Joe Tauke's fearless predicitions

[PennSkinsFan]

Cup of Schmoe (http://www.hailredskins.com/CupofSchmoe1.htm)

Outstanding article by Mr. Tauke

[JoeDaSchmoe]

Good Holy God, Mark, you sure work fast.

[truant]

A very ambitious effort Joe... some issues with some of the records, but we'll see how it play out.

Good work!!

[JoeDaSchmoe]

I surprised myself when I looked at some of the final records, but that's how it came out game-by-game. Some of the teams are better are worse than their recrod indicates, but scheduling does that to you. Dick Vermeil's a big proponent of that.

[PennSkinsFan]

Were here for you guys and gals! ;)

[Green-Is-Good]

Great Article. Like truant, though, I had problems with some of your projections.

[Hailyeah]

Good stuff, Joe. I'm with you on NE's record. I like the Pats and the Bucs in the big one.

Sure would be great to have a meaningful game against hated Philly in the last game. We'll all hope your Edgar Casey act proves accurate in that case.

[Green-Is-Good]

I'm tired of people who think that St. Louis will do well. Mark my words:

Saint Louis will not make it to the playoffs this year.

[JoeDaSchmoe]

Not sure why St. Louis won't make the playoffs, all the pieces are in place and they have a great schedule....

You could argue that they'll make it with Warner/Bulger (whoever you prefer) at the helm, but it's hard to see them missing it altogether.

[Gump84]

I would argue against KC having such a good record and SD having such a poor one. What exactly did KC do to improve their defense?

KC added Shawn Barber, a very average LB, Dexter McCleon who is relatively good, but not the best, and badly slumped last year, and Vonnie Holiday, a mediocre DE. Somehow, these players are supposed to take the worst ranked defense overall, (ranked 24th against the run, 31st against the pass) and make them 11-5 and playoff calibur? Also, while I don't San Diego will be a great team this year, I can't see them being worse than 8-8.

I'll take the Raiders any day in that division.

[Gump84]

Bulger is the future of the Rams. They will live and die by him. I find it hard to believe that Warner could ever come back in his old form.

[JoeDaSchmoe]

Well, this again comes partially down to schedule. Oakland finished first in the AFC West last year, and therefore must play two other first-place teams in addition to the 14 games already scheduled. Kansas City, on the other hand, finished last in the AFC West, and therefore plays two last-place teams. Two games in the AFC West can make a huge, huge difference.

Also, I don't expect the defense to make any miraculous jump, but it was dead last last year. I'd think it would be between 24th and 18th this year. Let's not forget that Kansas City had the best offense in the league last year, and the Rams won the Super Bowl with the league's top offense and a 27th-ranked defense. And when did that happen? When they had finished last in the division the year before, therefore taking advantage of an easy schedule to secure home field advantage in the playoffs.

As for San Diego, well, the defense was awful last year and two of its starters were cut, the secondary is woefully inexperienced, David Boston can't get himself onto the field or stop gaining weight, and they always have that nagging problem of fading down the stretch.

[rskinsfan10]

As usual, great job Joe.

[hail2skins]

Great job Joe.

[Seebs]

Ditto, Great job

[Green-Is-Good]

The Rams have basically the same roster they had 3 years ago. They're defense is slightly better, thanks to Tommy Polley. They're offense has taken a step down, losing Proehl and Hakim. Warner and Faulk are aging(31 and 30 respectively). Why did they miss the playoffs last year? The only major offseason upgrade, if that is what you want to call it, was trading for Kyle Turley. I think that Jimmy Kennedy will have a good season, but I just don't see how they will contend.

[camasterton]

As already said-Strength of schedule is how they contend, for one. Every year home field advantage is won by a team with a weak schedule. Look at Pittsburg's opponents over the past years and see how they make the playoffs. If we make the playoffs this year it will be because of a down year for our opponents (like Vick and Pennington being out maybe?) as much as our improvement.

[Spence]

Well done, Joe. I'll have my own thoughts on this subject up soon.

[JoeDaSchmoe]

Green, last year Warner had two fractures in his hand. And if he plays as poorly as he did then, Martz will throw in Bulger by Week 4. I'm guessing you remember Bulger? 5-0 last year, set a record for passing yards in first five starts, highest passer rating in the league?

[Green-Is-Good]

If Bulger is the starter, they will make the playoffs. With Warner starting, what is it about the Rams that makes them better than last year's squad? And I forgot, they lost Ernie Conwell, who I thought was the best TE in the NFC last year, to the Saints in the Turley trade.

[JoeDaSchmoe]

No matter what happens with Warner, the Rams will have a stud QB. If he returns to his old form, then they'll be right back where they were in 2001. If he doesn't, Bulger will be in there after two or three losses, and they'll still be right back where they were in 2001. It's a win/win situation.

Oh, and let's not forget that Hakim has finally been replaced by a similarly fast reciever. Well, actually a tandem, Shaun MacDonald and Kevin Curtis. It's quite important.