By Nino Colla
Published: August 17, 2007 PrintEmail
It's time to start thinking about football. Preseason is well underway and people are starting to clamor for it.
I've been so caught up in baseball this summer that football has kinda just jumped up behind me and said, Woohoo I'm still here. Which is great it makes that wait for football that much easier.
But we are so close. Even though it's preseason I found myself watching several of the games that were on since Friday. Now look I don't back much of this stuff up with stats or anything. Especially since I don't feel like doing research.
The whole point of this is to shoot my mouth off about what I like and don't like about the up coming season. I'll do it three times. the NFL, College Football and Fantasy Football. Right now it's the NFL and after one full week of every team having at least one game, here is where we stand.
Love: Charlie Frye, QB Browns
Go ahead. Look I don't care. The Browns won't win a damn thing this year other than some games. But I think this is Charlie Frye's year. A lot of people thought he was 2nd round material. He has talent, he has the desire. Like Brady Quinn he WANTS to play for the Browns. We heard the Brady Quinn story already. We heard it two years ago with Charlie Frye. But because his name is Charlie Frye no one outside of Cleveland or Charlie Frye's inner circle heard about it. Theres stuff I base off out of feeling. This is one of them. I love Charlie Frye this year and I think he is going to break out. My Ideal dream is for him to do that and get the Drew Brees treatment. Ultimately I don't like Brady Quinn as a NFL QB. I like Charlie Frye a lot more. Go Charlie, just make sure you stumble a little bit Week 1 to give those Quinn lovers a curveball and so the Steelers can win.
Let's hope this is the scene for Brady Quinn for the entire 16 weeks.
Hate: NFC West
This has nothing to do with hating them because they are bad. I hate this division because there are a lot of teams I like in it. To my surprise the Niners only finished 1 game below .500. Now Alex Smith is one more year experienced, they added a stud corner, a young linebacker and true number 1 receiver. Plus Vernon Davis figures to be healthy and oh ya Frank Gore was one of the best backs in the league last year.
The Rams. I've always liked the Scott Linehan hire. I like their offense, their defense is on the rise as it rebuilds. They will be competitive. Might actually have a worse record even though they are improved.
Seattle is always up there. You can't go wrong with their talent. They have to be the favorites once again.
Arizona has a new coach and new mentality. Ken Wisenhunt is trying to produce Steelers Phoenix style. Matt Leinart has his rookie year out of the way and their line has actually gotten better.
It's hard to pick a winner here. That's why I hate it. It's LOADED with potential or it could be a huge let down. The Rams are decent but are they division contenders or just a mediocre team on the road to revamping. As good as Seattle is and has been they did only win the division by one game and have shown signs of underachieving. San Francisco is either going to be really scary or just really like the Rams. Of course you have the biggest tease of them all the Arizona Cardinals who have been the breakout team of the year for the past 40 years it seems like.
I hate this division because it can be really good, but in the end it just might let us down once again.
Love: Joey Harrington, QB Falcons
Okay Lay off. Seriously I've always been a Joey Harrington fan. He never had a fair shot with the Lions. Miami was a little better but was that really destined for anything?
This has all the makings of Joey Harrington having some marginal success. I may be crazy but Joey Harrington was a great college Quarterback. That never translate into having success in the NFL. But I still think he can be a GOOD NFL Quarterback. Obviously the Lions overshot with him when they selected him. Big mistake. But he has talent and he is a SMART Quarterback.
Bobby Petrino. Look I don't know anything about his offense or what he runs. But he ran a college offense that was one of the best in the nation. He put Louisville on the map really. Was Michael Vick the right guy for this offense? What exactly goes into this? Who knows but I'm almost positive Joey Harrington can run it because he works hard and he is a smart guy.
I just have this feeling about Joey Harrington. Obviously this is his LAST shot to be a starting QB in the NFL. If not he will just be a decent backup from now on. But color me crazy. I think this is the year for Joey Harrington.
Look at that... Beautiful Baby!
Hate: Carolina, Tampa Bay, Minnesota, Tennessee, Washington and New York(Giants).
I don't like any of these teams. Every year some teams have to suck. It might as well be these ones.
I love Jeff Garcia to no end. But is he really going to be enough for Tampa? I just don't like that team.
Minnesota is doomed. There are parts of that team I like, but they have a young QB. I like Tavaris Jackson but I just don't like them competing.
Carolina is just ugly to me. Jake Delhomme doesn't rattle my cage.
Washington just annoys me. I know I'll get slack for it. But I think they are doomed as well. Jason Campbell can throw two balls together and have them magically land in his receivers hands. But I don't think he is leading this team anywhere this year.
The Giants are just worthless. Eli Manning isn't a number 1 pick. He is a mid-tier Quarterback with decent weapons. Brandon Jacobs has not proven himself as an every down back and I still hate Reuben Droughns. Their defense doesn't get me excited.
And then we have the winners of all mirages. The Titans. Everyone is just clamoring for Vince Young. Rookie of the year. Great he was awesome the Titans won some games out of no where. They still aren't worth a damn if you ask me. Which Chris is their Runningback? Who the hell is Vince throwing to? Their defense isn't going to carry them every week. I don't like them this year. They won't be sneaking up on anyone like they did last time.
I hate all of those teams. I'm sure I'll be wrong on some of them. I always am. And I know all of those teams are WELL represented here, So I'll get plenty of flack for it. But I don't care. Bash the Steelers all you want, I'll respond like you will. It's a never ending cycle.
Sorry Vince, but I don't like you or your team this year. Better luck next time
Love: Mike Tomlin, Head Coach Steelers
Speaking of the Steelers. Get off my back. I love Mike Tomlin already. The Steelers won't win the Superbowl this year. No one is expecting them to, and I don't think anyone in Pittsburgh really is. But we are expecting success and I think we will get it sooner rather than later. This team still has talent. They are changing things up. Mike Tomlin opens it up to his coaches more than Bill Cowher did. Especially the offense. Mike Tomlin is just sorta this overseer. He is like that big fat empty suit sitting up in his office watching everything and making sure everyone is doing their job. Bruce Arians has let Ben Roethlisberger take control of the offense. That may just instill the confidence into him that he needed after a bad year. The defense is getting younger and still talented. I love this team. DUH. BTW Brian St Pierre leads all QBs in passing yards this season. CHEW THAT
Hate: The Cincinnati Bengals
Look this is the homer portion of the article. Love the Steelers. Hate the Bengals. I have my reasons really I do. The defense. I just don't really shutter at their defense. I don't think any Bengal fan will disagree with me either. They have an offense like the Colts do but they don't have a defense. The Colts for awhile didn't have a defense. But slowly they got pieces. Tony Dungy is a master of assembling one with little parts that no one has heard of. They also had some stars on it. This Bengal defense will not carry them anywhere near a Superbowl. Sorry but that's how I feel.
Who gon' stop number 85? Definitely not the Bengals Defense.
Hate: The Chiefs
Look they don't know who their QB is. I love Brodie but they are doomed this year.
Love: The Lions offense
God knows what this team is going to do in terms of winning games and playing defense. But you can't argue with Mike Martz and what he has put out there. That offense is explosive and they have Jon Friggin Kitna working it. I could throw for 3,000 cake in that offense. Jon Kitna could throw for 4,500 and they could score a load of points.
Hate: Darrelle Revis/Jets
Man don't stall. Get into camp. You would expect this from a QUARTERBACK not a corner back. I don't know who is to blame here but this was just very bad business for both sides because who knows if he will contribute right away like he could have.
Love: David Harris
David Harris is in the same situation last year's rookie of the year DeMeco Ryans was in. David Harris is a tackling machine overshadowed by his defensive buddy taken in the first round. I have no reason for this other than my love for Michigan, David Harris and the fact that I'm just going off history. David Harris for Rookie of the Year!!! I don't even know if he is starting. I don't even care!! GO DAVID HARRIS!
Look at thatRookie of the Year FOR SURE
Hate: Baltimore
They won the division last year, what reason would I have for liking them? This is pure hatred, nothing to do with their talent or what I think they are going to do.
Love: The Chargers New Scheme
I love the new getups. Those colors just shout excellence.
That does it for the NFL. I still have College and Fantasy Football to go. Stay Tuned!
Rookie of the Year FOR SURE
