Mock

Football helmet tester 1940ish

The new rule for post touch-down kicks was passed today and will be in effect for NFL 2015. The only teams that voted against it were Oakland and Washington.

Extra points will be attempted from the 15-yard-line beginning in 2015, the NFL announced Tuesday at its spring meeting in San Francisco. Owners approved the rules change, which makes the extra point a 32- or 33-yard attempt (as compared to the current 19 or 20-yard attempt with a 99% success rate).

Two-point conversions will continue to be snapped from the two-yard-line. However, defenses can now return fumbled or intercepted two-point tries for two points of their own. Blocked extra points can also be returned for two points.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/201...yard-line/

(05-27-2015, 02:58 PM)Duchess Wrote: [ -> ]

Not all my guys are showing up for OTA's. Bummer.

MS, aren't any of you Viking fans concerned with having AP on your team? What's to keep him from only giving the appearance of participating and he just flat out sucks simply because he wants to.

Peterson seems like too much of a competitor to not give it his all when he's on the field, regardless of how he feels about the organization. The GM and the coaching staff continue to publicly say all the right things about AP; how much the team wants him here, how his teammates support him, etc.

I really feel that it's been his wife that has been behind the 'lets get out of Minnesota' thing.

Remember, if mama ain't happy, nobody's happy.

Chip continues to be the funniest smart ass in coaching...

(05-08-2015, 04:23 AM)Cutz Wrote: [ -> ]Srsly tho, this is what I'm thinking for camp battles and final roster. I have the total numbers hammered down to about 56, 57, so still need a few cuts in there.

Interesting notes from Eagles OTAs. Rooks again pushed down depth chart - old school approach relying on vets early in practices. They did the same last year. Agholor was an excused absence for NFL media thing, Rowe lined up as third team CB, Hicks not on 1^st/2^nd team defense either.

First team CBs were Maxwell and Carroll (which I expected), safeties were Jenkins and Maragos (probably placeholder for minor-injury Wolff, but you hate to see Wolff always hurt.) 2^nd team secondary was Biggers and Boykin at corner (no real surprise), Thurmond and Prosinski at safety. Thurmond was a huge surprise for me, I thought Watkins would be filling in that spot, but for now it's Thurmond. Watkins could be competing for a roster position with all those newcomers at CB. Expect Rowe to take over 2^nd team CB2 and push for starter during camp.

1^st/2^nd team DLine as expected, except Bair over Hart. Same 7 guys as last year tho. ILB had no clues to tip hand, Meco/Kendricks/Alonso all practiced with first team, BGram/Barwin at OLB. 2^nd team ILB was Goode and Brad Jones... Hicks will join a 1^st string guy as the backups, I don't expect the 2^nd teamers to make the squad. Long/Braman were 2^nd team OLBs, but Marcus Smith nursing minor injury. Interesting tho, Acho apparently moved outside to work as OLB. I had imagined him pushed off the roster, but he could be competing with Long for the versatile inside/outside filler.

Offensively, 1^st WRs were Cooper/Matthews/Huff much like I listed, but Matthews and Huff did flip to get Matthews some outside work and Huff in the slot a bit. Maehl also worked in with the 2^nd team I think, but that's coaches using the vets and Agholor wasn't there. We'll see where Aggy lines up but I'd say 2^nd team outside to begin would be my first guess. Former QB G.J. Kinnie was working as a wideout at day 1. Chip had mentioned he would, but it puts all the QB3 talk on Tebow vs Barkley. Fun. Tebow looked bad today from what I heard.

Tobin and Barbre were mixing up RG/LG duties in Mathis' absence, no shocker. 2^nd Line was Gardner, DK, Molk, Vander, and Graf. Nobody on that 2^nd line is worth raving about, but by the end of camp you hope Tobin and Gardner are the leaders of the backups with maybe Molk, DK, and Graf the others. Dennis Kelly continues to work in as a guard despite his 6'8 frame. Graf was on the PS last year, promoted to the roster in the final weeks after injuries to the OL. I hope to see him take the next step. The only other hopes for youth infusion of the OL is the UDFAs this year or Josh Andrews. This team needs some OL depth...

TL;DR - While I know anyone interested in all this info could find it at the exact same sources I did, I found it interesting compared to my predictions. The big takeaways for me were that Thurmond is competing at Safety, Acho is moving outside to try to stick on the roster, and G.J. Kinnie will be cut as a wideout instead of as a QB.

I was reviewing my posts on this thread and the 2014 thread, and on an individual basis, I've been unhappy with Chip's offseason moves. Trading McCoy to crowd the ILB position and picking up a Cowboy to replace him (and I still think Shady is the better RB.) Trading a younger/more winning Foles for an injured / more expensive Bradford... and giving up picks on top of it. Not offering Maclin as much as KC did, or locking him down earlier. Drafting an ILB in the 3^rd and then trading the 4^th... came away with less/lower drafted prospects than I hoped and no OL depth from draft picks. As a whole, I disagreed with a lot of the offseason moves. But.

I look at this roster and the ceiling is higher than last year's, starting with the QB. Bradford is capable of outplaying Foles. Foles had more value in my mind, but Bradford is the better player. He also has history with Murray, a very productive RB, and the addition of Mathews means the RB position overall is at least equal to last year. Most importantly, the secondary should be much improved with Maxwell, Carroll, and Rowe. If Thurmond successfully switches to S, or Rowe moves over, that group should be much more competent than in previous years. Kiko and Kendricks could be very disruptive inside backers. Graham has potential as an outside rusher. Huff, Agholor, and Matthews could be a very talented young WR trio. Chip was willing to take risks to shoot for the stars. He's not comfortable being 10-6... and as a fan that's a scary and impressive trait. I'm not willing to blow up a winning team, but Chip is a dreamer.

I'm coming around to excitement for the 2015 season. I can respect Chip's dreaming. I want to see the brutal competition at Corner and S. I want them to forge a defense that plays more games like the Black Sunday Shutout. They're going to miss role players like Nate Allen, Trent Cole, Todd Herremans, and yes even Bradley Fletcher, but the risks Chip has taken have been calculated. I'll never be happy with some of the moves individually, but the future is not bleak.

Not more than 11M necessarily, just more than they offered. We don't know what they offered, but I think they could have gotten a deal done for 10.5 earlier in the process, when a transition tag could have been strategically used or at least threatened. It also ties in with my feelings about trading for a QB whose cap hit is 13M this year. If given the option of Foles, Maclin, and 2M cap space that could have been offered to McCourty, or Bradford straight up... I'd probably be looking for the first.

(05-27-2015, 03:55 PM)Midwest Spy Wrote: [ -> ]

(05-27-2015, 02:58 PM)Duchess Wrote: [ -> ]

Not all my guys are showing up for OTA's. Bummer.

MS, aren't any of you Viking fans concerned with having AP on your team? What's to keep him from only giving the appearance of participating and he just flat out sucks simply because he wants to.

Peterson seems like too much of a competitor to not give it his all when he's on the field, regardless of how he feels about the organization. The GM and the coaching staff continue to publicly say all the right things about AP; how much the team wants him here, how his teammates support him, etc.

Adrian Peterson is reporting to Viking's OTA's today.

Many are surprised, but I'm guessing the Vikes kept the channels of communication open during these past few months and that has paid off.

Once he's on the field Adrian will give it 100%. I don't think there's any doubt about that (for those who have seen him play).

If he's maintained, he's still one of the best backs in the league. That's good news for Minnesota!

(06-02-2015, 11:06 AM)Duchess Wrote: [ -> ]

(06-02-2015, 08:55 AM)Midwest Spy Wrote: [ -> ]Once he's on the field Adrian will give it 100%.

I'm skeptical. DeSean made me that way.

2^nd

(06-02-2015, 11:20 AM)Blindgreed1 Wrote: [ -> ]

(06-02-2015, 11:06 AM)Duchess Wrote: [ -> ]

(06-02-2015, 08:55 AM)Midwest Spy Wrote: [ -> ]Once he's on the field Adrian will give it 100%.

I'm skeptical. DeSean made me that way.

2^nd

He's having a 2:30 presser today.

See what kind of vibe I can get to see if I have any doubts.

Coach Zimmer and AP just finished their presser.

Coach Zimmer is a guy that players love. He's genuine, passionate and has their back. AP basically said Zimmer was very integral in him coming back, and coming back on time.

As for AP, he did an outstanding job of answering some very direct, uncomfortable questions.

28 will get us to the playoffs this year, and dare I say, an outside shot at the Super Bowl.