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

[3irty1]

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.

The defensive MVP for the Falcons is whoever wrote their schedule. They'll be worse this year both because they got worse, and because the law of averages will eventually catch up with them. That level of health and luck is for a prolonged period of time is a right strictly reserved for the Bears. Nobody stays on top of the NFC South for long. Falcons aren't a playoff team in 2013 imo and I certainly wouldn't trade defenses with them.

[wist43]

The defensive MVP for the Falcons is whoever wrote their schedule. They'll be worse this year both because they got worse, and because the law of averages will eventually catch up with them. That level of health and luck is for a prolonged period of time is a right strictly reserved for the Bears. Nobody stays on top of the NFC South for long. Falcons aren't a playoff team in 2013 imo and I certainly wouldn't trade defenses with them.

I don't think I'd swap defensive personnel with them either - but their defense is better than ours simply b/c of Capers.

[Fritz]

Capers is responsible for the offense's lack of a running game. And the tornado in Oklahoma.

Look, I'm not a huge Capers fan, either. But you seem to demonize the guy. And we've already demonized Slocum, dammit. Can't you blame the bad defense on him?

[wist43]

Capers is responsible for the offense's lack of a running game. And the tornado in Oklahoma.

Look, I'm not a huge Capers fan, either. But you seem to demonize the guy. And we've already demonized Slocum, dammit. Can't you blame the bad defense on him?

I merely pointed out the obvious, Ayn is the one who actually posted photographic proof of the demon spawn's existence. This is an old photo of course, but you can tell it's Dom - and I think I can see some spray paint on his hair even at that age.



He's probably guarded closely during the games, but if you see him wandering about, don't hesitate to act - having the seven holy daggers would help though... I saw a documentary once, this woman flung herself off a roof - it was really cool - but I digress.

Just remember, you must act quickly upon seeing the beast... any hesitation?? and you'll likely be impaled upon a 1st down marker

[Fritz]

On a serious note - though I wonder if you are half-serious?! - I think Capers is an excellent teacher, which is why his first-year units do so well. But I wonder is the scheme, with the emphasis on assignments and NOT just trying to make a play, is too against-the-grain of too many football players and so is hard to draft for, and I wonder if Capers' weakness is his game-day adjusting.

Then again, you have to wonder why his defenses seem to play so well in their first year. It's an interesting question.

[pbmax]

On a serious note - though I wonder if you are half-serious?! - I think Capers is an excellent teacher, which is why his first-year units do so well. But I wonder is the scheme, with the emphasis on assignments and NOT just trying to make a play, is too against-the-grain of too many football players and so is hard to draft for, and I wonder if Capers' weakness is his game-day adjusting.

Then again, you have to wonder why his defenses seem to play so well in their first year. It's an interesting question.

Just trying to make a play depends on who is trying to make a play and their success rate. Atari Bigby had a lot of chances to make a play and simply let it hit the ground. The downside is how out of shape do you leave the defense when you short circuit your assignment to jump to another? The better the player, the better their chance of success on a gamble.

Its not the first year success with the Packers. It was year two they hit the ground running and dominated.

[Fritz]

Waldo did some statistical juju and showed that wherever Capers went, his first year showed great improvement in defenses. His second year was good, but after that, well, Wist may actually have a point. Can't they retain Capers as the teacher (think Jethro Tull) and let someone actually be the defensive coordinator?

[mraynrand]

Jethro Tull was a teacher?

[Smeefers]

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.

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.

See bolded text.