It's said that offenses are usually slower to develop than defenses. Rythym is critical, and with the NFL's constant player turnover it usually takes weeks for the proper chemistry to develop between offensive linemen, quarterbacks and their recievers.
It seems that time has come.
Of the first nine games played today, five of them had at least one team score 30 points. Kansas City led all teams so far with 42 points (a farcry from the woeful team that graced Arrowhead Stadium last season), with Atlanta and Tennessee coming up just short with 39 and 37, respectively. Titans wideout Kenny Britt had three touchdowns after playing in only three quarters against Philly, almost doubling his season stats with 225 receiving yards on seven grabs and setting an inauspcious record for the most points ever scored by an individual player against the Philidelphia Eagles.
Not all offenses played well, though, and the points came from the offensive side of the ball. The lowly Cleveland Browns took advantage of four Drew Brees interceptions (two returned for touchdowns by veteran linebacker David Bowens) to upset the defending champion Saints. The Chicago Bears turned the ball over six times in a loss to Washington, allowing Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall to tie the NFL record (with eight other players) for the most interceptions by a single player in one game.
Lastly, the Bills seems to have finally found a quarterback in that other guy from Harvard, Ryan Fitzpatrick. In seven games this season, Fitzpatrick has a quarterback rating of just under 100, having thrown for 969 yards, eleven scores, and only four interceptions. Keep in mind that this is the Buffalo Bills offense, so thriving in it to probably only just short of miraculous.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Bears Illusion Fools Cutler, Not Giants, On Monday Night
I am proud to say that as a football fan, I have managed to spread the appreciation of the game to my parents. So when my mother told me about a conversation she had with one of her coworkers about the most recent Chicago Bears fiasco, I was compelled to listen in.
This particular dialogue concerned the Bears offense, which her colleague described as being a holgram that was actually non-existent. In a time where it would not have suprised me to hear quarterback Jay Cutler say "Help me, offensive line, you're my only hope", it appeared that he and not the New York Giants was the one fooled by the Bears' lack of offensive presence.
Despite being sacked nine times by a Giants team that was missing its leading pass rusher in Mathias Kiwanuka, Cutler held onto the ball incessantly and stubbornly refused to check down to his backs when the game was on the line. Particularly strange given that Matt Forte is the Bears' leading reciever.
The refusal of both Cutler and Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz to make halftime adjustments, as well as head coach Lovie Smith's stoicism throughout the affair, seems to indicate who has the power in Chicago. Everyone's been taking about the cohesiveness between Cutler and Martz, but Lovie Smith may have been made the unwitting victim in a situation featuring two men that can best be described as absolutely convinced of the superiority of their own methods. Lovie has never been known as a strong leader; he is often presented by the media as a soft-spoken player's coach--well-liked by his guys but not renowned for his ability to rally and motivate a team in crunch time.
It's painfully clear that Martz and Cutler have yet to work out all of the problems with their offense; they have consistently had trouble establishing the running game with a patchwork offensive line that is still missing left tackle Chris Williams; regrettably, it seems doubtful that they would be much better even with Williams in the lineup. What the Bears need now is consistency, and they may find a measure of respite against Carolina, who have looked poor even after substituting Matt Moore for rookie Notre Dame product Jimmy Clausen. If the Bears can go several games without being forced to shuffle their lineup, they may find some solidarity in their offense to accompany a defence that was forced to play alone throughout the game at the Meadowlands.
Hopefully things will improve on Sunday.
This particular dialogue concerned the Bears offense, which her colleague described as being a holgram that was actually non-existent. In a time where it would not have suprised me to hear quarterback Jay Cutler say "Help me, offensive line, you're my only hope", it appeared that he and not the New York Giants was the one fooled by the Bears' lack of offensive presence.
Despite being sacked nine times by a Giants team that was missing its leading pass rusher in Mathias Kiwanuka, Cutler held onto the ball incessantly and stubbornly refused to check down to his backs when the game was on the line. Particularly strange given that Matt Forte is the Bears' leading reciever.
The refusal of both Cutler and Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz to make halftime adjustments, as well as head coach Lovie Smith's stoicism throughout the affair, seems to indicate who has the power in Chicago. Everyone's been taking about the cohesiveness between Cutler and Martz, but Lovie Smith may have been made the unwitting victim in a situation featuring two men that can best be described as absolutely convinced of the superiority of their own methods. Lovie has never been known as a strong leader; he is often presented by the media as a soft-spoken player's coach--well-liked by his guys but not renowned for his ability to rally and motivate a team in crunch time.
It's painfully clear that Martz and Cutler have yet to work out all of the problems with their offense; they have consistently had trouble establishing the running game with a patchwork offensive line that is still missing left tackle Chris Williams; regrettably, it seems doubtful that they would be much better even with Williams in the lineup. What the Bears need now is consistency, and they may find a measure of respite against Carolina, who have looked poor even after substituting Matt Moore for rookie Notre Dame product Jimmy Clausen. If the Bears can go several games without being forced to shuffle their lineup, they may find some solidarity in their offense to accompany a defence that was forced to play alone throughout the game at the Meadowlands.
Hopefully things will improve on Sunday.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Week 2 Sobered by Death of Broncos WR Kenny McKinley
As much as I would like to talk about how the Bears managed to trump the Dallas Cowboys this week (I still had to get it in edgewise), the most important story this week is that of Denver Broncos wide receiver Kenny McKinley, a second-year pro who was found dead in his Englewood, Colorado home from a self-inflicted gunshot wound according to espn.com. This has obviously come as a shock to all around the league, especially after McKinley's positive interviews this season concerning his hopes for a burgeoning role in the Denver offense. McKinley was placed on Injured Reserve, but hopes were still high that he could eventually become a regular contributor to the Broncos.
McKinley died yesterday on September 20. He was 23 years old.
Rest in peace, Kenny McKinley, 1987-2010.
McKinley died yesterday on September 20. He was 23 years old.
Rest in peace, Kenny McKinley, 1987-2010.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Quarterbacks Get Clocked In Week 1, Defense Dominates
I would have doubts about the sanity of anyone who didn't cringe watching the hit that Bears defensive end Julius Peppers laid on Detroit quarterback Matt Stafford on Sunday. Peppers came around Stafford's blind side and delivered a crushing blow that separated the former first overall pick's shoulder, ruling him out for four to six weeks. Even without Stafford, the Lions were still only one bullshit rule away from defeating Chicago (I'm not complaining, but I can still admit that it was legitimately stupid).
But Stafford wasn't the only quarterback to get knocked out of the game for less-than disastrous results for his team. Eagles starter Kevin Kolb left Philly's game against the Green Bay Packers with a concussion after one dismal half, probably meeting a merciful end at the hands of Packers linebacker Clay Matthews. His replacement, three-time Pro Bowler Michael Vick, looked sharp, completing 16 of 24 passes and rushing for over 100 yards. This may be a blessing in disguise for Andy Reid's team; since Kolb is ruled out for presumably at least next week, Philly can start him and keep starting him when Kolb comes back. So long as he keeps winning.
But Stafford wasn't the only quarterback to get knocked out of the game for less-than disastrous results for his team. Eagles starter Kevin Kolb left Philly's game against the Green Bay Packers with a concussion after one dismal half, probably meeting a merciful end at the hands of Packers linebacker Clay Matthews. His replacement, three-time Pro Bowler Michael Vick, looked sharp, completing 16 of 24 passes and rushing for over 100 yards. This may be a blessing in disguise for Andy Reid's team; since Kolb is ruled out for presumably at least next week, Philly can start him and keep starting him when Kolb comes back. So long as he keeps winning.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
QB Chaos Ensues in Arizona, New England
The Cardinals have (finally) cut ties with former Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart. Now we can all release that breath we were holding, or we could shrug our shoulders and ask why we should care about Mr. Leinart. His release honestly shouldn't come as a surprise; the former first-round pick has only played in 29 games since being drafted in 2006, twelve of which came in the 2006-'07 season before current Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt was hired. Throughout that time, he has been bested in his quest for Arizona's starting spot by a resurgent Hall of Famer in Kurt Warner and now a one-season wonder in former Browns signal-caller Derek Anderson. In hindsight, losing a quarterback battle to Warner is understandable, but losing out to Mr. Anderson (despite his select merits) is less so. Especially for a quarterback who won the Heisman Trophy at a program known for producing successful NFL players. But when you assume a job is yours and don't work for it, as Mr. Leinart did, you can never expect to remain employed for long. With the current NFL emphasizing work ethic and character, those few who believe themselves entitled to a position are quickly being winnowed out, as seen with former Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell and now Leinart. The USC man, however, has been significantly more fortunate than his LSU counterpart; while Leinart was signed by the Houston Texans to back up Matt Schaub a day after his release from Arizona, Mr. Russell has been arrested on charges of possession of codiene syrup (also known as "purple drink") and is still without a job.
Meanwhile, Tom Brady has caused heads to shake with a comical haircut that has been relentlessly compared to teenage pop singer Justin Bieber (who, according to , even personally voiced his appreciation for the new do). The Patriots star got into a car accident early this morning (maybe his overly long locks interfered with his vision), but was fortunately unharmed and attended practice later in the day. Fully taking Bieber's comments into account, I think New England's head coach Bill Belichick should force Brady to cut away his tresses. Long hair may work for Drew Brees of New Orleans, but this car accident should be enough of a red flag to prove that it does not do the same for Brady. I don't really have any grudge against long hair, but honestly, an endorsement from Justin Bieber is not positive press. If he doesn't cut it, perhaps an incident reminiscent of Troy Polamalu getting dragged down by his own mane (now insured for one million dollars) will convince Mr. Brady to return to his usual cleaner cut self.
Meanwhile, Tom Brady has caused heads to shake with a comical haircut that has been relentlessly compared to teenage pop singer Justin Bieber (who, according to , even personally voiced his appreciation for the new do). The Patriots star got into a car accident early this morning (maybe his overly long locks interfered with his vision), but was fortunately unharmed and attended practice later in the day. Fully taking Bieber's comments into account, I think New England's head coach Bill Belichick should force Brady to cut away his tresses. Long hair may work for Drew Brees of New Orleans, but this car accident should be enough of a red flag to prove that it does not do the same for Brady. I don't really have any grudge against long hair, but honestly, an endorsement from Justin Bieber is not positive press. If he doesn't cut it, perhaps an incident reminiscent of Troy Polamalu getting dragged down by his own mane (now insured for one million dollars) will convince Mr. Brady to return to his usual cleaner cut self.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Hall of Fame Overshadowed by Training Camp Flu
After a pretty miserable Major League Baseball Hall of Fame class, I was interested to see who the NFL would bring into the Hall this year. Thankfully, they did not disappoint, with a 2010 draft class sporting multiple NFL record holders (perhaps the greatest wide receiver and running back of all all time in Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith, respectively) and one of the great innovators of the game in former Lions defensive back and Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Dick Lebeau. In case you didn't watch, rounding off the class were Floyd Little (nicknamed "The Franchise" and the first of Denver's many 1000 yard rushers), Rickey Jackson (who anchored one of the best albeit least winningest linebacker corps of all time in New Orleans before winning a Super Bowl with the 49'ers), John Randle (an undersized defensive end who record 137.5 sacks in his career, mostly with the Minnesota Vikings), and Russ Grimm (a member of the famous Hogs offensive line known for paving the way for multiple championship squads during Joe Gibbs' first stint as head coach). I wish I could say more, but most of these guys played before I was even born, so that somewhat feeble testament will have to stand for their much grander achievements.
In the meantime, the typical off-season affliction has settled in to the NFL. We are tuning out the antics of the Bengal's latest celebrity couple in T.O. and Chad "Johnson", which could possibly even contest the Miami Heat's triumvirate of Chris Bosh, LeBron James, and Dwayne Wade as the year's biggest meeting of the egos. While there is little doubt that all players in either case are determined to win, the price of failure will be exponential for both of them. The NFL faithful (and the Bengals in particular) will simply havee to hope that Terrell Owens realizes he is actually on his last legs as a player. Unless he stays on in Cincy, I find it extremely difficult to believe anyone would take a flyer on T.O. with all the mileage and baggage that he's carrying.
The 'Skins $100 million dollar man Albert Haynesworth also passed his fitness test (finally) after skipping/failing it multiple times due to a nagging swelling in his knee. This strangely comes after Haynesworth skipped all of the optional and mandatory OTA's due to his unhappiness with being forced to conform to head coach Mike Shanahan's 3-4 defensive scheme. Despite the fact that it would be indicative of his change of direction speed and the ability of his knee to resist stress, I personally find it difficult to discern what possible benefit the Redskins could get from making Haynesworth run a 300 yard wind sprint. Practically, when is he ever going to run for than 20 yards on any one play. I think this is Shanahan's way of exerting his influence over the biggest (and I mean that both literally and figuratively) headache that he has inherited from Washington owner Dan Snyder.
Of course, the most commonly recognized symptom of Offseason influenza is Favre-watching. The 40 year-old quarterback recently announced that there is persistent pain in his ankle despite surgery following the completion of last season. In what has already been established as one of the league's most popular running gags, news spread last week that Favre allegedly texted teammate Visanthe Shiancoe that he had decided to retire. He, of course, denied sending any such message, citing that if his ankle was the only obstacle between him and playing for another season. In my opinion, Brett Favre has earned more right than anyone to waffle during the off-season, but we're honestly growing tired of this charade. So I have a suggestion for Brett: stay on the team until you decide to not return for good. No one will care how long it takes, really, as long as you don't keep the media in a frenzy every time someone suspects you're calling it quits.
In the meantime, the typical off-season affliction has settled in to the NFL. We are tuning out the antics of the Bengal's latest celebrity couple in T.O. and Chad "Johnson", which could possibly even contest the Miami Heat's triumvirate of Chris Bosh, LeBron James, and Dwayne Wade as the year's biggest meeting of the egos. While there is little doubt that all players in either case are determined to win, the price of failure will be exponential for both of them. The NFL faithful (and the Bengals in particular) will simply havee to hope that Terrell Owens realizes he is actually on his last legs as a player. Unless he stays on in Cincy, I find it extremely difficult to believe anyone would take a flyer on T.O. with all the mileage and baggage that he's carrying.
The 'Skins $100 million dollar man Albert Haynesworth also passed his fitness test (finally) after skipping/failing it multiple times due to a nagging swelling in his knee. This strangely comes after Haynesworth skipped all of the optional and mandatory OTA's due to his unhappiness with being forced to conform to head coach Mike Shanahan's 3-4 defensive scheme. Despite the fact that it would be indicative of his change of direction speed and the ability of his knee to resist stress, I personally find it difficult to discern what possible benefit the Redskins could get from making Haynesworth run a 300 yard wind sprint. Practically, when is he ever going to run for than 20 yards on any one play. I think this is Shanahan's way of exerting his influence over the biggest (and I mean that both literally and figuratively) headache that he has inherited from Washington owner Dan Snyder.
Of course, the most commonly recognized symptom of Offseason influenza is Favre-watching. The 40 year-old quarterback recently announced that there is persistent pain in his ankle despite surgery following the completion of last season. In what has already been established as one of the league's most popular running gags, news spread last week that Favre allegedly texted teammate Visanthe Shiancoe that he had decided to retire. He, of course, denied sending any such message, citing that if his ankle was the only obstacle between him and playing for another season. In my opinion, Brett Favre has earned more right than anyone to waffle during the off-season, but we're honestly growing tired of this charade. So I have a suggestion for Brett: stay on the team until you decide to not return for good. No one will care how long it takes, really, as long as you don't keep the media in a frenzy every time someone suspects you're calling it quits.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
World Cup Fever Spreads Across the Globe, Strangles Europe
There is a pandemic going through the world. For most, it is a euphoric sensation, but for some it is an affliction. But for some, WOrld Cup fever is a scourge. A second plague has swept through the continent of western Europe, the symptoms of which include a lack of creativity, uninspired athletic performance, and spasms of choking.
The World Cup has been upon us for almost ten days now, and reactions to the goings-on in South Africa have been mixed to say the least. South America has greatly impressed with solid performances from Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay; to date, a South American team has yet to lose in this competition. After two slow starts, the United States rallied to draw both of their first group games against England and group leader Slovenia, and were only robbed of a victory in the second game by the as of yet unseen decision of Malian referee Koman Coulibaly to disallow the USA's third goal. So that he will be unable to committ another Great Goal Robbey, Mr. Coulibaly will likely no longer be the center referee in a match in this tournament thanks in part to his phantom call.
Asia has generally shown what was expected of them: organized and disciplined teams that sometimes lack the offensive spark to accompany their defensive solidarity, but can sometimes pull off dramatic winners from the likes of Japan's Keisuke Honda, who scored brilliantly in their opening match against Cameroon with a cool finish across goal. Africa, hosting its first ever World Cup, have at times shone (the tournament's opening goal scored by South Africa's Siphiwe Tshabalala) while also sinking (the aforementioned Cameroon squad were officially made the first team eliminated following their losses to Japan and Denmark).
But western Europe is in the stranglehold of their own expectations. Defending champions Italy are always known as slow starters, but their renowned defense is failing them. They have already given up two goals in two games against Paraguay and New Zealand, and were lucky to escape both contests with draws. New Zealand, a team that everyone expected the Italians to roll over and one that really only made the World Cup by the grace of Australia's charity (since the Socceroos flocked to the Asia qualifying group seeking better competition), managed to score first to take their only lead in their World Cup history. It was only erased by a soft penalty call in favor of Italy's Daniele de Rossi, which was then converted by Vincenzo Iaquinta. That gift of a goal kept Italy's hopes alive, unfortunately for anyone watching the tournament who is not a fan of the Azzuri (I, for one, am looking forward to a Round of 16 that does not include the cagey Italian style known as calciopolli).
The much-hyped England squad has fallen flat on their faces with two less-than-convincing performances. They are a group of individuals wearing the same jersey; I think they have yet to prove to anyone that they are a real team. Assembling of superstars has historically only worked for Brazil, and despite all their efforts the English have not enjoyed anything close to that success. Yes, their players are great for their clubs, but that's because their teams make a habit of building around them. When Mssrs. Rooney, Gerrard, and Lampard are not the focal point of their team's attack but rather one of many parts, they are nowhere near as effective. It is understandable that they would not perform as well for England as they would at club level. But that still doesn't excuse the inept way in which they stumbled through the first two games. Let's face it, the only reason Emile Heskey is even on this team is because England boss Fabio Capello likes his contribution on defense. Yes, defense. His goalscoring record for England is abysmal (seven goals, and his aerial abilities and assets as a target man are not ideal. The striking partnership of Mr. Heskey and Wayne Rooney has done nothing, and the only thing stopping the English from starting 6'7" forward Peter Crouch is their own refusal to admit that they have become that one-dimensional. Trust me, England, you have. Forsake whatever little dignity you have left and start the Grouch with Rooney. It will improve your chances against Slovenia.
Spain have yet to play their second game (tomorrow against Honduras) and their group (which also include Switzerland and Chile) would have appeared to be one of the easiest they could ask for. But after a shocking loss to the Swiss, the reigning champions of Europe have yet to display any killer intent in front of goal. While they have had chances aplenty, they failed to score in their opener. It's not to late to give up on Spain just yet, but anything less than back-to-back wins against Honduras and Chile will likely be a disappointment even if they do manage to advance. Spain have too much depth to not win out of their group.
Despite a strong start in which they crushed the Aussies 4-0, Germany's momentum did not carry over as they fell 1-0 to Serbia. Klose was sent off in the 35th minute for a pair of harshly given yellow cards, and the seemingly ferocious German side were left toothless, unable to recover from a lone goal that would likely have been scored even if Klose had been on the field.
If anyone thought those coutries were having problems, France tops the list. After two group games, the entire team is a disaster. After cussing and criticizing coach Raymond Domenech, forward Nicolas Anelka was sent home. Then, in a more recent incident, a fight between defender Patrice Evra and fitness coach Robert Duverne(which can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTjEQrge98g&feature=youtu.be) led to the resignation of French team director Jean-Louis Valentin and the boycotting of practice by the French team, who sent a letter explaining their actions and protesting the treatment of Mr. Anelka. Even though Anelka has a history of being a locker room cancer and acted unprofessionally in criticizing Domenech, it is clear where the loyalties of the French players lie. If anyone is keeping track, it's not with their coach. This team is a shadow what their talent would suggest, and Zinedine Zidane isn't around to save them this time.
As for the United States, it is easy to blame the referee for ruining the Slovenia game. I will never ever believe that there was anything illegitimate about that goal or the play leading up to it, except for perhaps the mauling administered to every American player except goalscorer Maurice Edu. But the fact remains that the team is at fault for putting themselves in a hole to begin with. Right now, the USA is a second-half soccer team. That's not a good thing. They will have to put together a whole game before they can prove their readiness for the knockout stages.
Sources:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5isPNP4bqOGXuKi6aaOat9InZGzSAD9GF38PO0
The World Cup has been upon us for almost ten days now, and reactions to the goings-on in South Africa have been mixed to say the least. South America has greatly impressed with solid performances from Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay; to date, a South American team has yet to lose in this competition. After two slow starts, the United States rallied to draw both of their first group games against England and group leader Slovenia, and were only robbed of a victory in the second game by the as of yet unseen decision of Malian referee Koman Coulibaly to disallow the USA's third goal. So that he will be unable to committ another Great Goal Robbey, Mr. Coulibaly will likely no longer be the center referee in a match in this tournament thanks in part to his phantom call.
Asia has generally shown what was expected of them: organized and disciplined teams that sometimes lack the offensive spark to accompany their defensive solidarity, but can sometimes pull off dramatic winners from the likes of Japan's Keisuke Honda, who scored brilliantly in their opening match against Cameroon with a cool finish across goal. Africa, hosting its first ever World Cup, have at times shone (the tournament's opening goal scored by South Africa's Siphiwe Tshabalala) while also sinking (the aforementioned Cameroon squad were officially made the first team eliminated following their losses to Japan and Denmark).
But western Europe is in the stranglehold of their own expectations. Defending champions Italy are always known as slow starters, but their renowned defense is failing them. They have already given up two goals in two games against Paraguay and New Zealand, and were lucky to escape both contests with draws. New Zealand, a team that everyone expected the Italians to roll over and one that really only made the World Cup by the grace of Australia's charity (since the Socceroos flocked to the Asia qualifying group seeking better competition), managed to score first to take their only lead in their World Cup history. It was only erased by a soft penalty call in favor of Italy's Daniele de Rossi, which was then converted by Vincenzo Iaquinta. That gift of a goal kept Italy's hopes alive, unfortunately for anyone watching the tournament who is not a fan of the Azzuri (I, for one, am looking forward to a Round of 16 that does not include the cagey Italian style known as calciopolli).
The much-hyped England squad has fallen flat on their faces with two less-than-convincing performances. They are a group of individuals wearing the same jersey; I think they have yet to prove to anyone that they are a real team. Assembling of superstars has historically only worked for Brazil, and despite all their efforts the English have not enjoyed anything close to that success. Yes, their players are great for their clubs, but that's because their teams make a habit of building around them. When Mssrs. Rooney, Gerrard, and Lampard are not the focal point of their team's attack but rather one of many parts, they are nowhere near as effective. It is understandable that they would not perform as well for England as they would at club level. But that still doesn't excuse the inept way in which they stumbled through the first two games. Let's face it, the only reason Emile Heskey is even on this team is because England boss Fabio Capello likes his contribution on defense. Yes, defense. His goalscoring record for England is abysmal (seven goals, and his aerial abilities and assets as a target man are not ideal. The striking partnership of Mr. Heskey and Wayne Rooney has done nothing, and the only thing stopping the English from starting 6'7" forward Peter Crouch is their own refusal to admit that they have become that one-dimensional. Trust me, England, you have. Forsake whatever little dignity you have left and start the Grouch with Rooney. It will improve your chances against Slovenia.
Spain have yet to play their second game (tomorrow against Honduras) and their group (which also include Switzerland and Chile) would have appeared to be one of the easiest they could ask for. But after a shocking loss to the Swiss, the reigning champions of Europe have yet to display any killer intent in front of goal. While they have had chances aplenty, they failed to score in their opener. It's not to late to give up on Spain just yet, but anything less than back-to-back wins against Honduras and Chile will likely be a disappointment even if they do manage to advance. Spain have too much depth to not win out of their group.
Despite a strong start in which they crushed the Aussies 4-0, Germany's momentum did not carry over as they fell 1-0 to Serbia. Klose was sent off in the 35th minute for a pair of harshly given yellow cards, and the seemingly ferocious German side were left toothless, unable to recover from a lone goal that would likely have been scored even if Klose had been on the field.
If anyone thought those coutries were having problems, France tops the list. After two group games, the entire team is a disaster. After cussing and criticizing coach Raymond Domenech, forward Nicolas Anelka was sent home. Then, in a more recent incident, a fight between defender Patrice Evra and fitness coach Robert Duverne(which can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTjEQrge98g&feature=youtu.be) led to the resignation of French team director Jean-Louis Valentin and the boycotting of practice by the French team, who sent a letter explaining their actions and protesting the treatment of Mr. Anelka. Even though Anelka has a history of being a locker room cancer and acted unprofessionally in criticizing Domenech, it is clear where the loyalties of the French players lie. If anyone is keeping track, it's not with their coach. This team is a shadow what their talent would suggest, and Zinedine Zidane isn't around to save them this time.
As for the United States, it is easy to blame the referee for ruining the Slovenia game. I will never ever believe that there was anything illegitimate about that goal or the play leading up to it, except for perhaps the mauling administered to every American player except goalscorer Maurice Edu. But the fact remains that the team is at fault for putting themselves in a hole to begin with. Right now, the USA is a second-half soccer team. That's not a good thing. They will have to put together a whole game before they can prove their readiness for the knockout stages.
Sources:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5isPNP4bqOGXuKi6aaOat9InZGzSAD9GF38PO0
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Big Trade For Big Ben?
Tonight will be the the first ever primetime NFL draft. Unlike previous years, tonight's show will only feature the first round. And with no first overall pick (held by the St. Louis Rams) yet to be determined, the anticipation is as high as ever.
The 'Skins have essentially eliminated the speculation that they would take a quarterback by mercifully ending Donovan McNabb's up-and-down decade in Philly, a city he will curiously revisit next year in a watered down rendition of Brett Favre's return to Green Bay as a Viking. That has cast Jimmy Clausen's draft position into serious doubt since Sam Bradford still holds the #1 spot in the eyes of most analysts. But given the interest shown by the Rams and Raiders in troubled Steelers passer Ben Roethlisberger (who just got handed a six game suspension by commissioner Roger Goodell for repeated violations of the league's misconduct policy), I have more than once entertained the idea of a blockbuster trade: the #1 overall pick and perhaps some extra picks for Mr. Roethlisberger.
Given the huge investment in guaranteed funds awarded to whoever has the increasingly dubious distinction of being the first overall pick, it may even be beneficial to the Rams to sign a proven veteran in Roethlisberger who is already tied to a longer deal. Sure, they might not get to play him or even have him in practice for several weeks, by St. Louis is in full-scale rebuilding mode. Getting a 2-time Super Bowl winner in Roethlisberger is more certain to me than committing their future to, say, Sam Bradford.
In return, Pittsburgh could draft Bradford, or they could trade down and possibly get Jimmy Clausen later in the draft. It is difficult for me to imagine anyone in the top five picks choosing a quarterback, since they all have high-priced signal-callers already. So I could see the Steelers maneuvering down to the sixth or seventh overall selection so that either Seattle or Cleveland could nab Bradford with the first pick. Then Pittburgh could go with Jimmy Clausen (the last famous Notre Dame quarterback to play for them was Super Bowl MVP Terry Bradshaw, after all) and still have the bargaining power of their later first round pick. There are few better places for a young quarterback than Pittsburgh, who have a dominant defense and usually a dependable running attack.
As for Roethlisberger, I am of the opinion that a six game suspension for his misconduct was harsh, although in keeping with the history of Commissioner Goodell. I understand that it is important for Mr. Goodell to be consistent in his punishments in order to show that no player is above the misconduct policy and I wholeheartedly agree with that sentiment, but given that no charges were levied against Mr. Roethlisberger I believe that a one or two game suspension would have been sufficient. His former teammate Santonio Holmes (who was traded from the Steel City to the New York Jets for a paltry fifth-round draft pick) was only suspended four games by the league for repeated substance abuse violations. Suspending a player who has not been found guilty of any crime goes beyond the sensibilities of just punishment, especially in a 16 game NFL season where the first six games can make or break a team's season.
The 'Skins have essentially eliminated the speculation that they would take a quarterback by mercifully ending Donovan McNabb's up-and-down decade in Philly, a city he will curiously revisit next year in a watered down rendition of Brett Favre's return to Green Bay as a Viking. That has cast Jimmy Clausen's draft position into serious doubt since Sam Bradford still holds the #1 spot in the eyes of most analysts. But given the interest shown by the Rams and Raiders in troubled Steelers passer Ben Roethlisberger (who just got handed a six game suspension by commissioner Roger Goodell for repeated violations of the league's misconduct policy), I have more than once entertained the idea of a blockbuster trade: the #1 overall pick and perhaps some extra picks for Mr. Roethlisberger.
Given the huge investment in guaranteed funds awarded to whoever has the increasingly dubious distinction of being the first overall pick, it may even be beneficial to the Rams to sign a proven veteran in Roethlisberger who is already tied to a longer deal. Sure, they might not get to play him or even have him in practice for several weeks, by St. Louis is in full-scale rebuilding mode. Getting a 2-time Super Bowl winner in Roethlisberger is more certain to me than committing their future to, say, Sam Bradford.
In return, Pittsburgh could draft Bradford, or they could trade down and possibly get Jimmy Clausen later in the draft. It is difficult for me to imagine anyone in the top five picks choosing a quarterback, since they all have high-priced signal-callers already. So I could see the Steelers maneuvering down to the sixth or seventh overall selection so that either Seattle or Cleveland could nab Bradford with the first pick. Then Pittburgh could go with Jimmy Clausen (the last famous Notre Dame quarterback to play for them was Super Bowl MVP Terry Bradshaw, after all) and still have the bargaining power of their later first round pick. There are few better places for a young quarterback than Pittsburgh, who have a dominant defense and usually a dependable running attack.
As for Roethlisberger, I am of the opinion that a six game suspension for his misconduct was harsh, although in keeping with the history of Commissioner Goodell. I understand that it is important for Mr. Goodell to be consistent in his punishments in order to show that no player is above the misconduct policy and I wholeheartedly agree with that sentiment, but given that no charges were levied against Mr. Roethlisberger I believe that a one or two game suspension would have been sufficient. His former teammate Santonio Holmes (who was traded from the Steel City to the New York Jets for a paltry fifth-round draft pick) was only suspended four games by the league for repeated substance abuse violations. Suspending a player who has not been found guilty of any crime goes beyond the sensibilities of just punishment, especially in a 16 game NFL season where the first six games can make or break a team's season.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Philly's Quarterback Quandry
One of the most dramatic stories of this young off-season has been the rumors surrounding Eagles signal-caller Donovan McNabb. News has circulated the NFL community that Philly is allegedly willing to deal the 10-year quarterback (selected with the second overall pick in the 1999 Draft), with the most likely potential suitors being the Oakland Raiders, Buffalo Bills and St. Louis Rams.
It is beyond this blogger's imagination as to why Mr. McNabb would even want to stay in Philidelphia, given the decade of mistreatment and disrespect shown to him by the organization and, to a much greater degree, the notoriously fickle Philidelphia fanbase. McNabb was famously booed by Philly fans when he was drafted (what a vote of confidence), and despite taking the Eagles to a Super Bowl and numerous NFC Championship games, the man still gets abused by the Philly faithful (a misnomer if there ever was one) who clamor for his release annually to the point that I expect some noise to come from Philly every off-season. It has become almost as routine as Brett Favre's flip-flopping on retirement, but much less amusing given that the Philly fans are hardly McNabb fans at all. Until he wins, at least. Even then, their loyalty isn't won for long; after they lose a couple games, the entire city goes back to sulking about a new quarterback.
Mr. McNabb's stats throughout his career are even more impressive considering that his only quality target in the passing game until the drafting of DeSean Jackson (only two years ago) was Terrell Owens, who was only there for a year before the relationship between him and McNabb disintegrated. Even now, I would be willing to bet that there are still some people in Philly who wish that T.O. had stayed with the Eagles and not McNabb.
As for his value in a trade, I would feel that despite McNabb's quality as a franchise quarterback, his injury concerns and age leave questions concerning his longevity. As such, he should merit a second or third round pick in this year's draft. I would suggest that Buffalo, who have struggled to find a playmaking quarterback for years, line up with the 41st overall selection. Who knows, maybe Andy Reid could nab Tim Tebow at that spot. Then Philly could have another quarterback to poke fun at for a decade.
It is beyond this blogger's imagination as to why Mr. McNabb would even want to stay in Philidelphia, given the decade of mistreatment and disrespect shown to him by the organization and, to a much greater degree, the notoriously fickle Philidelphia fanbase. McNabb was famously booed by Philly fans when he was drafted (what a vote of confidence), and despite taking the Eagles to a Super Bowl and numerous NFC Championship games, the man still gets abused by the Philly faithful (a misnomer if there ever was one) who clamor for his release annually to the point that I expect some noise to come from Philly every off-season. It has become almost as routine as Brett Favre's flip-flopping on retirement, but much less amusing given that the Philly fans are hardly McNabb fans at all. Until he wins, at least. Even then, their loyalty isn't won for long; after they lose a couple games, the entire city goes back to sulking about a new quarterback.
Mr. McNabb's stats throughout his career are even more impressive considering that his only quality target in the passing game until the drafting of DeSean Jackson (only two years ago) was Terrell Owens, who was only there for a year before the relationship between him and McNabb disintegrated. Even now, I would be willing to bet that there are still some people in Philly who wish that T.O. had stayed with the Eagles and not McNabb.
As for his value in a trade, I would feel that despite McNabb's quality as a franchise quarterback, his injury concerns and age leave questions concerning his longevity. As such, he should merit a second or third round pick in this year's draft. I would suggest that Buffalo, who have struggled to find a playmaking quarterback for years, line up with the 41st overall selection. Who knows, maybe Andy Reid could nab Tim Tebow at that spot. Then Philly could have another quarterback to poke fun at for a decade.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Bears Should Look to Make A Splash In Free Agency; Draft Prospects Are Limited
The Chicago Bears of recent years have not been known as a team to dole out hard currency to high-priced free agents; most of their present impact players have been acquired through the NFL Draft or—in the case of quarterback Jay Cutler—trades for draft picks. Previous free agent ventures by the current regime, including safeties Mike Brown and Adam Archuleta, have not panned out; Hall of Fame left tackle Orlando Pace—Chicago’s most recent free agent acquisition from last offseason—was released last week after only one year with the club, moving third year tackle Chris Williams back to the left side and opening another potential gap in an already inconsistent offensive line that has struggled to find bookend tackles.
The Bears have also released defensive end Mark Anderson, who after a successful rookie season failed to live up to expectations for three unproductive years in the Midway. Coupled with the untimely and tragic death of defensive end Gaines Adams (for whom the Bears gave up a second round pick to Tampa) and numerous injuries across the defense, the Bears’ depth on that side of the ball is being strained to its limit.
According to they typical modus operandi of the Chicago front office, these problems would be resolved through draft picks. For the most part, the Bears have picked well in the early rounds, especially on defense (Brian Urlacher, Tommie Harris, and Lance Briggs anyone?) and have played their cards well when drafting with lower picks as well (cornerback Charles Tillman and wideout Johnny Knox, just to name a few). Unfortunately, the first pick Chicago has in this year’s Draft is the 75th overall selection in the third round. Given the high talent level of this year’s class, it is hardly inconceivable to believe the Bears cannot get a solid player out of these picks, but they are missing out on a premier star in their first round pick (11th overall, traded to Denver as part of the Cutler deal).
As such, it is imperative that the Bears scrap their typical frugal ways and try to land a big pickup in the free agent market. Early events indicate they are on the right track; personnel officials from Chicago met with representatives of Carolina’s star pass rusher Julius Peppers at the Combine. Peppers is expected to fetch a high price as a free agent, and would likely be a great fit for the Bears by adding a fearsome pass rush to a defensive front that already includes seasoned veteran Adewale Ogunleye. But given that Peppers’ other suitors include the likes of the Patriots and Eagles, the Bears will likely have to offer up a lot of money to even lure Mr. Peppers away from Carolina. If their trend of thriftiness continues, this early meeting may be as far as any negotiations go.
If Peppers does not sign, the market instantly becomes smaller. It seems that by all accounts linebackers Karlos Dansby (of the Arizona Cardinals) and Gary Brackett (from the Indianapolis Colts) will be retained by their respective teams. And because Brian Urlacher is also expected to return fully healthy after sitting out a season after having surgery on a dislocated wrist, the chances of the Bears signing a middle linebacker seem slim to none.
A veteran running back to compete with and spell Matt Forte could also be highly beneficial to the Bears offense. There are certainly plenty of them to pick from, whether it be Thomas Jones (whose previous stint in Chicago culminated in a Super Bowl appearance), LaDainian Tomlinson (or his Chargers teammate Darren Sproles), or Chester Taylor from the NFC North rival Minnesota Vikings. All of these could offer a complement to Forte, particularly in a time that is being defined partially by a two-runner backfield. Since Mr. Forte already has the ability to catch out of the backfield, a more pure runner would add a new dimension to the Bears offense, a power running element Chicago hasn’t seen since the departure of Mr. Jones. Kevin Faulk and Brian Westbrook are also potential targets, but are more similar than complementary to Forte.
Since my hopes of a Brandon Marshall trade have effectively been dashed by the franchise tag placed upon him, the Bears could end up looking for a veteran receiver. Torry Holt and Terrell Owens could be intriguing prospects in this regard; both are reaching the age where most receivers start to slow down, but anemic offenses in Buffalo and Jacksonville were more to blame for their lack of production last year than any individual declines. If nothing else, they would be a steadying presence in the receiving corps until Johnny Knox or another younger guy is ready to assume the mantle of Jay Cutler’s #1 target.
The Bears could also use help at safety, where they have lacked a true impact player for years. Darren Sharper, who helped turn the New Orleans Saints into a champion last season and finished the year leading the NFL with nine interceptions (three of which were returned for touchdowns), could bring another veteran leader to the Bears in the backfield as well as his natural ball skills. Mr. Sharper is also familiar with the NFC North, having played previously for the Minnesota Vikings before going to New Orleans.
Stocking up on older players may not seem to be the most appealing option given the recent misfortunes of free agent laden clubs like the Washington Redskins, but the Bears have few other options at this point and the uncertainty over a new collective bargaining agreement has loomed large amidst rumors of an uncapped year. If they want to be competitive, the Bears simply need more talent, and one or two free agents could be the missing pieces to help revive the Monsters of the Midway.
The Bears have also released defensive end Mark Anderson, who after a successful rookie season failed to live up to expectations for three unproductive years in the Midway. Coupled with the untimely and tragic death of defensive end Gaines Adams (for whom the Bears gave up a second round pick to Tampa) and numerous injuries across the defense, the Bears’ depth on that side of the ball is being strained to its limit.
According to they typical modus operandi of the Chicago front office, these problems would be resolved through draft picks. For the most part, the Bears have picked well in the early rounds, especially on defense (Brian Urlacher, Tommie Harris, and Lance Briggs anyone?) and have played their cards well when drafting with lower picks as well (cornerback Charles Tillman and wideout Johnny Knox, just to name a few). Unfortunately, the first pick Chicago has in this year’s Draft is the 75th overall selection in the third round. Given the high talent level of this year’s class, it is hardly inconceivable to believe the Bears cannot get a solid player out of these picks, but they are missing out on a premier star in their first round pick (11th overall, traded to Denver as part of the Cutler deal).
As such, it is imperative that the Bears scrap their typical frugal ways and try to land a big pickup in the free agent market. Early events indicate they are on the right track; personnel officials from Chicago met with representatives of Carolina’s star pass rusher Julius Peppers at the Combine. Peppers is expected to fetch a high price as a free agent, and would likely be a great fit for the Bears by adding a fearsome pass rush to a defensive front that already includes seasoned veteran Adewale Ogunleye. But given that Peppers’ other suitors include the likes of the Patriots and Eagles, the Bears will likely have to offer up a lot of money to even lure Mr. Peppers away from Carolina. If their trend of thriftiness continues, this early meeting may be as far as any negotiations go.
If Peppers does not sign, the market instantly becomes smaller. It seems that by all accounts linebackers Karlos Dansby (of the Arizona Cardinals) and Gary Brackett (from the Indianapolis Colts) will be retained by their respective teams. And because Brian Urlacher is also expected to return fully healthy after sitting out a season after having surgery on a dislocated wrist, the chances of the Bears signing a middle linebacker seem slim to none.
A veteran running back to compete with and spell Matt Forte could also be highly beneficial to the Bears offense. There are certainly plenty of them to pick from, whether it be Thomas Jones (whose previous stint in Chicago culminated in a Super Bowl appearance), LaDainian Tomlinson (or his Chargers teammate Darren Sproles), or Chester Taylor from the NFC North rival Minnesota Vikings. All of these could offer a complement to Forte, particularly in a time that is being defined partially by a two-runner backfield. Since Mr. Forte already has the ability to catch out of the backfield, a more pure runner would add a new dimension to the Bears offense, a power running element Chicago hasn’t seen since the departure of Mr. Jones. Kevin Faulk and Brian Westbrook are also potential targets, but are more similar than complementary to Forte.
Since my hopes of a Brandon Marshall trade have effectively been dashed by the franchise tag placed upon him, the Bears could end up looking for a veteran receiver. Torry Holt and Terrell Owens could be intriguing prospects in this regard; both are reaching the age where most receivers start to slow down, but anemic offenses in Buffalo and Jacksonville were more to blame for their lack of production last year than any individual declines. If nothing else, they would be a steadying presence in the receiving corps until Johnny Knox or another younger guy is ready to assume the mantle of Jay Cutler’s #1 target.
The Bears could also use help at safety, where they have lacked a true impact player for years. Darren Sharper, who helped turn the New Orleans Saints into a champion last season and finished the year leading the NFL with nine interceptions (three of which were returned for touchdowns), could bring another veteran leader to the Bears in the backfield as well as his natural ball skills. Mr. Sharper is also familiar with the NFC North, having played previously for the Minnesota Vikings before going to New Orleans.
Stocking up on older players may not seem to be the most appealing option given the recent misfortunes of free agent laden clubs like the Washington Redskins, but the Bears have few other options at this point and the uncertainty over a new collective bargaining agreement has loomed large amidst rumors of an uncapped year. If they want to be competitive, the Bears simply need more talent, and one or two free agents could be the missing pieces to help revive the Monsters of the Midway.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Black And Blue & Passing Too
The arrival of Mike Martz is more than a move to revive one of last year's most disappointing offenses in Chicago (not that too much was expected of a talented but still young quarterback, a group of fledgling receivers, and a sophomore running back supported by a mediocre offensive line). It was an an omen. A harbinger of the end of the run-first mentality of the NFC North that has led to its nickname: the "Black and Blue Division".
Following last season, it seems apparent that the Bears are no longer going to resist one of the league's new trends. Despite head coach Lovie Smith's insistence that they would stick to the running game, Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler threw the ball 555 times last season. Admittedly, that's not as many as Mr. Cutler threw last year in Denver (616), but 90 more than Bronco and former Bear Kyle Orton threw in his final year in the Midway. For the sake of comparisons (and to show a reason for Cutler's seemingly frantic number of pass attempts in 2008), Mr. Orton attempted 541 passes for Denver last season.
The Bears had little success running the ball last year due to a sophomore slump by Matt Forte, who came off one of the best rookie years in the history of the Chicago Bears and the NFL in which he personally accounted for one third of his teams all-purpose yardage from the line of scrimmage. An ailing defense further aggravated the situation and forced Cutler to throw in situations that he had no business throwing in. This, combined with inexperienced receivers and inconsistent line play, led to Mr. Cutler being sacked 35 times and throwing 26 interceptions last year (he led the NFL in the latter category). Not a good recipe for success, despite the flourishing of passing offenses in the last few years.
The Bears are hardly the only member of the NFC North to have scrapped the running game in some form or another. Green Bay hasn't had a dominant runner in years, since before Mike Holmgren instituted the West Coast offense and established the Brett Favre era. It wasn't until the breakthrough of Ryan Grant that the 2007 Packers even had a bona fide rushing threat. And even with Grant's emergence, they have still relied on Favre (and now his replacement Aaron Rodgers, who has somehow engineered one the league's best offenses despite a terrible offensive line) to put up points and win games.
The Vikings are the latest beneficiaries of Mr. Favre's prowess; Brad Childress' system in Minnesota is essentially the same offense that Favre ran in Green Bay. And even though Minnesota has one dominant back in Adrian Peterson and another quality rusher in Chester Taylor, #4 still attempted 531 passes (only four less than he threw for the running back-less 2007 Packers). In the end, it was Favre's arm that won games for Green Bay, not Peterson or Taylor's legs. The only reason they got away with it is because every defense in the league is still afraid of the the threat of Adrian Peterson.
But perhaps the lamest team in the division has been the Detroit Lions, whose only excuse for their high passing numbers has been their otherwise awful performance. Mike Martz may be renowned as a passing fanatic, but Marshall Faulk is remembered as much for his rushing ability as he is for his ability to catch the football. When Martz's teams have been good, he has allowed a greater degree of rushing into the gameplan. But in the two years that Jon Kitna was in Detroit, he averaged 579 passes a season. Things haven't improved with Kitna's departure; in the ten games new Lions signal-caller Matthew Stafford played last year, he threw 377 passes. Had he played all sixteen games and continued throwing at that rate, he would have had just over 600 passes on the season.
As sad as it sounds, the NFC North is bucking a trend; while many teams have developed their passing games into precise and lethal machines, poor play has made the Black and Blue division flounder, caught transitioning too late to the new era of pass-first professional football.
All stats are courtesy of www.nfl.com.
Following last season, it seems apparent that the Bears are no longer going to resist one of the league's new trends. Despite head coach Lovie Smith's insistence that they would stick to the running game, Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler threw the ball 555 times last season. Admittedly, that's not as many as Mr. Cutler threw last year in Denver (616), but 90 more than Bronco and former Bear Kyle Orton threw in his final year in the Midway. For the sake of comparisons (and to show a reason for Cutler's seemingly frantic number of pass attempts in 2008), Mr. Orton attempted 541 passes for Denver last season.
The Bears had little success running the ball last year due to a sophomore slump by Matt Forte, who came off one of the best rookie years in the history of the Chicago Bears and the NFL in which he personally accounted for one third of his teams all-purpose yardage from the line of scrimmage. An ailing defense further aggravated the situation and forced Cutler to throw in situations that he had no business throwing in. This, combined with inexperienced receivers and inconsistent line play, led to Mr. Cutler being sacked 35 times and throwing 26 interceptions last year (he led the NFL in the latter category). Not a good recipe for success, despite the flourishing of passing offenses in the last few years.
The Bears are hardly the only member of the NFC North to have scrapped the running game in some form or another. Green Bay hasn't had a dominant runner in years, since before Mike Holmgren instituted the West Coast offense and established the Brett Favre era. It wasn't until the breakthrough of Ryan Grant that the 2007 Packers even had a bona fide rushing threat. And even with Grant's emergence, they have still relied on Favre (and now his replacement Aaron Rodgers, who has somehow engineered one the league's best offenses despite a terrible offensive line) to put up points and win games.
The Vikings are the latest beneficiaries of Mr. Favre's prowess; Brad Childress' system in Minnesota is essentially the same offense that Favre ran in Green Bay. And even though Minnesota has one dominant back in Adrian Peterson and another quality rusher in Chester Taylor, #4 still attempted 531 passes (only four less than he threw for the running back-less 2007 Packers). In the end, it was Favre's arm that won games for Green Bay, not Peterson or Taylor's legs. The only reason they got away with it is because every defense in the league is still afraid of the the threat of Adrian Peterson.
But perhaps the lamest team in the division has been the Detroit Lions, whose only excuse for their high passing numbers has been their otherwise awful performance. Mike Martz may be renowned as a passing fanatic, but Marshall Faulk is remembered as much for his rushing ability as he is for his ability to catch the football. When Martz's teams have been good, he has allowed a greater degree of rushing into the gameplan. But in the two years that Jon Kitna was in Detroit, he averaged 579 passes a season. Things haven't improved with Kitna's departure; in the ten games new Lions signal-caller Matthew Stafford played last year, he threw 377 passes. Had he played all sixteen games and continued throwing at that rate, he would have had just over 600 passes on the season.
As sad as it sounds, the NFC North is bucking a trend; while many teams have developed their passing games into precise and lethal machines, poor play has made the Black and Blue division flounder, caught transitioning too late to the new era of pass-first professional football.
All stats are courtesy of www.nfl.com.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Super Bowl, Super Upset
So the Saints won the Super Bowl; I can get that out of the way early. The celebration is probably still going on right now, four days later. Congratulations to New Orleans, which now has its first Lombardi Trophy and departs from the sad fraternity of clubs who have yet to win a championship. The four teams still in that Hall of Shame are Cleveland and Detroit (the league's perennial whipping boys) as well as Jacksonville and Houston, two of the newest expansion teams around. It has only been recently that those two teams could even make a run at the division, and it has been tough sledding given the regular season dominance of the Indianapolis Colts.
It is rather fitting that the Saints won when many of the pundits and fans (myself included) picked them to do down in defeat. But as much as they would like to reflect on this magical year, the new season (and a new decade of football) starts now. New Orleans will have to be wary; the target is on their back now, and given that they are not used to such victories the threat of a Super Bowl hangover will loom large. And despite the fact that the 'hangover effect' tends to harm the losers of the Super Bowl more than the winners (such as the Chicago Bears in 2007 and this year's off-and-on Arizona Cardinals), I think the Colts are the one team in the league best equipped to deal with a loss. They have already said they are going to use this year's loss as motivation, and I believe they will take the league by storm next year.
Play of the Game: Tracy Porter's interception, which was returned for a touchdown and came just as the Colts were marching downfield what what could have been an equalizing score. Instead, it basically put the game out of reach for Indy.
Player of the Game: Drew Brees. A real shocker, I know. But the fact remains that he tied Tom Brady's record for the most completions in a Super Bowl game (with 32) and led the Saints to their first-ever Super Bowl. It would be an insult to name anyone else.
It is rather fitting that the Saints won when many of the pundits and fans (myself included) picked them to do down in defeat. But as much as they would like to reflect on this magical year, the new season (and a new decade of football) starts now. New Orleans will have to be wary; the target is on their back now, and given that they are not used to such victories the threat of a Super Bowl hangover will loom large. And despite the fact that the 'hangover effect' tends to harm the losers of the Super Bowl more than the winners (such as the Chicago Bears in 2007 and this year's off-and-on Arizona Cardinals), I think the Colts are the one team in the league best equipped to deal with a loss. They have already said they are going to use this year's loss as motivation, and I believe they will take the league by storm next year.
Play of the Game: Tracy Porter's interception, which was returned for a touchdown and came just as the Colts were marching downfield what what could have been an equalizing score. Instead, it basically put the game out of reach for Indy.
Player of the Game: Drew Brees. A real shocker, I know. But the fact remains that he tied Tom Brady's record for the most completions in a Super Bowl game (with 32) and led the Saints to their first-ever Super Bowl. It would be an insult to name anyone else.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Martz Arrives in the Midway
The Chicago Bears have decided to shake things up by hiring offensive guru Mike Martz—who engineered one of the greatest offenses in NFL history—as their new offensive coordinator last week. Comments on the Bears website have been mixed to say the least, with some claiming that Martz’s hire will compound the Bears’ current offensive woes. Given the team’s desperate need for receiving talent, they may be right.
I prayed during last year’s offseason that the Bears would not only trade for Jay Cutler but also give a second round pick to the Denver Broncos for receiver Brandon Marshall who, despite the promise Johnny Knox and Devin Aromashadu have shown this season, would be an instant upgrade over the other Bears wideouts based on talent alone (without even mentioning his previous experience with Cutler). Unfortunately, that trade didn’t go through, and now everything is peachy in Denver between Marshall and Josh McDaniels.
I honestly hope that Martz can help the Bears get better, but it’s hard to see this as anything more that a contradiction of philosophies. As if Bears fans needed more proof that Lovie Smith is throwing in the towel for the running game despite his insistent calls for sticking with the run, Chicago hires a coach infamous for his offensive philosophy which, in a nutshell, resembles “pass first, pass later, then pass some more”. Admittedly, Martz’s system performed superbly in St. Louis (where they have been 18-51 since his departure from the head coaching position), where it was hailed as the “Greatest Show on Turf”. But the current Chicago Bears do not compare favorably to a Rams squad that featured a franchise tackle in Orlando Pace (who is on the Bears roster but a shadow of his former self), two fantastic receivers in Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt, and a Hall of Fame tailback in Marshall Faulk, proving that the system is not a panacea for the Bears. Significant funds must be invested in the offense before the real results can be shown.
In the meantime, I fear the Bears may end up looking like the Detroit Lions of 2006-07, who were among the league leaders in passing yardage but had little to show for their productivity. I have no doubt that Cutler is a superior player to Jon Kitna, but he has already led the league in interceptions once. May Bears fans pray that he doesn’t do it again.
I prayed during last year’s offseason that the Bears would not only trade for Jay Cutler but also give a second round pick to the Denver Broncos for receiver Brandon Marshall who, despite the promise Johnny Knox and Devin Aromashadu have shown this season, would be an instant upgrade over the other Bears wideouts based on talent alone (without even mentioning his previous experience with Cutler). Unfortunately, that trade didn’t go through, and now everything is peachy in Denver between Marshall and Josh McDaniels.
I honestly hope that Martz can help the Bears get better, but it’s hard to see this as anything more that a contradiction of philosophies. As if Bears fans needed more proof that Lovie Smith is throwing in the towel for the running game despite his insistent calls for sticking with the run, Chicago hires a coach infamous for his offensive philosophy which, in a nutshell, resembles “pass first, pass later, then pass some more”. Admittedly, Martz’s system performed superbly in St. Louis (where they have been 18-51 since his departure from the head coaching position), where it was hailed as the “Greatest Show on Turf”. But the current Chicago Bears do not compare favorably to a Rams squad that featured a franchise tackle in Orlando Pace (who is on the Bears roster but a shadow of his former self), two fantastic receivers in Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt, and a Hall of Fame tailback in Marshall Faulk, proving that the system is not a panacea for the Bears. Significant funds must be invested in the offense before the real results can be shown.
In the meantime, I fear the Bears may end up looking like the Detroit Lions of 2006-07, who were among the league leaders in passing yardage but had little to show for their productivity. I have no doubt that Cutler is a superior player to Jon Kitna, but he has already led the league in interceptions once. May Bears fans pray that he doesn’t do it again.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Super Bowl Will Come Down to the Wire: Who Will Win & Why
Last week, I was frightened that the New York Jets would topple Peyton Manning's Indianapolis Colts and shatter my hopes for Mr. Manning's second Super Bowl appearance. Gang Green went into the halftime break leading Indy 17-13 after two huge plays by Mark Sanchez propelled them to quick scores. But Manning asserted himself once again as the master of second-half adjustments, stealing the breath from the Jets just as the second half started. Rex Ryan's defense, which looked promising in the first half after having put Peyton on his back several times in the first two quarters, was powerless to stop the Colts pass attack. High class cover man Darrelle Revis, who covered receiver Reggie Wayne for most of the contest, could do nothing to help his teammates, who proceeded to get picked apart by the illustrious and meticulous Mr. Manning.
Once the Colts had gained the lead, the game was as good as won. No one is better than Peyton at extending drives by getting just enough inches to move the chains and running the clock down to only a few seconds before getting off the play he wants. Not only that, but Indy's defense, which prides itself on fast players that excel at rushing the passer and swarming to the ball, is meant to play with the lead.
It is because of Peyton's second-half magic and the speed of the Colts defense that Indy will claim their second Lombardi Trophy of the decade on Sunday. Colts defensive end Robert Mathis has said that fellow pass rusher Dwight Freeney plans to play despite a Grade 3 sprain in his right ankle; even at less than 100%, Mr. Freeney is such a force on the defensive line that his mere presence will draw the Saints game plan away from Mr. Mathis, who can thrive against a single blocker and will surely get to New Orleans signal-caller Drew Brees early and often. All the Colts defense has to do is buy enough time for Manning to get into rythym, for while he sometimes starts slowly he always finds his receivers in the second half.
As good as New Orleans is (and they are fantastic, having convincingly beaten a stalwart team in Brett Favre's Minnesota Vikings), they are playing in their first Super Bowl ever. It cannot be stressed enough how much pressure is being put on this team right now, despite the fact that they may well be the worse of the two teams competing in Miami. There is nothing left to help the Saints anymore. They are not at home (and are thus bereft of the full support of the "Who Dat" nation), they are playing outside (a stark contrast to the Superdome that they call home), and they are playing against the most consistent and playoff-hardened team of the decade. Their march stops on Sunday. Colts win, 30-24.
Once the Colts had gained the lead, the game was as good as won. No one is better than Peyton at extending drives by getting just enough inches to move the chains and running the clock down to only a few seconds before getting off the play he wants. Not only that, but Indy's defense, which prides itself on fast players that excel at rushing the passer and swarming to the ball, is meant to play with the lead.
It is because of Peyton's second-half magic and the speed of the Colts defense that Indy will claim their second Lombardi Trophy of the decade on Sunday. Colts defensive end Robert Mathis has said that fellow pass rusher Dwight Freeney plans to play despite a Grade 3 sprain in his right ankle; even at less than 100%, Mr. Freeney is such a force on the defensive line that his mere presence will draw the Saints game plan away from Mr. Mathis, who can thrive against a single blocker and will surely get to New Orleans signal-caller Drew Brees early and often. All the Colts defense has to do is buy enough time for Manning to get into rythym, for while he sometimes starts slowly he always finds his receivers in the second half.
As good as New Orleans is (and they are fantastic, having convincingly beaten a stalwart team in Brett Favre's Minnesota Vikings), they are playing in their first Super Bowl ever. It cannot be stressed enough how much pressure is being put on this team right now, despite the fact that they may well be the worse of the two teams competing in Miami. There is nothing left to help the Saints anymore. They are not at home (and are thus bereft of the full support of the "Who Dat" nation), they are playing outside (a stark contrast to the Superdome that they call home), and they are playing against the most consistent and playoff-hardened team of the decade. Their march stops on Sunday. Colts win, 30-24.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Super Bowl Picks: NFC Champion
Sunday will feature one of the best pairs of football games in a long time: a group of battle-tested veterans against this year's Cinderella story, a tremendously balanced and dominant club against an offensive juggernaut carrying the hopes of a city and a franchise on its shoulders.
NFC: Minnesota Vikings @ New Orleans Saints
Both of these teams are in relatively new territory. The Vikings have struggled for the better part of the decade after being knocked out of contention in 1998, when they were heavy favorites to win the Super Bowl. Despite lacking all of the top-shelf offensive talent they had that year (namely two shoe-in Hall of Fame receivers in Cris Carter and Randy Moss), Brett Favre has managed to make Sidney Rice and Visanthe Shiancoe into Pro Bowl players. The superb defensive line, anchored by pass rusher Jared Allen and run stuffers Pat and Kevin Williams (not to mention Ray Edwards, who had three sacks last week against Dallas before leaving the game with an injured knee), has been performing admirably in shutting down opposing offenses, giving help to a depleted by respondent secondary that is only featuring star corner Antoine Winfield as the nickel back. Minnesota seems to have just the right blend of firepower and defensive stoutness to win it all.
But for all the pressure on the Men in Purple, they are not in the same territory as their opponents. The New Orleans Saints, who have been one of the lone bright spots for the past four years in a city one devastated by Hurricane Katrina, managed to make the NFC Championship once before in 2006, when they had to travel to a frozen Soldier field and face a powerful Bears defensive unit. But now the Saints are in a position they have never been in before: they have home field advantage in an NFC Championship game, and their team has all the talent needed to win it all. Everyone knows about Drew Brees and his plethora of receivers, who have been struggling to win games singlehandedly over the first years of coach Sean Payton's tenure. This year, however, with the additions of defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and safety Darren Sharper (who signed with New Orleans as a free agent from Minnesota), the Saints defense has made play after play despite letting up occasional big scores.
The recipe for a Super Bowl victory is there for both clubs, but only one can advance. This may well be one of the best matchups of the year, as both the Vikings and the Saints have tremendous balance. But Brett Favre's magic won't be enough to save Minnesota, and neither will their defense, which has yet to face a challenge as seemingly insurmountable as the Saints offense. That being said, New Orleans has to remember that this defense is not the Arizona Cardinals, so the chances of Reggie Bush (or any Saints back, for that matter) finding open gaps will be significantly reduced. In what I think will be the better of the two games on Sunday, I pick the Saints to win, 28-14.
NFC: Minnesota Vikings @ New Orleans Saints
Both of these teams are in relatively new territory. The Vikings have struggled for the better part of the decade after being knocked out of contention in 1998, when they were heavy favorites to win the Super Bowl. Despite lacking all of the top-shelf offensive talent they had that year (namely two shoe-in Hall of Fame receivers in Cris Carter and Randy Moss), Brett Favre has managed to make Sidney Rice and Visanthe Shiancoe into Pro Bowl players. The superb defensive line, anchored by pass rusher Jared Allen and run stuffers Pat and Kevin Williams (not to mention Ray Edwards, who had three sacks last week against Dallas before leaving the game with an injured knee), has been performing admirably in shutting down opposing offenses, giving help to a depleted by respondent secondary that is only featuring star corner Antoine Winfield as the nickel back. Minnesota seems to have just the right blend of firepower and defensive stoutness to win it all.
But for all the pressure on the Men in Purple, they are not in the same territory as their opponents. The New Orleans Saints, who have been one of the lone bright spots for the past four years in a city one devastated by Hurricane Katrina, managed to make the NFC Championship once before in 2006, when they had to travel to a frozen Soldier field and face a powerful Bears defensive unit. But now the Saints are in a position they have never been in before: they have home field advantage in an NFC Championship game, and their team has all the talent needed to win it all. Everyone knows about Drew Brees and his plethora of receivers, who have been struggling to win games singlehandedly over the first years of coach Sean Payton's tenure. This year, however, with the additions of defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and safety Darren Sharper (who signed with New Orleans as a free agent from Minnesota), the Saints defense has made play after play despite letting up occasional big scores.
The recipe for a Super Bowl victory is there for both clubs, but only one can advance. This may well be one of the best matchups of the year, as both the Vikings and the Saints have tremendous balance. But Brett Favre's magic won't be enough to save Minnesota, and neither will their defense, which has yet to face a challenge as seemingly insurmountable as the Saints offense. That being said, New Orleans has to remember that this defense is not the Arizona Cardinals, so the chances of Reggie Bush (or any Saints back, for that matter) finding open gaps will be significantly reduced. In what I think will be the better of the two games on Sunday, I pick the Saints to win, 28-14.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Show Some Love for Gang Green
For almost a half century, the crowning moment in the history of the New York Jets has been one game: Joe Namath's infamously guaranteed victory against the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III. Seemingly ever since, they Jets have been the most maligned team in the league, constantly in the shadow of their rival New York Giants, who have one three championships in the last 25 years. Sometimes, they were bad enough that some may have considered their nickname (Gang Green) to be more likenable to an infectious disease, a plague that needed to be purged from the NFL scene.
Sure, the Jets and Giants may not play each other very often (they're not even in the same conference), but they are definitely rivals in every other sense of the word. In what other region are there two NFL teams to root for in such close proximity, both competing for the adoration of a city as well as for Super Bowl rings? The closest you get in San Francisco/Oakland, but even those two teams are separated by a bay. The fans of the winning team get to gloat and show their colors at work or at school, their club having earned them bragging rights for the rest of the year.
At least, that's how it should be. But the cascading spiral of mediocrity that has been the New York Jets over the past 41 years hasn't shown consistency in keeping and fostering their talent, leading to occasional winning seasons puncturing a culture of high expectations and an inability to reach the playoffs. Even when the Jets did secure a playoff berth, they have not been to a Super Bowl since the days of 'Broadway Joe' Namath.
Since Namath's departure, the Jets have not had a true franchise quarterback. Boomer Esiason couldn't win in green despite going to two Super Bowls in Cincinnati. Vinny Testaverde, in two seperate stints with the team, led the Jets to an AFC Championship game in his first year but only played significantly in two of the seasons he was signed to the team. The Jets then signed Chad Pennington, whose nagging injuries and inability to throw deep proved to be his demise in the swirling winds of the Meadowlands. Then head coach Eric Mangini then decided to take a flyer on Brett Favre, who came out of retirement to have a Pro Bowl year despite throwing as many interceptions as touchdowns.
But the new administration had other plans. Following Favre's second retirement, the Jets hired Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan as their new head coach, and drafted USC quarterback Mark Sanchez with the fifth overall pick. Along with a proven defensive scheme, Ryan has brought with him a swagger that the Jets have lacked since receiver Keyshaun Johnson played for the club.
Gang Green certainly has a lot going for them head into their game against the San Diego Chargers. They boast the #1 total defense in the entire league over the regular season despite losing starting nose guard Kris Jenkins to a knee injury, most prominently featuring defensive end Shaun Ellis, linebacker David Harris and shutdown corner Darrelle Revis. They also have an offensive line with three Pro Bowlers in left tackle D'Brickishaw Ferguson, left guard Alan Faneca, and center Nick Mangold, comprising one of the highest paid lines in the league. Veteran runner Thomas Jones, who eclipsed the 1,300-yard mark this year, is accompanied by rookie third-rounder and former Iowa Hawkeye Shonn Greene. Perhaps more importantly, the Jets have some momentum coming off a strong win against the Bengals on Wild Card Weekend. The mettle of their team will be tested against San Diego, who will almost certainly pack the box and force Mark Sanchez to throw. But that's what Cincinnati did last week, and New York persevered.
So raise your heads and break out the green jerseys, Jets fans. Your team is back.
Sure, the Jets and Giants may not play each other very often (they're not even in the same conference), but they are definitely rivals in every other sense of the word. In what other region are there two NFL teams to root for in such close proximity, both competing for the adoration of a city as well as for Super Bowl rings? The closest you get in San Francisco/Oakland, but even those two teams are separated by a bay. The fans of the winning team get to gloat and show their colors at work or at school, their club having earned them bragging rights for the rest of the year.
At least, that's how it should be. But the cascading spiral of mediocrity that has been the New York Jets over the past 41 years hasn't shown consistency in keeping and fostering their talent, leading to occasional winning seasons puncturing a culture of high expectations and an inability to reach the playoffs. Even when the Jets did secure a playoff berth, they have not been to a Super Bowl since the days of 'Broadway Joe' Namath.
Since Namath's departure, the Jets have not had a true franchise quarterback. Boomer Esiason couldn't win in green despite going to two Super Bowls in Cincinnati. Vinny Testaverde, in two seperate stints with the team, led the Jets to an AFC Championship game in his first year but only played significantly in two of the seasons he was signed to the team. The Jets then signed Chad Pennington, whose nagging injuries and inability to throw deep proved to be his demise in the swirling winds of the Meadowlands. Then head coach Eric Mangini then decided to take a flyer on Brett Favre, who came out of retirement to have a Pro Bowl year despite throwing as many interceptions as touchdowns.
But the new administration had other plans. Following Favre's second retirement, the Jets hired Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan as their new head coach, and drafted USC quarterback Mark Sanchez with the fifth overall pick. Along with a proven defensive scheme, Ryan has brought with him a swagger that the Jets have lacked since receiver Keyshaun Johnson played for the club.
Gang Green certainly has a lot going for them head into their game against the San Diego Chargers. They boast the #1 total defense in the entire league over the regular season despite losing starting nose guard Kris Jenkins to a knee injury, most prominently featuring defensive end Shaun Ellis, linebacker David Harris and shutdown corner Darrelle Revis. They also have an offensive line with three Pro Bowlers in left tackle D'Brickishaw Ferguson, left guard Alan Faneca, and center Nick Mangold, comprising one of the highest paid lines in the league. Veteran runner Thomas Jones, who eclipsed the 1,300-yard mark this year, is accompanied by rookie third-rounder and former Iowa Hawkeye Shonn Greene. Perhaps more importantly, the Jets have some momentum coming off a strong win against the Bengals on Wild Card Weekend. The mettle of their team will be tested against San Diego, who will almost certainly pack the box and force Mark Sanchez to throw. But that's what Cincinnati did last week, and New York persevered.
So raise your heads and break out the green jerseys, Jets fans. Your team is back.
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