Week Four of the NFL Preseason!!!

gardenman · ‎03-09-2010

This is typically the "take it easy and don't get any starters hurt" week of the preseason where deep backups compete for those last roster spots. Several teams this year though are showing signs of concern (some would say panic) and starting their starters in this game and taking the chance on them getting injured just to get them more playing time. The Giants are one such team. Eli Manning is said to be playing at least one quarter this week and given the state of the Giants offensive line that's taking a pretty big chance with Eli's career. I'm not sure I'd do that. Eli's struggling a bit with the new offense, but getting him killed behind that line won't help him any. Play the line, but let them get the backup QB killed instead of Eli.

The Eagles are benching all of their starters and about half of the backups to keep them safe this week. Chip Kelly seems happy with how those guys are playing and doesn't want to risk injury to any of them this close to the start of the regular season. So the deep backups get a lot of playing time and experience that they may need if called upon later in the season. (Expect to see a few guys go down with mysterious knee, neck, or back injuries so they can end up stashed on the disabled list for this season and kept from being snatched up by other teams.)

A lot of teams and coaches are sweating a bit with how they're playing right now. I'm not sure I'd trust the performance in this one game to change that any. Most teams will be playing deep reserves and if your starters still have trouble against the deep reserves, it's not going to help anything. If they perform well against the deep reserves it's not going to prove anything. You just know that somewhere in the league a starter or two will go down this week when they shouldn't have even been playing. The Jets lost Mark Sanchez late in an exhibition game last year and it's just a dumb risk to take with a guy who could be/should be a starter for you week one.

Fly!!! Eagles!!! Fly!!!

yellowrose · ‎03-10-2010

We play Denver and I look forward to see Demarcus Ware in his new orange jersey, even though he won't be playing. I really like that guy and I hope eventually he comes home and retires as a Cowboy. I'm sure he'll be receiving a very warm welcome at AT&T stadium...but I hope he leaves without a win.

gardenman · ‎03-09-2010

And the preseason has now concluded! Things look pretty darn good for a lot of teams and pretty dismal for others. Preseason records are pointless as the Giants are 5-0 in the preseason but their wins came behind the guys who won't be there while their starters were pretty horrible. RGIII seems to have regressed according to Ron Jaworski and his fundamentals are still bad. We could see a QB change in Washington a few weeks in if things start out badly there. The Eagles came out of the preseason in good shape. No season ending injuries occurred and the offense averaged about seven yards per run with LeSean McCoy sitting most of the time. The biggest issue in Philly seems to be too many good players. We've got to cut a few guys who will likely end up as starters elsewhere in the league this year.

I still wouldn't be shocked to see a trade or two go down for a few of the Eagle vets. Trent Cole and Brandon Graham are two guys who were 4-3 defensive ends who are transitioning to 3-4 outside linebackers and while both are playing well now, they're both better as 4-3 defensive ends. We could see one of them moved to get down to the 53 man limit.

Fly!!! Eagles!!! Fly!!!

Harpa · ‎03-10-2010

Thanks for all the info!

I usually don't pay too much attention to preseasons, only because it's hard enough to know the regular roster. Also hard to keep up to date with all the trades. "Hey, didn't he used to play for...."

It is nice to have the big issue you talked about - having too many good players!

I just haven't seen hide nor hair of Dallas. What's going on with them?

yellowrose · ‎03-10-2010

Dallas loses big last night. No wins yet. San Fran should be concerned when they come to town next Sunday. Cowboys will reveal what we've been hiding.

${#emotions_dlg.rolleyes}$ (rolling eyes again)

BTW gardenman, thanks for getting our weekly threads started up again.

teganslaw · ‎03-11-2010

The Colts are 0-4 in the preseason, losing to Cincinnati 35-7. They always do badly in the preseason, so I'm not real concerned...yet. Next week will show how this team does when it really counts. Denver, then Philadelphia to start the season.

I'm not sure who made the roster, so will have to check that out.

"The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog."

Mark Twain

Harpa · ‎03-10-2010

On 8/29/2014 yellowrose said:
Dallas loses big last night. No wins yet. San Fran should be concerned when they come to town next Sunday. Cowboys will reveal what we've been hiding.

${#emotions_dlg.rolleyes}$ (rolling eyes again)

BTW gardenman, thanks for getting our weekly threads started up again.

Don't worry, yellowrose! Those guys will probably be cut today.

Is menacing Witten still on your team?

yellowrose · ‎03-10-2010

Yes Harpa. Love my Witt.

sunshine45 · ‎03-09-2010

well, i hope the preseason was a good omen for us......we won all four of our pre-season games! i hope we can keep up the streak! ${#emotions_dlg.sneaky}$ Wink ${#emotions_dlg.thumbup1}$

here we go.....football week begins next week! so glad it is finally back!

********************************************
"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing." - Albert Einstein

gardenman · ‎03-09-2010

Less than a week until that first game now! I'll start the weekly regular season thread on Monday with my picks. The picks these first few weeks are a challenge. You never know what you're going to see from teams. Throwing darts is probably the best way to pick the games the first few weeks. Now, where did I put that dartboard?

Fly!!! Eagles!!! Fly!!!