ASK VIC: Here are my 'TOP FIVE TEAMS' ... May 29, 2013

[3irty1]

1. Saints
2. Broncos
3. Seahawks
4. Texans
5. Patriots

People are high on the wrong team in the NFC South IMO. Atlanta was lucky to be what they were last year and was gutted in FA much like the Ravens but did a much worse job of recovering IMO. The Saints will have their coach back and a really underrated defense that quietly had crazy rookie production last year and now finished a very nice safety tandem.

Broncos had a cupcake schedule last year and pooped the bed in the playoffs but I think they've improved and also had a lot of rookie contributors that should only improve this year. I might have them too high though.

The Seahawks won a lot of games they shouldn't have last year and were aided by a ton of health and luck but they've got the best secondary in football and an offense that will be as good as their 2nd year QB. I think they've legitimately gotten better across the board.

The Texans lost a lot of important pieces due to injury last year. With Cushing in there that D will go to the next level. This is probably the most balanced all-around team in football when its healthy.

The Pats got better. Especially on defense although it'd be hard not to. If any of those guys sticks as a pass rusher they'll have enough defense to win when it counts.

[Bretsky]

1. Saints
2. Broncos
3. Seahawks
4. Texans
5. Patriots

People are high on the wrong team in the NFC South IMO. Atlanta was lucky to be what they were last year and was gutted in FA much like the Ravens but did a much worse job of recovering IMO. The Saints will have their coach back and a really underrated defense that quietly had crazy rookie production last year and now finished a very nice safety tandem.

Broncos had a cupcake schedule last year and pooped the bed in the playoffs but I think they've improved and also had a lot of rookie contributors that should only improve this year. I might have them too high though.

The Seahawks won a lot of games they shouldn't have last year and were aided by a ton of health and luck but they've got the best secondary in football and an offense that will be as good as their 2nd year QB. I think they've legitimately gotten better across the board.

The Texans lost a lot of important pieces due to injury last year. With Cushing in there that D will go to the next level. This is probably the most balanced all-around team in football when its healthy.

The Pats got better. Especially on defense although it'd be hard not to. If any of those guys sticks as a pass rusher they'll have enough defense to win when it counts.

Dude...u stole my thunder on the Saints as I was going to pimp them but now I'm pimp #2

NFC
Saints
SF
Packers
Falcons
Seattle

AFC
Texans
Denver
NE
Baltimore


Those are the teams that can win the big show, and a Saints Texans SB would not surprise me at all. This is do or die year for Matt Schwab. If he rots ass in the playoffs again he might be gene. That team, between free agents and draft picks, is greatly improved on paper and the real deal

My gut tells me Denver's coming out of the AFC though....

[packer4life]

Dude...u stole my thunder on the Saints as I was going to pimp them but now I'm pimp #2

NFC
Saints
SF
Packers
Falcons
Seattle

AFC
Texans
Denver
NE
Baltimore


Those are the teams that can win the big show, and a Saints Texans SB would not surprise me at all. This is do or die year for Matt Schwab. If he rots ass in the playoffs again he might be gene. That team, between free agents and draft picks, is greatly improved on paper and the real deal

My gut tells me Denver's coming out of the AFC though....

The Houston Texans are a one-and-done playoff team. Their true weakness is Matt "Noodle-arm" Schaub. Sure they have a running game and a defense, but they just can't keep up in any offensive shootout. This is especially a problem when you are going up against Tom Brady and Peyton Manning in the playoffs...they are gonna put up 30, can Schaub keep up?

[wist43]

I agree on the Saints... they're certainly in the mix.

As for Atlanta, I've been skeptical of them for a long time, but I thought they showed some toughness last year - and that's been my knock on them, not very physical, not very tough. That said, Ryan is ascending, White, Jones and Gonzalez are as good as it gets... they're not a pushover.

Other teams that are about at the Packers level, or a little higher are the Giants and Seahawks. We just don't match up very well with either.

For my money, the NFC is pretty wide open... with a lot of good teams.

[smuggler]

The only team in the AFC that could make it to the SB out of the NFC is the Broncos, IMO.

[Smeefers]

I have not drank the cool aid on the seahawks. I like Russel Wilson and all, but I don't know how well he's going to do after teams have had a year to game plan for him. The same goes for Kapernick. This year we'll find out if the read option is here to stay. If it's not, Wilson is going to have a tough time sticking around. The dude's got NFL calibur skills, that's no doubt, but his height and his propensity to run can get him hurt and out of the game in a hurry. I also think that the Seahawk's CB's got away with murder last year and I'm not sure that the same is going to happen. I think what happened to us after we went 15-1 is what's going to happen to them. Teams are keying in on them, trying to figure out how to beat them. Once someone figures it out, they'll be the ones who have to adapt. The Packers had the talent to do that last year to a certain extent. Do the Seahawks?

The Broncos? Peyton Manning is good, no doubt. Dude's 37 this year. He's starting to get old. I'm not saying the guy's not going to throw for 4,500 yards this year, I'm just saying that when he does drop off, it's going to be like a rock off a cliff. As long as he's healthy and playing like he's 28, they have an excellent shot.

I actually like the Falcons. I think they're tough enough to bloody your nose but finesse enough to throw for 350 yards in a game. I see Matt Ryan only getting better because his awesome recievers are only getting better. For the first time in years I'm thinking the packers don't have the best WR core in the league because the Falcons are pushing for that distinction.

[pbmax]

As for Atlanta, I've been skeptical of them for a long time, but I thought they showed some toughness last year - and that's been my knock on them, not very physical, not very tough. That said, Ryan is ascending, White, Jones and Gonzalez are as good as it gets... they're not a pushover.

How long has this been your knock on them?

Prior to Green (2 years), all they could so was be tough, run the ball and play D.

[bobblehead]

His column is something I look forward to reading every week. We've been lucky to have some pretty damn good people covering the Packers over the last 12 years. I feel privileged to be able to read his columns. He's my favorite sports writer. It used to be Cliff Christl, now it's Vic.

His columns are to sports reading as Game of Thrones is to TV watching for me.

Speaking of Game of Thrones, I don't read anything online, I don't talk about it to anyone who reads the books. I want to experience it exactly as it is intended to be experienced. I don't know what's coming, I don't know the fate of any of the characters. Game of Thrones every week feels like a Packer game to me. I download it, get something to eat so I don't have to get up, then put it on. 34 episodes in (or whatever it is.) every time it ends, it feels like 20 minutes, not 50 and every time I can't believe it's already over. Amazing show.

Well JH, I read all the book long before the TV show and I still can't believe he ........Just kidding, wouldn't do that to you.

[wist43]

How long has this been your knock on them?

Prior to Green (2 years), all they could so was be tough, run the ball and play D.

Who, and what are you talking about??

[pbmax]

As for Atlanta, I've been skeptical of them for a long time, but I thought they showed some toughness last year - and that's been my knock on them, not very physical, not very tough.

How long has this been your knock on them?

Prior to Green (2 years), all they could so was be tough, run the ball and play D.

I quoted and then asked a question about the first sentence that appears in this post. Its a comment by you, about the Falcons and claiming your critique of them for "years" has been that they are not very tough or physical.

And I am disagreeing, saying that before Jones [edit: said Green first] arrived (and even after) their calling card was pretty physical football on both sides of the ball, but especially on offense. Defense was a little up and down but their performance outside of 2011 was pretty respectable. The offense is changing and Turner is done, but that doesn't change the past few years.

[Joemailman]

I quoted and then asked a question about the first sentence that appears in this post. Its a comment by you, about the Falcons and claiming your critique of them for "years" has been that they are not very tough or physical.

And I am disagreeing, saying that before Green arrived (and even after) their calling card was pretty physical football on both sides of the ball, but especially on offense. Defense was a little up and down but their performance outside of 2011 was pretty respectable. The offense is changing and Turner is done, but that doesn't change the past few years.

Who is Green? Are you confusing Julio Jones with A.J. Green?

[pbmax]

Who is Green?

Meant Julio Jones and confused him with AJ Green.

[smuggler]

The reason I don't like Atlanta that much is because if either of Roddy White or Julio Jones get injured, they go from a top-tier team to a borderline playoff team.

In Roddy's case, he might also fall off a cliff. Granted it's not a likely scenario.

[wist43]

I quoted and then asked a question about the first sentence that appears in this post. Its a comment by you, about the Falcons and claiming your critique of them for "years" has been that they are not very tough or physical.

And I am disagreeing, saying that before Jones [edit: said Green first] arrived (and even after) their calling card was pretty physical football on both sides of the ball, but especially on offense. Defense was a little up and down but their performance outside of 2011 was pretty respectable. The offense is changing and Turner is done, but that doesn't change the past few years.

I've never viewed them as physcial or tough - that percerption might come from the fact that they had an effective running game, but they weren't physical in doing so. They ran/run a zone blocking scheme, and cut block everybody - they had a smallish OL, that simply clipped the living hell out of everyone. Ala Mark Schlereth, dirty, rotten, stinking, cheating, clipping, techniques.

I don't consider that tough - I consider that dirty... even if it's legal.

And on defense, they were small and pedestrian everywhere - pretty much still are, but they've improved enough to at least not be a huge liability. Their defense is certainly much better than ours.

[Brandon494]

I like Russel Wilson and all, but I don't know how well he's going to do after teams have had a year to game plan for him.

Yea not like a rookie QB is going to get better or anything. Russel Wilson is a star in the making whos only weakness is being short.