3&Out End OF Season 2 User Interviews by @VipTheBreh
Week 17 is here which means the playoffs are near us here at 3 & Out. I had a chance to interview some folks looking back at their successful year. We also have some Super Bowl predictions from other 3&Out users!
AFC
Dot
Your Texans are officially in the playoffs after missing it last year. Since the start of this Texans franchise, they’ve been needing a franchise QB. How satisfied are you having veteran QB Philip Rivers leading this team?
“Rivers was an upgrade from Mallett. He’s had his ups and downs this season but has really showed veteran leadership, he can carry us and take us over the hump. We’re excited he brought us this far. Fired up for the playoffs”
You’ve made a lot of moves improving your defense. Leading the defense is JJ Watt and Clay Mathews. How important is this defense heading into the postseason?
“After last season we realized we had to make moves. Our front 7 is one of the best in the league. We’re gonna get after you all game. If we can bring pressure this postseason I see a lot of success. Take some pressure off our secondary. Look for Watt & Clay to wreck havoc”
Which team in the AFC do you think will be a threat heading into the playoffs?
“Cleveland. Lot of weapons on that offense and it’s gonna be hell to slow them down. Also Tennessee. Played them tough twice this year. Pretty much the afc is stacked with someone who can win it all. I think Houston is a viable threat, too”
Brannin
You are having another successful year with your Browns. A lot of moves since the offseason and you continue to rack up wins. Are you looking to bounce back again in the playoffs after being one and done last year?
“Most definitely. The goal is to win a championship. Always. We had a good regular season last year and fell flat in the playoffs but like you said we’ve made a lot of moves that we feel will give us a better chance this year”
Talk to me about the decision of trading Johnny Manzel and acquiring another young talent in Vander Weatherspoon. We’ve seen Johnny on the news plenty of times do to his off field issues.
“The decision didn’t have anything to do with the players off the field issues. We just saw an opportunity to bring in a young talent that we felt fit our team better. The player had a great season for us last season and started off rough this year. We felt giving him a fresh start elsewhere was in his and our best interest”
Leading the league in receiving yards is your WR rookie Demarcus Brown. How special is this player?
“Can argue he’s the most important player on our offense. His speed and route running makes every defense have to game plan for him. He sees a lot of double teams and that creates opportunities for guys like Alshon Jeffery, Jermaine Kearse and Ladarius Green to make plays”
Tone
The reigning super bowl champion Raiders are looking to repeat this year. Even with Derek Carr missing games throughout the year, you guys found ways to win with veteran QB Eli Manning. How did you managed to keep this team focused without their young star QB?
“Changing playbooks every game. Keep the opponents on their toes (interpret it how you want). With Eli it was pass heavy. Murray was the scare. Nothing big. Now playoffs gotta watch out for my plays I haven’t ran”
Your defense leads the league in sacks. JPP and Aldon Smith leading the way. How important are these guys heading into the postseason?
“The most important. I changed my defense to be the best front 7. And they are. The raiders are ready to give them QBs the sack”
Any users in the AFC in mind that will be challenging to face in this year’s playoffs? Maybe another meeting with division rival Broncos (BH)?
“BH I have always known his plays NH. Brannin got a “Best show on Turf” team so no Homo I’m exited and nervous to run against his team”
NFC
Chef
What a magical year for your Vikings. Taking this team from no playoffs year 1 to a top seed in the NFC. What message did you tell your team before the start of this season?
“I told them we gonna make every play together. 1 band 1 sound”
Part of your success had a lot to do with the moves you did in the offseason. One move was in the draft when you drafted WR stud Dre Brown. Talk about his impact for your team this season.
“We haven’t made any trades with any teams in 2 seasons, we gonna rebuild organically. Our only offseason changes, we drafted Rookie Dre Brown and benched AP and made him into the team mentor. Dre Brown has def impacted our offense. He’s towering over most corners. And he demands respect. So much respect, you forget Mike Wallace is there. He’s been playing to outshine his brother over in Cleveland. And we hope he keeps it up”
Viking fans are for sure excited for the playoffs. Are you confident your team can go far this postseason?
“Very confident. We can go all the way! We go by the VKNGS now. No I in team. We are all 1”
ATM
What a turn around season for your saints team. Missed the playoffs last year and now a potential top seed in the NFC. Vikings are experiencing the same journey as well. What impacted your team’s success this season?
“Last year was a tough year. We had growing pains as we decided to part ways with Drew. We rebounded, with a year of experience under Garrett’s belt, we decided to give him the keys and he’s played as well as any QB this year. We also had a great draft and it has shown, especially on the defensive side of the ball. We have some young guys that are playing extremely well this year, hopefully with a sign of things to come. In a tough division, we had to minimize mistakes, and that’s exactly what we’ve done this year. I’m confident in my guys and they are buying into what we are doing”
Garrett Grayson did surprise a lot of guys this year as a first year starter. Not only him but the rookies you’ve brought in. Jason Brandon, Travis Kitchens and Qydarrius Scott had an impact on your defense. How much do these guys mean on your defense?
“As well as all of those guys have played, we’re going to need them to grow and co tongue with the exact same mentality. We have a young, fast defense that hits hard. For these guys to continue to gel is the determining factor for success in years to come”
The NFC South can possibly have 3 teams in the playoffs. If you meet any of the 2 teams, do you feel confident in your game plans against these teams already playing these teams twice a year?
“Without a doubt. We are in a tough division, with 3 other teams that play very sound football. If we can execute, I feel that we can compete with anyone”
Tim
Your team improved a lot from year 1 to year 2. Bucs fans are excited to see this team is building a good nucleus there in Tampa. What was your overall look on your team’s improvements?
“Changing the overall defensive scheme was key. Allowing for more chances for the d-line & linebackers to make plays. We’ve created a good amount of turnovers. Unfortunately, when they haven’t gotten the QB, my age at corner has been displayed. Cro & Tramon have been great but their skills are falling and it’s time to get some youth & speed at the skill position. Offensively, adding DeNard Robinson was huge. He’s a big play waiting to happen and he’s steady at getting the dirty yards. Devin Funchess was the pickup of the offseason as he’s come in and made plays all year long”
How difficult was it playing in a tough division this year? We may see 3 playoff teams from this division this year.
“Very tough. Very. Especially with the improvement of the Saints. ATM’s got those boys ballin in New Orleans. They are a TD waiting to happen. Deep threats all over the field. Carolina acquired Jeremy Hill midseason and became a serious contender. ATL with their steady play as well. There are no gimmes in our division that’s for sure”
We are still waiting on some games for week 17 to decide the outcome for this final wild card spot in the NFC. How do you see it shaping out and what are some teams that might surprise folks in the playoffs overall?
“I still think the Bucs have a shot to make it if the Resskins lose but if not, I’d say in the NFC, look out for the Panthers. They have some serious weapons that could catch fire. In the AFC, maybe BH could strike gold if their coach stops blaming Madden for mistakes and just play. ”
Super Bowl Predictions
Will – “Saints and Browns. Saints win”
BH – “Me vs Chef. Ima roast cuz 45-21”
PJ – “Raiders vs Saints. Raiders repeat”
Xfactor – “Browns vs Saints. Browns win”
Jela – “Dot vs ATM. Dot wins”
Sid – “If I had to pick, prolly Brannin/Chef, wit Brannin winning 21-17”
Monday – “Vikings(chef) 35- Browns(brannin) 28”
Justin Trueblood – “Browns over Vikings”
Joker – “Factor vs tone factor wins it all”
ViP – “brannin vs ATM. Brannin wins 41-30”
Duce – “Browns v skins…. Browns destroy skins 50+ – 13”
Dallas Keys – “Browns over the Vikes”
