The NFCN just gets weaker

[Fritz]

I'd say it looks as if the Vikes are on the right path, the Lions - it's hard to say definitively, but it appears they may not be as good, and the Bears still suck.

[3irty1]

It will be interesting to see how he does now that he can't sneak up on other teams. I really hated to see the Packers lose him, because he was the guy who intrigued me after the draft a few years ago. Didn't even get a chance to see him, except for a week or so in TC.

An interesting fact about him - he is actually a year and a half older than Randall Cobb, even though he was drafted 2 years after Cobb.

If Julio Jones is still sneaking up on teams (like us) then I don't see why Charles Johnson wouldn't be able to keep it going. What I'm interested in is to see how Janis measures up to those guys in the elite athlete WR arms race.

[Patler]

If Julio Jones is still sneaking up on teams (like us) then I don't see why Charles Johnson wouldn't be able to keep it going. What I'm interested in is to see how Janis measures up to those guys in the elite athlete WR arms race.

Julio Jones never sneaked up on anyone. He was a highly regarded rookie. He does so well because he is that good.

Johnson was an afterthought as a draft pick, bounced around from GB to Cleveland, who released him after he initially made the 53 man roster, and then on to MN. No one gave him a thought. Now he will either show he is OK and someone you have to pay attention to, or that he is so good that he will hurt you regardless, just like Jones. (He could also prove to be a flash-in-the-pan performer, or not up to the rigors of an NFL career. I think these are long shots.)

[Rastak]

Vikes look better for sure. Just the fact that they're not starting a rookie QB is a big jump.

What's your breakdown of the o-line in Minny Ras? That could tell a big part of the story for them this year I'd say...

I think Detroit and Chicago are no better than last year, and in this league, if you're not moving forward, you're falling behind or getting caught up to whichever the case may be.

Hey Vince, well it depends on how their super shaky left tackle does I guess. Kahlil was pretty shitty and they ended the season with only two starters on the OL. Their LG was also garbage and he's gone. Shifting their best gaurd to the left is good and they drafted a handful of OL in the draft this year so they just need to find one for RG. TJ Clemmings is penciled in at the moment so we'll see. I'm quietly optimistic, then again I usually am. I guess with only 2 starters left and Matt Asiata as your running back a 7-9 season is shockingly good. With a rested and motivated Peterson back and some serious young talent on defense I think things are for sure looking up.

Bonus content:
Charles Johnson did play really well last year. I might be in the minority but I really like the Vikings receiving corps this year. Wallace might be a diva but he is turning heads in OTAs with his speed and that's really what Norv Turner was looking for.

[3irty1]

Julio Jones never sneaked up on anyone. He was a highly regarded rookie. He does so well because he is that good.

Johnson was an afterthought as a draft pick, bounced around from GB to Cleveland, who released him after he initially made the 53 man roster, and then on to MN. No one gave him a thought. Now he will either show he is OK and someone you have to pay attention to, or that he is so good that he will hurt you regardless, just like Jones. (He could also prove to be a flash-in-the-pan performer, or not up to the rigors of an NFL career. I think these are long shots.)

I brought up Julio because Charles Johnson is a player in that sort of mold, and for a guy who never sneaked up on anyone Julio Jones sure catches a ton of passes that never even get contested. Julio did play on a team with other WR talent so the threshold for attention is higher, but what I'm saying is super athletes among super athletes like those guys have a way of making things look easy that could be interpreted as "sneaking up on teams." But you're right of course, Charles Johnson the man has a history of sabotaging Charles Johnson the player even before making hundreds of thousands of dollars as a professional.

[3irty1]

Hey Vince, well it depends on how their super shaky left tackle does I guess. Kahlil was pretty shitty and they ended the season with only two starters on the OL. Their LG was also garbage and he's gone. Shifting their best gaurd to the left is good and they drafted a handful of OL in the draft this year so they just need to find one for RG. TJ Clemmings is penciled in at the moment so we'll see. I'm quietly optimistic, then again I usually am. I guess with only 2 starters left and Matt Asiata as your running back a 7-9 season is shockingly good. With a rested and motivated Peterson back and some serious young talent on defense I think things are for sure looking up.

Bonus content:
Charles Johnson did play really well last year. I might be in the minority but I really like the Vikings receiving corps this year. Wallace might be a diva but he is turning heads in OTAs with his speed and that's really what Norv Turner was looking for.

There is a ton of speed on that offense. Its very Norv Turneresqe. Between Wallace and Johnson though you've got a pair of guys whose best route is probably Teddy Bridgewater's worst route. Maybe doesn't matter that much in this case. Those two guys are enough to get defenses playing man, then Teddy can play to his strengths working the seams and crossing routes. Play action from AP back is clearly an enormous advantage the vikes get back too.

[mraynrand]

So many stories of great talent going awry...



"Colt Lyerla practices for the 110 Meter High Hurdles during Family night at Green Bay" - JSOnline

[Rastak]

There is a ton of speed on that offense. Its very Norv Turneresqe. Between Wallace and Johnson though you've got a pair of guys whose best route is probably Teddy Bridgewater's worst route. Maybe doesn't matter that much in this case. Those two guys are enough to get defenses playing man, then Teddy can play to his strengths working the seams and crossing routes. Play action from AP back is clearly an enormous advantage the vikes get back too.

Can't argue that through college and most of his first season. The only reason I have some optimism is I read that through the final 5 weeks he led the nfl in completion percentage on 20 yard passes. Agree on the play action angle. But that only works if Peterson is actually explosive.

[Fritz]

The Bears, with Cutler at the helm, only seem to be able to get so far. John Fox seems a solid head coach, but given that he's saddled with Cutler, and given that weird draft class - how many players did they draft? - they seem to be keeping afloat but not much more. Detroit is counting on Matt Stafford, Eric Ebron, and the kid running back to pump up that offense, and Ziggy Ansah and Ngata to make up for the Suh, Young, Fairley et al losses. But Megatron is getting older, and after him and Golden (Shower) Tate, not sure Broyles is going to supply much more. Not sure. I think Minny has the potential to make the biggest jump. Good HC, I think. And if anybody can defy age, it might be AP.

[pbmax]

Weak conference compared to what, the English Premier League?

The AFC is New England, Baltimore and dreck.

Of course, San Fran does seem to have lit themselves on fire and the Eagles might be poised to. But the Cardinals are having a nice offseason, even if they haven't solved the basic problem on offense (age of QB).

Worst preseason prognostication ever.