Tuesday Afternoon Linebacker

Welcome to another mid-off-season edition of TALB. In store for you today are discussions about the draft, the 2005 NFL schedule, and the other sundry news items that have cropped up in the last few weeks. The last off-season edition was pretty light in content. Prepare for a butt-numbing (and probably brain numbing) installment this time around.

A Tale Of Two Halves
For 2005, the Bucs will open at Minnesota and close at home versus the Aints. In between there will be a September trip to Green Bay (werd!) and a December trip to Foxboro (boo!). With the exception of the game 8 visit by Carolina, all of the Bucs’ divisional games fall in the second half of the season. And the aforementioned visit to the defending champs ends a three game road stand, ugh. Of course; someone, somewhere, will bill the game as a match-up of the two teams that have combined to win the last four Super Bowls or some such nonsense.

The first half of the season looks much more winnable than the second. Minnesota, Buffalo, Detroit, Miami, and San Francisco are all winnable games in my opinion. Green Bay and the Jets are toss-ups, and Carolina is a “who knows”. A 6-2 first half is not unreasonable I think. Then we hit the division games and that wintry afternoon in Foxboro. I can see anywhere from 2-6 to 4-4 in the second half. Which would be a final record of between 8-8 and 10-6, ugh. See the full schedule below.

Complete Schedule
9/11 at Minnesota 1:00 p.m.
9/18 BUFFALO 1:00 p.m.
9/25 at Green Bay 1:00 p.m.
10/2 DETROIT 1:00 p.m.
10/9 at N.Y. Jets 1:00 p.m.
10/16 MIAMI 1:00 p.m.
10/23 — Bye Week –
10/30 at San Francisco 4:15 p.m.
11/6 CAROLINA 1:00 p.m.
11/13 WASHINGTON 1:00 p.m.
11/20 at Atlanta 1:00 p.m.
11/27 CHICAGO 1:00 p.m.
12/4 at New Orleans 1:00 p.m.
12/11 at Carolina 1:00 p.m.
12/17 at New England 1:30 p.m. (Saturday)
12/24 ATLANTA 1:00 p.m.
1/1 NEW ORLEANS

Around The League
- The hated Falcons will appear on national TV five times this season, including three MNF appearances and a Thanksgiving date against the Lions.
- The other Thanksgiving game is Denver at Dallas.
- The Patriots open the season on Thursday, September 8. This is the second year in a row the Champs have done so.
- Playoff Rematches: MNF will host a rematch of the NFC Championship game in week 1 as the Eagles travel to Atlanta. In week 3, the Patriots will head to Pittsburgh as the two AFCCG participants lace em up for another collision.
- The Colts have to go to Foxboro again this year. In week 9 they will face the Champs on MNF. I wonder when exactly the hype for this one will begin.
- Last year’s worst team (by record), the 49ers, have a tough opening to their season. They will face, in order, the Rams, at the Eagles, the Cowboys, at the Cardinals, and the Colts before getting a bye in week 6.

Pea-cock
Monday Night Football is moving. The venerable MNF will be broadcast on ESPN starting with the 2006 season. And good old NBC will be the host of Sunday Night Football starting at the same time. Hopefully NBC has learned their lesson after losing the game for seven years and will use the score box that is now de rigeur of NFL broadcasts. Currently, they are using such a box for their Arena broadcasts. The NBC deal includes flexible scheduling.

The linked articles make no mention of the status of Al and John or Mike, Joe, and Paul; the current MNF and SNF broadcast teams.

What’s Up With Mel Kiper’s Hair?
As the draft gets underway this weekend we find one of the shallowest talent pools that TALB can remember. I’m not sure there are even enough top prospects to fill out a top ten list, much less an entire first round. In some ways this is a perfect draft in which to trade down. Without the slew of marquee players why pay a first round premium for a guy who might not even be a second rounder in any other year? But, those facts will make it difficult for high pick teams (like the Bucs) to find trading partners.

As for the Pirates In Pewter Pants, it looks like a running back will be selected at #5. TALB is very much in favor of the Bucs doing what they need to do to improve the offensive line. However, there is not a #5 worthy OL player in this draft, at least not on paper. Of course, ten years from now we’ll be hearing about the guy who, in 150 consecutive starts, has only allowed eight sacks or something.

Given that reality, selecting a top running back is not that bad of an idea. Cedric Benson (Texas), Ronnie Brown (Auburn), and Carnell Williams (Auburn) appear to be the top RB’s this year. Then there are those persistent rumors about the Bucs taking WR Mike Williams (of USC and Plant High fame) at #5…

58,500
Urban Meyer was not happy with the Gators during Spring practices, and he called out young Mr. Leak. Well, based on the Orange & Blue game, things seem to have turned around. At least within the confines of the modified scrimmage. I honestly would rather have had no restrictions in order to see how far the offense has really come. But knowing that Leak now has a grasp on the offense makes me feel better about this fall. Bring on Wyoming!

Around The State
USF
What was USF’s biggest problem last year? Quarterback. The Spring game did nothing to give anyone any confidence that anything has changed. Looks like another long season Bulls fans.

FSU
The Infidels also have questions at quarterback going into the season. Wyatt Sexton is currently penciled in as the starter. The Noles’ defense looks to be pretty darn good, again.

Miami (FL)
Like the Gators, the Canes feel they have had a productive Spring. The new quarterback impressed Larry Coker enough to nearly anoint him the starter. The sophomore quarterback will get a great introduction to the top of college football. The Canes and Noles kick off the ACC season on September 5th.

Big 12
The NCAA has given preliminary approval for a 12th regular season game. The only objections came from coaches and the ACC; both groups crying the crocodile tears of “academics”. Come on fellas, we know you don’t give a crap. If academics were an issue the NCAA basketball tournaments would never happen. This is a bunch of people who have to worry about their jobs when they lose three games every year; so adding another potential loss is not something they want to deal with.

Riding The Storm Out
Before this past weekend’s game at Austin, the home town Arena concern had been perfect at home and futile on the road. The Storm finally notched a road win against the Austin Wranglers (Real. Comfortable. Football Team.) by a score of 54-42. If they’re going to make any noise in the playoffs, the lads need to win the rest of their road games. That task starts this weekend in Nashville.

Running Items
WTF?
Who has draft parties? Anyone? I mean, come on!

Seriously, WTF?
So, it seems that while Mike Vick was out “allegedly” spreading herpes, he used the alias “Ron Mexico”. Seems that some enterprising NFL fans then headed over to the NFL.com shop and ordered custom #7 Falcons jerseys with “Mexico” on the back. Unfortunately, the NFL put the kibosh on that little bit of fun. Though a quick eBay search will lead you to other ways to adorn your self in Mexi-wear.

Breath Of A Salesman
Skittles. Sheep-boys. Good God.

Super Bowl XL
Steelers vs. Seahawks

Next Time: Training Camp Lokawanna