We’re seven weeks into the 2013 season and the league picture is coming into focus. Unlike America, which seems bent on destroying the middle class, the NFL, which prefers parity, has a solid block of middle class teams.
In the Upper Class, we’ve got the 49ers, Seahawks, Saints, Patriots, Bengals, Colts, Chiefs, Denver, and maybe the Packers.
In the Lower, some would say Poverty level, Class, there’s the Giants, Vikings, Jaguars, Raiders, Steelers, and Buccaneers.
Everyone else is farting around with upward mobility notions or downward mobility fears. And in the end, it won’t matter because they just aren’t good enough to truly matter this year. The Panthers seem to have the most realistic hopes of moving up. Great defense and a QB who’s finally learning to manage the game. Maybe the Ravens. Maybe Detroit. Maybe the Falcons will rally. Dallas has won a whole two games in a row, which is enough to get their followers dreaming of SB trophies, but the rest of us remain a great deal more skeptical.
The 49ers will be playing the aforementioned Panthers in two weeks and what looked like an easy win when the schedule came out, now looks to be a tough contest. But the following week’s game at New Orleans will perhaps be the last regular season game this year where the team will be an underdog. The Saints should be undefeated so far this year, except for some bonehead plays in the waning moments of their game against the Patriots.
Indianapolis has had a strange year. They’ve beaten Seattle, San Francisco, and Denver, while losing to Miami and San Diego, who were beaten by the Raiders. They also look ready to replace New England as the dominant, year in, year out AFC powerhouse. But it’s doubtful they’re ready to do so this year, especially with the loss of their leading WR, Reggie Wayne.
The 49ers have a BYE next week, but it could be an interesting week nonetheless. Aldon Smith will likely re-join the club and have a couple of weeks to get back in shape. Quinton Dial has already been activated from the PUP/NFI lists, and Tank Carradine, Mario Manningham, and Eric Wright will joining the active roster soon, too. The trade deadline is also approaching, with persistent rumors that LaMichael James will be dealt. If he is, knowing Trent Baalke, it will be for a draft pick and that would mean only two guys on the current roster would have to pack their bags. Most likely, Nnamdi Asomugha and Marlon Moore.
Manningham and Carradine are the two players most of us are anxious to at last see in action. It could even happen this weekend against the Jaguars. If that game goes to form, there will be some serious garbage time minutes in the fourth quarter that would accommodate a peek-a-boo at the new guys.
Jags are dead last in rushing defense giving up 153 yds a game and 4.6 yards per rushing attempt.
They have given up a league leading 10 runs of 20+ yards.
The Jag pass defense averages giving up 253 yds a game.
Niners need to focus and dismantle the Jags.
There’s a lot of talk about not using LaMichael, but they’re not using Kendall Hunter much, either.
Skeebers- I see from the last thread I won a trip to Mars. Is there anything you need me to take to Otis Sistrunk?
The Jaguars are a far cry from the days they had McCray, Stroud and Henderson on the D-line and were 11-5. That was a big immovable D-line that set up everything for the back end.
Maybe I am getting old but I have noticed that Kap has always had the headphones around his neck at every press conference.
I hope that that brand “beats” is paying him well for the advertising.
Not a big deal but being an old fart it becomes a stereotype and a cliché of some idiots from the 70’s and 80’s walking around with the giant boomboxes blaring demanding attention.
It reminds you of Jim McMahon and his shades (although he said he had a sensitive eye condition).
Perhaps Kap’s ears get cold.
Kap still is a kid but he could grow up a little bit faster.
It has been something I have noticed and now it’s becoming a small deal.
http://www.csnbayarea.com/49ers/kaepernick-49ers-not-changing-their-ways
NFL keeps getting their one game suspensions overturned, so they wised up and handed out a two game suspension that got cut in half, but finally achieved a suspension. Brandon Meriweather suspended for illegal hits. Next up: Dashon Goldson.
Meriweather had 2 in one game, and then joked about it afterwards.
Ball Deep Sports breaks down and analyzes the zone read as only they can in their superb style
http://www.ballsdeepsportsblog.com/?p=2314
Some things you read make you shake your head and this is one of them. Jeff Garcia is lobbying the Browns to give him a chance to be their QB. Never mind that he’s 43 years old and hasn’t thrown a pass in the NFL since 2008.
He ought to get together with TO and they could be a package deal.
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/24122759/fourtime-pro-bowl-qb-jeff-garcia-is-open-to-comeback-with-the-browns
Maybe the Vikes will beat the Browns to him.
Need some help guys.
Which of our LBs would have played for the 9ers, won 3 SBs and 2 National Championships at USC?
Could it be Riki Ellison?
Ken Norton Jr?
James for a draft pick? A 7th rounder is Baalke’s MO.
Chuck, Norton wouldn’t have 3 with us.
Here’s the story from Monday night –
My buddy was doing his usual tailgate at the NYG game Monday night.
A couple gets out of a limo and sees all the action around his Camp.
She compliments the group on their tailgate and on it goes.
My buddy offers the girl a burger and she accepts.
The guy gets out wearing a Vikings hoodie and my buddy spots a SB ring on his finger and they start to converse.
So, my friend inspects it and sees it’s a 9er Ring, which the guy says is 1 of 3 he got with SF.
My buddy offers him a beer and says he needs a picture to show to me to prove he was there.
So I have the pic and I’ve got a shot to identify him or I’m buying this weekend.
If you have an email address I can use, I’ll forward it to you.
I have to answer him by 7AM ET.
Only hints he gave me were LB, played at USC.
Gotta figure it was Ellison?
It’s Ellison, NJ.
OK Skeebs, Thanks!
I’ll submit that as my final answer.
Hoping the beer is on my friend.
I’ll forward the pic Skeebs.
There’s a 2008 photo of Ellison on his Wikipedia page you could compare your pic to.
Read my mind Skeebs, I’m Googling Images and think it’s definitely him.
Is he in Politics somehow?
Didn’t know he played as Riki Gray at USC.
Mother remarried.
Didn’t get that all 3 were with the Niners.
.
Riki Ellison is right.
Yeh I wasn’t too clear with the original post Chuck.
That’s why I reposted the fine details.
My buddy is as sick a NYG Fan as I am a 9er Fan.
He figured he’d turn it into a Beer Bet Quiz.
Love a good B-B-Q when I can get him to buy.
At least Riki was there in vistors colors, even if it was purple.
I remember Gray being an excellent USC LB and changing his name to Ellison with the 49ers. He was an under rated LB in my book.
Well Berger, of all the places, (and people), to meet him, my buddy the NYG fan shared a beer with him in the parking lot in the Meadowlands.
If all goes according to plan, I’ll hear more over a few brews on Friday night I hope.
He does throw a great tailgate though.
Been there many times.
First met Maiocco at his tailgate years back.
Quite the magnet of Gameday fun he is.
After some additional fact finding, I see why Riki is wearing purple.
His Son Rhett is a Vikings TE.
There ya go.
My quiz has been quite enlightening.
6″5″ 250 also played at USC.
In 2014 there will be 3 games played in London with the Raiduh Black Hole losing a home date.
“The league already had announced that the Jaguars, Falcons, and Raiders will host games in London. They’ll face the Cowboys, Lions, and Dolphins, respectively.
Commissioner Roger Goodell announced the Cowboys-Jaguars, Lions-Falcons, and Dolphins-Raiders matchups during a media event in London, where the Jaguars will host the 49ers on Sunday.”
Nick Moody is back from broken hand now. More roster shuffling coming.
Isn’t is about time they cut McLeod Bethel-Thompson and find a new third-string quarterback? They haven’t made that QB shuffle in over a week now.
Not until Nate Davis finds his gloves and is ready to play!
The reason Nate has chosen not to go to Jacksonville or Tampa Bay is that they are the Jaguars and Buccaneers, and he’s already playing for a better team, The Venom.
The Browns? Cleveland? Did you say that with a straight face?
The Vikings? He can’t read, but he’s not stoopid.
Kory Sheets was the leading rusher in the CFL.
He can’t make it in the NFL but is a star north of the border.
Not everyone can succeed in the NFL but he’s found his calling.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcOlUzqccfw
After the Panthers finish off the Schmuckaneers tonight, they will be #6 in the NFC, on target for a playoff trip to Cheeseheadland. The Nov. 10 game at Candlestick promises to be a doozy.
Only 3 of the Niners 9 games are against “playoff bound” teams.
The Niners are now targeted at Fantasyland, oops I mean Emperor Jerry’s house.
New post is up.