As long a Dilfer is your QB, I'll pick against them . As a long suffering Bucs fan, I watched him throw away too many games to ever think he's capable of leading a team to a Superbowl victory.
Like I said, Ravens must be the best defense EVER to win with him at QB. If your team had a QB that was any good, the Ravens could be the most dominate team -- ever! As far as offense, 46 carries for 110 yards... 2.4 yards per carry. Not much to crow about. Dilfer - 9 for 18 with one pick and one TD that was a fluke. Take away the 96 yards for that one Sharp reception (7 yard pass) and Dilfer passed for 76 yards. But, it goes into the record books as a 96 yard pass... hard to believe.
The key to the Superbowl will be turnovers. If the Giants give the Ravens a short field to work with, the Ravens will kill them with field goals (yawn!). Without turnovers, I can't see the Ravens beating the Giants. Regardless, if both teams avoid the turnovers, it'll be a low scoring game.
Remember, the Giants shut down the dynamic duo of Minnisota (60 yards passing!). I think they can handle Shannon Sharp. I also think that the giants will plant Dilfer on his butt. If the Ravens have to start passing to win -- forget it.
Hey, if your Ravens win, I'll be the first to congratulate you. Besides, this has been a fun thread for football fans.
I love it how when the Ravens get a 96 yard TD its a "fluke" but when KERRY COLLINS throws 5 TD passes its no big deal. I didn't hear "fluke" when the Giants beat the Eagles on a kick off return and an interception. Against the Broncos the Ravens had a 58 yard TD pass, so its not the first time. Kerry Collins is no Joe Montana either.
2.4 yards per carry against the second best run defense. And remember, toward the end we were running to wear down the clock.
Here is my Super Bowl take...
The Raiders were the best rushing team with an average of like 184 yards a game or something. They finished with 24 yards on 17 carries. The Giants haven't been forced to throw all post-season. They use the rush wisely to set up the pass. That ain't happening against the Ravens. As they always do, they force the opponent to pass and make mistake, thats why the Ravens have the most turnovers this season in the NFL.
The Giants do not have a good offense. They have an average offense. Rich Gannon is a much better QB then Collins, and he was 11-21 passes for 80 yards. Giants were 12th in rushing and 13th in passing. They were also playing against the 28th ranked pass defense! No wonder they scored so many TD's on passing. Don't think that Amani Toomer and Ike Hilliard are going have another huge game against a good defense. However if the Giants have a shot at winning, they will need them to step up big time.
Against the Ravens D. - The Titans barely mustered 10 points, the Bronco's (number 2 offense) had 3, and the Raiders (number 1 rushing offense) got 3.
Don't say the Ravens got here on fluke plays either. Remember the Giants/Eagles game? They had not only a kickoff return for TD, but an interception return for TD. In that game, Collins was 12 for 19 with 125 yards. He rushed a lot that game to. That will not be a factor against the Ravens who have faced McNair, Stewart, and Gannon, all shut down.
Even when the Ravens offense screws up, as long as they don't score a TD with the offense on the field, the Defense will hold them to a field goal.
Whatever the outcome, I am just glad the Ravens got there. Seeing the disrespect the media gave them from day one, its good to see them scrambling to figure out how the hell the Ravens are in the Super Bowl. The media still won't accept the Ravens, now they are talking about how the Giants are the cinderella team and what not. I know waaaay more people picked the Giants for the Super Bowl then the Ravens. Who even picked the Ravens to beat the Titans? Oh well, we proved the media wrong all the way to Tampa.
p.s. I might have to edit this because most of the stats are off the top of my head...
p.p.s. I knew I would
------------------ Jeff '88 GT t-top 3.4 Baltimore, MD
[This message has been edited by Black88GT (edited 01-15-2001).]
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01:42 PM
RiceCooker Member
Posts: 1178 From: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Registered: May 2000
this thread is really starting to heat up, eh? Tempers are beginning to flare. I kind of wanted Dilfer to make it to the Super Bowl just to be welcomed with 66,000 booing fans. He never won a game there before, why should he start now? It just makes me so mad when they say Dilfer is great and TB would be great if he had stayed. NO WAY!!! DILFER IS BRUTAL!! I know you all agree. All of his moderate stats come from plays like a double tip 58yd touchdown or a 7 yard slant pass in which both Oakland safeties screwed up.
Now I'm not saying Baltimore isn't a great team. They deserve to be in the big dance because of the way they have shut everyone down. Through 19 games, they are still below the '85 bears record of 16 games for points allowed. Baltimore is great, but DILFER is BRUTAL!! They would still be there with Tony Banks or the rookie Chris Redmon. Or with Shannon Sharpe at QB! LOL!
(throws down his gloves and grabs Black88GT's sweater and pulls it over his head and starts feedin him uppercuts)
IT's on now
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02:24 PM
frontal lobe Member
Posts: 9042 From: brookfield,wisconsin Registered: Dec 1999
I'm neutral on the remaining two teams but I will say one thing--I am NOT looking forward to that idiot Shannon Sharpe running his stupid yap for 2 weeks! Just shut up. It's the defense that does the talking on the field for that team on the field, let them do it off the field.
A Super Bowl with Trent Dilfer and Kerry Collins as the starting quarterbacks! Oof. This many pro teams has sure diluted the talent.
Won't be hard to narrow down the big plays to pick for the evening sports cast after this one.
Still, if you are a Giants or Ravens fan, who cares? It's great for you. Enjoy it, even if your team isn't one of the all-time greats. Hey, my teams been off for a month, yours is still playing.
NO WAY would the Ravens be where they are with Banks as the QB. Banks was horrible. He fumbled like 40 times against Miami. Say what you will, but the fact remains that Dilfer is 11-1 starting for the Ravens. He might suck, but as long as he doesn't screw up, he will win.
Chadman, don't worry, in 3 years Modell is gonzo.
------------------ Jeff '88 GT t-top 3.4 Baltimore, MD
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03:08 PM
RiceCooker Member
Posts: 1178 From: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Registered: May 2000
come on, that game was a torrential downpour. Everyone was stumblin, bumblin, fumblin. Even if Banks fumbles, he makes it more exciting. (I don't like Banks, I just like him more than Dilfer)
I ment no offence. I just don't like Dilfer. Like I said, I'm a Bucs fan and have been since 1976. Dilfer is the worst 1st round draft QB EVER. I really got tired of all his stupid excuses. Now, for all his faults and bumbling, he's going to the Superbowl. It just sticks in my gut.
I would probably be rooting for the Ravens if anyone else were playing QB. Heck, I don't even like New York. Remember, I'm from Tampa... the spring home of the "World Champion New York Yankees". The best team money can buy. It makes me want to puke. So does Dilfer. At least the Yankees can back up their Championship with ligit (all be it very expensive) talent.
Dilfer is a band aid and will be yanked and replaced with a freash face as soon as the Ravens get the chance. Maybe not this year, but next, when offenses figure out how to attack the Ravens defense or when the talent level drops off due to free agency, Dilfer will beome the target of the fans complaints.
Now remember, I EARNED the right to complain about Dilfer. Five years of his stupid mistakes. I'll bet he won't last that long with the Ravens. But, he will probably carry his Superbowl ring to the un-employment line .
Roy, I think we can make an argument for Ryan Leaf as the worst first round QB pick.
Dilfer will due for now. Your right though, he will have to go eventually. Thats why I am hoping Chris Redman will grow into a half way decent QB. Oh well, all I know is Dilfer has 10 straight wins and Banks could never do that. Good enough for me , for now...
------------------ Jeff '88 GT t-top 3.4 Baltimore, MD
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10:20 PM
Jan 16th, 2001
frontal lobe Member
Posts: 9042 From: brookfield,wisconsin Registered: Dec 1999
Shannon Sharpe. I'm glad he's playing one more game. One last chance for someone to clean his clock and shut him up. As for 1st round QB disasters, here is my list.
1. Ryan Leaf - Call him Meat(from the movie Bull Durham) Million dollar arm - 5 cent head.
2. Dan McGwire(Seahawks) - Yes he is Marks brother.
3. David Klingler(Bengals) - This one hurts. Another Mike Brown project. Never could develop after the run & shoot offense.
4. Andre Ware(Oilers) - Heisman trophy winner. Another run & shoot flop.
5. Heath Schuler(Redskins) - He was the man in Tennesee before Manning.
6. Todd Marinovich(Raiders) - Liked surfing and smoking pot instead of football.
7. Art Schlister(Colts) - Wanna bet?
8. Chuck Long(Lions) - His career was short.
9. Pat Sullivan(Falcons) - Another Heisman winner.
10. Todd Blackledge(Chiefs) - Played a couple of years. Drafted ahead of Marino.
I'm sure ther are more. I hope Akili Smith is not on that list, but the jury's out on that right now. GO RAVENS
Bill
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11:30 AM
frontal lobe Member
Posts: 9042 From: brookfield,wisconsin Registered: Dec 1999
Packers had some terrible number one choices. Rich Campbell with the number 6 over-all pick in the draft (instead of Neil Lomax). Also picked Jerry Tagge in the first round.
Hey, I was just thinking about the Ravens/Raiders game. I'm neutral on it so I think objective, but weren't any Raider fans mad about Siragusa's one-man dogpile on Gannon? I thought it was a REALLY dirty hit when it happened, not because he hit him or landed on him, but if you watched the replay, he was twisting Gannon's arm around as he was tackling him so that Gannon couldn't protect himself at all during the fall. VERY dirty play. Was I the only one that saw it? May not have changed the outcome of the game if Gannon played the whole way. Still.
I will say about Siragusa, though, that guy knows how to wear a helmet!
Jerry Tagge? Thats a name I haven't heard in awhile. What about Scott Hunter? There's another Packer QB bust. In 79, the Bengals drafted Jack Thompson in the first round from Washington. They called him "the throwin Samoan". He stuck around until we drafted Boomer Esiason. As for Siragusa's cheap shot, it was dirty. But if you look at old film clips, everyone used to play that way. I do love to look at close up's of him in a helmet. He looks like 10lb of $hit in a 5lb bag.
Bill
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05:29 PM
RiceCooker Member
Posts: 1178 From: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Registered: May 2000
Siragusa's shot was clean as a whistle. Not sure if any of you caught the "Last Word" with Jim Rome, but he was interviewing 4 NFL players, one was Aaron Brooks from the Saints, another was a DE from Miami, and a Oakland Raider D lineman, can't remember the other guy. Anyhoo, they all said that it was clean, even the QB. Like they said, football is about getting hit, if you don't like it, stay in the locker room.
------------------ Jeff '88 GT t-top 3.4 Baltimore, MD
By todays rules, there should have been a flag but,dirty hits happen all the time. It's part of the game. They ought to put one of those helmet cams on someone and show what goes on in the pile. I was in the bottom of a pile onetime and someone stuck their hand inside my facemask. He started grabbing at my nose and I bit his finger. Turned out it was my own teammate. He didn't know it was me.
Oh please. Siragusa got fined 10,000 bucks for that hit. Give me a break. Like the goose said "It's not tennis" The NFL needs to stop "protecting" its QBs like they are made of gold. They have pads and a helmet just like everyone else on the field. IMHO, take away intentional grounding when they are out of the pocket to make the game more interesting.
------------------ Jeff '88 GT t-top 3.4 Baltimore, MD
Siragusa was quoted in the paper today saying," I don't care if it was $20,000.00, I'll pay that to go to the Super Bowl". He knew exactly what he was doing and it gave his team a better chance to win. I remember what Jack Lambert, the great Steelers linebacker, said when the leauge started protecting quarterbacks. He said " They ought to put skirts on them". Teams have so much money invested in the QB position, they had to do something. It's not like HS or college football. There you always have a backup who is probably just as good as the starter. Not so in the NFL.
They don't have too much invested in Trent Dilfer!! LOL.
It just seems they protect the QB too much. Thats why I love Doug Flutie so much, while he might slide when he runs (thats just being smart) when he takes a big hit and people ask him about it, he just says "hey thats football"
------------------ Jeff '88 GT t-top 3.4 Baltimore, MD
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08:55 PM
Jan 20th, 2001
frontal lobe Member
Posts: 9042 From: brookfield,wisconsin Registered: Dec 1999
I just want to state this again so everyone is clear. It doesn't bother me that Siragusa laid a big belly-flop on him. The only part that bothered me is that he intentionally grabbed his arm by the wrist on the way down to make sure he landed on it and Gannon couldn't roll a little and protect himself during the fall.
This IS an NFL thread, so I was wondering what everyone thought of the Rae Carruth trial. I was keeping up with it on CourtTV (the channel that OJ built) and I thought for sure he was going to get the death sentence. Then he gets guilty on all counts except 1st degree murder? Doesn't make any sense. Lucky it wasn't a mistrial or a hung jury though, atleast the NFL player didn't get off this time...
------------------ Jeff '88 GT t-top 3.4 Baltimore, MD
Getting excited yet Jeff? I bet you are. As for Rae Caruth, it's sad that these guys think they can do anything and are untouchable. I am for the death penalty and I think they ought to fry him. In fact, I think they should bring back public executions. After conviction, a criminal should get 1 appeal and thats it. But maybe this is for another thread.
I spoke to my friend in Nashville today and he said he was rooting for the Ravens until our friend Shannon Sharpe shot off his mouth. Sharpe said they wiped the field with the Titans. Well that made Pudge mad and he says he is pulling for the Giants now. Well 5 more days of hype. Can we take it?
I'm fully for the causing the fumble strip move BUT GANNON HAD ALREADY THROWN THE BALL!! There was no ball to strip!! I still like Siragusa, though, just because of his helmet.
Shannon Sharpe. The only helmet I want to see him in is one like Hannibal Lecter wore in Silence of the Lambs.
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01:29 AM
PFF
System Bot
mrfixit58 Member
Posts: 3330 From: Seffner, Fl, USA Registered: Jul 99
Evidently, the NFL folks didn't like the hit either. The fined Siragusa $10,000 for "falling on" Gannon. Although, in his brashness, Siragusa said e would have gladly payed $20,000 to go the the Superbowl. Humm... sounds like he didn't learn much from the fine.
The comment about "skirts on GBs". Well, I get a little tired of the quick whistle myself. But, a cheap shot is a cheap shot. You didn't hear the QBs grumble about the need for skirts on defensive lineman when the league passed the rule about chop blocks. But, I'll bet Siragusa would be the first on to cry if the Giants "O" line took his knees out.
What goes around, comes around. If a player is known for dirty tricks, sooner or later, he'll get his.
Defensive Lineman, especially ones as big as Siragusa, don't really have the time to decide how they should tackle someone in a split second. They are trained to strip the ball and thats how they do it. Period. And Gannon had just throw the ball anyway when Siragusa was getting ready to tackle him.
What was Siragusa supposed to learn? That the way he has been taught how to tackle for all his life, and the way everyone else tackles, is wrong? So now instead of hitting the QB and faling on him (how can he avoid that?) he should just gently set him down the ground and brush off his pants after he helps him up.
------------------ Jeff '88 GT t-top 3.4 Baltimore, MD
[This message has been edited by Black88GT (edited 01-23-2001).]
If I remember correctly, Siragusa took 3 to 4 steps, with Gannon in his grasp, before he drove him into the turf. It was intentional. He could have held up, I dont care how big he is. The league reviewed it and fined him. He did not appeal. That tells me that Siragusa himself knows he's guilty.
342 lbs., running full speed with adrenaline surging, and you expect him to stop on a dime? And he hit Gannon .74 seconds after he threw the ball. He obviously didn't appeal because 10,000 is pocket change for him, he just got a nice new contract before this season, and also, he has better things to worry about (i.e SUPER BOWL)
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04:47 PM
Jan 28th, 2001
RiceCooker Member
Posts: 1178 From: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Registered: May 2000
Haha, I am just so happy to be here. It would be icing on the cake if we actually won, which we will. No one in here thought the Ravens would beat anyone in the playoffs, and they defeated the 2 best teams in the NFL, not to mention at their home fields.
DEFENSE WINS SUPERBOWLS
------------------ Jeff '88 GT t-top 3.4 Baltimore, MD
The World Champion Baltimore Ravens. I can't believe it. That should be the World Champion Cleveland Browns. Oh, the humanity.
I guess I'm happy for the fans of Baltimore. And I know I'm happy for Ozzie Newsome and Matt Stover and Rob Burnett. Other than that, I'm just plain miserable.
Talk to you later. I have to go upstairs and watch Benedict Arnold Modell get the Vince Lombardi Trophy. (sobbing)
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10:00 PM
Jan 29th, 2001
RiceCooker Member
Posts: 1178 From: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Registered: May 2000
. As a long suffering Bucs fan, I watched him throw away too many games to ever think he's capable of leading a team to a Superbowl victory. 
