9ers improve to 4-10

[Crow]

Drops the Pats 1st rounder a few spots and could potentially lead to us leapfrogging them.

On the flip side, the Chiefs have left over us in the current draft order. We need them to win this week against the Titans. Not likely, but I will be...grudgingly...cheering for them.

Anyone see a Jets upset over the Pats, a Falcons "Fuck Petrino" game against the Bucs, or a Rams win over the Pack being possible? All three are at 3-10. Sure would be nice of them to do us a solid by winning a game or two.

If the Ravens (4-9) can keep the Fins from cracking their goose egg, they fall behind us and they'll be one less team we'd have to think about come tiebreaker time.



Looking ahead, our friends in St. Louis get the up & down Steelers next week. With Bulger and Holt healthy, hopefully anyway, that's a winnable game.

The Chiefs get the sinking ship S.S. Matt Millen. Assuming Allen and Hali get to the airport on time, this is a very winnable game.

I don't like the 9ers over the Bucs next week, or the Falcons over the Cardinals. But I can hope.

Not a big believer in the Jets ability to stop the Titans. But if they can make VY throw the ball 30 times, they've got a real shot.

Ravens v. Seahawks could get interesting. Still, if they fall to Miami this week, they're not going to get back in the win column against the Hags.

We get the Jags and the anti-McCown David Garrard next week. Part of me is happy that I'll not be attending this disaster.


And, to close out the year, LT gets to ream us one last time before the offseason. The 9ers go to Cleveland, the Falcons host the Hags, the Ravens get the Steelers, the Rams get the Cardinals (I like this matchup for us), and the Jets team up with the Chiefs to see how best to screw up our draft position. If the Chiefs win this week or next, we're all Jets fans come week 17.

I believe there's still an outside shot of us landing a top 3 pick. It's as slim as Stepper before dinner, but I think the possibility exists. We'll need a Rams, Jets, and Falcons victory in these next 3 weeks. The odds of getting all 3 are less than stellar. But, then again, I didn't anticipate any help from the 9ers this week either.

The 4-6 range is most likely what we're looking at. We're not going to win another game, so I feel comfortable in the fact that one of the 3 top DLs will be there for us. I'd be severely hurt and disappointed if McFadden, Long, Dorsey, and Ellis were all gone before our pick. That would be devastating.

In my totally uneducated opinion, the drop-off after those 4 players is substantial. I wouldn't bother blowing a snot rocket at Calais Campbell, Desean Jackson, or Jake Long if a tradeback opportunity presented itself. I might not even wait to see who we pick.

[Jack's sore libido]

Draft spot be damned, I don't want the Chiefs finishing with a better record than the Raiders.

Just sick of being at the bottom of the division.

And I don't think the Chiefs being ahead of the Raiders will hurt us, anyway. They HAVE to go OL or QB or CB now, I think, while Oakland will hopefully be going for a DL.

[Crow]

The Chiefs, regardless of last year's draft, seem to need a DT as badly as we do. Wouldn't surprise me at all to see them cockblock us there.

As for the division rankings...3rd place, 4th place...you're sitting at home with the same stupid look on your face either way. Inconsequential. If we don't win another game, I want the teams ahead of us to win out. We need to land one of those 3 DLs. Need.

[Jack's sore libido]

The Chiefs' OL is in shambles, and they have a lot invested in Larry Johnson.

I'm just going to agree to disagree with you on their draft strategy there.

And while we may all be at home eating ham come Christmas, it will taste a little better to me than it will to a Chiefs fan if we don't finish behind them.

[Crow]

As they say, when you're not the lead dog, the view never changes.

I ain't saying they will take a DT. I just think it's entirely possible. They've gotten gashed a few times this year, and I don't think it's all Nap Harris' fault...although it very well could be.

They were fools for not hoarding OLs these last two offseasons. I think they'll definitely try to rectify that this year. But if the tackle they want is gone...never know what Carl is thinking.

[massraider]

I am not even going to try and prdict any teams' moves, it's a futile exercise in December.

But it wouldn't surprise me to see McFadden there at our pick.

Right now, I think KC would be looking at OT.

Right now, I don't think Chris Long makes it past New England.

I think Miami would love to trade down. Barring that, I think they'll look at Long, Long, and Dorsey.

If we can't get Long, Long or Dorsey ourselves, I'd be happy with Ellis, but would hope someone would b looking to mov up and get a QB.


The QBs will change this draft. Someone will fall in love with Ryan or Woodson, and where the QBs go will hav a big say in the top of the 1st round.

[hawaiianboy]

The QBs will change this draft. Someone will fall in love with Ryan or Woodson, and where the QBs go will hav a big say in the top of the 1st round.

I agree... I especially think someone will fall in love with Ryan... He's a tad inconsistent, but his size, arm strength and late 4th quarter performances are going to be a major sell point...

The Chiefs' OL is in shambles, and they have a lot invested in Larry Johnson.

I think you can make a pretty good argument that the Chiefs will be looking at filling four of the five spots on their O-line... I'd be surprised if their front office isn't already crossing their fingers hoping Jake Long will be there for the taking... If I were a Chief fan, I'd be hoping for a quick fix of Jake Long in the draft and Jordan Gross in free agency...

[007]

The Chiefs, regardless of last year's draft, seem to need a DT as badly as we do. Wouldn't surprise me at all to see them cockblock us there.

As for the division rankings...3rd place, 4th place...you're sitting at home with the same stupid look on your face either way. Inconsequential. If we don't win another game, I want the teams ahead of us to win out. We need to land one of those 3 DLs. Need.

The Chiefs wont touch a DL in round one.

Tank has been solid, Turk McBride has shown flashes;

I think its OL 100%.

[Crow]

I am not even going to try and prdict any teams' moves, it's a futile exercise in December.
Not unlike watching this team in December...

But it wouldn't surprise me to see McFadden there at our pick.

I'd be genuinely shocked.

Right now, I think KC would be looking at OT.
They should be. But, I thought that last year as well.

Right now, I don't think Chris Long makes it past New England.
Where would they play him? He's not a LB prospect by any stretch of the imagination. They already have two all pro DEs, and a 3rd DE who could start on most 3-4 teams. I keep seeing people try to match Long with NE, but it really makes no sense.

I think Miami would love to trade down. Barring that, I think they'll look at Long, Long, and Dorsey.
I'll giggle like a little school girl if they take Jake Long #1 overall. Chris Long, I could see happening. Dorsey is the trendy pick right now, and makes a ton of sense.

If we can't get Long, Long or Dorsey ourselves, I'd be happy with Ellis, but would hope someone would b looking to mov up and get a QB.
I'd be pissed off if we took an OL this high. Severely pissed off.

The QBs will change this draft. Someone will fall in love with Ryan or Woodson, and where the QBs go will hav a big say in the top of the 1st round.
I think Ryan ends up going top 5. But I wouldn't stake my draft on any of the others going before our pick.

[massraider]

I hadn't really thought about the notion that we don't need to take an OL that high. Yeah, might have a point there, Crow.

As to McFadden, you may be right. He may be long gone. But I think talent-wise, Peterson is miles ahead of him, and he fell to what--8?

I gotta watch some more of him on YouTube, try and get excited.

[Jack's sore libido]

As they say, when you're not the lead dog, the view never changes.

I don't buy that.

[Crow]

http://nothinbuttdogs.com/ButtContest/Nebobutt.jpg

[Jack's sore libido]

It's an easy punchline, but considering the fact that second- and third-place teams in their division are also eligible for the playoffs, it doesn't work on a technical level. And I personally don't buy into it because (in no particular order of importance):

A) I would rather see the Raiders win than lose, regardless of the draft pick situation.

B) I don't think the Chiefs or Broncos finishing below the Raiders at all precludes the Raiders from picking a great football player

C) I think winning helps team morale, and in any game that involves the human element, morale is an important factor

D) I don't want to put up with Chiefs fans all offseason rightly saying that even in their worst season in a decade, they were still better than the Raiders.

[Crow]

Oh, I'm certainly not saying that I want us to lose out to get the better draft pick. Far from it. Rather, I expect us to lose out, so I'm looking ahead. Big, big difference there.

And the 2nd & 3rd place teams in this division this year are as playoff eligible as the 4th place team, whichever of us that turns out to be. So, punchline or not, in this case, it's accurate.

I think any team, rival or not, picking ahead of us lessens our chances of getting that DL we so desperately need.

Morale is huge, and I'm a definite believer in the idea that ending a bad year on a high note leads to better things. It doesn't completely rinse the bitter taste from a team's mouth, but it does give them a little taste of sugar to motivate them.

The Chiefs have been better than us since 2003. They were better than us for most of the '90s. I don't expect Chief fan rhetoric to suddenly become unique or original this offseason, so that doesn't bother me.


Personally, I'd like to see the Chiefs, Broncos, and Chargers all go 0-16. But since that's not an option this year, I feel it is a good business move to support those meth junkies at Narrowhead in their efforts to win one more game. We already put our stamp on them. We hiked our leg and reclaimed them as our bitches this year. To ice the cake, I want to see their monkey asses drafting after us just in case the unthinkable happens and Glen Dorsey slips. I would wager big bucks, if I had them, that KC would bypass their needs on the OL to grab a stud like Dorsey to complete their D-line.

[Jack's sore libido]

That all may work for you, but I still disagree. Would always rather finish 3rd than 4th.

[Crow]

Just gotta be realistic about the whole thing. The better they do these next two weeks, the more they help us.

[Jack's sore libido]

I'm just not worried about them preventing us from getting a good player.

[Crow]

The farther we fall in the draft order, the better the odds of Al fucking it up. That worries me.

[Jack's sore libido]

How far can we fall?

No way we beat Jacksonville this week. MAYBE we beat San Diego for 5 wins.

That would, at worst, have us drafting 10th. With 4 lossess and our strength of schedule, we're still as low as 8th.

Just don't see the damage of one extra team being ahead of us, particularly when it means we're dead last in the division again.

[Crow]

I don't see the use of some moral victory like having the Chiefs listed under us in the division rankings, even though we both have the same 4-12 record.

The foundation for the 2008 Raiders is laid regardless of what Kansas City does these last two weeks. If they manage to luck into one last W, all the better for us. There's only a handful of blue chip players in this class. Anything that helps nudge us up a slot or two can only serve to strengthen the team leading into the '08 season.


I think we've all but run out of ways to say the same thing without being blatantly repetitious.

[Jack's sore libido]

I don't see the use of some moral victory like having the Chiefs listed under us in the division rankings, even though we both have the same 4-12 record.

I think a win against SD in week 17 in possible.

[Crow]

Anything is possible. But, again, I don't expect it to happen. If we hold LT to under 150 yards, that'll be my moral victory for the year.

[Rupert]

Anything is possible. But, again, I don't expect it to happen. If we hold LT to under 150 yards, that'll be my moral victory for the year.

But that will be contingent upon us fielding a viable offense. If we throw Russell under center, and he performs like he did against Indy, forget having our defense play anywhere close to how they played against INdy.

That's my biggest concern with Russell under center now. The defense has had a taste of being off the field for long stretches, and they've lost the futility they began to cultivate last season. I wouldn't put Russell in for more than a taste here and there unless he starts performing. If he takes one of his three series and scores, dude gets another shot.

It's that simple in my book. The team is begining to believe. I don't want to lose that edge they've just begun to hone.

[Jack's sore libido]

San Diego may have nothing to gain in Week 17.

Their spot and seed may already been sewn up by the time the game starts, so we might not even see LaDainian.

[Crow]

Alright. So, if we manage to hold Sproles under 150 yards, that'll be my moral victory.
But that will be contingent upon us fielding a viable offense. If we throw Russell under center, and he performs like he did against Indy, forget having our defense play anywhere close to how they played against INdy.

That's my biggest concern with Russell under center now. The defense has had a taste of being off the field for long stretches, and they've lost the futility they began to cultivate last season. I wouldn't put Russell in for more than a taste here and there unless he starts performing. If he takes one of his three series and scores, dude gets another shot.

It's that simple in my book. The team is begining to believe. I don't want to lose that edge they've just begun to hone.
Can't argue that logic, other than to say that, by starting Russell now, he'll be that much closer to "ready" by the start of next season, giving the defense the opportunity to actually finish a cup of Gatorade in Week 1 as opposed to Week 12.

I also hope to have the majority of this defensive line replaced by the time September rolls around.