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20 Questions For 2009


There are a whole lot of reasons why these questions be offered later in the summer. Perhaps as close to the end of training camp as possible. The fun part of doing it now is that requires a bit more intuition (guessing). Half the questions are generalize for the NFL, the other half are Steeler specific.

 

1.  Who will be 2009's Happy Surprise Team? An unexpected playoff team. (This year's Atlanta or Arizona)

     My Choice: San Francisco,  runner-up New York Jets

2.  Who will be 2009's Big Disappointment? (This year's Jacksonville)

    Indianapolis,    Tennessee

3.  Who will be voted the best first year coach?

    Who should win:  Singletary (49ers)    Who will win:  Ryan (Jets)

4. Who will be voted Coach of the Year?

    Who should win:   Tomlin (Steelers)    Who will win:  Reid (Eagles)

5. Both went to the Pro Bowl in '07, neither in '08. Who will have the best season in '09? Brady or Rothelisberger

    Big Ben

Star-divide

6. What will be the biggest surprise in the AFC North this season?

     Tie: Reemergence of the Bengals and Ravens stumble around sophomore slump of Flacco

7. Who will win the rushing title this year?

     Adrian  Petersen Vikings

8. What are the best (most competitive) and worst divisions in football?

     Best: AFC East; NFC West     Worst:: AFC West, NFC South

9. Who are the playoff participants for 2009?

    AFC East; New England  AFC North; Pittsburgh  AFC South; Jacksonville  AFC West; San Diego

    Wild Cards; New York Jets  Houston

     NFC East; Philadelphia  NFC North; Minnesota  NFC South; Tampa Bay NFC West; Arizona

     Wild Cards; New Orleans, San Francisco

10. Most important Story?

       Dan Rooney goes to Ireland. CBA negotiations flounder due to weak leadership. Lock out likely.

 

11. Which first year player (draftee or free agent) makes greatest impact upon the team?

       Shipley

12. Which second year player will be this year's Woodley?

       Mendenhall

13. Which third year player (or higher) will have a breakout season?

      Timmons

14. Does the O Line stabilize this year? And if so is it due to the maturity of the current group, the influx of new talent or both?

15. This year the running game will

      a. Will become the dominant feature of the offense once again

      b. Will be coequal of the passing attack

      c. Will struggle again

16. This year the passing game will

      a. Will be better than ever due to an improved running attack, better o-line play, a deeper, more talented cadre of
          receivers and the growth of Ben.

      b. Will appear to fall off a bit due to improved running attack.

      c. Will struggle as newbies don't step up and teams concentrate on stopping Hines and Ton.

17. This year the defense will

      a. Will be even better than last year due to the continued high level of play from returning players and strong   contributions from Timmons, Mundy and BMac's replacement.

      b. Will maintain at the same high level as last year

      c. Will fall off as teams find more creative ways to attack LeBeau's system

18. Will Tomlin's contract be extended this year? By how much?

19. What will happen with this year's team?

      a. Another Super Bowl hangover, Dan Rooney moving to Ireland, a young third year coach; the Steelers seriously underachieve, barely make the playoffs and don't go far.

      b. Cruise through the season without much difficulty, but succumb to a hungrier opponent in the playoffs.

      c. Tomlin guides the team to another level and have a dominant season. Can you spell Dynasty?

20. How soon after winning the 7th SB will someone demand that Coach Arians be fired?

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I will be sure to demand that Arians be fired at any opportunity I get until he is or the offense moves the ball consistently and Ben looks as good as he should.

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Jun 3, 2009 8:48 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

amen

Offense may sell tickets, but defense wins championships

by canadianblackandgold on Jun 3, 2009 10:16 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Wow, quite a list MR

Enough questions here for a few months of discussion.

1. Green Bay. McCarthy is a good coach and they’ll be better off a year after Favre.
2. Minnesota. They still don’t have a QB. They’ll over-promise and under-deliver.
3. Jim Mora. Holmgren mailed it in last year. Hasselbeck healthy and has some receivers now.
4. Tomlin. 17-2 and another Super Bowl does the trick.
5. Brady. His numbers will dwarf Ben’s as we rebuild the running game.
6. Bengals. Their defense is getting good. Palmer puts up good numbers.
7. Maurice Jones-Drew. Won’t share with Taylor, improved offensive line, no receivers.
8. Best Divisions: NFC East, AFC South; Worst:: NFC West, AFC West.
9. AFC Playoff Teams: NE, Pitt, Tenn, SD, Indy, Balt. NFC: NYG, Car, GB, Ariz, Phil, Sea
11. Urbik. He wins a starting job no later than the bye week, maybe out of camp.
12. Mendenhall.
13. Holmes/Timmons. Santonio becomes Ben’s go-to guy.
14. No. But it won’t matter again.
15. Running game improves with Mendenhall busting big runs on pure talent, FWP more effective with 10-12 carries per game, Moore looking great when one of them is injured and Summers converting first downs.
16. Passing game will struggle until Ben goes no-huddle and looks for Santonio and Moore.
17. Defense will maintain, maybe improve with the running game giving them a breather.
18. Yes. 7 years.
19. C. Dynasty.
20. Immediately. If we lose, naturally. If we win, then it will confirm that OC with the Steelers is the most irrelevant coaching job in the NFL and that his salary is a waste of money.

by steeler.lifer on Jun 4, 2009 1:05 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Oops, sorry RickVa ... props for the questions

You and Maryrose always contribute such good stuff that I sometimes mix ya up. Great debate material.

by steeler.lifer on Jun 4, 2009 1:20 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

sorry

but shipley won’t hold a candle to what the tank will show this year. I’m just calling it like i see it. Runnin mofo’s over left and right. Being a great check down guy with his beautiful hands. Like the Bus reincarnated, melted down and molded into an abrahm’s tank. Ya baby! I say Tomlin is our coach longer than Noll.

Got a problem with Harrison, why not take it up with him? Oh you know why!

by SoCalSteelerFan on Jun 4, 2009 1:37 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Hmmmm good questions

1. Houston Texans. I feel this is the season they finally break the chain of 8-8 seasons. Runner Up: Green Bay Packers
2. Minnesota Vikings. Overrated. Packers or Bears take the North in my opinion, Vikings fall with or without Favre. Runner Up: Indianapolis Colts
3. Steve Spagnuolo. I like Spags, and think hes making the right moves with St Louis. It wont be playoffs, but it will be a successful season. Runner Up: Todd Haley
4. Mike Tomlin after he leads us to back to back Superbowls :D Runner Up: Marvin Lewis
5. Big Ben but stats wise probly Brady, luckily i dont care about stats
6. The Bengals being a winning team, and the Ravens defense falling outside the top 10 after missing Rex Ryan
7. A wildcard here: Matt Forte
8. Best: AFC South, NFC South Worst AFC West, NFC West
9. AFC: Pittsburgh, New England, Houston, San Diego, Miami, Cincinatti
    NFC: New Orleans, Green Bay, New York, Arizona, Atlanta, Philadelphia
10. Drug suspensions could really ruin a couple teams chances
11. Mike Wallace in the return game
12. Limas Sweed, Runner Up: Rashard Mendenhall
13. Lamarr Woodley – you aint seen nothing yet. Runner Up: William Gay/Lawrence Timmons
14. I say it improves but isnt totally solidified
15. Improves considerably and is back to being the focal point of our offensive attack
16. a. Big Ben should be healthier and the run game should help it out, plus our receiving corps look strong this year, now we need the OL to step up
17. Be even better, provided Will Gay is the player i think he is
18. Will be extended but not this year, when it does extend, it will be a considerable extension
19. Be a strong contender for the title and will have a shot at repeating well and truly in their sights. We seem very focussed not to repeat 2006
20. Depends. If the 7th comes this season, he will stay. If we flounder, i expect it to be on the offensive shoulders and his job in jeopardy

Bleeding Black and Gold since 1989 baby, Blitzburgh is back, time for a repeat!

by Steeler_ on Jun 4, 2009 4:30 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Questions

1. Houstan Texans, they have the talent they just need to stay healthy at the right positions and put it all together Runner up: SF or Chiefs (I know it sounds crazy)

2. Tennesee they have a harder schedule, lost key players – Collins won’t have as good of year and the wrath of the terrible towel will be upon them in Week 1

3. Mike Singeltary, I’m kinda secretly pulling for him

4. IF K.C makes the play-offs and i know it sounds crazy) it will be their coach

5. Big Ben, I really think so. Barring injury I believe ben will have time to pick up where he left off from last season, better recievers this year and a better running game, and hopefully the line will play better, with better special teams to keep the offense from bad field position he should really do better, brady I feel will struggle to recover to – game speed from his injury.

6. Agreed, Bengals should probably almost make the playoffs while the ravens stay at .500

7. All Day AP

8. AFC East & NFC East, NFC West & AFC West

9. AFC East: New England AFC North; Pittsburgh AFC South: Indy AFC West; San Diego
Wild Cards:Buffalo Bills Houston

NFC East: Philadelphia NFC North: Minnesota NFC South: Saints NFC West: Arizona
Wild Cards: Giants, Atlanta

10. Agree with MR, CBA is and should be biggest story

11. Mike Wallace (Say hello speed)

12. Sweed (Mendenhall has to fight through a bad line all sweed needs to do is keep getting open and catch the ball)

13. Timmons (Woodley had his last year)

14. Both, Hills and urbik replace stapleton and colon and the rest mature to solidfy the line

15. b. Will be coequal of the passing attack

16. a. Will be better than ever due to an improved running attack, better o-line play, a deeper, more talented cadre of
          receivers and the growth of Ben.

17. b. Will maintain at the same high level as last year

18. Is this a question, of course!!! lol He’ll get extended for like 5 years or 10 years

19. c. Tomlin guides the team to another level and have a dominant season. Can you spell Dynasty?

20. About 5 seconds no matter what the outcome of the season is.

by tannofsteel84 on Jun 4, 2009 10:28 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

1. Seattle and New Orleans bounce back.

2. Arizona, I see a replay of Kurt Warner circe 2002.

3. Jim Caldwell, cuz PM runs that team and the sports media is on his jock. 11-6 in 17 games.

4. Reid

5. Numbers? Brady. Playoffs? Ben.

6. Baltimore’s defense softens.

7. Adrian Peterson

8. Best: AFC North; NFC South Worst:: AFC West, NFC West

9.AFC East: New England AFC North; Pittsburgh AFC South; Indianapolis AFC West; San Diego
Wild Cards: Miami, Tennessee

NFC East: Philadelphia NFC North; Minnesota NFC South; Atlanta NFC West; Seattle

Wild Cards; New York, New Orleans

10. Some dreck about Farve or Manning and some crappy receiver drama. Also, CBA.

11. Wallace (in the return game)

12. Delicious Mendenhall

13. Timmons, I’d say Miller here, but I think he’ll have a career year, rather than a breakout year.

14. The oline will improve by reducing mistakes but not by improving strengths. There’s plenty of room to push for a starting spot.

15. This year the running game will
      b. Will be coequal of the passing attack.

16. This year the passing game will
a. Will be better than ever due to an improved running attack, better o-line play, a deeper, more talented cadre of receivers and the growth of Ben, an easier schedule and hopefully some better playcalling that includes a greater variety of short passes.

17. This year the defense will
b. Will maintain at the same high level as last year

18. Yes. 2 decades.

19. b. Cruise through the season without much difficulty, but succumb to a hungrier opponent in the playoffs.20. Zierlin is out before Arians.

by 36chambers on Jun 4, 2009 12:20 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

LOL…Ryan was just another Ray Lewis graduate who will go the way of everyone who leaves his side- to the bottom quickly.

We will be better than last year. Hard hitting Landry is back (5 INT"S in 07). Totally missed him. Reed healthier. Ray same. Ngata better. Suggs better and ready to be a leader. Kelly Gregg back (i hope). Foxworth improvement. Washington wiser. Rolle same. Nakamura better. The O-line adds pro-bowler Berk at center and stacks Oher on the end. Flacco, more Ray Rice and more McClaine. Going to be a great year. We’ll have you shitting bricks again. Last year is miles away.

by raven on Jun 4, 2009 11:33 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Not underestimating you. But until those improvements are put on show, its hard not to expect a drop off for anyone outside the Ravens fanbase

Bleeding Black and Gold since 1989 baby, Blitzburgh is back, time for a repeat!

by Steeler_ on Jun 5, 2009 2:06 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

history

You do have a history of up one year down the next. Coincidence or Culture???

by steelerstyle on Jun 5, 2009 7:46 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Lol...

“11. Which first year player (draftee or free agent) makes greatest impact upon the team?

       Shipley"

Good one.

by Johnny_S on Jun 5, 2009 1:00 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I find it outrageously comical that there are trendy picks every year

Last year it was Houston, Minnesota, Jacksonville, and San Francisco.

The year before it was Houston, Jacksonville, San Francisco, and Carolina.

The year before that it was Houston, Carolina, and probably some other teams I can’t remember.

For 2009-2010 it looks like everyone likes Cincy and New York (Jets), but don’t count out Houston, Jacksonville or San Francisco! They’re building!

Keep picking those teams, it’ll work eventually.

My best game plan is to sit on the bench and call out specific instructions like 'C'mon Boog,' 'Get ahold of one, Frank,' or 'Let's go, Brooks.' -Earl Weaver

by Baltimo on Jun 6, 2009 3:46 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs


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