So it begins

The dog days of summer are underway which means that the parched desert that is professional sports reporting has had nothing meaningful to write about since the Stanley Cup was hoisted, the Celtics added to their impressive banner collection and MLB teams got a taste for the player they will be paying a boatload of cash to sign away from the Pirates. So the start of camps are underway and without holding back most clickbait authors are declaring victory already.

Apparently Josh Allen is looking perfect and the Bills are ready to win. Football in shorts in July....

So it begins.

Just about time for sign everyone threads to start as camp phenomenons are revealed. Huzzah!

 

so many teams are given the super bowl trophy at this point. usually the cowboys.

 

Or the Ravens because Lamar is da bestest QB ever.

 

Seriously the way some of these guys go off in the first reporting from camps is hysterical. A six year veteran QB throws a 20 yard pass on a slant route to a nine year veteran receiver in the first seven on seven session of day one in which the defense doesn't move and it's proof positive that the tandem will be MVP and offensive player of the year respectively.

The Lemar stuff is always a treat because it's always the year his accuracy goes up, and he becomes more dangerous of a QB beyond being a running QB. Yes I'd like to see that can you show me some of that? We could but we are waiting until the preseason to showcase those skills.

 

It's all about the drama in a nano second. The NFL has turned into a Drama show.

 

I wish they'd give odds on the number of times the old bait and switch are used with Travis Kelce. I'd make a killing.

"Kansas City Chiefs star player focusing on being ready for fall..."

With the latest leg of the mega successful Eras tour wrapping up the podcast cohort is bracing for increased scrutiny from millions of Swifties looking for answers about when her Man will make an honest woman of her.

I'd make a killing seriously like Mahomes money.

 

The same overreactions happen here with the Steelers every year as well. People want to be believers!

CA will have a great catch in shorts and people will be calling him a stud #2. Then he will have 5 catches all year in real football because he is 5 foot 7

 

Remember the steelers first team offense was perfect in preseason last year.....

 

There is always a case to be made for legitimate excitement over a player/team potential and discussing that versus the inevitable clickbait articles that generate unreal expectations.

The number one thing I look for in camp reports aren't the oh he dropping dimes 60 yards downfield to uncovered Austin or Pickens with a circus catch over JPJ, it's how are they practicing, how are the learning, are players understanding.. if Smith has them practicing plays until they are bored of them, that's a good thing, if there is an actual gameplan that attacks teams I'll be on the verge of excitement. Playing catch not so much.

 

Or the Browns being undefeated in the preseason on their way to zero wins. Careers are destroyed and fortunes squandered in the daily lives of camp reporters.

 

let's predict some CA numbers!!!!

 

Here’s the dumbest thing in the universe so far is that LaMar Jackson is working on patenting the #8. No not the jersey just the number. So anything with the #8 on or in it he will own. This guy is either the biggest moron or the greatest genius. I mean Nike owns the #23 so who knows. Let’s see I want to patent Dog hair. Y’all are too late!!!!!!!

 

It would make sense to go very conservative until we see how Smith's playbook starts to take focus. The talk about Pickens seeing more slot reps could be smoke and mirrors. If they use dbl TE sets as a sort of base formation that limits CA to limited snaps due to being more one trick than Wallace ever was. He lacks size to be an asset in run blocking and not a big enough threat to necessarily force a safety over top until they can prove he is that threat. I can see him spending more time in a 3wr package where he can move slot to outside when they pull Washington off the field. At this point we have to assume 75% to Pickens, 10% to Muth and other TE's, 10% to all other receivers and the final 5% to rbs. That is until something else develops

 

That's got to be a Baltimore thing. Remember the guy who trademarked their first logo and took the Ravens to court over it? It's like they see opportunity and dollar signs everywhere.

 

No doubt,Lamar need a agent

 

I do it all the time. I think Super Bowl if we are looking amazing in the first quarter of the first game.

 

I'd like that 1st game to at least look like they knew it was coming in the previous month and a half they are preparing for it. Just once give us a nearly complete game in all phases and Boz can doink one of the upright I don't care. Lie to me Mike, make me believe.

 

conservative - yes, for sure. But seems many are down on him. I am thinking he will have a decent season.

i can see 60 receptions, and 700 all purpose yards.

those are my numbers.

 

CA3 will probably see most of his snaps from a triple bunch formation. He'll get used with screens, sweeps, and fly pattern. You can line him up outside like Memphis did when he was in college. He will outrun most CBs they put on him. If Pickens is the #1 getting the defenses best CB, CA3 will be a mismatch for CB#2/3.
A triple bunch set with Pickens, CA3, and Wilson on 1-side is going to get somebody open a lot. Move those chains!

 

Tomlin took Super Bowl thoughts from my mind MANY MANY years ago

 

Good luck getting #8 away from Kobe.

 

I have done any due diligence on Smith's preferred offense beyond what was reported when he was hired. Lots of talk about run game setting up the PA and that he rarely used a 3 wr set. Have you seen some reporting that they are looking at doing what you described? CA to me lacks the size to be a permanent fixture at WR, I can see Patterson being used more just for blocking.

 

As for the trips question, yes I watched a video about Smith's passing game. I think it is on this forum in a thread about Arthur Smith offense.

 

I agree it is optimistic - HOPE spring ETERNAL!!!

But with a BETTER OC and QB - I expect WR production across the board to increase.