What if Locker develops this year into a quality starter?

[Carpy]

I don't agree with all the hype saying the Ravens lost so much.

 

People forget they won down the stretch without Ray Lewis who was injured.

 

Their 3 biggest "losses" (Lewis, Boldin, Reed) had all declined due to age.

 

Everyone seems to ignore the fact they picked up a great pass rusher in Dumervil, added a solid DL in Canty, and will have Suggs and Webb healthy again.

 

If you ask me, their defense added more than it lost when you consider having Suggs and Webb again.  Their biggest questions in my mind are how to replace the production of Boldin and Pitta.

 

The reason their defense was so good was because even without Lewis and Reed making a difference they had guys like Ellerbee and Kruger stepping up.  I agree the won't miss Lewis all that much, but they will sure as hell miss Ellerbee, Kruger and Cary Williams as well.  That's 5 of their starting 11 on Defense no longer with the team.  

 

Losing 5 starters on defense and your most targeted two receivers in Boldin and Pitta has to make a difference.

[Guest]

The reason their defense was so good was because even without Lewis and Reed making a difference they had guys like Ellerbee and Kruger stepping up. I agree the won't miss Lewis all that much, but they will sure as hell miss Ellerbee, Kruger and Cary Williams as well. That's 5 of their starting 11 on Defense no longer with the team.

Losing 5 starters on defense and your most targeted two receivers in Boldin and Pitta has to make a difference.

I'll give you Ellerbee but Kruger was garbage until Suggs returned. Also, you know they replaced Kruger with Dumervil right? That is a clear upgrade. Cary Williams is an also-ran and easily replaceable considering how good the front 7 is. As for offense, Smith is a true #1 who commands double teams. Boldin benefitted tremendously from Smith's play. I'll also give you Pitta.

[luvyablue256]

If Jake pans out and we don't make the playoffs, I'll still be a happy camper. If we make the playoffs and Jake doesn't pan out, I'll still be disappointed. It's a key situation for the franchise's success the next 3 or 4 years..

 

LMAO!!! You can't make this shit up boys! 

[scine09]

LMAO!!! You can't make this shit up boys! 

He has a point. If the team shows great improvement but loses a ton of close games then you can't really argue.

 

In 2008 the Packers lost a ton of close games because their defense wasn't very good despite great #'s by Aaron Rodgers. They went 6-10 that year. Two years later they were Super Bowl champs.

[code]

In my view, the Elite NFL Qbs are Rodgers, Brees, Brady, Peyton.

 

Jake likely never gets near that stratosphere.

 

There are just a shit ton of very good NFL QBs playing now ... some proven, some less so.  Ryan, Rapist, Newton, Wilson, Kaepernick, RGIII, Eli, Romo, Flacco, Luck and Stafford. Again, some proven, some less so, but I would argue that they all give their teams a chance to win in the playoffs.

 

I have hopes that Jake can join that group, if not this year, next.

 

That said, I think the Titans can win 9-10 games this year if Jake can consistently play at the Schaub, Dalton, Rivers, Freeman or Cutler level.   All good QBs. All with flaws. But in the right system with the right talent around them, all capable of producing wins.

 

Realistically, we have to hope that Jake can play at that level this year ... in short ... somewhere between 16 - 20 in the overall QB ranker.

What he has going for him is what should be an excellent offensive line, an above average receiver group, and a coaching staff committed to helping him manage the game.

 

While we all talk about Jake as the key, and he is relative to the offense, Titans aren't going to win 10 games if their defense is a sieve again this year. We can't finish in the bottom 12 in points allowed. We can't finish in the bottom 12 in 3rd down stops.  We can't allow teams to control field position continually putting the offense inside our own 20 yard line.

 

Jake matters. But the defense, in my opinion, matters more.

 

We have lots of pieces on that side of the ball.  Going to be curious to see if the pieces start producing a sum larger (better) then the individual parts <can the pass rush improve the secondary, the linebackers improve the run defense, etc?).

[Cyrus]

I don't agree with all the hype saying the Ravens lost so much.

 

People forget they won down the stretch without Ray Lewis who was injured.

 

Their 3 biggest "losses" (Lewis, Boldin, Reed) had all declined due to age.

 

Everyone seems to ignore the fact they picked up a great pass rusher in Dumervil, added a solid DL in Canty, and will have Suggs and Webb healthy again.

 

If you ask me, their defense added more than it lost when you consider having Suggs and Webb again.  Their biggest questions in my mind are how to replace the production of Boldin and Pitta.

 

100% agree. I would add Jimmy Smith continuing to develop and the additions of SS Matt Elam and ILB Arthur Brown (who I didn't like as 43LB but really like as a 34ILB). If Huff plays well they could have an elite defense. 

 

As for Jake Locker, if he develops into a quality starter then anything can happen. I'd like to believe that if Locker develops then he's easily as good as Flacco. As Code alluded to, it's that Locker punches the ticket to the playoffs for the Titans, but it will be the defense that will get the Titans deeper into the playoffs. 

 

Also, I don't think the Titans want to Locker to manage the games necessarily. They want him to be the trigger-man but they don't necessarily want him to be purely responsible for creating offensively. He's going to be asked to make a lot of big throws but more within the context of the overall offensive scheme. 

[WG53]

Jimmy Smith? Lmao

[ctm]

The good news is that they added Matt Elam and Arthur Brown in the draft.

 

The bad news is that their backup TE, Ed Dickson, now has a slight hamstring tear.

[NFLStudent]

In my view, the Elite NFL Qbs are Rodgers, Brees, Brady, Peyton.

Jake likely never gets near that stratosphere.

There are just a shit ton of very good NFL QBs playing now ... some proven, some less so. Ryan, Rapist, Newton, Wilson, Kaepernick, RGIII, Eli, Romo, Flacco, Luck and Stafford. Again, some proven, some less so, but I would argue that they all give their teams a chance to win in the playoffs.

I have hopes that Jake can join that group, if not this year, next.

That said, I think the Titans can win 9-10 games this year if Jake can consistently play at the Schaub, Dalton, Rivers, Freeman or Cutler level. All good QBs. All with flaws. But in the right system with the right talent around them, all capable of producing wins.

Realistically, we have to hope that Jake can play at that level this year ... in short ... somewhere between 16 - 20 in the overall QB ranker.

What he has going for him is what should be an excellent offensive line, an above average receiver group, and a coaching staff committed to helping him manage the game.

While we all talk about Jake as the key, and he is relative to the offense, Titans aren't going to win 10 games if their defense is a sieve again this year. We can't finish in the bottom 12 in points allowed. We can't finish in the bottom 12 in 3rd down stops. We can't allow teams to control field position continually putting the offense inside our own 20 yard line.

Jake matters. But the defense, in my opinion, matters more.

We have lots of pieces on that side of the ball. Going to be curious to see if the pieces start producing a sum larger (better) then the individual parts <can the pass rush improve the secondary, the linebackers improve the run defense, etc?).

Guys like Culter, Romo and Scaub are NEVER going to win Super Bowls. They have no killer instinct. Ryan has a shot, Stafford still has time. My biggest fear is that Locker turns into Cutler, Romo or Scaub. Guys who will get to the playoffs, but won't win Super Bowl. Then they end up signing him long term and the team ends up in a six quest to find out 'Can Jake do it?' It's a sad way to live.

[JLocker10]

100% agreement. I bet the defense is better for Baltimore, actually.

Agree, I think BAL defense could actually be better. They got younger and faster. Reed and Lewis are maybe emotional losses, but their production can be replaced. They were both over the hill and BAL D proved they can win despite injuries. Webb was the biggest loss and he's back

 

Where BAL is a huge ? is their O. Who is going to catch passes from Flacco. I could see Rice setting career highs in receptions. 

 

I see BAL as a 9-7 team

[JLocker10]

I really believe Pittsburgh is going to take a considerable step back this year.

They've already been heading that way. They've been pretty mediocre the past couple seasons.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if they're going through a complete rebuild 2-3 seasons from now. I think Big Ben could fall off quickly like Mac did. The hits and injuries are finally going to get to him like it did Mac. And the age on D has caught up to them. LB should be pretty good, but DL and especially secondary are aging. I see Polamalu getting the Harrison treatment next season. He was injured pretty much all season. His play was already declining. No Mike Wallace. Heath Miller is out indefinitely. I see another mediocre season for PIT

 

Should be an interesting division. I see BAL, CIN, and PIT all being around the 8-8, 9-7 range. I think CIN could surprise a bit and win the division. Though I'm not a huge Dalton fan. Good QB, but he has limitations. A lot like a young Hass imo. He has athletic and arm strength limitations.

[JLocker10]

Indy and Pittsburgh aren't even close to the same class as those teams.

 

As far as New England, I think they are primed for a down year. Yeah, they'll win the division by default but they have absolutely no weapons and the defense has been bad for nearly a decade. And the Ravens lost a ton of people and already have injuries.

HOU and DEN are the teams to beat in the AFC clearly. HOU is a better team imo, but the QB edge obviously goes to DEN. I do wonder about how much losing Dumervil is going to negatively affect their D though.

 

SEA and SF are the vogue picks of the NFC. I think SEA could underachieve a little bit. They're not sneaking up on anyone this year. SF will be up there again. Too much talent and coaching. ATL will too, but I think their D is questionable and do Ryan/Smith have clutch factor?

 

Probably not going out on a huge limb here, but I think NO is going to surprise and be a top 2-3 team again. Everyone is saying how much more focused and intense Payton is coming off the missed year because of BountyGate. Their D was historically bad last season. If they can at least get to middle of the pack, I think they'll have enough. Jimmy Graham is going to have a monster season. He's in a contract year.

[luvyablue256]

He has a point. If the team shows great improvement but loses a ton of close games then you can't really argue.

 

In 2008 the Packers lost a ton of close games because their defense wasn't very good despite great #'s by Aaron Rodgers. They went 6-10 that year. Two years later they were Super Bowl champs.

 

I have a question... 

 

What makes you think that Jake Locker is ANYWHERE close to what Aaron Rogers was in 2008? 

 

I have another question... 

 

What "good" comes from losing 8 or 10 close games? That tells me Locker can't close the sale. You know what happens to a salesman who *almost* closes a bunch of prospective sales?

 

I'll give you a big, obvious clue: He's fired. 

 

That's like saying "Derrick Morgan ALMOST got 15 sacks!" 

 

What is the goal of seeing Locker improve without winning? To be the face of a poster on the side of the stadium? Bobble heads? 

[JLocker10]

It's an argument as far as the defenses. None of them are very good (Atlanta, New Orleans, New England). The reason I'd take the Falcons and Saints over the Patriots is because I think the offenses in Atl and NO are far superior to what NE has.

 

NE will be in the playoffs because the rest of the division is abysmal (I saw one preseason publication pick the Dolphins to go 4-12, and finish in 2nd place). And sure they could go to the Super Bowl in an historically bad AFC (although I think Denver is clearly the best team). But this might be the worst Patriots team that Belichick's had since 2002.

 

The Ravens last year were 10-6 and have lost more than they've gotten. I don't see how they're better than last season in the regular season. And we all know how tough it is to repeat success after winning the Super Bowl.

Sounds like NE might be just fine....

 

"By all accounts, Brady is having a great camp, which really shouldn't be a surprise at all. Then duringthe Patriots' competitive practices against the Eagles this week, Brady went bananas against them.

 

Brady completed all seven of his attempts in 7-on-7 drills against the Eagles, then completed 17-of-21 in 11-on-11 work, and two of the incompletions were dropped passes, according to the Boston Herald. That was on Tuesday."

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/tom-brady-reportedly-looking-great-camp-nobody-least-164000168.html

[Cyrus]

HOU and DEN are the teams to beat in the AFC clearly. HOU is a better team imo, but the QB edge obviously goes to DEN. I do wonder about how much losing Dumervil is going to negatively affect their D though.

 

SEA and SF are the vogue picks of the NFC. I think SEA could underachieve a little bit. They're not sneaking up on anyone this year. SF will be up there again. Too much talent and coaching. ATL will too, but I think their D is questionable and do Ryan/Smith have clutch factor?

 

Probably not going out on a huge limb here, but I think NO is going to surprise and be a top 2-3 team again. Everyone is saying how much more focused and intense Payton is coming off the missed year because of BountyGate. Their D was historically bad last season. If they can at least get to middle of the pack, I think they'll have enough. Jimmy Graham is going to have a monster season. He's in a contract year.

 

Manning's arm strength, as mentioned earlier, is a real wildcard. They'll be in the playoffs but how far will they get if his age and injury starts to show? The Texans may be the safest bet in the AFC, but I think it's a weak field especially if Foster's carries start to show in his production (as it has already). If the Ravens can find some consistency on offense they could prove to be the top team in the conference.