Lots of good news in the AFC North!
First, a disclaimer: I never root for anybody to get injured, except maybe Vontez Burfict or Colon Kaperdick (I think I'm adding Ebineezer Belle to the list).
But injuries do happen, so I don't feel too guilty about saying "Please God, if you insist on letting guys get hurt, make them important guys amen."
Back injuries are especially nasty, and particularly for quarterbacks, and especially for 6'6" quarterbacks named Flacco.
This could literally cripple the Ravens offense, especially now that Crockett Gilmore will miss the season. Gilmore hasn't done much yet, but that was partly because he had Pitta in front of him.
Now Pitta has retired, and the talented Gilmore was ready to step up and be a really good tight end...aint it beautiful (I'm tearing up here...)
Siragusa also was lost for the season. He was competing for a starting role, and this did hurt their depth.
Sadly, none of the most important defensive players have gone down yet, so we can expect a murderous Ravens defense. Still, the offense could be even worse than I'd predicted.
I'll take Flacco either not playing, or being a hero and playing badly.
The Ravens are indeed floating a Kaperdick trial balloon. Baltimore might be perfect for him, since race riots over pending civil rights cases are popular there. And look at who they vote for!
By the way, there is no conspiracy against this cretin. If I were an owner, he could be Cam Newton and I wouldn't let my team sign him, but a lot of them are spineless so they would, except they fear the distractions and backlash (and indeed empty seats).
Anyway I hope the Ravens do sign him. I would love that.
In Steeltown...ok well unless Big Ben gets hurt it won't matter much, but Ebineezer Belle and the front office could be conspiring to do excellent long-term damage. Belle hasn't signed his paltry 12 mil franchise offer yet, which in/of itself means little, as he might just be using his unsigned status to skate out of practice he really doesn't need (I'd do it).
But the noises he makes are great to hear! He says he thought the deal would be done by now. He turned down 15 mil/year!!! I'm so happy that the Steelers have a human monkey wrench like this guy!
Cinci has Vontez Burfict! He might win at least one game for the Browns with his timely 15-yard penalties. Most Bengals fans get it but some don't: Don't blame Andy Dalton.
On the home front, there aren't any idiots or psychopaths, and they've been unusually injury-free.
Bruce Smith here to help coach Myles Garrett? Joe Thomas finally takes some reps and the rookie burns him for a touch-sack almost immediately? Wow this is looking good!
Let's not dis defensive line coach Clyde Simmons here (like all the "vedderrunn wyde receever" guys are dissing Saunders): Clyde Simmons was no joke as a player! He was a starter and a Pro-Bowler, and played for a long time
I commend the braincrust for inviting Smith in here to step on Clyde's toes. Most organizations wouldn't do that. It's unusually ADULT of them.
I doubt that Simmons is childish or immature enough to feel offended or insulted. He'd suck as a coach if he was, and wouldn't be here.
I'm not sure how much Bruce can help Myles technically, because he was a lot shorter and smaller. Where he helps more is psychologicly:
Bruce Smith was fat and complacent early in his career, and was literally on his way out of the NFL when he did a 180. He quit partying and started working out like a maniac. It was night and day.
It's an impressive (and rare) story. Bruce can teach more than just passrushers a thing or two, and trust me: Hue Jackson has him doing that while he's here.
Throughout preseason, Garrett has lived up to his billing. In the team drills, he's torched everybody across from him repeatedly for touch-sacks. In full pads, this matters.
Garrett is one of three "freaks" in the overjoyed Gregg Williams's defense. The other two are Jamie Collins and Jabrill Peppers, and it just so happens that covers all three levels from line to secondary.
I don't think Gregg will bother moving Garrett around much, because he does overmatch most NFL left tackles, and nobody else on the roster does.
Ogbah did come on strong later in 2016, but as I've mentioned, he got most of this on stunts, and wasn't actually on the edge in the first place.
Ok new subject, Ogbah: If you compare combine numbers between Ogbah and Garrett, you see very similar players. Garrett has the edge, but not by much.
Last season in Ray Horton's defense, Ogbah the "defensive end" lined up on or inside the left tackle. That roster couldn't come up with a consistent edge-rushing linebacker from the blind side.
Under Gregg Williams, Ogbah will get to be a true edge-rusher from the strong side. It looks perfect for him, because if he has anything on Garrett, it's brute strength and leverage. NFL right tackles won't be able to handle him without help, and he can stunt from that side too.
This is deep enough for the moment. Okbye.
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