NFL 2003-2004

Squaredancecalling Steve · August-5th-2003, 12:23 PM

Are you ready for some football?!

The Moochless 49ers will go vertical this season, they will go downfield to T.O. (arriving at practise on his new motorcycle these days), Tai Streets (the annointed #2, now that that dud J.J. is history), and the kid I was touting all last year,

CEDRICK WILSON

at #3, is the man to watch. This year, presumably, they'll throw his way more than once a game.

Rookie lineman Kwame Harris (6'7"/310, the heir apparent to Derrick Deese at LT) is impressing in camp. So is undrafted WR Arland Bruce III, some kind of cousin of Isaac Bruce.

And, in a disturbing trend carrying over from last year, the Corner Backs have been plagued with injuries.

Enforcer · August-5th-2003, 01:11 PM

Mooch!

Hopefully the Lions win 6 games this season. But I won't place any bets on that.

Looking up from the cellar,
Larry

Jim Dye · August-5th-2003, 01:26 PM

TYRONE CALICO

He's the receiver who I predict will be a surprise this year for the Tennessee Titans.

The team is solid, but not too deep this year. That's the cap for ya.

Jevon Kearse is finally healthy after breaking his foot in the first game last year. The D-line is gonna be very strong. The cornerbacks may be a bit problematic, but if everyone can stay healthy, I easily see a return to the AFC title game. The Colts are the only team that could possibly stop the Titans in the AFC South, but I just don't see Dungy giving Manning that much freedom with the offense.

Larry, any news from Ford Field?

Oops...beat me to it!

Aggie87 · August-6th-2003, 04:41 AM

Cowboys are going to have another good, solid D this year. I think the biggest question mark on that side will be the DE play of Ebenezer Ekuban, who has never justified his 1st round selection. Terence Newman will solidify the secondary and with Roy Williams, turn it into a team strength.

Question marks abound on offense, primarily at QB/RB positions. Both Quincy Carter and Chad Hutchinson have looked OK so far in camp, but only ok (or so I read). If the O-Line performs at least slightly better than last year, then either QB should be OK. Troy Hambrick is getting his shot this year, after griping for so long as Emmitt's backup. They've got a solid group of WRs and TEs, so again if the O-Line holds up, they could have a decent passing game.

Squaredancecalling Steve · August-7th-2003, 01:46 PM

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Garcia's back on sidelines for Chiefs

Kevin Lynch, Chronicle Staff Writer _ Thursday, August 7, 2003

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A bad omen popped up for the 49ers with the news that quarterback Jeff Garcia will miss his first game in his NFL career because of injury.

Garcia, whose back tightened on him early in Tuesday morning's practice, was declared out of the team's exhibition opener Saturday night in Kansas City.

Coach Dennis Erickson said Garcia won't practice until Monday, mainly as a precaution. Garcia was absent for Wednesday's practices because of doctor's visits.

"We will hold him out, and hopefully he will be ready to go (a week from today) against the Raiders," Erickson said.

Garcia sustained a bulging disk in his lower back a week before training camp when he was working out with a trainer in Los Angeles.

Erickson said he was unconcerned that the injury will affect Garcia for the regular season, which begins in a month and a day.

"I do know from talking to Todd, it is not anything like it was when he originally hurt it," Erickson said, referring to head trainer Todd Lazenby.

Garcia explained at the beginning of training camp that the disk is laying on a few nerves, which causes his lower back to "shut down" and become extremely weak.

MRS · August-7th-2003, 02:07 PM

Could the worst o-line last year be transformed into the best? If Orlando can get his act together and sign, with the addition of Turley this very well could prove to be the case.

. . .inked Holt to a multi-year but he had few "Big Games" last year. I look for a turnaround here. Corollary to that I hope Isaac gets a few more balls his way.

It will be interesting to watch this QB thing pan out. I think Bulger proved himself to have uncanny poise in the pocket.

Enforcer · August-7th-2003, 02:10 PM

The biggest news around here has been the big fine levied against Matt Millen over the minority hiring thing.

Larry

August-7th-2003, 03:21 PM

I personally am looking foward to many more of those 'hitting a defenseless receiver' personal foul calls. Maybe in a few years the league will change over to two-hand touch.

Squaredancecalling Steve · August-7th-2003, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Scott Dolan
Maybe in a few years the league will change over to two-hand touch.

The Professional Beach Arena Flag Football League

August-7th-2003, 04:11 PM

Or the Tagliabue Football League as I like to call it.

Captain Hate · August-7th-2003, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Larry Nagel
The biggest news around here has been the big fine levied against Matt Millen over the minority hiring thing.

Larry

That was the stupidest fucking fine I've ever heard of. Does Matt have any avenue of appeal? Not that I'd ever prostrate myself in front of that obnoxious empty-suit Tagliabue, tied with Bud Selig as the most worthless commissioner of a major sport.

The biggest news here has been the quarterback competition between Kelly Holcomb and Gomer Couch. That there's any competition at all is disgusting when you consider that Holcomb set a team playoff passing yardage record against the Steelers while crybaby Gomer had the second worst qb rating in the AFC. That Botch Davis is even carrying on this charade goes to show that he's just another worthless Browns coach, where there hasn't been a good one since Blanton Collier.

Squaredancecalling Steve · August-11th-2003, 02:39 PM

Garcia will be held out of the next exhibition game (Raiders), too, and they won't play him much in the last one, so he's not going to see much action before the season begins. Fortunately, the three backup QBs looked great against the Chiefs, with a combined QB rating in the 130s. 7th round draft pick Ken Dorsey looks like a real find.

****

>>Somebody miscalculated when ailing 49ers would be ready

Ira Miller _ Sunday, August 10, 2003

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Dennis Erickson could have a rough start as the coach of the 49ers, and it would not even be his fault.

He's trying to juice up the offense, but the quarterback came to training camp hurt. Jeff Garcia's sore back could become a season-long drama, and Garcia is not going to get as much work as he should, trying to learn Erickson's offense this summer.

Garcia also needs to work on his deep passing, something the 49ers ignored under Steve Mariucci, but he can't do it if he's not practicing.

Factor in four players nursing injuries that still linger from last season - - center Jeremy Newberry, cornerback Jason Webster, NFL punt-return leader Jimmy Williams and backup fullback Terry Jackson, the 49ers' best special teams player -- and, even though Newberry and Jackson played last night in Kansas City, it seems unlikely the 49ers will be fully healthy anytime soon.

Something is wrong here. In this day of depth-poor NFL rosters, a team shouldn't find itself in such bad shape early in training camp.

Garcia's problem developed only shortly before camp, so you can just write that off to bad luck. But in the cases of the others, either the players and/or the medical staff guessed wrong on their projected returns, or the personnel department didn't do enough to protect the roster, or both.

Now, it's a long way from August to January, and maybe the 49ers will get their bad luck out of the way early. But they shouldn't count on it. <<

Enforcer · August-11th-2003, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Captain Hate
Does Matt have any avenue of appeal?

Cap,

The problem is that the fine was handed out by Tagliabue and the appeals are heard by... Tagliabue. One unusual development that has resulted though is a rare and vehement rebuttal from William Clay Ford, the Lions' owner. The old man doesn't usually get involved in these kinds of things but was very upset about it.

Larry

August-11th-2003, 03:51 PM

Quote:

the fine was handed out by Tagliabue and the appeals are heard by... Tagliabue.

Exactly. See my previous post for explanation.

The NFL was once great, until this little piece of shit started destroying it bit by bit.

Maybe he'll get that new overtime rule passed next year.

MRS · August-11th-2003, 04:01 PM

. . .and he's a smug motherfucker, too; never could stand him.

GoodSpeak · August-11th-2003, 04:10 PM

Glad to see Steve Mariucci gone...WAY to conservative a coach on offense and couldn't take a risk even if the Super Bowl was handed to him.

My only concern this year is with Erickson. He's supposedly a "player's" coach and with a selfish hot head like Owens on the team, that could spell disaster for the team chemistry.

Go NINERS !!!

Chris D · August-11th-2003, 04:16 PM

I've got a feeling you guys will miss Mooch pretty soon.

Kordell Stewart gets a fresh start in Chicago, but, sad to say, he's saddled with coordinator John Shoop's three-yard-pass offense. Has any team thrown as many 3-yard passes on third down when they need to pick up 6 yards?
Ship out Shoop!

Captain Hate · August-11th-2003, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Larry Nagel
One unusual development that has resulted though is a rare and vehement rebuttal from William Clay Ford, the Lions' owner. The old man doesn't usually get involved in these kinds of things but was very upset about it.

I'm sure he was; unfortunately when you have a teapot dictator like Tagliabue you really don't have any recourse except to try and stir the shit to get him tossed. When you contemplate some of the cowardly loons that are owners, I wouldn't place too much faith in that.

How is Harrington's health supposed to be? I think with Mariucci in charge that the future of your Lions is pretty damn bright. If the Browns suck as bad as I'm afraid they're gonna and if my true love in DC remain the Deadskins (I'm surprised Professor Bivins hasn't weighed in here; he must be in suspended animation since Sports Illustrated made his Wolfpack #8) I may wanna jump on the Lions bandwagon, if there's any room.

Squaredancecalling Steve · August-14th-2003, 09:40 PM

CEDRICK WILSON

Jim Dye · August-14th-2003, 10:25 PM

Huggy Bear's kid is looking good for Oakland.

Jason Bivins · August-15th-2003, 10:35 AM

Hate, you know what a superstitious bastid I am; I am, in Ballcoach's own words, "cautiously optimistic" about the Skins this season. Translated, that means I've been burned a few too many times with inflated preseason expectations. Looking at the schedule (third or fourth in the league in terms of strength), I don't see any reason why 9 or 10 wins is out of reach. But I also wouldn't be surprised with a 6-win season. If the D-Line can get it together, and if receivers can start catching, I'll be less cautious in my optimism. Playoffs, baby!!!

Steve, is Cedrick Wilson actually going to get some looks this season? Like, is he a possible fantasy sleeper?

And sadly I think the Browns are gonna blow this year. Did Jamir Miller end up on another team?

Look out for them Seahawks. I think they'll get a wildcard bid.

Chris D · August-15th-2003, 10:44 AM

Jamir Miller had to retire because of injury, right?

Captain Hate · August-15th-2003, 11:02 AM

I'm almost positive he retired; I think he was talking to other teams but gave it up, I think. I knew it would be rough for somebody his size, pushing off against linemen the way he does, to come back from achilles surgery.

Squaredancecalling Steve · August-15th-2003, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jason Bivins
Steve, is Cedrick Wilson actually going to get some looks this season? Like, is he a possible fantasy sleeper?

Oh, man, I hope so! He's the #3 receiver, he's their fastest receiver, and they're supposed to be trying to get the ball downfield, so he should be a factor this year. Hard to tell with these pre-season games, but it does look like Erickson has a much more aggressive approach to the game than Mooch.

°°°°°°°°

Don't think I've mentoned this here before, but Kezar Stadium, in Golden Gate Park, has been renamed for Sonoma County resident and Hall of Fame tackle Bob St. Clair. Bob is the only football player to have played Prep, College and Pro ball in the same stadium -- Kezar was home field for his two years at San Francisco Polytechnical H.S., three years at USF, and 12 for the 49ers: 189 football games on the same field!

Captain Hate · August-18th-2003, 08:59 PM

Butch Davis is doing his best to win me over by naming Kelly Holcomb the starting qb over Tim Couch. However after watching that sieve of a defense against Green Bay its become obvious that the Browns have to score seven points a possession in order to be competitive. So far former #1 draft choice Gerard Warren hasn't had a tackle in two games. Its looking like 8-8 is becoming the impossible dream.

moneyp · August-18th-2003, 10:35 PM

GO CHIEFS!!!!

Any of you experts wanna tell me how my team looks this year?

Enforcer · August-19th-2003, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Captain Hate
How is Harrington's health supposed to be? I think with Mariucci in charge that the future of your Lions is pretty damn bright.

I hope so, Cap. Harrington successfully recovered from his surgery last season to correct an irregular heartbeat. Strangely, the Pistons Rebraca had the same surgery recently. Anyway, with a little time the Lions could be decent again. We need to get to the point where the Tigers are the only hideous team in Detroit. Right now we have two such teams and that's two too many.

Larry

Enforcer · August-19th-2003, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mone peterson
GO CHIEFS!!!!

Any of you experts wanna tell me how my team looks this year?

Mone,

You're a Chiefs fan? Any special reason, or are you just doin' the Jon Abbey thing?

Squaredancecalling Steve · August-23rd-2003, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Squaredancecalling Steve
7th round draft pick Ken Dorsey looks like a real find.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

August 23, 2003

By MATT MAIOCCO
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

SANTA CLARA -- Quarterback Ken Dorsey looks and feels different from the player whom NFL teams scouted prior to the draft.

Dorsey is 30 pounds heavier than the guy who could have dressed as a yard marker for Halloween during his career at the University of Miami. And Dorsey said he believes he is not going to stop developing for quite some time.

And that means off the field, as well as on.

Just four months into his first training camp with the 49ers, Dorsey has given the organization reason to believe that he was a bargain as a seventh-round draft pick. He appears to be a lock to make the 53-man roster.

Tonight, which will feature the return of starter Jeff Garcia from a two-week absence to allow a bulging disk in his lower back to subside, the maturation of Dorsey continues in an exhibition game against the New Orleans Saints.

Dorsey has received high marks from everyone throughout the 49ers, including Bill Walsh.

"Ken is intelligent and a natural football player," Walsh said. "He has a lot of poise. As we're set up now, he's not going to get that many more opportunities the next two games, so he's a full year away from playing in the NFL.

"A year from now, he will be a real significant competitor for that position."

When asked if he meant Dorsey would compete for Garcia's spot as the starter, Walsh answered, "That depends on Garcia."

Garcia, who is expected to play about 15 snaps tonight, enters a critical season. His scheduled salary for 2004 is the franchise number, expected to be around $9 million. With his back condition looming as an unknown, Garcia might have to put up a big season to prove that he fits into the team's plans beyond this season.

Moreover, backup Tim Rattay is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent at season's end. Walsh said there is no question Dorsey will be a starter in the NFL if he continues to grow at the pace he has started his professional career.

Dorsey has combined his much-lauded classroom habits with the ability to translate it to the playing field. In two exhibition games, he has completed just 10 of 22 passes (45.5 percent) but he's thrown three touchdowns with no interceptions and has yet to take a sack.

moneyp · August-23rd-2003, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Larry Nagel
Mone,

You're a Chiefs fan? Any special reason, or are you just doin' the Jon Abbey thing?

I'm never quite sure what the Jon Abbey thing is!

Larry, I spent a portion of my childhood in St. Louis, where my love of sports developed. I'm also a (baseball) Cards fan and before the Ducks came into being, I was a Blues fan as well.

So how do my Chiefs look, dammit!