the Panthers.

I don't think any player, coach or owner should ever guarantee any championship of any kind. Panthers go 6-10, will Kalil have egg on his face and the team and fans a little more untrusting of him? Reminds me of the 49ers owner a couple years ago who were 0-5 and guaranteeing that they would still win the NFC West when they finished in third.

[FiddySicks]

There's only one prediction I care to tender at this point, and "predicting" this is about as difficult as predicting the temperature range in San Diego during the summer.

The Bucs won't come anywhere close to reaching the playoffs.

Now go out and prove me wrong.

I'd be happy with 8 wins. They still have some work to do to be a playoff team, but I like the direction they're going.

[tBBP]

There's only one prediction I care to tender at this point, and "predicting" this is about as difficult as predicting the temperature range in San Diego during the summer.

The Bucs won't come anywhere close to reaching the playoffs.

Now go out and prove me wrong.

You know what--a year or two ago, I'd have been right there with you on that. (Of course, last season was a straight no-brainer.)

That said...Greg Schiano and his staff have REALLY impressed me with the brand new culture they're cultivating down there in Tampa. I readily admit I had my doubts at first, but the man has repeatedly won me over with the moves he's made. (And I really think having Eric LeGrand around to serve as additional inspiration/motivation will reap some intagible benefits down the road. Previous iterations of this team always did have a way of being close-knit with each other...I think this will only further entrench those "knits".) He's gotten rid of players some would consider "cancers" (with the notable exception of Aqib Talib--I still don't know why they didn't cut that nut loose), but the man laid a blueprint down and seems to be following it to the letter. Add to all that the alleviations of uncertainty that we Bucnuts may have had/may still have about just what type of team we'll see going forward, being that this upcoming season will truly be the first without any kind of link to the past, meaning somewhat new offensive/defensive systems, and it gives us all much to look forward to. So far, we know that we'll see a rushing-centered attack on offense, and Tampa seems to have a good--and YOUNG--stock of backs, with presumed incumbent LeGarrette Blount and rookies Doug Martin and Michael Smith (who so far appears to at least be saying all the right things, which I guess you kinda have to as a 7th round pick). It isn't yet known whether Earnest Graham will even be able to play again, but even without him, there's still good depth in the backfield. If you can remember what Rutgers' offense looked like back in '06, when Ray Rice, Brian Leonard and Kenny Britt were the featured weapons, I kinda get the feeling we'll see something along that line on offense--which also makes a sh**-ton of sense, being that both Leonard and Blount have a patented habit of leaping over people when they're not running over people, and that Martin and Rice run and are damn near built the same way. (Now who ends up playing the part of Kenny Britt remains to be seen, however, since for whatever reason, some no-name receiver seems to end up being the unintended "go-to" guy of the Bucs' WR corps--last year it was Preston Parker, the year before that Sammie Straughter.)

On the other side, as long as Ronde Barber is still back there serving as something of a player-coach, I think at least the secondary will be alright (again, with the notable exception of Aqib Talib, who's really developed something of a DeAngelo Hall complex back there). The jury is still out on the LB corps, especially now that Geno Hayes is gone, but at least Quincy Black and Mason Foster are still there (double in the case of Foster, since he plays the Mike), and if Dekoda Watson can play against every other team the same way he seemed to play against the Falcons last season, I think that will go a long way towards helping out. I'm really interested to see how that D-line gels in year two. Last year was, well, "rocky", to say the least. But we'll see what a year of experience has taught them. (We already know Da'Quan Bowers is down.)

Then there's this: outside of QB, one CB spot and two on the O-line, pretty much every position is open for competition, so that should make for some really interesting camp battles (FOUR DAYS!!!). In addition, the NFC South has a weird habit of being an "Indian Run" competition (for those of you non-military types, that's what we called "last man up" runs, in which the last troop in formation sprints to the front--wash, rinse, and repeat), so that could work to Tampa's favor. That said, they open up their schedule against some heavy competition, starting with the Panthers the first game, then 3/4 of the NFC East, two away, before their week 5 bye, which in itself is a hurtpiece. After that, I see eight very winnable games, with the possible exception of that Oakland game since for whatever reason Tampa always seems to sh** the bed when they play out west. Division games can always be a toss-up, and Bucs have made a habit of stealing games from the Saints in the past, so that's where that count comes from. So, who knows? Hell, the team went 10-6 in Mo-Mo's first season at the helm...maybe this squad might have some similar success? We'll see.

[BrySmalls]

I see the Giants finishing 9-7 again this year, however, not making the playoffs.

[tBBP]

I see the Giants finishing 9-7 again this year, however, not making the playoffs.

I think a lot of people said that last year too and...well, you saw how that worked out.

[BlueSky]

There's only one prediction I care to tender at this point, and "predicting" this is about as difficult as predicting the temperature range in San Diego during the summer.

The Bucs won't come anywhere close to reaching the playoffs.

Now go out and prove me wrong.

You know what--a year or two ago, I'd have been right there with you on that. (Of course, last season was a straight no-brainer.)

That said...Greg Schiano and his staff have REALLY impressed me with the brand new culture they're cultivating down there in Tampa. I readily admit I had my doubts at first, but the man has repeatedly won me over with the moves he's made. (And I really think having Eric LeGrand around to serve as additional inspiration/motivation will reap some intagible benefits down the road. Previous iterations of this team always did have a way of being close-knit with each other...I think this will only further entrench those "knits".) He's gotten rid of players some would consider "cancers" (with the notable exception of Aqib Talib--I still don't know why they didn't cut that nut loose), but the man laid a blueprint down and seems to be following it to the letter. Add to all that the alleviations of uncertainty that we Bucnuts may have had/may still have about just what type of team we'll see going forward, being that this upcoming season will truly be the first without any kind of link to the past, meaning somewhat new offensive/defensive systems, and it gives us all much to look forward to. So far, we know that we'll see a rushing-centered attack on offense, and Tampa seems to have a good--and YOUNG--stock of backs, with presumed incumbent LeGarrette Blount and rookies Doug Martin and Michael Smith (who so far appears to at least be saying all the right things, which I guess you kinda have to as a 7th round pick). It isn't yet known whether Earnest Graham will even be able to play again, but even without him, there's still good depth in the backfield. If you can remember what Rutgers' offense looked like back in '06, when Ray Rice, Brian Leonard and Kenny Britt were the featured weapons, I kinda get the feeling we'll see something along that line on offense--which also makes a sh**-ton of sense, being that both Leonard and Blount both have a patented habit of leaping over people when they're not running over people, and that Martin and Rice run and are damn near built the same way. (Now who ends up playing the part of Kenny Britt remains to be seen, however, since for whatever reason, some no-name receiver seems to end up being the unintended "go-to" guy of the Bucs' WR corps--last year it was Preston Parker, the year before that Sammie Straughter.)

On the other side, as long as Ronde Barber is still back there serving as something of a player-coach, I think at least the secondary will be alright (again, with the notable exception of Aqib Talib, who's really developed something of a DeAngelo Hall complex back there). The jury is still out on the LB corps, especially now that Geno Hayes is gone, but at least Quincy Black and Mason Foster are still there (double in the case of Foster, since he plays the Mike), and if Dekoda Watson can play against every other team the same way he seemed to play against the Falcons last season, I think that will go a long way towards helping out. I'm really interested to see how that D-line gels in year two. Last year was, well, "rocky", to say the least. But we'll see what a year of experience has taught them. (We already know Da'Quan Bowers is down.)

Then there's this: outside of QB, one CB spot and two on the O-line, pretty much every position is open for competition, so that should make for some really interesting camp battles (FOUR DAYS!!!). In addition, the NFC South has a weird habit of being an "Indian Run" competition (for those of you non-military types, that's what we called "last man up" runs, in which the last troop in formation sprints to the front--wash, rinse, and repeat), so that could work to Tampa's favor. That said, they open up their schedule against some heavy competition, starting with the Panthers the first game, then 3/4 of the NFC East, two away, before their week 5 bye, which in itself is a hurtpiece. After that, I see eight very winnable games, with the possible exception of that Oakland game since for whatever reason Tampa always seems to sh** the bed when they play out west. Division games can always be a toss-up, and Bucs have made a habit of stealing games from the Saints in the past, so that's where that count comes from. So, who knows? Hell, the team went 10-6 in Mo-Mo's first season at the helm, so who knows? Maybe this squad might have some similar success? We'll see.

Assume you're idling in a truck stop and not pounding that out with one thumb while cruising up I-95...

[tBBP]

Half-correct. I'm eating IN a truck stop.

[JQK]

I see the Giants finishing 9-7 again this year, however, not making the playoffs.

Clearly, this is the Redskins year...

[CS85]

I'm thinking the Bears are good for 12 wins. Speculation beyond that I won't provide, I'd rather just be surprised.

[rams80]

OK, now that that's over with, the Rams have everybody in camp now that they have presumably convinced Janoris Jenkins that he is incapable of making good life choices and Trumaine Johnson that when the local womenfolk say "No" they mean "No".

It will be interesting to see what happens with the Rams' brand new secondary, whether Sam Bradford can stay uninjured and possibly even upright and competent, and whether Steven Jackson will indeed die a Ram.

Still likely looking at a 4-5 win season, which is still better than what fans have been getting, in the St. Louis Rams farewell tour Part I.

[Gary]

I predict 10 wins for the Lions and more Arrests than the Cowboys in the 90's

[CS85]

OK, now that that's over with, the Rams have everybody in camp now that they have presumably convinced Janoris Jenkins that he is incapable of making good life choices and Trumaine Johnson that when the local womenfolk say "No" they mean "No".

It will be interesting to see what happens with the Rams' brand new secondary, whether Sam Bradford can stay uninjured and possibly even upright and competent, and whether Steven Jackson will indeed die a Ram.

Still likely looking at a 4-5 win season, which is still better than what fans have been getting, in the St. Louis Rams farewell tour Part I.

Ah, now the 2012 NFL thread is official.

[Lights Out]

Now that AJ has grown some huevos and had a solid offseason for once, maybe this is finally the year that Norv gets fired after the inevitable slow start. I can dream, right?

[BrySmalls]

I see the Giants finishing 9-7 again this year, however, not making the playoffs.

I think a lot of people said that last year too and...well, you saw how that worked out.

And the end result last season was fine by me!

[NEW.ERA]

Early Predictions.

AFC East

Patriots 11-5

Bills 9-7

Jets 8-8

Dolphins 4-12

AFC North

Ravens 12-4

Steelers 10-6

Bengals 7-9

Browns 3-13

AFC South

Texans 12-4

Titans 9-7

Colts 6-10

Jaguars 2-14

AFC West

Chiefs 10-6

Broncos 9-7

Chargers 8-8

Raiders 5-11

-----------------------------------

NFC East

Cowboys 10-6

Giants 9-7

Eagles 9-7

Redskins 6-10

NFC North

Packers 13-3

Bears 9-7

Lions 7-9

Vikings 6-10

NFC South

Buccaneers 11-5

Saints 10-6

Falcons 7-9

Panthers 7-9

NFC West

Niners 10-6

Seahawks 9-7

Cardinals 7-9

Rams 5-11

[ADW77]

@NEW ERA: Your win total for the NFL comes to 260, considering there are 256 games played in an NFL season, that's not possible.

[NEW.ERA]

@NEW ERA: Your win total for the NFL comes to 260, considering there are 256 games played in an NFL season, that's not possible.

Like I'm going to go through every game, just a ballpark guess, give or take a few wins and losses.

[tBBP]

Early Predictions:

NFC South

Buccaneers 11-5

Saints 10-6

Falcons 7-9

Panthers 7-9

I like the way you predict!!!!

All horsesh** aside, though....the way the NFC South usually goes, though, that's entirely possible. (And again, Mo-Mo got them to break .500 his first season at the helm, so...)