thundercleetz

Will Hill is a badass back there in the secondary. He plays with an attitude. It seems like he's finally getting comfortable in the defense, and that's letting him expand his range while being aggressive. Gronk will be a tough matchup, but remember that Hill played very well against Jimmy Graham.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/ravens-insider/bal-ravens-torrey-smith-anticipates-matching-up-against-imposing-patriots-corner-brandon-browner-20150106-story.html Torrey anticipates being matched up against Browner, so we'll see. As we saw against the Browns with Hayden, all it takes are a couple of big plays for Torrey to have an impact on the game.

Brandon Browner is one of the most penalized DBs in the league. Throw it up and hope to get lucky with big plays! http://www.nflpenalties.com/all-players.php

I finished all the episodes in two days. I got hooked. Interested to hear what everyone thinks.

We'll agree to disagree. I certainly think there is enough information, tape, analysis, and other resources out there to break down a player's game and make informed judgements on an individualized basis. And in the salary cap era, you absolutely have to take into account a player's salary in comparison to what other players are getting. So there's a bottom line performance factor whether it's fair or not.

We won, so this week there is no point in nitpicking it. When Torrey asks for a $60M contract this offseason, yes it will absolutely be worth nitpicking. Receivers who make that much money make those catches. People are nitpicking this one catch because it's representative of Torrey not being able to make this type of catch in the past. And I disagree with your second statement, we nitpick every single throw Flacco makes. When you make/ask for big money, you get analyzed on a microscopic level. Goes with the territory.

I'm not going to judge because it would have been an out of this world play. However, Desean Jackson was on the NFL Network saying receivers every week practice dragging the toe (I was very impressed with Jackson's commentary BTW). Jackson said Torrey is going to kick himself watching that play. Here's what it is: if Torrey tries to drag the tie maybe he doesn't even come down with the ball, or can't control it. Regardless you have to try and drag the toe first then worry about the catch. Yes, you are right, it would have been a super tough catch. However, that is a catch that the elite receivers make. Torrey is going to be a free agent this year, and you can bet he will ask for #1 receiver money. If it is Aiken in that situation, I give him a pass and forget. Torrey has to be held to a higher standard given the money he will command this offseason.

Feels even better the morning after! I've watched the highlights a few times already!

Thank you Preacher, very classy.

Someone cut out the power to that stadium!!! Completely silent.

Common no big plays!

Edsall is getting a lot of heat from the local media. If you take away the Rutgers loss, UMD had a very solid first season in the B1G by any standard. Stanford is a very good team. A caliber of team and brand name that Maryland would have never played in a bowl against had they stayed in the ACC. I don't think the criticism of Edsall is entirely fair but I understand it. The new training facility, the move to the B1G, big moves by other schools within the B1G East, Edsall is going to have a short leash. A good year will no longer cut it. UMD did not make the investment of a $30M to simply move to the B1G, and $125M in a indoor practice facility to simply be a winning team. The groundwork has been laid to compete annually for a conference championship, and possibly more. Edsall has recruited very well, but his inability to recruit a stud QB may be his downfall. IMO, UMD gives Edsall a couple of more years. Edsall might be in the unfortunate situation of being in over his head. The program is going to attract top caliber coaching talent with the conference, location, and now the elite facilities. I can really see the program dishing out big time money in a few years and possibly making their own Harbaugh-type move. Who knows, UMD could maybe even hire John after he is done with the pro's.

No way keep them coming!

I still think Pittsburgh wins but the Bell injury gives us a chance. Bell won the second meeting for Pittsburgh. His level play in the past game cannot be understated. Ben was never known much for checking down but Bell got open on Mosley and was a safety option for Ben all game, killing us on third down and gaining yards after catch. I don't think we gameplaned for that. Even if Bell plays, with that injury it's hard to believe he'll have the same quickness in his cuts to get open in the passing game. In the end the Steelers have too many weapons at WR and we are too heat up in the secondary. However, we have had good success against Pittsburgh's secondary the past few years and have been able to connect on big plays. If we can oass block, we will be in the game. Here's to hoping James Harrison doesn't find the fountain of youth against us again.

I'm lost on whether we should retain Torrey. What do you guys think?

All I'm saying, how good is Alex Smith? Total QBR is saying he is below average. I don't think Smith gave the Chiefs any advantage in this game.

The Chiefs don't have a single receiving TD by a WR. Is Chase Daniel really any worse than Alex Smith? Maybe the Chiefs are better off having a guy that is healthy, motivated and has limited tape at QB.

I'd rather win and end the season 10-6 than get into the playoffs and lose to the Steelers. We are just too beat up. It isn't our year. We are close, another offseason to adjust to the new offense and getting more weapons and we'll be ok. The Steelers were a .500 team for two and a half years after Arians left and now are finally putting it all together. We'll get there with Kubiak provided we get some good receivers (although we've never developed complete receivers, so I am skeptical of this to an extent).

From what I have read the Padres had a very deep farm system to work with. Additionally, they did enough maneuvering where they were able to make these trades without giving up their top three prospects. It seems like they've built their system the past few years to make the push now. Good for them I like their moves. DC, I looked at Kemp's splits and he had an excellent post-All Star break. From an offensive perspective he definitely proved his worth. Maybe that is a result of becoming healthy as the season went on. I am still a very much weary of his defense (he will be a huge liability in a big Pepco Park with no DH relief), but I agree with you now that he would have been an excellent LF/DH acquisition for us. However, I doubt Angelos would have taken that contract with Kemp having arthritis in both hips.

I think the root of this problem is how good Teryl Austin was here. I know the players loved him and he did a lot for us in interviewing and working out draft prospects. Austin has done a great job as the Lions DC and will be up for NFL head coaching jobs, maybe even the Pittsburgh college job. http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/154788/lions-dc-teryl-austin-could-be-up-for-head-coaching-jobs

Elite QB... And elite actor!?!? http://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2014/12/19/7423185/obama-called-james-franco-james-flacco-and-everyone-tweeted-the-same

Buster Olney's opinion on the Duquette situation: http://m.espn.go.com/general/blogs/blogpost?blogname=buster-olney&id=8942&src=desktop&rand=ref~%7B%22ref%22%3A%22http%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2FkkkcrDv7z5%22%7D&ex_cid=InsiderTwitter_olney_jaysinterestindanduquette Olney does a great job of quantifying Duquette's value. Basically, he says the Cubs fleeced the Red Sox for Epstein given the value Epstein has brought to the team, and that if the Jays really want Duquette a new bar will be set (even more so because it will be in-division). Says the value should be two of the Jays top six prospects or so. Olney's concludes that Angelos should ask for a premium haul, if the Jays say no then move on nothing lost.

@MikeGarafolo: Jim Harbaugh asked if Michigan has made an offer: "I'll only talk about the job I have." Not exactly a denial.

I tend to agree that Harbaugh is trying use the UM offer as leverage. Food for thought: Harbaugh in SF has been a mess this whole season, I wonder how many owners wouldn't want to put up with his drama and theatrics. He has the type of personality that runs thin on players if the team isn't winning. With that said it only takes one, and I have no doubt Davis in Oakland or Ross in Miami (UM alum) would pay Harbaugh whatever he wants.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/gamecast?gameId=321021034&version=mobile&src=desktop Ugh I cannot forget this game!