Part 1 of the Giant-Sized Walkthrough Annual breaks down the NFC's pretenders, contenders, sleepers, rebuilders and whatever the hell the Falcons are supposed to be.
This is my favorite football content on the internet. Keep up the great work. Also...pray that your conference powerhouse Eagles don't have to play my Bucs in the playoffs...
I love the snark, but I just don’t see how Caleb Williams and his family having doubts about the Bears’s ability to build a functional offense around him is a negative when it’s exactly the same doubt that every NFL observer has had (and rightfully so!) for almost my entire life.
Moreover, I weigh the evidence of the 2024 season much more heavily than however Williams felt pre-draft. Faced with an imploding team and a gigantic boob of a head coach and coordinator, he responded professionally and never threw anyone under the bus. I don’t have concerns about his professionalism.
On the field, I’d quibble with the idea that the Bears adequately worked on their offensive line before this offseason. Darnell Wright seems like a fine RT but on the opposite side all I seem to hear about Braxton Jones is “well, he’s good for a fifth rounder.” Their interior line has been awful for years. Now, I don’t know how the guys they signed in the offseason are going to pan out but at least they’ve done something more than hope a mid round pick or a street free agent is the answer.
All that said, the Bears fooled me with Trestman, Fox, and Nagy (Eberflus was a WTF hire from day one), so I’m not predicting this will succeed. But on paper I can’t criticize much they did this offseason.
I don't disagree with any of this (though I'm higher on the interior OL and lower on Williams than you are), but I don't think Mike was criticizing what they did *this* offseason; I think he's just skeptical of how far Johnson can drag the team (and Williams in particular) out of the hole they created by hiring the previous staff.
To that last point, I guess it depends on if you look at it strictly through 2025 wins and losses or whether the team is pointed in the right direction. I think it’s totally possible they’re still under .500 in 2025, but I also think they made the right choice in hiring Johnson and I believe it’s possible for Caleb Williams to be a very good QB.
I do feel the Eagles 80 percent league average sneak success rate is a bit misleading cause they do sometimes tush push in long 3rd and 1s. Even 3rd and 2s sometimes. No stats to back this up but just watching every game they seem to sneak in longer situations then other teams
Sports Info Solutions does not record the Eagles with any sneaks in 2024 with 2 or more yards to go. Other teams do have one or two sneaks in those situations. I find that surprising, but it remains hard to find data to suggest that the Push is some "exploit," as opposed to "most teams should consider a sneak on third and 1.5, too!
I have seen enough football over the years to know that Washington can go one of 2 ways in 2025
1. The hot young up and coming team with a potential stud QB, who followed a strong regular season with a surprisingly playoff run, ready to take the next step.
2. A decent team with an improving QB, who with a little luck, performed better than expected in 2024, concluding with a playoff win against a team with 1/2 their defense injured. A good team, but not the next NFC powerhouse.
I am leaning towards the 2nd scenario. But I'm an Eagles homer so I might not be credible here.
I thought the first rule in the teachers' lounge was never talk about another man's money. Dude's making bank in the Driver's Ed sedan; that's his business!
Legion of Whom ... two or three Godwins; he's a large fellow ... There will likely be some bumps in the road for Daniels this year. Fabulously entertaining column and I may have also learned some stuff along the way!
I saw the reference to the man-in-motion and immediately thought Tutu Atwell is a pair of wheels. Hopefully their season ends with the Eagles flying higher and higher...
To be clear, both of those likes were more like a cross between eye rolls and barf emojis. St. Elmo's Fire may have been the pinnacle of mid-80s awful, all the way down to the theme song.
This is what I come here for: more snark than my teenage daughter, more obscure references than an Aesop Rock B-side. Never change, Mike.
I just had my first child a couple months ago and reading legion of whom and chucking replaced all my shoes in the house with new balance
My zoomer kid is now wearing New Balance.
This is my favorite football content on the internet. Keep up the great work. Also...pray that your conference powerhouse Eagles don't have to play my Bucs in the playoffs...
The flashbacks go all the way back to Ronde Barber.
The description of Cousins. I am crying over here. That was so good!!!
I’ve long insisted that the Eagles’ real innovation is just spamming the most successful short yardage play in the NFL instead of getting cute.
I love the snark, but I just don’t see how Caleb Williams and his family having doubts about the Bears’s ability to build a functional offense around him is a negative when it’s exactly the same doubt that every NFL observer has had (and rightfully so!) for almost my entire life.
Moreover, I weigh the evidence of the 2024 season much more heavily than however Williams felt pre-draft. Faced with an imploding team and a gigantic boob of a head coach and coordinator, he responded professionally and never threw anyone under the bus. I don’t have concerns about his professionalism.
On the field, I’d quibble with the idea that the Bears adequately worked on their offensive line before this offseason. Darnell Wright seems like a fine RT but on the opposite side all I seem to hear about Braxton Jones is “well, he’s good for a fifth rounder.” Their interior line has been awful for years. Now, I don’t know how the guys they signed in the offseason are going to pan out but at least they’ve done something more than hope a mid round pick or a street free agent is the answer.
All that said, the Bears fooled me with Trestman, Fox, and Nagy (Eberflus was a WTF hire from day one), so I’m not predicting this will succeed. But on paper I can’t criticize much they did this offseason.
I don't disagree with any of this (though I'm higher on the interior OL and lower on Williams than you are), but I don't think Mike was criticizing what they did *this* offseason; I think he's just skeptical of how far Johnson can drag the team (and Williams in particular) out of the hole they created by hiring the previous staff.
To that last point, I guess it depends on if you look at it strictly through 2025 wins and losses or whether the team is pointed in the right direction. I think it’s totally possible they’re still under .500 in 2025, but I also think they made the right choice in hiring Johnson and I believe it’s possible for Caleb Williams to be a very good QB.
I'm here only for the regular Stratego references. Everything else is filler.
I do feel the Eagles 80 percent league average sneak success rate is a bit misleading cause they do sometimes tush push in long 3rd and 1s. Even 3rd and 2s sometimes. No stats to back this up but just watching every game they seem to sneak in longer situations then other teams
I was thinking the same thing. Like does 4th and 2 have the same success rate with a sneak?
Sports Info Solutions does not record the Eagles with any sneaks in 2024 with 2 or more yards to go. Other teams do have one or two sneaks in those situations. I find that surprising, but it remains hard to find data to suggest that the Push is some "exploit," as opposed to "most teams should consider a sneak on third and 1.5, too!
I have seen enough football over the years to know that Washington can go one of 2 ways in 2025
1. The hot young up and coming team with a potential stud QB, who followed a strong regular season with a surprisingly playoff run, ready to take the next step.
2. A decent team with an improving QB, who with a little luck, performed better than expected in 2024, concluding with a playoff win against a team with 1/2 their defense injured. A good team, but not the next NFC powerhouse.
I am leaning towards the 2nd scenario. But I'm an Eagles homer so I might not be credible here.
Adam Thielen is gonna be a Loser League superstar this year. He'll be grinding out game after game of 3 catches for 25 yards.
-Signed, the guy whose Loser League WR tandem for years was Jason Avant and Antwaan Randle El
I thought the first rule in the teachers' lounge was never talk about another man's money. Dude's making bank in the Driver's Ed sedan; that's his business!
Mike Tanier is the single best football writer out there. Thanks for continuing to do what you do, Mike.
Thanks! I loved "Rock n Roll Radio!"
Legion of Whom ... two or three Godwins; he's a large fellow ... There will likely be some bumps in the road for Daniels this year. Fabulously entertaining column and I may have also learned some stuff along the way!
Loved the Stratego reference.
I saw the reference to the man-in-motion and immediately thought Tutu Atwell is a pair of wheels. Hopefully their season ends with the Eagles flying higher and higher...
This reference was not on parr.
To be clear, both of those likes were more like a cross between eye rolls and barf emojis. St. Elmo's Fire may have been the pinnacle of mid-80s awful, all the way down to the theme song.
Im sad it took me this long to finish. Too busy.
"I am afraid to Google “Petzing” because it sounds too much like a sex act for the cripplingly lonely."
*Triggered*