RealGM

You really have to give Chad Clifton his props today. Everyone wants to talk about Favre, the recievers, and the defense in the fourth quarter, but Chad Clifton had a great game. Did anyone hear Merriman's name the entire game? Thats because Clifton really shut-down last years sack leader all day. The rest of the line also did a good job in pass-protection against the 3-4. Give credit where credit is due.

Great job Chad.

Definitely a great job by Chad and the whole offensive line today.

everyone is going to give props to Favre, however if Favre wouldn't have had the time to throw, this game would have been very different!


I can't wait for next week. I have seets row 1 to see the game!!

Merriman had two tackles, I don't remember his name being called once. After spouting off about how he couldn't wait to nail Favre, he was a meek little puppy dog today.

^He did have two tackles, but neither solo. Again, great game Chad, the rest of the Big Uglys also protected well.

Someone Misses his Roids

yeah, is it just me, or does Merriman look smaller now?

The had a great comment in the paper today about how Merriman thrives on confusion/mismatches on the offensive line where he ends up getting matches with a tight end or runs free and a back has to pick him up.In either case that's a disaster waiting to happen.

Today we saw none of that,the line was always in sync even vs a blitz and Merriman never ended up one on one with just a back or TE.

Great thread!
Chad is perhaps the single most important player on O based on -

a) we have no reserve LT and how crappy Colledge looked at LT the one game he played there last year.
b) ARod perhaps being ready to play if Brett went down
c) that we did ok w/o Jennings for 2 games so we could manage if we had just 2 of those 3 WRS.

OF COURSE if 2 or 3 happened it would hurt but loosing Chad could kill us.

I think you would see Tauscher moved to LT and Moll moved to RT. It would hurt not having Clifton but I don't think it'd be the end of the world.

There's a lot of depth on this team. The only places where I think a loss to a starter would absolutely kill would be at MLB (Bishop) and FS (Rouse).

LT - Clifton RT- Tausher

LT-Tausher RT-Moll : That would be a huge blow to our team. I don't care what you say. Clifton/Tausher are two of the most underrated players on our team and to lose one to injury and to move the other to a different spot would be a big blow.

Bishop instead of Barnett would be a huge blow also - not argument there

Moll isn't a bad player. I think you'd see Colledge perform significantly better than he did last year when he had to play tackle.

Cllifton and Tauscher certainly are among the most underrated on the team, but you at least have guys that have started in the NFL behind them. Anyone in the defensive backfield from the linebackers to the CBs to the safeties going down would be far worse IMO.

[quote="DrugBust"]Moll isn't a bad player. I think you'd see Colledge perform significantly better than he did last year when he had to play tackle.

Cllifton and Tauscher certainly are among the most underrated on the team, but you at least have guys that have started in the NFL behind them. Anyone in the defensive backfield from the linebackers to the CBs to the safeties going down would be far worse IMO.[/quote]

Very true, which is why I shuttered when Harris hurt his elbow and everytime Woodson returns a punt. Please Blackmon get that cast off your hand!

DrugBust wrote:Moll isn't a bad player. I think you'd see Colledge perform significantly better than he did last year when he had to play tackle.

Cllifton and Tauscher certainly are among the most underrated on the team, but you at least have guys that have started in the NFL behind them. Anyone in the defensive backfield from the linebackers to the CBs to the safeties going down would be far worse IMO.

My post about Clifton stated most important OFFENSIVE PLAYER -
As far as DEFENSE goes
loosing a CB would be terrilbe - I'm still not sold on any of our backups being ready to be a regular or for the next guy elevated to be nickel. I think they have great future just not ready now.
Loosing any LB would also be terrible.

Thats why my prediction even before camp was 6-10 but possibly 9-7 if we stayed healthy. That's how poor depth we have FOR THIS SEASON. The very same guys will be better ready next year. They just aren't ready to cut it as starters if needed this year. And one has to almost count on a few injuries each season. So injuries and inexperienced depth - NOT schedule - was my reason for lower win prediction.

Loose Clifton, Harris, Woodson, Barnett, or Hawk and it looks terrible.
Loose any top 3 WR, either TE, or Popp and things are tough.
Loose either S or Tauscher and its a problem.
Loose Brett and we'll see.

IMO Tauscher would NOT be moved to LT. He would not be as good there.
Maybe Moll but he never plays LT. He's a RT 1st and RG 2nd.
It would probably be Colledge with Costin sliding to LG and Spitz at RG.

Not only would we loose premier pass blocking LT
all our young guys would have to deal with adjustment. Not as easy for youngsters.
Plus Costin beat Spitz b/c Spitz is making mistakes and is not looking as good as last year.