On Sunday, the Chicago Bears will host the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field to battle for the National Football Conference Championship. This will be the third time this season that the two division rivals--both of the NFC North--will clash.
On the other side, the New York Jets travel to Pittsburgh to decide who will play the winner of the Bears-Packers contest in the Super Bowl. No problems there, right? Except that both the Jets and the Steelers played a divisional opponent (the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens, respectively) in order to reach their current position.
So why are there all these rematches? Why are teams from the same divisions ousting other divisional champions in order to play each other for a third time? Are these divisions just that much better? Maybe.
In the AFC North, both the Ravens and Steelers posted 12-4 records in the 2010-2011 regular season; as one may guess, this did not bode too well for the other two teams that share their division. The Cleveland Browns went 5-11 while the Cincinnati Bengals were a lowly 2-14. Despite the weaknesses of the declined Carson Palmer and washed-up duo of Terrell Owens and Chad “Ochocinco” in Cincinnati, the fact that Browns were actually able to post five wins in a division boasting the Steelers and the Ravens is a testament to their actual ability. Cleveland was one of only two teams (along with the Jets) to beat Tom Brady and the number-one seeded Patriots, underlying the core of potential they possess in quarterback Colt McCoy and running back Peyton Hillis.
The NFC North possesses a similar situation as its AFC counterpart: two dominant teams in the Packers and the Bears who have almost continually asserted their authority over the other two teams this season. That said, it is difficult to deny the potential ability of the Minnesota Vikings, who were approximately seven Brett Favre injuries away from perhaps having a decent run at the playoffs themselves. It’s not just the Vikings, though; on talent alone, the NFC North is perhaps one of the most loaded divisions in the NFL. Even the Detroit Lions, historically the laughingstock of the league even before their winless 2008-2009 season, possess the likes of quarterback Matthew Stafford, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, and one of the league’s most dynamic players in Calvin Johnson. When your division rivals count Devin Hester, Adrian Peterson, and Greg Jennings on their rosters, that title counts for a great deal.
Potential obviously does not make the playoffs, but the ability for division leaders to play week in and week out against challenging division opponents hones their skills for the playoffs. This helps them against teams from weaker divisions, such as Seattle (the fact that they won their division with a 7-9 record tells you everything you need to know about the strength of their opposition) and Indianapolis, who were a multitude of injuries away from likely coasting to another AFC South title but instead had to fight through a tough stretch to clinch their playoff berth.
But a big question remains as to whether it is beneficial or detrimental from an entertainment perspective for two teams from the same division to play each other a third time. Sure, intra-division rivalries stew up a high level of anticipation from the fans of the participating teams, but from a neutral perspective such a contest excludes a great deal of potential markets by limiting the league’s representation to only a select few divisions.
Showing posts with label football. Show all posts
Showing posts with label football. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
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.
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.
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.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Saying Goodbye to the 2000's In Style
As the end of the decade draws near, so too does the end of a decade of football that will surely go down in NFL lore as one of the greatest in history. The New England Patriots carved out what was probably the first dynasty in the era of free agency, the Steelers reached the record mark of six Super Bowl victories to eclipse the records set by the San Francisco 49'ers and Dallas Cowboys. In a decade of miracle comebacks and amazing victories, I am counting down the most significant trends and events (to me) that have taken place over the past decade.
You Know When You Were An NFL Fan In the 2000's When
7. Two records for consecutive wins were set: The Indianapolis Colts have only last month set a new record for the longest consecutive regular season winning streak, which spanned over two years and 21 games. Indy broke that record against the Jacksonville Jaguars to stay undefeated this season, expanding on a 12 game winning streak started last year. But this week against the Jets they ended their quest for what only one team has managed in this decade: a perfect regular season. The 2007 Patriots made history as the first team to have an undefeated regular season in the history of the 16-game season (the '72 Dolphins undefeated record was still during the time of a 14-game season). In that season, Tom Brady also broke a record held by Peyton Manning, but I'll get to that later.
6. You witnessed the rise of the prima donna receiver: While prima donna receivers have always existed in the league and many arose in the 1990s (see Michael Irvin and Terrell Owens), the increased level of passing has given momentum to a new age of flashy, entertaining wideouts. The aforementioned T.O., the player formerly known as Chad Johnson, and Randy Moss have made their mark on this decade with controversy almost constantly in their wake, whether in their remarks (Owens and Johnson being the most notable repeat offenders) and their antics on or off the field (from Moss "mooning" Lambeau Field and T.O.'s popcorn stunt to Johnson's faux Hall of Fame jacket and customized cleats). The careers of these three receivers have ranged at varying points between good (T.O. before his mouth gets him in trouble and Randy Moss with the Vikings or the Patriots), bad (T.O. in Buffalo, Johnson when he has no Carson Palmer), and ugly (Moss's terrible time in Oakland and the accusations of taking plays off both there and elsewhere). The good news for these three is that they usually walk the walk as well as talk the talk.
5. Your punter is from Australia: Having a punter from down under is not quite a fad just yet, but their style of kicking (which consists of a drop punt that almost hits the nose of the ball) has been brought to national attention due to its undeniable effectiveness. The coffin corner punters of old have been all but wiped out (with Jeff Feagles of the New York Giants being the last such punter of renown) and the Aussies have provided the next breakthrough in punting. While the number of Australians actually in the NFL remains small at only three--Ben Graham of the Arizona Cardinals, Sav Rocca of the Philadelphia Eagles and Mat McBriar of the Dallas Cowboys--their kicking style has permeated throughout the NFL thanks to the efforts of Darren Bennett, a former San Diego Charger credited as the first Australian NFL punter and the first to use the drop kick. From Bennett, many American punters have also picked up the style, and many of them are counted among the best in the league: Mike Scifres of San Diego, Shane Lechler of Oakland, and Hunter Smith (who won a Super Bowl with Indianapolis) in Washington. This may well be on the same magnitude of change as the introduction of soccer-style placekicking, which changed the game in the 1970s and has now become an NFL regularity.
4. The Madden Curse brought misfortune to your favorite player: Ever since Garrison Hearst became the first player to appear on the cover of the Madden football simulation game in 1999, cover athletes for the game have been plagued by poor play or injuries. Thus the so-called "Madden curse" has become a cultural phenomenon over the past decade. In 2005, after Michael Vick's photo graced the cover of Madden, he suffered a fracture in his leg that caused him to miss the first eleven games of the season. Next year's cover athlete Donovan McNabb suffered a sports hernia and missed a large chuck of the season. Shaun Alexander, MVP of the 2006 season and the Madden 2007 featured athlete, suffered a rash of injuries the year after that essentially ended his career. Vince Young made the cover after winning Rookie of the Year honors, but was benched early in the next season for Kerry Collins. Brett Favre, found on the cover of the 2009 edition of the game, had a rough second half of the 2008-09 season after it was revealed that he had torn the biceps in his throwing arm. Even though he didn't miss a game, he ended the season with 23 interceptions (equaling his season total for touchdowns) and no playoff berth. The most recent installment of Madden featured two athletes--Cardinals wideout Larry Fitzgerald and Steelers safety Tryo Polamalu; while Polamalu has been injured for almost all this season, Fitzgerald has struggled to maintain his productivity with inconsistent play from Arizona's quarterback, whether it's been Kurt Warner or Matt Leinart. Thus the curse continues to pervade the league, and I feel for whatever poor soul is on it next year.
3. Your team kicked it to Devin Hester: Despite his removal from his customary role as a return man, Hester is still one of the most feared returners in the league. I don't think any Bears fan will forget his first two seasons in the league, in which he returned a combined twelve kickoffs and punts for scores (not even including the opening kickoff of the Super Bowl his rookie season). Keep in mind that the Bears drafted Hester in the second round specifically for his return ability, and he paid dividends instantly. His contribution was no clearer than during the infamous Monday Night game against the Arizona Cardinals, in which he returned a kickoff for a touchdown to spur the Bears to a 24-21 victory in which their offense scored no points. Let that sink in. Zero points from the epically up-and-down Rex Grossman. Imagine that. As if the game wasn't already a classic, it inspired on of the game's greatest sound-bytes in then Cards head coach Dennis Green's "They are who we thought they were," rant.
But while Hester may be the best punt returner in the league, he has some serious competition for the title of best kickoff returner. Cleveland Browns return man Joshua Cribbs recently set the record for the most career kickoff returns for touchdowns with eight, and continues to thrive while Hester has essentially been replaced on the Chicago special team by fellow standout Danieal Manning. But since there was a period where almost no one in the league kicked to Hester (except for Broncos punter Todd Sauerbrun, who paid for the same mistake twice), he gets the nod from me over Mr. Cribbs as the best overall returner. Congratulations to Cribbs, however, who is now in my opinion the best kickoff returner of the decade.
2. Brett Favre started every regular season game: Since Peyton Manning has also started every regular season game this decade, it would be unfair to not mention him here, but the spotlight deserves to go to Brett Favre, whose streak of consecutive starts remains unbroken in the realm of 285 consecutive games (in a very non-scientific equation, assuming Favre plays half of an hour long game, he has played a total of 5.8 days playing pro football). That's 140 hours of game play, not even counting the rest of the three-plus hour broadcast. That's nuts. After 20 years of pro football, Farve looks more like 60 than 40, and his persisting ability to play at such a high level is miraculous. With surgery to repair the torn bicep in his throwing arm that he suffered last year, Favre has continued his streak with great aplomb and led Minnesota to victory in their division. The Vikings may have lost three of their last four games, but Favre is still having one of his best seasons ever.
1. The record that could never be broken was broken...twice: When Dan Marino set the record for passing touchdowns and yardage in 1982, it was hailed as a record that would never be broken (to put it in perspective, Marino's 48 touchdowns that season equated to 3 a game on average which as any NFL fan should know are miraculous numbers). That was until two lock-in Hall of Fame quarterbacks--Peyton Manning and Tom Brady--came into the league. In 2003, Manning's Colts terrorized opposing defenses with a meticulous and seemingly unstoppable passing game; not only did Manning break Marino's touchdown record, he also snapped Steve Young's record for the highest season-long quarterback rating, which almong with his co-MVP status (shared with the late Steve McNair) proves his tremendous consistency through that season. Their season was ended by the Super Bowl bound Patriots in the AFC Championship game, and seems to have been a changing of the guard. While Manning, who had made his name on gaudy stats and big game meltdowns, won a championship in 2006, the blue-collar mentality was lost to Brady's Patriots, who became reliant on their quarterback's arm. Mr. Brady, who had been praised as the star quarterback with no weapons, had an offensive explosion in 2007 when the Pats decided to resuccitate Randy Moss from his Oakland doldrums. Moss repaid their faith with 23 receiving scores, almost half of Brady's record-breaking 50 touchdown passes. Once again, however, the season for the MVP ended in disappointment as New England fell to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl. Their performances also helped to define the explosion of the NFL passing game that has occured through the past few seasons.
You Know When You Were An NFL Fan In the 2000's When
7. Two records for consecutive wins were set: The Indianapolis Colts have only last month set a new record for the longest consecutive regular season winning streak, which spanned over two years and 21 games. Indy broke that record against the Jacksonville Jaguars to stay undefeated this season, expanding on a 12 game winning streak started last year. But this week against the Jets they ended their quest for what only one team has managed in this decade: a perfect regular season. The 2007 Patriots made history as the first team to have an undefeated regular season in the history of the 16-game season (the '72 Dolphins undefeated record was still during the time of a 14-game season). In that season, Tom Brady also broke a record held by Peyton Manning, but I'll get to that later.
6. You witnessed the rise of the prima donna receiver: While prima donna receivers have always existed in the league and many arose in the 1990s (see Michael Irvin and Terrell Owens), the increased level of passing has given momentum to a new age of flashy, entertaining wideouts. The aforementioned T.O., the player formerly known as Chad Johnson, and Randy Moss have made their mark on this decade with controversy almost constantly in their wake, whether in their remarks (Owens and Johnson being the most notable repeat offenders) and their antics on or off the field (from Moss "mooning" Lambeau Field and T.O.'s popcorn stunt to Johnson's faux Hall of Fame jacket and customized cleats). The careers of these three receivers have ranged at varying points between good (T.O. before his mouth gets him in trouble and Randy Moss with the Vikings or the Patriots), bad (T.O. in Buffalo, Johnson when he has no Carson Palmer), and ugly (Moss's terrible time in Oakland and the accusations of taking plays off both there and elsewhere). The good news for these three is that they usually walk the walk as well as talk the talk.
5. Your punter is from Australia: Having a punter from down under is not quite a fad just yet, but their style of kicking (which consists of a drop punt that almost hits the nose of the ball) has been brought to national attention due to its undeniable effectiveness. The coffin corner punters of old have been all but wiped out (with Jeff Feagles of the New York Giants being the last such punter of renown) and the Aussies have provided the next breakthrough in punting. While the number of Australians actually in the NFL remains small at only three--Ben Graham of the Arizona Cardinals, Sav Rocca of the Philadelphia Eagles and Mat McBriar of the Dallas Cowboys--their kicking style has permeated throughout the NFL thanks to the efforts of Darren Bennett, a former San Diego Charger credited as the first Australian NFL punter and the first to use the drop kick. From Bennett, many American punters have also picked up the style, and many of them are counted among the best in the league: Mike Scifres of San Diego, Shane Lechler of Oakland, and Hunter Smith (who won a Super Bowl with Indianapolis) in Washington. This may well be on the same magnitude of change as the introduction of soccer-style placekicking, which changed the game in the 1970s and has now become an NFL regularity.
4. The Madden Curse brought misfortune to your favorite player: Ever since Garrison Hearst became the first player to appear on the cover of the Madden football simulation game in 1999, cover athletes for the game have been plagued by poor play or injuries. Thus the so-called "Madden curse" has become a cultural phenomenon over the past decade. In 2005, after Michael Vick's photo graced the cover of Madden, he suffered a fracture in his leg that caused him to miss the first eleven games of the season. Next year's cover athlete Donovan McNabb suffered a sports hernia and missed a large chuck of the season. Shaun Alexander, MVP of the 2006 season and the Madden 2007 featured athlete, suffered a rash of injuries the year after that essentially ended his career. Vince Young made the cover after winning Rookie of the Year honors, but was benched early in the next season for Kerry Collins. Brett Favre, found on the cover of the 2009 edition of the game, had a rough second half of the 2008-09 season after it was revealed that he had torn the biceps in his throwing arm. Even though he didn't miss a game, he ended the season with 23 interceptions (equaling his season total for touchdowns) and no playoff berth. The most recent installment of Madden featured two athletes--Cardinals wideout Larry Fitzgerald and Steelers safety Tryo Polamalu; while Polamalu has been injured for almost all this season, Fitzgerald has struggled to maintain his productivity with inconsistent play from Arizona's quarterback, whether it's been Kurt Warner or Matt Leinart. Thus the curse continues to pervade the league, and I feel for whatever poor soul is on it next year.
3. Your team kicked it to Devin Hester: Despite his removal from his customary role as a return man, Hester is still one of the most feared returners in the league. I don't think any Bears fan will forget his first two seasons in the league, in which he returned a combined twelve kickoffs and punts for scores (not even including the opening kickoff of the Super Bowl his rookie season). Keep in mind that the Bears drafted Hester in the second round specifically for his return ability, and he paid dividends instantly. His contribution was no clearer than during the infamous Monday Night game against the Arizona Cardinals, in which he returned a kickoff for a touchdown to spur the Bears to a 24-21 victory in which their offense scored no points. Let that sink in. Zero points from the epically up-and-down Rex Grossman. Imagine that. As if the game wasn't already a classic, it inspired on of the game's greatest sound-bytes in then Cards head coach Dennis Green's "They are who we thought they were," rant.
But while Hester may be the best punt returner in the league, he has some serious competition for the title of best kickoff returner. Cleveland Browns return man Joshua Cribbs recently set the record for the most career kickoff returns for touchdowns with eight, and continues to thrive while Hester has essentially been replaced on the Chicago special team by fellow standout Danieal Manning. But since there was a period where almost no one in the league kicked to Hester (except for Broncos punter Todd Sauerbrun, who paid for the same mistake twice), he gets the nod from me over Mr. Cribbs as the best overall returner. Congratulations to Cribbs, however, who is now in my opinion the best kickoff returner of the decade.
2. Brett Favre started every regular season game: Since Peyton Manning has also started every regular season game this decade, it would be unfair to not mention him here, but the spotlight deserves to go to Brett Favre, whose streak of consecutive starts remains unbroken in the realm of 285 consecutive games (in a very non-scientific equation, assuming Favre plays half of an hour long game, he has played a total of 5.8 days playing pro football). That's 140 hours of game play, not even counting the rest of the three-plus hour broadcast. That's nuts. After 20 years of pro football, Farve looks more like 60 than 40, and his persisting ability to play at such a high level is miraculous. With surgery to repair the torn bicep in his throwing arm that he suffered last year, Favre has continued his streak with great aplomb and led Minnesota to victory in their division. The Vikings may have lost three of their last four games, but Favre is still having one of his best seasons ever.
1. The record that could never be broken was broken...twice: When Dan Marino set the record for passing touchdowns and yardage in 1982, it was hailed as a record that would never be broken (to put it in perspective, Marino's 48 touchdowns that season equated to 3 a game on average which as any NFL fan should know are miraculous numbers). That was until two lock-in Hall of Fame quarterbacks--Peyton Manning and Tom Brady--came into the league. In 2003, Manning's Colts terrorized opposing defenses with a meticulous and seemingly unstoppable passing game; not only did Manning break Marino's touchdown record, he also snapped Steve Young's record for the highest season-long quarterback rating, which almong with his co-MVP status (shared with the late Steve McNair) proves his tremendous consistency through that season. Their season was ended by the Super Bowl bound Patriots in the AFC Championship game, and seems to have been a changing of the guard. While Manning, who had made his name on gaudy stats and big game meltdowns, won a championship in 2006, the blue-collar mentality was lost to Brady's Patriots, who became reliant on their quarterback's arm. Mr. Brady, who had been praised as the star quarterback with no weapons, had an offensive explosion in 2007 when the Pats decided to resuccitate Randy Moss from his Oakland doldrums. Moss repaid their faith with 23 receiving scores, almost half of Brady's record-breaking 50 touchdown passes. Once again, however, the season for the MVP ended in disappointment as New England fell to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl. Their performances also helped to define the explosion of the NFL passing game that has occured through the past few seasons.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
MVP Race Down to the Wire
In what will surely be remembered in NFL lore as the era of offensive explosion for quarterbacks, the last few years have signalled the NFL's encouragement of the passing game. This year, the ridiculous amount of passing has come to a head with three juggernauts of the modern game competing for MVP. In case you've been living under a rock for the past fourteen weeks, here's the lowdown on the race for Most Valuable Player (in order of their worthiness in my eyes):
1. Peyton Manning (QB, Indianapolis): No single player means more and does more for their team as an individual than Peyton Manning, whose religious studying habits, thorough football intelligence, and laser-accurate arm have guided them to their current undefeated status. Despite injuries to receiver Anthony Gonzalez, Peyton has made stars out of rookies Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie, who have 100 catches between them for 1332 yards and 11 scores through Week 15. Combined with the always potent tandem of Reggie Wayne and tight end Dallas Clark, Manning's high-octane offense has dominated despite being at the bottom of the league in rushing yards. The hallmark of a great player is the ability to execute even when every opponent knows what's coming, and everyone who plays the Colts knows that Peyton is going to get the ball. Most importantly of all, he is still undefeated.
2. Brett Favre (QB, Minnesota): I don't think anyone expected the Vikings to be as dominant as they have been this year, thanks in large part to the stunning play of Brett Favre. The former Green Bay Gunslinger has reformed himself into the Minnesota Miracle Man by taking care of the football and allowing Minnesota's plethora of talent to be unleashed. Sidney Rice and Visanthe Shiancoe have been turned into Pro Bowl players, and Favre's surprising health even at age 40 has defied all odds. And for all the talk of how he has revamped his style of play, Brett has still shown his ability to make the long, game-winning throws. His stats (27 scores and only 6 picks) are incredible, especially at the ripe old age of fourty. His only knocks are his record (they have 2 losses) and the exceptional talent of the Vikings offense; while he may be the biggest piece (with Adrian Peterson as a close second), Favre is still a cog in the Minnesota team.
3. Drew Brees (QB, New Orleans): It's hard to imagine that the man who was leading the league in touchdown passes coming into Week 15 being third on an MVP list, but I honestly think this is where Brees belongs. Sure, his team is undefeated, but the Saints' starting lineup is much less compromised than the Colts' and Brees lacks Brett Favre's argument for age (not only that, but Brees was already established in the Saints offense while Favre came out of his second retired stint just after the end of training camp). But give Mr. Brees some credit; he is a superb playmaker who has willed his team to many improbable and superb victories. But that being said, he's not my pick for MVP.
These three front-runners aside, other quarterbacks who have not even entered the MVP conversation are also playing extremely well. After a rocky start to the season with a terrible offenseive line, Favre's replacement Aaron Rodgers has finally begun to click with his line and is beginning to live up to the hype they established in the preseason. Philip Rivers may well by leading the hottest team in the NFL in the San Diego Chargers, who beat Dallas last week and continue to play inspired offense despite starting their third-string nose guard. All of these deserve whatever props come their way, and possibly more; in any other year, those two (or sensational tailback Chris Johnson, who needs only 125 more rushing yards in each of his next three games to reach the benchmark of 2000) could be the talk of the league.
1. Peyton Manning (QB, Indianapolis): No single player means more and does more for their team as an individual than Peyton Manning, whose religious studying habits, thorough football intelligence, and laser-accurate arm have guided them to their current undefeated status. Despite injuries to receiver Anthony Gonzalez, Peyton has made stars out of rookies Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie, who have 100 catches between them for 1332 yards and 11 scores through Week 15. Combined with the always potent tandem of Reggie Wayne and tight end Dallas Clark, Manning's high-octane offense has dominated despite being at the bottom of the league in rushing yards. The hallmark of a great player is the ability to execute even when every opponent knows what's coming, and everyone who plays the Colts knows that Peyton is going to get the ball. Most importantly of all, he is still undefeated.
2. Brett Favre (QB, Minnesota): I don't think anyone expected the Vikings to be as dominant as they have been this year, thanks in large part to the stunning play of Brett Favre. The former Green Bay Gunslinger has reformed himself into the Minnesota Miracle Man by taking care of the football and allowing Minnesota's plethora of talent to be unleashed. Sidney Rice and Visanthe Shiancoe have been turned into Pro Bowl players, and Favre's surprising health even at age 40 has defied all odds. And for all the talk of how he has revamped his style of play, Brett has still shown his ability to make the long, game-winning throws. His stats (27 scores and only 6 picks) are incredible, especially at the ripe old age of fourty. His only knocks are his record (they have 2 losses) and the exceptional talent of the Vikings offense; while he may be the biggest piece (with Adrian Peterson as a close second), Favre is still a cog in the Minnesota team.
3. Drew Brees (QB, New Orleans): It's hard to imagine that the man who was leading the league in touchdown passes coming into Week 15 being third on an MVP list, but I honestly think this is where Brees belongs. Sure, his team is undefeated, but the Saints' starting lineup is much less compromised than the Colts' and Brees lacks Brett Favre's argument for age (not only that, but Brees was already established in the Saints offense while Favre came out of his second retired stint just after the end of training camp). But give Mr. Brees some credit; he is a superb playmaker who has willed his team to many improbable and superb victories. But that being said, he's not my pick for MVP.
These three front-runners aside, other quarterbacks who have not even entered the MVP conversation are also playing extremely well. After a rocky start to the season with a terrible offenseive line, Favre's replacement Aaron Rodgers has finally begun to click with his line and is beginning to live up to the hype they established in the preseason. Philip Rivers may well by leading the hottest team in the NFL in the San Diego Chargers, who beat Dallas last week and continue to play inspired offense despite starting their third-string nose guard. All of these deserve whatever props come their way, and possibly more; in any other year, those two (or sensational tailback Chris Johnson, who needs only 125 more rushing yards in each of his next three games to reach the benchmark of 2000) could be the talk of the league.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Saints and Colts Stay Unbeaten...But It Won't Last
While the New England Patriots have lost two straight games for the first time in years and the Minnesota Vikings suffered their second loss of the season to Arizona, things are still looking peachy for Indy and New Orleans. Both are sitting on 12-0 records, both have MVP-caliber quarterbacks in Peyton Manning (who has already won 3) and Drew Brees (who was only a couple of completions shy of Dan Marino's passing yardage record last year) respectively, and both have defenses that come up big when it counts despite giving up pretty large chunks of points (the Saints are ranked 16th in points allowed this season, and while the Colts come in at 2nd in that category they have a tendency to fall behind early despite having the league's 4th ranked offensive attack).
The defenses aren't the only ones that are at their best in the clutch. Manning and the Colts have made fourth-quarter comebacks look easy this season (before last week's contest against the upstart Tennessee Titans they had had five straight come-from-behind victories). Not wanting to be left out, the Saints defeated Washington last week in a wild 33-30 overtime win. I was gunning for the 'Skins to win that game, but as luck would have it their tragic comedy of errors continued against the one team I hoped they would not make a mistake against (I could barely resist throwing something at my television when I saw Kareem Moore fumble the football after intercepting a pass and allow Saints receiver Robert Meachem, who was also the player who stripped Moore in the first place, to carry it 42 yards for a score).
These two teams have proved me wrong so far, but I said it weeks ago and I'll say it again: The Colts and Saints will NOT go undefeated. Sure, the Saints schedule is looking easier and easier from here on out, with the Cowboys as their only credible opponent remaining (I refuse to include the Atlanta Falcons while Matt Ryan is injured). Even so going undefeated is the most difficult to do in the NFL because the quest to perfection paints a large bullseye on the backs on those teams. The toughest part of the season for an undefeated team is at the end, when the talk of being perfect is at full volume. If you'll remember, the undefeated 2007 Patriots had some of their closest games in the final half of the season, against teams that they were expected to crush (including a Ravens group that went 5-11 that year). After pulling out wins against Baltimore and another nailbiter against Philly, the Pats closed out the regular season with a 38-35 victory against the New York Giants. While it cemented their perfect regular season, it was also a sign of things to come, and the once-dominant playoff Patriots were sunk 17-14 by those same Giants in the biggest game of the year. The one loss on their 18-1 mark that year came in the only game that really mattered: the Super Bowl.
While the Pats may have gone undefeated, I am still convinced that this year's contenders won't be so lucky. While the Saints may have avoided a loss by the skin of their teeth last week, the fact remains that the 'Skins have played some terrible football this season (their 3-9 record is evidence enough of that), and to put up such an inspired performance without their best player (Clinton Portis) is an omen of what awaits New Orleans down the stretch. Look for whoever beats them to not have many wins.
As for Indy, they have enough problems as it is without the talk of being perfect. They are dead last in the league in rushing with a dismal 87.7 yards per game, and without the arm of Peyton Manning this team could easily have a .500 record right now. With Bob Sanders sidelined for the season, the defense is far from impenetrable. It just helps when none of the teams in their division have a competent attack across the board. They host Denver next week, so look for the Broncos and their revitalized offense to give the Colts some trouble. After that, they have to go away to Jacksonville (who will more than likely solely be playing the role of spoilers) and then come back to Lucas Oil Stadium to play the Jets on Thursday Night Football. But the place (not necessarily the team) that I think may give the Colts the most problems is Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo, where temperatures are absolutely frigid in January.
The last thing we need is another team going undefeated, let alone two. As much as I love Peyton Manning, I will be praying that he plays great but the Colts lose, and then I'll just have to root for whoever plays the Saints.
The defenses aren't the only ones that are at their best in the clutch. Manning and the Colts have made fourth-quarter comebacks look easy this season (before last week's contest against the upstart Tennessee Titans they had had five straight come-from-behind victories). Not wanting to be left out, the Saints defeated Washington last week in a wild 33-30 overtime win. I was gunning for the 'Skins to win that game, but as luck would have it their tragic comedy of errors continued against the one team I hoped they would not make a mistake against (I could barely resist throwing something at my television when I saw Kareem Moore fumble the football after intercepting a pass and allow Saints receiver Robert Meachem, who was also the player who stripped Moore in the first place, to carry it 42 yards for a score).
These two teams have proved me wrong so far, but I said it weeks ago and I'll say it again: The Colts and Saints will NOT go undefeated. Sure, the Saints schedule is looking easier and easier from here on out, with the Cowboys as their only credible opponent remaining (I refuse to include the Atlanta Falcons while Matt Ryan is injured). Even so going undefeated is the most difficult to do in the NFL because the quest to perfection paints a large bullseye on the backs on those teams. The toughest part of the season for an undefeated team is at the end, when the talk of being perfect is at full volume. If you'll remember, the undefeated 2007 Patriots had some of their closest games in the final half of the season, against teams that they were expected to crush (including a Ravens group that went 5-11 that year). After pulling out wins against Baltimore and another nailbiter against Philly, the Pats closed out the regular season with a 38-35 victory against the New York Giants. While it cemented their perfect regular season, it was also a sign of things to come, and the once-dominant playoff Patriots were sunk 17-14 by those same Giants in the biggest game of the year. The one loss on their 18-1 mark that year came in the only game that really mattered: the Super Bowl.
While the Pats may have gone undefeated, I am still convinced that this year's contenders won't be so lucky. While the Saints may have avoided a loss by the skin of their teeth last week, the fact remains that the 'Skins have played some terrible football this season (their 3-9 record is evidence enough of that), and to put up such an inspired performance without their best player (Clinton Portis) is an omen of what awaits New Orleans down the stretch. Look for whoever beats them to not have many wins.
As for Indy, they have enough problems as it is without the talk of being perfect. They are dead last in the league in rushing with a dismal 87.7 yards per game, and without the arm of Peyton Manning this team could easily have a .500 record right now. With Bob Sanders sidelined for the season, the defense is far from impenetrable. It just helps when none of the teams in their division have a competent attack across the board. They host Denver next week, so look for the Broncos and their revitalized offense to give the Colts some trouble. After that, they have to go away to Jacksonville (who will more than likely solely be playing the role of spoilers) and then come back to Lucas Oil Stadium to play the Jets on Thursday Night Football. But the place (not necessarily the team) that I think may give the Colts the most problems is Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo, where temperatures are absolutely frigid in January.
The last thing we need is another team going undefeated, let alone two. As much as I love Peyton Manning, I will be praying that he plays great but the Colts lose, and then I'll just have to root for whoever plays the Saints.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Cardinals @ Bears Second Half & Recap: Late Bears Surge Shot Down By Arizona
The Cardinals scored enough points in the first half for an entire game, but weren't done. Worse news for the Bears: while Hunter Hillenmeyer returned to the game, cornerback Charles Tillman (who was victimized by Larry Fitzgerald in the first half of play) left the game with a shoulder injury late in the second quarter. Meanwhile the Chicago offense (who played reasonably well in the first half despite only calling four run plays) started the game off with a quick first down before sputtering. Swarmed by three Cardinals defenders, Cutler was sacked by Chike Okeafor for a loss of 11 yards, forcing the third Bears punt of the day.
Arizona didn't show any signs of a letdown at first as Fitzgerald made a miraculous diving catch off ato keep a drive alive. The Bears would rejoice, however, as they finally forced a Cardinals field goal (excluding the one in the closing seconds of the first half) after Arizona had gone eight for eight on third down through the first half and beginning of the second.
After burning their first time out of the half, the Bears sustained two straight false start penalties (on guard Josh Beekman and center Olin Kreutz), before Cutler gunned a pass to Earl Bennett for 29 yards and a first down. Four plays later, the Bears signal-caller was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct after an incomplete pass on fourth and four, which resulted in 15 yards for Arizona after the turnover (the first of the day for either team).
Three punts (by both teams) later, the Bears showed some life again as Cutler completed three straight passes (two to Hester, who appeared to be having his way with defensive back Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie) and then, after a single incomplete pass, two more before he found Greg Olsen on a 3-yard toss. Cutler hit four different receivers on the drive, including Matt Forte, who had a 28-yard gain after taking a short pass from Cutler.
Arizona put in backup quarterback and former Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart, whose first pass was ruled incomplete but negated due to a pass interference penalty on linebacker Nick Roach. After two runs by Beanie Wells to bring up third-and-short, the Cards committed their first turnover of the day when Leinart threw an interception to Bears cornerback Zack Bowman, who returned it 39 yards to the 33 yard line before being pushed out of bounds. With renewed vigor, Cutler promptly score another touchdown in three plays, finding Greg Olsen for a 20-yard score (the third of the day for both players).
Things kept looking up for Chicago as Hillenmeyer forced a Kurt Warner fumble, but offensive tackle Mike Gandy recovered it in a fortunate turn for Arizona. The glimmer of hope soon faded for the Windy City as the Cards punted and Cutler threw a pick to Matt Ware on the next drive, giving Warner a short field and, after four plays, his fifth TD of the day (a 4-yard pass to Steve Breaston).
Despite one more drive by Chicago, there was no epic comeback today. Chicago's home unbeaten streak has ended, and the score at the final whistle is 41-21.
Bears Verdict - Defense Reeling, Offense Struggles to Keep Up With Cards: Even as devastated as they are by injuries, there is no excuse to be made for the Bears defensive unit's poor play today. It seems to be a case of Murphy's law with them as the injuries mount, and Tommie Harris is almost definitely going to face further suspension by the league for punching Deuce Lutui. The Bears gave up seven yards per rush in the first quarter and 182 yards in all to the league's last-ranked rushing attack. Warner threw for 5 scores and no interceptions.
When a team is that deleted on defense, the offense needs to step up their game, but the Bears aren't yet polished enough to do that. The offensive line has played poorly, allowing 17 sacks of Jay Cutler; while they cannot take all the blame for this, they have not been consistent by any stretch of the imagination. The one interception aside, Cutler had a great game by the standards of most quarterbacks, completing 29 passes for 369 yards and three touchdowns.
How's this for inexperience on offense? Three of the Bears receivers (including Hester and Rashied Davis) came into the NFL as defensive backs, and their two top receivers (other than Hester), Earl Bennett and Johnny Knox, are a second year player and a rookie, respectively. Their best player today was tight end Greg Olsen, who caught 3 touchdowns. The gimmick plays are not working for the Bears, and the running game needs to get much better in order for them to have any hope of salvaging this season.
Cardinals Verdict - Boldin Sits Out, But Balance Prevails: The Cards didn't need Anquan Boldin to beat up on the Bears defense. Larry Fitzgerald caught 9 balls for 123 yards, and the 182 team rushing yards marked a season high. As mentioned before, Warner didn't turn the ball over (although he came perilously close when he fumbled the ball after being sackedby Hunter Hillenmeyer), making the Cards 5-0 when he doesn't turn the ball over. That being said, some problems still remain. Another fourth quarter collapse was just barely averted when Mike Gandy recovered Warner's fumble, which was the ending point in the game that essentially deflated the Bears. Like the Bears, however, Arizona needs to work on their consistency, expecially at home (where they are winless halfway through the season).
Arizona didn't show any signs of a letdown at first as Fitzgerald made a miraculous diving catch off ato keep a drive alive. The Bears would rejoice, however, as they finally forced a Cardinals field goal (excluding the one in the closing seconds of the first half) after Arizona had gone eight for eight on third down through the first half and beginning of the second.
After burning their first time out of the half, the Bears sustained two straight false start penalties (on guard Josh Beekman and center Olin Kreutz), before Cutler gunned a pass to Earl Bennett for 29 yards and a first down. Four plays later, the Bears signal-caller was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct after an incomplete pass on fourth and four, which resulted in 15 yards for Arizona after the turnover (the first of the day for either team).
Three punts (by both teams) later, the Bears showed some life again as Cutler completed three straight passes (two to Hester, who appeared to be having his way with defensive back Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie) and then, after a single incomplete pass, two more before he found Greg Olsen on a 3-yard toss. Cutler hit four different receivers on the drive, including Matt Forte, who had a 28-yard gain after taking a short pass from Cutler.
Arizona put in backup quarterback and former Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart, whose first pass was ruled incomplete but negated due to a pass interference penalty on linebacker Nick Roach. After two runs by Beanie Wells to bring up third-and-short, the Cards committed their first turnover of the day when Leinart threw an interception to Bears cornerback Zack Bowman, who returned it 39 yards to the 33 yard line before being pushed out of bounds. With renewed vigor, Cutler promptly score another touchdown in three plays, finding Greg Olsen for a 20-yard score (the third of the day for both players).
Things kept looking up for Chicago as Hillenmeyer forced a Kurt Warner fumble, but offensive tackle Mike Gandy recovered it in a fortunate turn for Arizona. The glimmer of hope soon faded for the Windy City as the Cards punted and Cutler threw a pick to Matt Ware on the next drive, giving Warner a short field and, after four plays, his fifth TD of the day (a 4-yard pass to Steve Breaston).
Despite one more drive by Chicago, there was no epic comeback today. Chicago's home unbeaten streak has ended, and the score at the final whistle is 41-21.
Bears Verdict - Defense Reeling, Offense Struggles to Keep Up With Cards: Even as devastated as they are by injuries, there is no excuse to be made for the Bears defensive unit's poor play today. It seems to be a case of Murphy's law with them as the injuries mount, and Tommie Harris is almost definitely going to face further suspension by the league for punching Deuce Lutui. The Bears gave up seven yards per rush in the first quarter and 182 yards in all to the league's last-ranked rushing attack. Warner threw for 5 scores and no interceptions.
When a team is that deleted on defense, the offense needs to step up their game, but the Bears aren't yet polished enough to do that. The offensive line has played poorly, allowing 17 sacks of Jay Cutler; while they cannot take all the blame for this, they have not been consistent by any stretch of the imagination. The one interception aside, Cutler had a great game by the standards of most quarterbacks, completing 29 passes for 369 yards and three touchdowns.
How's this for inexperience on offense? Three of the Bears receivers (including Hester and Rashied Davis) came into the NFL as defensive backs, and their two top receivers (other than Hester), Earl Bennett and Johnny Knox, are a second year player and a rookie, respectively. Their best player today was tight end Greg Olsen, who caught 3 touchdowns. The gimmick plays are not working for the Bears, and the running game needs to get much better in order for them to have any hope of salvaging this season.
Cardinals Verdict - Boldin Sits Out, But Balance Prevails: The Cards didn't need Anquan Boldin to beat up on the Bears defense. Larry Fitzgerald caught 9 balls for 123 yards, and the 182 team rushing yards marked a season high. As mentioned before, Warner didn't turn the ball over (although he came perilously close when he fumbled the ball after being sackedby Hunter Hillenmeyer), making the Cards 5-0 when he doesn't turn the ball over. That being said, some problems still remain. Another fourth quarter collapse was just barely averted when Mike Gandy recovered Warner's fumble, which was the ending point in the game that essentially deflated the Bears. Like the Bears, however, Arizona needs to work on their consistency, expecially at home (where they are winless halfway through the season).
Cardinals @ Bears Halftime Report
In what was an unseasonably warm day at Soldier Field in Chicago (the gametime temperature was at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit), the opening action of the Bears-Cardinals game looked like more of what the Bears have seen this season. Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris was ejected from the game early with a completely unnecessary punch to the helmet of the prone Deuce Lutui. Linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer was injured two plays later and taken off the field, replaced by Nick Roach. The Cards capitalized on the 15-yard penalty on Harris (even though they had already been moving the ball effectively) with a short dump pass to Larry Fitzgerald byKurt Warner. Fitzgerald escaped the coverage by Charles Tillman and walked into the endzone for the opening score.
After a disappointing performance against lowly Cleveland last week, Jay Cutler and the Chicago offense came out fast. A 42-yard catch by Hester brought the Bears into Arizona territory, and a deep bomb to tight end Greg Olsen on 3rd and 9 on a deep post pattern finished a short drive for the Bears. While he appeared to be well-covered by safety Adrian Wilson, Olsen adjusted to the throw and opened up a yard of space across the field to catch Cutler's pass. Surprisingly, Chicago did not call one run play on their opening drive.
On Arizona's next possession, a diving catch by Fitzgerald looked suspect but was not challenged by Lovie Smith Two consecutive red zone runs with Hightower and Chris "Beanie" Wells softened up an already weakened Bears defence, and the 13th TD pass of season for Warner to Ben Patrick allowed Arizona to retake the lead. A Bears punt gave the ball back to Arizona, who gave the ball to Wells to break off their longest run of the season, an up-the-gut run that Wells took to the outside for a 26 yard gain. The Cardinals were clicking on all cylinders, and Kurt Warner's 11th straight completion found Larry Fitzgerald (again being covered alone by Tillman) for another touchdown.
The Cards surprised the usually solid Bears special team with a pop-up kick, but Chicago caught a break as referee Ed Hochuli ruled that possession did not belong to Arizona as it first appeared but in fact went to Jay Cutler and the Chicago offense. After a single first down, Cutler ran right into Darnell Docket and was sacked for a nine yard loss, which ended up forcing another punt by Brad Maynard. Once again, the Arizona offense was held to third down multiple times, but managed to convert two 3rd-and-5's as they moved the ball quickly and decisively. A 15-yard reception by Cardinals tight end Anthony Becht (his first of the season) marked Warner's fourth touchdown pass of the day.
Attempting to will his team back into the game, Cutler made more impressive throws. A laser between two defenders to second-year wideout Earl Bennet picked up a key first down, and was followed by a screen to running back Matt Forte. Set back by an offensive pass interference penalty on Greg Olsen, the Bears could only make up 10 yards out of the 20 that they needed. The Robbie Gould field goal was then blocked, and returned 59 yards by Antrell Rolle after falling short, allowing Arizona to tack on a last second field goal of their own to complete a dominant first half. The halftime score: 31-7 Arizona.
After a disappointing performance against lowly Cleveland last week, Jay Cutler and the Chicago offense came out fast. A 42-yard catch by Hester brought the Bears into Arizona territory, and a deep bomb to tight end Greg Olsen on 3rd and 9 on a deep post pattern finished a short drive for the Bears. While he appeared to be well-covered by safety Adrian Wilson, Olsen adjusted to the throw and opened up a yard of space across the field to catch Cutler's pass. Surprisingly, Chicago did not call one run play on their opening drive.
On Arizona's next possession, a diving catch by Fitzgerald looked suspect but was not challenged by Lovie Smith Two consecutive red zone runs with Hightower and Chris "Beanie" Wells softened up an already weakened Bears defence, and the 13th TD pass of season for Warner to Ben Patrick allowed Arizona to retake the lead. A Bears punt gave the ball back to Arizona, who gave the ball to Wells to break off their longest run of the season, an up-the-gut run that Wells took to the outside for a 26 yard gain. The Cardinals were clicking on all cylinders, and Kurt Warner's 11th straight completion found Larry Fitzgerald (again being covered alone by Tillman) for another touchdown.
The Cards surprised the usually solid Bears special team with a pop-up kick, but Chicago caught a break as referee Ed Hochuli ruled that possession did not belong to Arizona as it first appeared but in fact went to Jay Cutler and the Chicago offense. After a single first down, Cutler ran right into Darnell Docket and was sacked for a nine yard loss, which ended up forcing another punt by Brad Maynard. Once again, the Arizona offense was held to third down multiple times, but managed to convert two 3rd-and-5's as they moved the ball quickly and decisively. A 15-yard reception by Cardinals tight end Anthony Becht (his first of the season) marked Warner's fourth touchdown pass of the day.
Attempting to will his team back into the game, Cutler made more impressive throws. A laser between two defenders to second-year wideout Earl Bennet picked up a key first down, and was followed by a screen to running back Matt Forte. Set back by an offensive pass interference penalty on Greg Olsen, the Bears could only make up 10 yards out of the 20 that they needed. The Robbie Gould field goal was then blocked, and returned 59 yards by Antrell Rolle after falling short, allowing Arizona to tack on a last second field goal of their own to complete a dominant first half. The halftime score: 31-7 Arizona.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Vikings @ Packers Second Half & Recap
Starting off with a 14-point lead (the result of a 17-3 halftime deficit which marked the lowest amount of first half points by a Packers team for a decade), Brett Favre and the Vikings recieved to kick-off to start the second half. The Minnesota momentum was halted by a hard hit on Bernard Berrian by Packers safety Atari Bigby, but Favre zinged a 30-yard pass over the middle to Harvin, who took advantage of a collision between two Packers to sprint into the endzone for a 51-yard score and extend the Vikings' lead to 21.
Aaron Rodgers responded with a long drive down the field, but after he was stopped by Pat Williams on a design quarterback draw, he was consitently stuffed by the Vikings defensive line, and Mason Crosby ended up being called on for another field goal, a chip shot from 26 yards which indicates just how close Green Bay came to scoring.
They would get the ball back on the next kickoff as Crosby hit a squib kick that was fumbled by reserve defensive end Brian Robison, who was probably touching a game ball for the first time in his NFL career. Nevertheless, Green Bay took advatage of his mistake and scored with a short field on a 16-yard toss to tight end and three-way player Spencer Havner.
Brian Robison got back into the game to replace an injured Ray Edwards, and could not get any pressure on Rodgers as the Packers marched downfield. Havner scored again on a 5-yard reception to cap off another drive by an inspired Packer offense, bringing the Vikings' leading down to only 4 points.
That didn't last long, as Harvin's long return was swiftly turned into six points by Favre, who dumped the ball off on a checkdown to fullback Jeff Dugan. In what was shaping up to be another frantic fourth quarter, Rodgers answered with a toss to Greg Jennings, who managed to catch the ball despite being the target of two Vikings penalties (defensive holding and pass interference).
Chris Kluwe's punt was downed inside the 20, but Green Bay's pass offense once again proved prolific enough to match. A bad snap resulted in a fantastic catch by Donald Driver (who was hurt on the play) that was extended by a questionable roughing-the-passer penalty on Ray Edwards. Without Driver, the Pack could not advance any further, and the resulting Crosby kick was wide right.
Favre made his former team pay with his fourth touchdown pass of the day, a quick pass to Bernard Berrian who sat in the hole between two defenders before being thrown into the endzone. The pass set another record for Brett Favre, but I'll get to that. In the end, th final score was 38-24 in favor of the Minnesota Vikings, as Favre continued his winning ways in Lambeau.
Packers Verdict - Favre Proves To Be Greatest Enemy: The man who is regarded by many as Green Bay's most iconic player since the Lombardi era is now also their nemesis. Favre is 2-0 against his former team, having thrown for seven touchdowns and no interceptions. There is little to criticize about Green Bay's play tonight; they fought hard against a powerful Vikings team and fell short, at one time being only four points down. They still need to improve their run game and pass protection, but it's difficult to do that without their starting left tackle. Chad Clifton was active today but did not play, and hopefully he will be available for their next contest.
Vikings Verdict - Favre's Career Day Masks Defensive Deficiencies: I'm frankly tired of saying this, but the Vikings defense needs to play with more consistency quarter-to-quarter. They give up lots of fourth quarter points, and while those nail-biting fourth quarter heroics are good for adding to the legend of #4 they are not the greatest recipe for winning games. Favre's excellence is covering for the weaknesses in the Vikings team. For all the sacks produced by their dominant defensive front, their pass defense is rather weak in the clutch, as evinced by the close margins of their last few games (particularly when it came back to bite them against Pittsburgh). Unless they improve, the defense will end up being Minnesota's undoing when they reach the playoffs and play in elements that may not be quite as conducive to Favre's air-it-out style of play.
Meanwhile, Favre set yet another record today. He passed for four touchdowns for the twenty-first time in his career, breaking the record held by Dan Marino. In the last game against the Packers, he became the first player in NFL history to defeat all 32 teams in the NFL. How's that for Hall of Fame credentials?
Aaron Rodgers responded with a long drive down the field, but after he was stopped by Pat Williams on a design quarterback draw, he was consitently stuffed by the Vikings defensive line, and Mason Crosby ended up being called on for another field goal, a chip shot from 26 yards which indicates just how close Green Bay came to scoring.
They would get the ball back on the next kickoff as Crosby hit a squib kick that was fumbled by reserve defensive end Brian Robison, who was probably touching a game ball for the first time in his NFL career. Nevertheless, Green Bay took advatage of his mistake and scored with a short field on a 16-yard toss to tight end and three-way player Spencer Havner.
Brian Robison got back into the game to replace an injured Ray Edwards, and could not get any pressure on Rodgers as the Packers marched downfield. Havner scored again on a 5-yard reception to cap off another drive by an inspired Packer offense, bringing the Vikings' leading down to only 4 points.
That didn't last long, as Harvin's long return was swiftly turned into six points by Favre, who dumped the ball off on a checkdown to fullback Jeff Dugan. In what was shaping up to be another frantic fourth quarter, Rodgers answered with a toss to Greg Jennings, who managed to catch the ball despite being the target of two Vikings penalties (defensive holding and pass interference).
Chris Kluwe's punt was downed inside the 20, but Green Bay's pass offense once again proved prolific enough to match. A bad snap resulted in a fantastic catch by Donald Driver (who was hurt on the play) that was extended by a questionable roughing-the-passer penalty on Ray Edwards. Without Driver, the Pack could not advance any further, and the resulting Crosby kick was wide right.
Favre made his former team pay with his fourth touchdown pass of the day, a quick pass to Bernard Berrian who sat in the hole between two defenders before being thrown into the endzone. The pass set another record for Brett Favre, but I'll get to that. In the end, th final score was 38-24 in favor of the Minnesota Vikings, as Favre continued his winning ways in Lambeau.
Packers Verdict - Favre Proves To Be Greatest Enemy: The man who is regarded by many as Green Bay's most iconic player since the Lombardi era is now also their nemesis. Favre is 2-0 against his former team, having thrown for seven touchdowns and no interceptions. There is little to criticize about Green Bay's play tonight; they fought hard against a powerful Vikings team and fell short, at one time being only four points down. They still need to improve their run game and pass protection, but it's difficult to do that without their starting left tackle. Chad Clifton was active today but did not play, and hopefully he will be available for their next contest.
Vikings Verdict - Favre's Career Day Masks Defensive Deficiencies: I'm frankly tired of saying this, but the Vikings defense needs to play with more consistency quarter-to-quarter. They give up lots of fourth quarter points, and while those nail-biting fourth quarter heroics are good for adding to the legend of #4 they are not the greatest recipe for winning games. Favre's excellence is covering for the weaknesses in the Vikings team. For all the sacks produced by their dominant defensive front, their pass defense is rather weak in the clutch, as evinced by the close margins of their last few games (particularly when it came back to bite them against Pittsburgh). Unless they improve, the defense will end up being Minnesota's undoing when they reach the playoffs and play in elements that may not be quite as conducive to Favre's air-it-out style of play.
Meanwhile, Favre set yet another record today. He passed for four touchdowns for the twenty-first time in his career, breaking the record held by Dan Marino. In the last game against the Packers, he became the first player in NFL history to defeat all 32 teams in the NFL. How's that for Hall of Fame credentials?
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Vikings @ Steelers Second Half & Recap: Minnesota Undone By Steelers D
The second half of this heated contest started much the same way as the first, with a 16-yard rush to the perimeter by Rashard Mendenhall, who made his fourth start replacing the injured Willy Parker. The Steelers followed it up with an end around to Mike Wallace, which was aided by a facemask penalty on defensive tackle Kevin Williams (incorrectly called on defensive back Karl Paymah). The Vikings gave more help in the form of a late hit by Benny Sapp, filling in for Pro Bowler Antoine Winfield, that gave Pittsburgh 15 more yards. But while the Vikes bent, they didn't break, holding Big Ben and the Steelers offense to another field goal.
Favre and Minnesota came back with a vengeance on their first second half drive, completing a fourth-down conversion to Sidney Rice for a big gain to get 1st-and-goal at the 2. The story of stingy defense continued, however, as the Pittsgurgh defense held the Vikings back, forcing a chip-shot field goal from kicker Ryan Longwell.
After a series of punts, things looked bright for the Steelers as Roethlisberger hit Holmes for long gain in which five or six Vikings missed tackles. But Mendenhall fumbled on the next play for the first turnover of the game. Favre moved the ball on the next drive, but his good throws were stymied by three consecutive penalties (including Steve Hutchinson's first penalty in 27 games). A miraculous tiptoe catch by SidneyRice preserved the drive, and after Adrian Peterson bulled his way down to the 10 the Vikings were set back again by a phantom tripping call that erased a Sidney Rice touchdown.
At 3rd-and-goal, the game was turned on its heels as Brett Favre was stripped and LaMarr Woodley took it back 77 yards for a score. Percy Harvin then reinvigorated Minnesota with a kickoff return for a touchdown, aided immensely by a horrible challenge from kicker Jeff Reed.
Roethlisberger was stripped by debutant Asher Allen, but the Vikes could not capitalize as the ball was fumbled out of bounds. On the next possession, Adrian Peterson created another highlight by crushing William Gay, but it proved all for naught as a Favre pass deflected off Chester Taylor's fingertips and was intercepted by linebacker Kieran Fox. In for Lawrence Timmons, Fox returned his first ever pick for six points and deflated the Vikings, who fall out of the ranks of the undefeated teams.
Vikings Verdict - Defense plays well, but needs consistency: The Minnesota defence has proved that they are legit by looking dominant often, but at times they don't look like it. They lack the killer instinct necessary to finish games, and too often allow opposing offenses to get back into the game. It showed against Baltimore last week and in the second half against the Steelers. That star-studded defense will need to step up their game, but most importantly, they need to stop playing Cover-2. For all its sacks, the vaunted Minnesota pass rush has had trouble gtting the quarterback when they rush only their four down linemen.
Meanwhile, Sidney Rice is looking like a Pro Bowl reciever. He finished the day with 11 catches for 136 yards, reaching the century mark in two consecutive games. He should have had more, as his touchdown pass was negated by a bogus tripping penalty, but no one can question the skill and athletic ability required to bring down his great catch on the sideline.
Steelers Verdict - Defense Saves Steelers, Preserves Win Streak: Two fourth-quarter TD's on interception returns lifted Pittsburgh over the Vikings to their fourth straight win, but there is still a great dea of room for improvement. Mike Wallace had a career day with several nice catches and two runs, but Hines Ward (who entered the game leading the league in receptions) had a measly one catch for three yards. Roethlisberger, who has completed 72% of his passes this season, was 14 for 26 for 175 yards and a lone score. Fortunately, he got it done when it counted, picking apart the Minnesota D on the one touchdown drive as well as those that ended in close field goals.
Favre and Minnesota came back with a vengeance on their first second half drive, completing a fourth-down conversion to Sidney Rice for a big gain to get 1st-and-goal at the 2. The story of stingy defense continued, however, as the Pittsgurgh defense held the Vikings back, forcing a chip-shot field goal from kicker Ryan Longwell.
After a series of punts, things looked bright for the Steelers as Roethlisberger hit Holmes for long gain in which five or six Vikings missed tackles. But Mendenhall fumbled on the next play for the first turnover of the game. Favre moved the ball on the next drive, but his good throws were stymied by three consecutive penalties (including Steve Hutchinson's first penalty in 27 games). A miraculous tiptoe catch by SidneyRice preserved the drive, and after Adrian Peterson bulled his way down to the 10 the Vikings were set back again by a phantom tripping call that erased a Sidney Rice touchdown.
At 3rd-and-goal, the game was turned on its heels as Brett Favre was stripped and LaMarr Woodley took it back 77 yards for a score. Percy Harvin then reinvigorated Minnesota with a kickoff return for a touchdown, aided immensely by a horrible challenge from kicker Jeff Reed.
Roethlisberger was stripped by debutant Asher Allen, but the Vikes could not capitalize as the ball was fumbled out of bounds. On the next possession, Adrian Peterson created another highlight by crushing William Gay, but it proved all for naught as a Favre pass deflected off Chester Taylor's fingertips and was intercepted by linebacker Kieran Fox. In for Lawrence Timmons, Fox returned his first ever pick for six points and deflated the Vikings, who fall out of the ranks of the undefeated teams.
Vikings Verdict - Defense plays well, but needs consistency: The Minnesota defence has proved that they are legit by looking dominant often, but at times they don't look like it. They lack the killer instinct necessary to finish games, and too often allow opposing offenses to get back into the game. It showed against Baltimore last week and in the second half against the Steelers. That star-studded defense will need to step up their game, but most importantly, they need to stop playing Cover-2. For all its sacks, the vaunted Minnesota pass rush has had trouble gtting the quarterback when they rush only their four down linemen.
Meanwhile, Sidney Rice is looking like a Pro Bowl reciever. He finished the day with 11 catches for 136 yards, reaching the century mark in two consecutive games. He should have had more, as his touchdown pass was negated by a bogus tripping penalty, but no one can question the skill and athletic ability required to bring down his great catch on the sideline.
Steelers Verdict - Defense Saves Steelers, Preserves Win Streak: Two fourth-quarter TD's on interception returns lifted Pittsburgh over the Vikings to their fourth straight win, but there is still a great dea of room for improvement. Mike Wallace had a career day with several nice catches and two runs, but Hines Ward (who entered the game leading the league in receptions) had a measly one catch for three yards. Roethlisberger, who has completed 72% of his passes this season, was 14 for 26 for 175 yards and a lone score. Fortunately, he got it done when it counted, picking apart the Minnesota D on the one touchdown drive as well as those that ended in close field goals.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Hundred Million Dollar Man Graces the Pitch, Not the Gridiron
Today I'll take a reprieve from the NFL to discuss what the rest of the world knows as "football." The Confederations Cup, regarded by many as the precursor to the World Cup, is well underway and the U.S. already eliminated. As saddened as I am by this, I can hardly say I am particularly surprised by the result.
Despite certain fanatical advocates who claim that Major League Soccer is on even footing with the top European teams, the general concensus remains that there is a clear desparity across the pond. And why shouldn't it be this way? In Europe, "football" is perhaps the most widespread commercial enterprise, attracting high-end attention from the likes of a former Italian Prime Minister (Silvio Berlusconi, owner of Serie A club AC Milan) and a Russian oil tycoon (Roman Abramovich, owner of English Premier League team Chelsea FC). In America, some wouldn't even consider it a sideshow to the Superbowl, the World Series, and the NBA Finals.
So what separates the two sides: the Americans and the Europeans? First of all, TV exposure and other such monetary opportunities ensure that only the big-time clubs compete against US club (imagine the Superbowl champs going to play against NFL Europa teams). This favor towards international giants is understandable given the appeal of such teams to the United States audience, but in the end it skews the results of such friendly matches. Such irregular competition is not the best formula to decide who has the competitive edge.
Differences in league rules are also a divisive force between the U.S. and Europe. The United States uses the draft system for nearly every sprt of any national acclaim, which is aimed towards increasing the competitiveness and parity of the participating teams. The idea of allowing the worst team to choose the best potential player is thoroughly American, for it is not often shared by the rest of the sports world.
European soccer (and generally the rest of the world's leagues as well) is based almost purely on capital: the club with the most money can get the best players, ideally translating into success. There is no draft process, making it more similar to college football than the NFL. The transfers of Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo and AC Milan midfielder Kaka (for $102 million and $92 million, respectively) exemplifies the idea that permeates the world of professional football: the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer.
In addition, the leagues themselves affect the status of their clubs. The MLS, NFL, and MLB are all singular entities that represent all the franchises in their respective leagues. In Europe, each club is its own independent organization; while they are tied to a collective governing body in nation Football Associations and FIFA, the restrictions imposed upon these clubs are much less strict than those of American sports. The European transfer market is essentially unregulated, allowing any team with enough dough to buy as many players as they want. There is no salary cap because wage budgets are set by the individual owners, allowing clubs to pay players as much as is required to get their signature.
Since Major League Soccer lacks any such transfer market (and any deals from outside have to go through the MLS, which owns the rights to all player contracts), it is difficult to make a fitting analogy that will strike a chord with American readers who do not follow intercontinental soccer. To illustrate the dominance of wealth, imagine if one NFL team held the top four picks in the Draft. In addition, they can pay each player as much as they wish, with no restrictions on incentives or contracts. An epitome of parity and fairness? I think not.
So when the MLS is accused of being a weaker league, I think we should take pride in the fact that we have a system that fosters competition and the opportunity for success for all.
Despite certain fanatical advocates who claim that Major League Soccer is on even footing with the top European teams, the general concensus remains that there is a clear desparity across the pond. And why shouldn't it be this way? In Europe, "football" is perhaps the most widespread commercial enterprise, attracting high-end attention from the likes of a former Italian Prime Minister (Silvio Berlusconi, owner of Serie A club AC Milan) and a Russian oil tycoon (Roman Abramovich, owner of English Premier League team Chelsea FC). In America, some wouldn't even consider it a sideshow to the Superbowl, the World Series, and the NBA Finals.
So what separates the two sides: the Americans and the Europeans? First of all, TV exposure and other such monetary opportunities ensure that only the big-time clubs compete against US club (imagine the Superbowl champs going to play against NFL Europa teams). This favor towards international giants is understandable given the appeal of such teams to the United States audience, but in the end it skews the results of such friendly matches. Such irregular competition is not the best formula to decide who has the competitive edge.
Differences in league rules are also a divisive force between the U.S. and Europe. The United States uses the draft system for nearly every sprt of any national acclaim, which is aimed towards increasing the competitiveness and parity of the participating teams. The idea of allowing the worst team to choose the best potential player is thoroughly American, for it is not often shared by the rest of the sports world.
European soccer (and generally the rest of the world's leagues as well) is based almost purely on capital: the club with the most money can get the best players, ideally translating into success. There is no draft process, making it more similar to college football than the NFL. The transfers of Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo and AC Milan midfielder Kaka (for $102 million and $92 million, respectively) exemplifies the idea that permeates the world of professional football: the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer.
In addition, the leagues themselves affect the status of their clubs. The MLS, NFL, and MLB are all singular entities that represent all the franchises in their respective leagues. In Europe, each club is its own independent organization; while they are tied to a collective governing body in nation Football Associations and FIFA, the restrictions imposed upon these clubs are much less strict than those of American sports. The European transfer market is essentially unregulated, allowing any team with enough dough to buy as many players as they want. There is no salary cap because wage budgets are set by the individual owners, allowing clubs to pay players as much as is required to get their signature.
Since Major League Soccer lacks any such transfer market (and any deals from outside have to go through the MLS, which owns the rights to all player contracts), it is difficult to make a fitting analogy that will strike a chord with American readers who do not follow intercontinental soccer. To illustrate the dominance of wealth, imagine if one NFL team held the top four picks in the Draft. In addition, they can pay each player as much as they wish, with no restrictions on incentives or contracts. An epitome of parity and fairness? I think not.
So when the MLS is accused of being a weaker league, I think we should take pride in the fact that we have a system that fosters competition and the opportunity for success for all.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Cutler and Broncos in Standoff
The Denver Broncos and disgruntled quarterback Jay Cutler have yet to reach any sort of settlement. In fact, things have only looked worse for both parties as the staredown has worn on.
So where does the blame lie? In this writer's humble opinion, it is at the feet of both Cutler and new Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels. Niether of them have handled this situation at all adeptly, and while both of them have reason to defend their own side they are each individually at fault.
Cutler voiced immediate displeasure towards the firing of previous head coach Mike Shanahan. While Cutler claims that Broncos owner Pat Bowlen told him that former offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates would be retained for next season, Bowlen denies that any such conversation ever took place. While it is his right to voice his displeasure (even if it is a breach of professional courtesy), I think Cutler has overreacted towards the coaching changes instituted by McDaniels. Change is rampant in the NFL, with quarterbacks adapting to new systems every year. Why should Cutler by any different? His case for feeling betrayed by Bowlen does not constitute a schism of this magnitude. The rumors about a trade, however, do.
This is where McDaniels takes the fall. Even if Matt Cassel succeeded in the Patriots system last year, there is no telling what Cutler could accomplish until he learns it. McDaniels seemed a little hasty in shopping around for a three-way deal to bring Cassel to Denver, especially when he has a Pro-Bowl caliber quarterback already in camp. While some people have stomped on Cutler for his decision-making last year, he threw more than 600 times (616, to be exact) last year, second only to the Saint's Drew Brees. Since the zone blocking and run game that has become Denver's crutch over the last decade and a half was largely unavailable due to a plethora of injuries to their runningbacks (in fact, it got so bad that Broncos linebacker Spencer Larsen started the game at fullback, making him the first player to start on offense and defense since 2003), Cutler was forced to throw early and often. The 28th-ranked total defense (30th in points allowed) didn't help much either.
Even so, the Broncos had the 2nd-ranked offense in the league, and Cutler has all the tools (elite arm strength, accuracy, and a certain degree of on-the-field leadership) to succeed. Conclusion: if McDaniels tried to leave an indelible mark on Denver, he has certainly done so, but he went about doing it the wrong way. Even if he is trying to follow the creed of his old Patriots team—team first, stars second—McDaniels has violated an even older guideline: don't fix what isn't broken. Even a offensive-minded guy like McDaniels should have realized that the Denver offense was ready to go from the start; in fact, he should have had an easier time seeing it. The defense was what held the Broncos back. Now, he has a rift with perhaps his best player and certainly his most important player.
I still think the best solution is for Cutler to stay in Denver. With a familiar group of players around him, I think Cutler would adapt well to the kind of Patriots-style offense that McDaniels brings to the table. Now that Cassel is out of the equation, Cutler is the Broncos' best chance, and if McDaniels realizes that will keep a great player and, even better a hold over the locker room; if he resolves the Cutler situation, things should be much less tense in Denver. Both player and coach are professionals and will hopefully be able to resolve their differences.
[All stats come from www.nfl.com]
So where does the blame lie? In this writer's humble opinion, it is at the feet of both Cutler and new Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels. Niether of them have handled this situation at all adeptly, and while both of them have reason to defend their own side they are each individually at fault.
Cutler voiced immediate displeasure towards the firing of previous head coach Mike Shanahan. While Cutler claims that Broncos owner Pat Bowlen told him that former offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates would be retained for next season, Bowlen denies that any such conversation ever took place. While it is his right to voice his displeasure (even if it is a breach of professional courtesy), I think Cutler has overreacted towards the coaching changes instituted by McDaniels. Change is rampant in the NFL, with quarterbacks adapting to new systems every year. Why should Cutler by any different? His case for feeling betrayed by Bowlen does not constitute a schism of this magnitude. The rumors about a trade, however, do.
This is where McDaniels takes the fall. Even if Matt Cassel succeeded in the Patriots system last year, there is no telling what Cutler could accomplish until he learns it. McDaniels seemed a little hasty in shopping around for a three-way deal to bring Cassel to Denver, especially when he has a Pro-Bowl caliber quarterback already in camp. While some people have stomped on Cutler for his decision-making last year, he threw more than 600 times (616, to be exact) last year, second only to the Saint's Drew Brees. Since the zone blocking and run game that has become Denver's crutch over the last decade and a half was largely unavailable due to a plethora of injuries to their runningbacks (in fact, it got so bad that Broncos linebacker Spencer Larsen started the game at fullback, making him the first player to start on offense and defense since 2003), Cutler was forced to throw early and often. The 28th-ranked total defense (30th in points allowed) didn't help much either.
Even so, the Broncos had the 2nd-ranked offense in the league, and Cutler has all the tools (elite arm strength, accuracy, and a certain degree of on-the-field leadership) to succeed. Conclusion: if McDaniels tried to leave an indelible mark on Denver, he has certainly done so, but he went about doing it the wrong way. Even if he is trying to follow the creed of his old Patriots team—team first, stars second—McDaniels has violated an even older guideline: don't fix what isn't broken. Even a offensive-minded guy like McDaniels should have realized that the Denver offense was ready to go from the start; in fact, he should have had an easier time seeing it. The defense was what held the Broncos back. Now, he has a rift with perhaps his best player and certainly his most important player.
I still think the best solution is for Cutler to stay in Denver. With a familiar group of players around him, I think Cutler would adapt well to the kind of Patriots-style offense that McDaniels brings to the table. Now that Cassel is out of the equation, Cutler is the Broncos' best chance, and if McDaniels realizes that will keep a great player and, even better a hold over the locker room; if he resolves the Cutler situation, things should be much less tense in Denver. Both player and coach are professionals and will hopefully be able to resolve their differences.
[All stats come from www.nfl.com]
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