The Awesome World of NFL 2020 NFL

[Steve]

Part 1 of a short documentary series on Big Ben's return from injury for anybody that hasn't seen it, nicely put together. He is supposedly throwing and feeling very well in training camp which is good.

Not sure about the Steelers going into this season. I can see a realistic scenario where everyone stays relatively healthy including Ben, the defence continues where it left off in 2019 and the offence takes a step forward. They are a playoff team in that scenario, possibly even a championship contender if a few things fall their way.

Equally, things could come off the rails entirely if they have a bad injury meltdown like last year and/or Ben comes back and is clearly no longer at a high level. I'd be very cautious about making any type of win/loss prediction this year.

Either way, I am looking forward to seeing some football at this stage. It looks like a season is going to start in any case.

If the season goes ahead, is played out and they don't have any major injuries like last season they are in the mix for a ring.

Think they are under the radar a bit because they are in with the Ravens but the Steelers defense was one of the best at containing Jackson last year.

For the Steelers this could be the last year they have a lot of the big names around and they haven't lost anyone to COVID for the season.

It could well be their best chance for a ring for a good few years.

 

[Birdman]

If the season goes ahead, is played out and they don't have any major injuries like last season they are in the mix for a ring.

Think they are under the radar a bit because they are in with the Ravens but the Steelers defense was one of the best at containing Jackson last year.

For the Steelers this could be the last year they have a lot of the big names around and they haven't lost anyone to COVID for the season.

It could well be their best chance for a ring for a good few years.

Yeah the list of free agents for 2021 is frightening, depending on what happens with the cap they could lose 6-8 starters.

Defense will be fine for this season. They've only really lost Hargrave but considering Tuitt is coming back fully healthy that is not a massive issue.

Offense is the big question. Their young WR room has huge potential but they are a bit unproven. They brought in a bit of a wildcard in Ebron and they need James Conner to stay healthy. I think the OLine will be ok, not dominant as they were a few years ago, but above average. Like every other team injuries and luck will play a part.

All else being equal I think the Ravens will win the division but they might not run away with it like they did last year. Browns are interesting, their talent on offence is absolutely out of this world but they have had a lot of turnover including a new HC and I think they lack leadership in the locker room. Bengals should improve a lot but rookie QB's rarely light up the league, Burrow might need a year or so and their OLine is still very suspect so I don't see them getting more than 5-6 wins.

 

[Bandit]

Even just having Ben on the field should improve the run game from last season as defenses will have to pay him more respect.

I think they have added to the redzone with Ebron and Claypool and Snell has another year under his belt. Think this is the last year of JuJu with the Steelers and hopefully he can lead the young guys before getting himself a payday he deserves but I don't think the Steelers will be able to afford

 

[David76]

Yeah, JuJu is definitely gone after this year, so are Conner, Hilton and Villanueva at a minimum and they may need to waive some veteran guys like Haden. I'm hoping they can hold on to Cam Heyward, Matt Feiler and Cam Sutton but it depends on the cap.

Having Ben back improves everything on offence, teams won't be able to bring their safeties down to stuff the run game and blitz on every down. Mason and especially Duck were just lost running the offence last year. I saw a crazy stat on Duck, less than 30% of his passes went beyond the line of scrimmage, LOL. It really cannot be understated how bad the QB play was last year. Their Redzone offence was appalling. I'm surprised the team didn't pick up a veteran backup as there were some good ones available for reasonable money.

 

[Birdman]

49ers really stacking up on those former 1st rounders. Worked very well in the past with Tomlinson.

Interested to see if any of the cheap fliers on Jordan, Austin, or White make the roster. There is a curveball this year where they can put up to 6 veterans on the practice squad. If these guys want a chance to reboot their careers with a winning side and in a scheme that suits them they might accept hanging around on that until a roster spot opens up.

Verrett is getting good reviews from camp, getting a lot of time with the starters. Obviously always an injury away from it all disappearing. Williams apparently the monster he was before his break, incredibly athletic in the run and holding his own against Bosa.

1st rounders: Nick Bosa, 2nd overall pick
Solomon Thomas, 3rd
Dion Jordan, 3rd
Trent Williams, 4th
Kevin White, 7th
Tavon Austin, 8th
Mike McGlinchey, 9th
Javon Kinlaw, 14th
Arik Armstead, 17th
Dee Ford 23rd
Brandon Aiyuk, 25th
Jason Verrett 25th
Laken Tomlinson 28th
Jimmie Ward 30th

 

[David76]

I hope Kevin White works out.

He won't. But I hope he does.

 

[Dylan]

I hope Kevin White works out.

He won't. But I hope he does.

Injuries seem to have ruined him. It is always such a pity.

Despite the 49ers' injury list, he only joined the team late last week so I think he'll struggle to make the initial squad whatever happens. Potential that they cut him so they can avoid cutting a player that will hit waivers and then bring him either on the main squad or to practice.

 

[Bandit]

This is a great read on the infamous thumb injury Brady had before the AFC Championship game against the Jaguars a couple of years ago.

The seriousness of Tom Brady’s 2018 playoff thumb injury revealed in ‘The Dynasty’

Author Jeff Benedict explores the greatest contemporary sports dynasty of our time, the New England Patriots, in his upcoming book “The Dynasty,” which releases Tuesday. This excerpt is from Chapte…

nypost.com

 

[Bandit]

Looks like college teams that are pushing ahead with the season, ramping up this week, are really gambling with the lives of unpaid kids.

Same argument for NFL players but at least they are paid, can more easily isolate, and have better care/attention

 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1301544819731451904

 

[David76]

Jaguars released Leonard Fournette, they have to be the favourites to get the #1 pick in 2021. A couple of years ago they were in the AFC Championship game! Fournette 's gone to the Buccaneers. The Buccs seem to be trying very hard to build a good offence in Tampa!!

Washington have released veteran running back Adrian Peterson