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October 25, 2009 by editor.
Who would have thought that we would be talking about the Tennessee Titans as a team in trouble. Yes they are win-less, but that isn’t the only issue by a long shot.
Aside from the fact that they can’t score enough on offense, their normally top ten defense is not stopping anyone. It is rare in this NFL to see a team go from super bowl contender one year, to pathetic the next.
They don’t have their defensive coordinator from last year, and that is a bigger deal than people realize. You are not only changing coaches, you are changing philosophies. Jim Schwartz had their defense playing at a high level, with help from current defensive coordinator, Chuck Cecil.
That is why one has a hard time figuring out why the defense is struggling as much as they are. They did lose Albert Haynsworth, but why change the from their attacking style defense? Why change things just to put your own stamp on the defense?
It’s Jeff Fisher’s problem to fix. He’s got issues on offense as well. Kerry Collins is struggling on offense, and they can’t extend drives and score points. They need to find out if they have a franchise quarterback or not, because Collins is not the answer.
As a coach, do you remove Collins, insert Young, and go into the draft next year knowing whether or not you need a franchise quarterback? I say yes. Even at the expense of winning games. Try telling that to a coach who thinks his job is on the line.
The Cleveland Browns are another franchise that is in very bad shape, from top to bottom. In steps Eric Mangini as the new coach, but the rumors are still flowing that he has lost the players and they don’t respond to his disciplinarian approach.
Mangini finished badly in New York, and it would have served Cleveland better if they took their time and did an extensive, careful search for a coach, rather than jumping to hire Mangini.
The Browns are lost on offense with no leader. Derek Anderson has not looked like the quarterback that put up big numbers a couple of years ago, and that is an understatement.
If you are in rebuilding mode, like the Browns are, it makes no sense not to play Brady Quinn and let him grow as the team grows. He hasn’t played enough to know whether or not he can get the job done.
That decision reeks of a coach trying to save his job, rather then do what is in the best interests of the team, long term. Defensively, the Browns aren’t bad. Well, they weren’t bad untill D’Quell Jackson went down, and Shaun Rodgers, Kamerion Wimbley, and others got the flu.
The Browns are pretty much a rudderless ship at this point. They are years away from being relevant again.
The Washington Redskins as an organization are in worse shape than any other franchise in the NFL. Daniel Snyder has adopted a pattern of over-paying free agents in an attempt to buy a championship team.
You can’t buy chemistry or continuity though, as they have found out. They have a meddling front office, a quarterback with no confidence, and offense that can’t score, and a coach that is pretty sure he will not be there next year.
The offense averages 13 points a game, and it is obvious that Jim Zorn’s system doesn’t fit the personnel that he has. That is a mistake that quite a few teams make. They were previously built as a power running team, but the leadership went ahead with this new offense without the necessary personell.
They have to bear most of the responsibility for that. Jason Campell may not be their franchise quarterback, but the organization hasn’t done much to put him in a situation to succeed either.
They have embarrassed their coach by stripping him of play calling responsibilities, and made him a lame duck. They really need to hire a football guy and take this team in another direction. This whole organization needs an over-haul.
San Diego -5 At Kansas City
The Chargers are 1-4 against the spread this season, and hasn’t done a good job on defense. Kansas City hasn’t done much better, as their lone win was on the road. This is a last stand of sorts for the Chargers, so take them and give the points.
Indianapolis -14 At St. Louis
The Rams have actually played better away from home, and the Colts are 3-0 against the spread on the road. The only way this doesn’t get to ugly is if the Colts call off the dogs in the second half, and the Rams make it look respectable. Take Indy and give the points.
Cincinnati (PK) At Chicago
Two evenly matched teams. Cutler starting to get it done for Chicago, and Carson Palmer has his old form back for the Bengals. Whoever gets the better quarterback play will win. I like Cutler and Chicago to pull it off at the end.
Green Bay -9 At Cleveland
The Packers can put up a lot of points in a hurry and on the surface shouldn’t have problems covering, but their defense is not very good. The Browns play better at home, and even with the drama they have going on there , take the Browns and the points.
Minnesota +6 At Pittsburgh
This is the marquis game this week. The Steelers have only covered once this year, and have had problems putting teams away. The defense hasn’t been quite as dominant. The Vikings are 3-0 against the spread this year, but they really haven’t played anyone yet. Pittsburgh should win a close one, but the Vikings should cover the spread.
New York Jets -6.5 At Oakland
The Raiders defense is good, even though their offense is putrid, with the over-weight and highly ineffective Jamarcus Russell. Mark Sanchez is a struggling rookie quarterback, and that should continue in Oakland. Whichever defense gets the most turnovers should win. Take Oakland and the points.
New England -14.5 at Tampa Bay
We don’t know how the trip to London will affect the teams. Tampa Bay is a bad team, but New England hasn’t covered away from home. Too many points here. Take Tampa Bay and the points.
San-Francisco -3 at Houston
I like Houston to pull the upset here. The 49ers have shown some chinks in the armour of late, and even though Houston is only 1-2 at home, I think they will surprise the 49ers. Take Houston and the points.
My Locks
Philadelphia -7 At Washington
Washington can’t score, averaging only 13 points a game, and are 0-3 at home against the spread. McNab and friends should be able to score enough points to cover. The natives are restless in Redskin land, so if the Eagles get up early, it could be ugly. If Washington hasn’t played well against bad teams, …… Take the Eagles and give the points.
Arizona +7 At New York Giants
I have no confidence in teams from the west traveling north. The Giants have underachieved as of late and need an impressive win, especially at home. The Cardinals passing attack is coming together, but the Giant defense will prevail. Take the Giants and give the points.
New Orleans -6.5 at Miami
The Saints are undefeated against the spread this year, and are due for a loss. I don’t think it will be here though. Their defense is stout, and Miami’s offense, short of the wild cat, doesn’t scare anyone. Take the Saints and give the points.
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May 28, 2009 by editor.
We are all well aware of the success the Pittsburgh Steelers have enjoyed for 30-plus years now. It is really a testament to their management and unchanging philosophy, even in the times we are in.
The Falcons would do well to emulate their model of success, because there are no substitutes for it, or shortcuts.
The Steelers of 1979 didn’t dominate like their teams earlier in the 1970’s, but with many of their Pro Bowlers on the other side of 30, they served notice that they would not relinquish their title without a fight.
Their coach, Chuck Noll, was a no-nonsense man who played for the Browns and began coaching the Steelers in 1969.
He never wanted or desired attention for himself, and as good as his teams were we always told them they could be better, even after Super Bowl victories.
His first year they finished 1-13 in 1969, but the Rooney’s stuck with him and knew they had the right man to coach their team all along. Noll was a disciplinarian who had the full attention of his team.
The Falcons did well when they hired Mike Smith as their coach. He seems to know exactly the type of team he wants, and if management allows him to put things together and get his type of players, Atlanta could be special for years to come.
Noll and the Rooney’s built the Steelers into a hard-nosed, physical, run oriented team that took on the personality of the city they represented. Their defense, littered with hall of farmers, was all home grown.
The drafting of their talent shows that without a good front office that can evaluate talent, an organization will still be lost and spinning their wheels. Their front office is the main reason they have been as successful as they have.
They drafted Jack Lambert, John Stallworth, Mike Webster, and Lynn Swann in 1974. They got Mel Blount and Terry Bradshaw in 1970. Joe Greene and L.C. Greenwood were drafted in 1969, Greenwood being a 10th-round pick.
Jack Ham and Dwight White were brought into the fold in 1971. You don’t get lucky this many times. The Steelers front office never gets into the hype. They are looking for their type of player, and that is what they focus on.
All you have to do is look at the other front offices around the league to realize how important is to know what you need, evaluate the talent, and make it happen through the draft, and or free agency.
Detroit, Cincinnati, Washington, Oakland, and San Francisco to name a few, are some of the franchises that have suffered recently because of some of the decisions their front offices have made.
What made the 1979 team special in my eyes is that they were coming off of a Super Bowl year, and many of their key personnel were aging. They could have packed it in but didn’t. Noll wouldn’t let them.
They won early in the 70’s with a dominating defense and a powerful running game. By 1979 they were not quite as dominant, but still finished No. 1 in scoring defense. Their offense became very prolific in the passing game, and they had become a big play offense.
Their personnel didn’t change a whole lot, but the way they won games did. Pittsburgh didn’t need Bradshaw to come up big for their first two Super Bowl wins, but they needed him to come up big in 1978 and 1979.
Their system and tendencies didn’t change, but they raised their level of play to hold on to their Super Bowl championship they won the previous year, even with the bull’s eye on their back. That team was versatile enough to win any way they had to.
If they had to outscore you they did, if they had to grind you into the ground using their trap-blocking running scheme, they would do that.
As the Steelers showed in the Super Bowl versus the Rams, when they needed a big play on defense, they had the players on that side of the ball to get the job done.
Lambert’s interception was the biggest defensive play of that game.
It was the second time they won back to back Super Bowls, and we may never see that repeated again. The commitment to excellence was there from the front office, to the head coach, to the stars and leaders of team, and to the other players.
Another reason those Steelers were my favorite (and some other players in previous years). They had the best nick-names. Mean Joe Greene, Earnie (Fats) Holmes, L.C. (Bags) Greenwood, Dwight (Mad Dog) White, Dennis (Dirt) Winston, Donnie (Torpedo) Shell.
Holmes wasn’t on the roster in 1979, but his nick-name is worthy of mention. Glen Edwards, a defensive back on their teams teams earlier in the decade was known as the head hunter as well (for good reason).
Pittsburgh traditionally plays a physical style of football, which is the way the game is meant to be played. The Falcons would be well served to do the same, and to build their franchise the way the Steelers have built theirs.
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January 17, 2009 by editor.
The Baltimore Ravens have specialized in forcing their opponents into mistakes that give them a clear path to victory. That has been accentuated in their two playoff games versus the Dolphins and Titans. That has been their recipe for success.
Pittsburgh knows good and well that they cannot turn the ball over and hope to beat them. The Steelers trailed in both of the games they played against Baltimore, and that forces you to take chances, which is exactly where the Ravens want you. The Steelers came out on top barely in both games, but you can’t count on doing that every time against defense as good as Baltimore’s is.
It will be bitter cold in Pittsburgh Sunday night, and this will really be a throw back game that is what the NFL is all about. There is no doubt that a mistake in a crucial situation will decide this game as points will be difficult to come by.
The Ravens don’t ask Joe Flacco to do a lot. They rely on their running game, their defense giving them field position, and creating turnovers. Ben Roethlisberger will have to be mindful of where Ed Reed is at all times when he drops back, and he has to get rid of the ball to eliminate the chance of a fumble.
Baltimore has some injury issues to deal with at key positions that may be a factor. Terrell Suggs, the Ravens Pro Bowl linebacker may play, but is not at one hundred percent, and their starting corner-back, Samari Rolle probably won’t play. If Suggs can’t play or is ineffective that will be huge in this game.
Suggs is a great athlete that makes plays all over the field and helps disrupt everything that the opposing offences want to do. He gets after the quarterback, plays the screens about as well as you can, has cover skills, and is a perfect compliment for Ray Lewis. It will be easier for the Steelers to run the ball if Suggs is not in the game.
Le’Ron McClain is dinged up as well, but will play. The Steelers are pretty healthy, so they have the edge in that area. What will probably decide this game is the performance of Pittsburgh’s offensive line. That is the one area of their team that has been weak this year. If they can’t give Big Ben a little time to get the ball down-field, it will be a long day for Steeler fans.
If they don’t show up, that means sacks, interceptions, and points for the Ravens. If they play like they have been over the last month, Pittsburgh should win. The Steelers need to do what they do best on defense. Stuff the Ravens running attack and force Flacco to beat them with his arm. Flacco is good, and a budding star, but he is still a rookie. Pittsburgh has proven that they can get to him and cause turnovers in their previous meetings, so it will be just as important for him not to turn the ball over either.
The Steelers have shown they can come back from a double digit lead against Baltimore. Baltimore can’t say that, and they are not equiped to be able to do it. This will be a close, physical dog-fight, but unless the Ravens defense scores points, The Steelers will win. They are the better team.
Steelers 17 Ravens 10
The Arizona Cardinals have found their defense this post season and look like a completely different team. Playoff football is all about getting stops and being opportunistic on defense, and that is what Arizona has done.
They will have their hands full with Donavan McNab and the Eagles. He is not a rookie, and he is not Jake Delhomme. McNab has come up big against two of the best defenses in the NFC, and that leads me to believe he will not shrink in this game.
He has made the right plays at the right time this post season and he has a defense that has been styfling opposing offenses. The Cardinals have done it on both sides of the ball as well, and Kurt Warner is playing the kind of football that is reminding everyone why he was a winning Super Bowl quarterback.
It helps that he has Larry Fitzgerald and company to throw to, and they have lit it up this post-season. How the Eagles choose to defend the Cardinal’s passing game will go a long way towards deciding this game.
The Eagles are good at pressuring quarterbacks, and Warner is not very mobile. I don’t anticipate Warner having a lot of time to get the ball deep down-field often. I expect the Cardinals to put in a game plan that tries to take advantage of Philadelphia’s aggressiveness on defense. If they are successful, then they have a good chance to win.
Arizona’s defense has really been one of the big surprises of this post-season. They have done a great job stopping the run, and pressuring their opponents into making errors in the passing game after under-achieving badly in the regular season. Stopping an Eagles running game that is mostly absent anyway should not be much of a problem.
Shutting down the Eagles air attack is a different matter. McNab spreads the ball around very well, and if his offensive line gives him time he is capable of carving up Arizona’s secondary. Arizona is a different team then when they played Philadelphia earlier in the year, but I still think the Eagles will prevail.
Eagles 28 Cardinals 20
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January 3, 2009 by editor.
We have finally arrived at the most exciting weekend of the NFL season. Single elimination games on Saturday and Sunday mean that Wild Card weekend is finally here.
Interestingly enough, three of the visiting teams are favored. Given the parity in the league, that is not surprising, and it makes for some intriguing match-ups.
Atlanta Falcons at Arizona Cardinals
If you look at the way Arizona has played all year, it would seem like this game sets up perfectly for them. They were horrible on the road and looked unstoppable at home. They have an experienced quarterback that has won a Super Bowl and stud receivers.
They are playing against a rookie quarterback in his first playoff game. With all this, Arizona has glaring issues that can’t be ignored. They can’t stop the run, and few teams run it as well as the Falcons.
The Cardinals have feasted on the poor teams in their division. When they have played good teams, they have faltered badly.
In the last six weeks, they have lost at home to the Giants and Vikings, and were totally destroyed on the road by New England and Philadelphia.
The Falcons, on the other hand, played in a better division and had better results against the better teams. They pound the ball with Michael Turner, and Matt Ryan has been clutch at quarterback making plays time and time again.
They are a physical football team, and that is where I believe they will beat the Cardinals.
Atlanta’s rushing stats have been better at home but I think they have enough to beat Arizona. Matt Ryan is no ordinary rookie, and will not make critical mistakes.
Falcons 27, Cardinals 23
Indianapolis Colts at San Diego Chargers
The Chargers have played thrilling and inspired football to squeak their way into the playoffs and have momentum. Phillip Rivers has been nothing short of spectacular, and it is not surprising to see him putting the team on his back and getting them to the post-season.
The Colts somehow have flown under the radar. They have been the best team in the AFC the last eight weeks, and no one can remember the last time they lost.
Peyton Manning is the best quarterback left in the playoffs, and when he is clicking on all cylinders like he is now, there is no stopping them.
The Colts don’t have much of a running game to speak of, but that shouldn’t be much of a problem in sunny San Diego.
Manning and crew are one of the only good teams in the league that don’t need balance on offense to be successful. It would hurt them in a bad weather game, but not this week.
The key match-up here is the Charger defense versus the Colts offense. In their game earlier in the year Indianapolis rushed for 93 yards and beat San Diego.
The Chargers must stuff the run and make the Colts one-dimensional. There also needs to be a LaDainian Tomlinson sighting.
Rivers will need to be Superman again along with LT, and their defense will have to be better than it was in their first game if they are to win. I believe another home team will go down here.
Colts 31, Chargers 20
Baltimore Ravens at Miami Dolphins
Much has been written about the resurgence of the Dolphins and the MVP-caliber season that Chad Pennington has enjoyed. Their offense is imaginative and diverse. Their play-calling and coaching is excellent, and they can beat you with the run or the pass.
The big question for them is how will they fare against one of the most physical and intimidating defenses in the league. Pennington is not very mobile and could be a sitting duck against Ray Lewis and the boys.
Miami will have to stay out of third-and-long situations so they are not at the mercy of the Ravens defense.
The Dolphins will have to use their entire offensive arsenal to keep Baltimore off balance. They will have to find something that works, whether it is the Wildcat formation or something else. This will be a tough game for them to win.
Fortunately for the Ravens they have not had to depend on their rookie quarterback, Joe Flacco, to make plays for them all the time for them to be effective.
Their suffocating defense keeps them in the game and they make plays off of their ground attack and play action.
Their defense is very proficient at scoring on opponent interceptions and fumbles as well.
I don’t see Ronnie Brown and Rickie Williams having a lot of success on the ground, and the Ravens will not let Pennington sit back and pick them apart.
The Dolphins will have to force Flacco to make critical mistakes for them to have a chance. As a rookie, he may be susceptible to the pressure.
Ravens 23, Dolphins 10
Philadelphia Eagles at Minnesota Vikings
The Eagles are on a roll right now. Donovan McNabb is playing with newfound confidence and the defense is playing lights out. Their third-ranked defense is shutting down the run, sacking quarterbacks and suffocating receivers.
This means that McNabb doesn’t have to be spectacular, just efficient. They will have to be good this week to stop Adrian Peterson.
Everything begins and ends for the Vikings with the threat of Peterson running the ball. If Philadelphia can’t corral him, it will be a long day for them. Over the last seven games, they have only given up 3.1 yards per carry.
The Vikings are not slouches on defense, either. They can line up and stop anyone. They have impressive wins this year over Carolina, Arizona, and the Giants (New York didn’t have much to play for at that point). They lost to Atlanta, but committed a ton of turnovers to help them.
The X-factor for the Vikings will be how Tarvaris Jackson plays. He will not be a sitting duck for the Eagle defense.
If Philadelphia applies the pressure, he can make plays with his legs. That could be a problem for the Eagles. Jackson also has the propensity to make turnovers when pressured as well, so a lot hinges on how well he plays.
Philadelphia’a running game has to at least be average. It has to be good enough so the Vikings can’t tee off on McNabb. They can’t be one-dimensional, or their season will be over.
Brian Westbrook and Correll Buckhalter will have to be good running and catching the ball.
The Vikings played their way into the playoffs, but the Eagles have the momentum and have been playing better. I’m going with the Eagles’ playoff experience and defense to get them over the top.
Eagles 23 , Vikings 20
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December 28, 2008 by editor.
This is exactly what the NFL envisioned when they expanded the playoff format, realigned the divisions, and made it easier for players to change teams. Playoff spots are still there to be had on the last week of the season, parity abounds, and there are great story lines. This is what separates the NFL brand from the other major sports. Every game is immensely important because the season is short, and division games count twice as much.
Let’s take a look at some of the key games this weekend:
Dolphins at Jets
Miami has all the momentum coming into this game knowing that if they win, they are in the playoffs, and would tie them with the 1999 Colts for the biggest two season turnaround in NFL history.
Chad Pennington was jettisoned out of New York and thrown on the scrap heap when the Jets signed Brett Favre. Now Pennington has a chance to put drive the stake in the Jet’s heart by eliminating them from the playoffs and getting his team in.
Pennington has been more clutch than Brett Favre, as he has been making more plays in the last four games. We would have thought that Favre would be the one to will the Jets across the finish line, but that hasn’t happened.
To be fair, the Jet defense has been bad the last four games against sub par competition. They haven’t put a lot of pressure on opposing quarterbacks and can’t consistently stop the run.
Pennington has managed the games well and hasn’t made the big mistakes. The Dolphin defense was victimized by the Chiefs last week for almost 500 yards, and they have a couple of injury issues as well, but they have been the better team the last month.
With all the money the Jets spent in the off-season expectations were high. You can’t help but feel that this game has the same feel as the New York Met’s final games the last two years. That choking feeling. If they don’t at least win this last game at home, in all probability someone (players, coaches) will pay the price.
New York will have to run the ball effectively using Thomas Jones and Favre will have to make a couple of plays off of that. It is obvious they can’t depend on Favre to win the game by himself. He is not that quarterback anymore. Miami should be able to run the ball, and they need to force Favre into making critical errors. The obvious choice here would be to think Pennington gets his revenge and Miami makes the playoffs, right?
Jets 24 - Miami 23
Jaguars at Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens may be in the best spot of any team trying to get to the playoffs. All they have to do is beat a disappointing and demoralized Jacksonville team that hasn’t met expectations this year.
Jacksonville will try to run the ball against a Ravens defense that won’t let you run it effectively, and Gerrard won’t be good enough in the passing game to overcome a group that is hungry for a playoff spot. Flacco and the Ravens should be able to secure this game relatively easily, as long as they don’t get sloppy and turn the ball over.
Jacksonville has been so0 disappointing, they may have to start over again and gut the team after the season.
Ravens 20 - Jaguars 9
Cowboys at Eagles
Both of these teams had lofty aspirations at the beginning of the season, especially the Cowboys. They were supposed to contend for the Super Bowl, but it is possible for both teams to miss the playoffs if Philadelphia wins.
Dallas just has to win to get in, but they have been so inconsistent the last four games you don’t know which team will show up. Tony Romo has struggled and made bad throws under pressure against the Steelers and Ravens. He has a history of playing his worst football in December, and hasn’t done enough this year to dispel that notion.
The Cowboy defense has played well for the most part lately, with the exception of the last quarter of the Ravens game. They will need to make the Eagles into a one dimensional team by taking away their running game and then attack Donovan McNabb. The Eagles chances of getting in are slim, and they will know by the time they play if they have a chance or not.
They need for Tampa Bay to lose and either Minnesota or Chicago to lose for them to have a shot. They could have controlled their own destiny by beating the Redskins, but their offense struggled and they lost.
If the Eagles don’t make it, speculation begins immediately concerning Andy Reid’s and McNabb’s future with the team. Even if Philladelphia knows their going home for the new year, they will have enough motivation knowing they can send the Cowboys home as well, so they won’t roll over.
I believe Romo’s December swoons will continue.
Eagles 27 - Cowboys 24
Giants at Vikings
The Vikings will try again to clinch a playoff spot after they stumbled against the Falcons at home in their last game. The big advantage they have is that New York has wrapped up home field field advantage through out the playoffs, so the question is how long will they go with their starters?
The Vikings need to have the right answer to their own question. How many times will Adrian Peterson fumble on Sunday. The answer better be none if they want to play the following week. Minnesota has had four chances at play-in games in recent history and have failed each time.
Even without Brandon Jacobs, the Giants still have a potent running game, and they will need it against the stingy Viking run defense. I wouln’t put my faith in Minnesota in anything called a play in game.
Giants 24 - Vikings 17
Broncos at Chargers
This game will be heated and hotly contested. The two young gun quarterbacks don’t like each other, the teams don’t like each other, and the Broncos are on the verge of completing one of the worst collapses in NFL history. No one would have thought the Chargers would be in a position to punch their ticket to the playoffs with a win over Denver this week, but Denver has helped make it possible for them.
The Broncos led by three games with just three to go and have not been able to close the deal, while the Chargers continue to play inspired football and defy the odds by coming from behind, fighting, and clawing their way to victories. San Diego is playing now like many anticipated they would play all year.
Phillip Rivers has been clutch as he has led his team on this run. He leads the NFL in passer rating and touchdown passes. Jay Cutler has been impressive this year as well, but the Bronco defense has been sub-par all season and can’t be relied on the get consistent stops.
I look for the Chargers to pressure Cutler and force a couple of mistakes. San Diego is hoping for vintage performances from L.T., Rivers, and Antonio Gates. They will be at home, they have the momentum, and they have the will. I don’t think they will be denied. It will take a herculean effort from Cutler to get this win on the road. Denver will have to put up a lot of points and get some turnovers to avert disaster in this game.
The Chargers will win this one and be a very dangerous team in the tournament.
Chargers 31 - Broncos 21
Lions at Green Bay
This game will be watched because of its historical significance. The Lions will mercifully end their season on Sunday, and will end it without a win. Green Bay, who hasn’t had much to cheer about this year, doesn’t want to be the only team to lose to Detroit, so they will play hard and try to finish on a good note.
Their defense has been non existent, and even though Aaron Rodgers has been OK, they can’t seem to put everything together for a whole game. At least they are better then Detroit, who has no quarterback, an ineffective running attack, a defense that scares no one, and a front office that should have been broken up years ago. Move over Tampa Bay, you will have company after Sunday.
Packers 28 - Lions 17
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October 4, 2008 by editor.
In week five, it is already desperation time for some teams, while others just try to stay on track.
Tennessee Titans at Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens are coming off a physical game with the Steelers last week and they will not get a week off. The Titans are as physical as they come. Tennessee has one of the leagues best running attacks with Lendale White and Chris Johnson and make no mistake of what they want to do. Joe Flacco will try to build on his performance against Pittsburgh and manage Ravens to victory.
The Ravens defense is good enough to stuff the running game and force Kerry Collins to beat them. The Titans are ripe for their first loss.
Ravens 17 Titans 16
Washington Redskins at Philadelphia Eagles
The Redskins are coming off a huge win against Dallas, while the Eagles came up short against Chicago. This is a classic let down game. Brian Westbrook will be a key if he plays. Donovan McNab will have to play big, because they are having problems running the ball, and the Redskins defense plays the run well.
The Eagles have to have this game, and will play like it.
Eagles 27 Redskins 21
San Diego Chargers at Miami Dolphins
Miami got their first win last weekend against the Patriots, but they will be playing a Charger team that finally got LaDainian Tomlinson on track. Even though they will be traveling across the country their defense should be able to stymie Chad Pennington and company. Especially if they stuff their running game. That will be the key.
Chargers 17 Miami 13
Atlanta Falcons at Green Bay Packers
This could be the perfect storm for the Falcons. Aaron Rodgers may not play. Green Bay’s defense is giving up over five yards per carry, and Atlanta prefers to live and die with Michael Turner running the ball a lot. Matt Ryan has struggled on the road so far, so they would like to just pound the ball.
If Aaron Rodgers doesn’t play, this game is not only close, but the Falcons have a chance to win. Green Bay’s secondary is not in great shape either.
Packers 20 Falcons 17
Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions
Even though the Lions won both meetings last year, they are in disarray. They are win-less in three games so far, and Jon Kitna has been ineffective as their starting quarterback. The Bears would like to control the game by running it and making sure that Kyle Orton doesn’t have to win the game on his own. The Bears should win a close one.
Bears 23 Lions 20
Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans
Desperation time for the Colts. They have to have this game to get back in the hunt in their division. The health of their offensive line is the key. If they can create some space for Joseph Addai, and give Peyton Manning time to throw they will be in good shape. Manning has been hit more this year than the past two years combined.
Colts 27 Texans 24
Seattle Seahawks at New York Giants
The Seahawks are coming off their bye week, but have to trave accross the country to play the Super Bowl champions. Their struggles on the road when going east have been well chronicled. Julius Jones has been suprisingly effective for them and they will need to run the ball against the Giants, but that is easier said than done.
Giants will get it done at home in spite of Plaxico Burress out due to his suspension.
Giants 27 Seahawks 17
Kansas City Chiefs at Carolina Panthers
Damon Huard has stabilized the Chiefs offense, and if their offensive line continues to improve they will be more and more competitive as the year goes on. Carolina will want to exploit the suspect run defense of the Chiefs. That will keep them honest so they don’t load up on Steve Smith.
The only way the Chiefs can win this game is for Larry Johnson to have a big game. If the Chiefs become one dimensional they will be in trouble.
Panthers 31 Chiefs 24
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Denver Broncos
This game may come down to how well Brian Griese plays against the Bronco defense. Griese has thrown six interceptions the last two weeks, but Denver’s defense hasn’t been effective stopping teams either. The Broncos fortunes have rested on the arm of Jay Cutler, who has been great.
Tampa Bay’s defense will not be easy to dissect, and if Denver insists on throwing a lot, they could be in for a long day. A balanced attack would be more in order if they want to keep Cutler healthy. Both teams are 3 - 1 so something has to give.
Denver 28 Buccaneers 20
Buffalo Bills at Arizona Cardinals
Arizona looked lost against the Jets last week and were blown out. They are having the same issues that have plagued them in previous years. They cannot run the ball with any consistency, and that puts pressure on Kurt Warner to make plays when the defenses know they have to pass.
Trent Edwards is licking his chops after looking at how Brett Favre carved up the Cardinals secondary. Turnovers will be what decides this game. Arizona is not as bad as they looked last weekend, and Buffalo may get caught looking past this game. I smell and upset.
Cardinals 27 Bills 24
New England Patriots at San Francisco 49ers
The Patriots look to get back on track after losing their first game of the year. They will have to alter their approach offensively until Matt Cassel shows he can excel in their offense. That means they will have to run the ball more and have Cassel manage the game. The 49ers will continue to depend on Frank Gore. The Patriots will have to take him away and force J.T. O’Sullivan to make plays.
The game will be close, but New England will make just enough plays to win it.
Patriots 20 49ers 10
Cincinnati Bengals at Dallas Cowboys
The Bengals haven’t won this year and it will be interesting to see if Marvin Lewis can hold everything together for the rest of the year. Carson Palmer’s injury hasn’t made it easier. If he can’t go, Ryan Fitzgerald is the man, which means the Bengals will look to establish the run first, and pass second. Dallas will look to balance their attack more this week, as they went pass happy and lost to the Redskins.
Dallas has been shaky on defense and the Bengals need to exploit it. With Palmer that would not be to much to ask. Without him it will be difficult. The Cowboys will be on a mission after last week.
Cowboys 34 Bengals 14
Pittsburgh Steelers at Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jags have had the Steelers number the last four times they have played. Pittsburgh’s running backs have been decimated with injuries and Ben Rothlisberger is banged up and is not a lock to play either. They may not want to play him based on the performance of their offensive line against the Ravens. They want to keep him alive.
The Jaguars will look to pound the ball and set up David Gerrard to make plays down the field. This will be another physical game, but look for the Jags to prevail again. They have Pittsburgh’s number
Jaguars 24 Steelers 17
Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints
The Saints have injury problems, and the Vikings struggle to score points. For Minnesota to win, they have to force turnovers by the Saints. They will have to pressure Drew Brees into making bad decisions while putting him in a lot of third and long situations. That can only happen if they stuff the run.
The Saints want this to be a shoot-out, because they don’t believe the Vikings can beat them at that game. If the don’t turn the ball over, the Saints should prevail.
Saints 27 Vikings 20
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June 22, 2008 by editor.
When we talk about which sport has the best athletes, we have to define what it means to be a good athlete. The ability to sustain speed, strength, and agility simultaneously in competition, displaying the skill to excel at more than one sport.
Jim Thorpe comes to mind when we talk about men in the sports arena that were head and shoulders above everyone else. He won gold medals in the pentathlon, and decathlon in the 1912 Olympic games in Sweden, and played professional football and baseball.
His accomplishments landed him on the 1911 and 1912 All American football teams. Thorpe was considered the greatest athlete of his time. Who are the greatest athletes of our time? Every sport boasts good athletes, but which sport has the best?
For one, we can eliminate baseball players. While there are some studs that are in the major leagues, you don’t necessarily have to be in top physical shape to play. There are quite a few pitchers that are overweight and sport oversize midriffs, but it doesn’t inhibit their ability to throw or hit the baseball.
This doesn’t mean that they aren’t considered athletes, it just means that a lack of fitness doesn’t preclude them from doing their jobs. Add to that the fact their game is not very fast, and if you are not pitching, catching, or hitting you are basically waiting around for something to happen. For the most part they would not be good candidates for other sports like basketball and football.
Let’s compare football players and basketball players. Football players have to be in excellent shape to play. Lineman, linebackers, defensive backs, running backs, all have to be in tip top shape to compete. Their combination of strength, agility, and speed that is necessary to excel is unparalleled.
You have defensive lineman that are 250 plus pounds running down quarterbacks and running backs who are supposed to be faster. The players on a whole are much faster than they were in the 70’s and 80’s, and it is not uncommon any more for receivers, backs, and defensive backs to post forty yard dash times of 4.3 and below.
It’s not just all about the speed. Agility and quickness is evident at almost every position. Many defensive lineman (especially defensive ends) over match their counterparts by being too quick off the edge, or shooting the gaps. Offensive lineman may be the most un-athletic of the bunch, but the better ones are strong and quick, with good feet.
Bo Jackson and Deon Sanders come to mind. Both excelled at football and played professional baseball. Jackson stared with the Oakland Raiders and played baseball for the Kansas City Royals, and Sanders won super bowls with the 49ers and Dallas in the NFL, and played in a world series with the Atlanta Braves. They were football players first, baseball players second.
You don’t see baseball players transitioning to football, but we have seen football players play baseball. Many college football players have played on their school’s basketball teams as well. Regardless of their size their athleticism translated over well to the hardwood.
Charlie Ward of the Florida State Seminoles won a Heisman Trophy playing football, and was the starting point guard for their basketball team. He elected to play professional basketball and was a serviceable point guard for New York. His athleticism allowed him to choose between the two.
Outside linebackers may be the most athletic bunch of all, because they have to be strong enough to shed blockers and offensive lineman, fast enough to cover and run down backs and receivers, as well as quick and agile enough to get after the quarterback.
Looking at basketball players, their athleticism can’t be denied. They have to have more body control than the other athletes in the major sports because so much of their time is spent in the air. Having jumping ability is one thing, but being creative and agile while in the air is something totally different.
We have become used to watching the exploits of Michael Jordan, Vince Carter, Kobe Bryant, Dominique Wilkins, Julius Erving, and many others as they have defied gravity and done the unimaginable with no tera-firma to support them. No other sport requires as much in-the-air time as basketball.
What makes them special is the fact that they are very vulnerable while in that position, but have to focus on scoring, shooting, blocking a shot, and executing dunks. From a strength standpoint there are quite a few players coming in the NBA now that are not physically mature due to their age. You can get away with it if you are very talented (see Kevin Durant), but you can’t get away with it in the NFL.
Hakeem Olajuwon is a good example of a professional basketball player that was an exceptional athlete. His nickname was the dream, because there was no one you could compare him to with his cat like quickness, assortment of low post moves, and rare physical ability. At six feet and ten inches tall, he was constantly among the league leaders in steals, which was unheard of for a center.
Originally from Nigeria he excelled in soccer and played collegiately with Clyde Drexler at Houston (Phi Slama Jama). Olajuwon didn’t play basketball until he was seventeen years old but loved it immediately and realized that was the sport for him. He is generally regarded as one of the best to ever play his position.
Soccer professionals are good athletes, but we have not seen a professional soccer player cross over to another sport successfully. You have to use your hands well when it comes to the major American sports, and soccer players don’t use their hands.
Hockey pros are known for their skating skill and speed on the ice, in addition to their fighting. Their creative abilities on the ice are excellent, but don’t necessarily mean they are naturally athletic. The primary abilities needed in hockey are not needed in other sports, so they really stand alone as a sport.
Raphael Nadel is probably the most athletic of all the tennis players, with all due respect to Roger Federer. He shows his strength, speed and agility every time he plays, especially on clay. The women’s game boasts some good athletes as well, but the percentage is not that high if you look at tennis players as a group.
There are great athletes in all sports and we applaud them, but I believe football players for the most part are the best athletes in the world. It is a close call, but our gridiron professionals exhibit all the necessary attributes to make that claim. Their speed, strength and agility is demonstrated more on the football field then any other arena.
Posted in Baseball, Basketball, Football | Print | No Comments »
May 24, 2008 by editor.
Officiating professional sports has always been a controversial subject because a fair outcome of the game depends on them doing a good job and enforcing the rules. The point of the officials being there is to make sure that the players themselves decide the outcomes, not them.
Why then, are there always questions about rule interpretations, strike zones, fouls, penalties, and the like? Simply because it is not that easy to officiate the sports we love. The rules are intricate and many times the same rule is interpreted differently from game to game, and official to official.
Which sport is the most difficult to officiate? It has to be professional football. To understand why you have to understand all the moving parts that go into keeping control of a game.
First of all, you need a team of seven individuals to work the game, and they each have different functions:
Referee- he gives the signal for all fouls and makes all the penalty calls. He is responsible for all the rule interpretations that occur in the game, and keeps track of what happens to the quarterback on pass plays as well as the legality of the snap. He is normally about ten yards behind the line of scrimmage and checks for illegal motion, and on plays involving kickers, he determines whether illegal contact has been made. Think that is a lot? There is more.
Umpire - watches the offensive and defensive lines for false starts, legal contact, and also ensures that lineman don’t move down the field early on pass plays and that receivers are not illegally held up on screen plays. The Umpire also assists on legal and illegal pass receptions.
Head Linesman - works with the Referee to make sure down is correct, and that the chain crew effectively does their duties. The Head Linesman also watches for illegal contact with receivers on his side of the field after the five yard limit, and has full responsibility for ruling on out of bounds plays on his side. He has to rule on forward progress, pass interference, and any action involving any receiver on his side, in addition to watching for possible scrimmage line infractions. Not exactly a walk in the park with the amount of pass happy teams in the NFL.
Line Judge - he straddles the line of scrimmage opposite the Lineman, and keeps the time on the field as a back-up. Along with the Linesman he is responsible for offsides, encroachment, and other infractions on the scrimmage line prior to the snap. He also has to make sure the passer is not beyond the line of scrimmage on pass plays, and has to rule whether a pass is a lateral or forward pass. On punts, the Line Judge has to make sure the end men go down-field until the kick has been made.
Field Judge - Operates on same side of field as Line Judge, twenty yards deep. Keys on wide receiver on his side. Concentrates on path of end or back, observing legality of his potential block(s) or of actions taken against him. Will call holding or illegal use of hands by end or back or on defensive infractions committed by player guarding him. Has primary responsibility to make decisions involving the sideline on his side of field, such as inbounds/out of bounds calls.
The Field judge also rules on catches, recoveries, and illegal touching of the ball.
Side Judge - operates on the same side of the field as the Linesman twenty yards deep, and keys on the receiver on his side. He will rule on blocking irregularities by the receiver and actions taken against him such as illegal use of hands, and holding, and pass interference. The Side Judge also assists in covering actions by a runner with the football and blocks by teammates. He has direct responsibility for out of bounds plays on his side.
Back Judge - he is positioned twenty five yards down-field and for the most part keys on the tight end and follows his path. The Back Judge will watch for holding and other illegal acts by the tight end as well as infractions against them in the passing game. In addition he will rule on fair catch infractions, clipping on kick returns, and together with the Field Judge, whether or not field goals and extra points are good.
The Back Judge will also time the interval between plays, and keep track of the time between the two periods of each half.
Not only does each official have to remember their responsibilities, but they all have to work together as a team. It has to be a coordinated effort, even though some of their responsibilities overlap. The game itself has gotten faster which necessitated the need for instant replay, but there is no doubt that it is the most difficult.
There are almost too many things happening on every play. You can have illegal motion, an illegal forward pass, pass interference, a personal foul, a hold, and a touchdown on the same play. If you compare the other major sports there are not as many moving parts to keep track of.
Take baseball, for instance. The home-plate umpire for most of the game is focused on calling balls and strikes. Bang-bang plays at the plate and fly balls headed toward the foul pole don’t occur very often, so most of the time the home-plate umpire is dealing with the ball and strikes, and the other umpires are standing around.
You can make a case for the first base umpire being busy because of the plays at first, but most games move along without any major intervention from the umpires.
With professional football, you know holding goes on every play, but the rules say if the lineman’s hands are inside, then they are fine. The interpretation of a lineman’s hands being inside could vary from crew to crew. Every play in the NFL has to be scrutinized by the whole crew, whether there are penalty’s or not. Things happen underneath piles that have to be sorted out, in addition to the spot of the ball being so important.
For the NBA, it is easier to keep track of ten players on a basketball court than it is to keep track of 22 players on a football field. I am not saying the NBA, and the NHL are easy, just easier than the NFL.
As far as having the most influence over a game, that has to be the home plate umpire. If they give a pitcher like Tom Glavine, or Greg Maddox the outside part of the plate (really off the plate) then that will make the difference between them being effective and being almost unhittable, or being ineffective and giving up five plus runs.
Most of the game of baseball is about the pitchers and the batters, which involves the umpire calling the balls and strikes. If they are calling a bad game with a wide strike zone, hitters will swing at pitches they normally wouldn’t swing at. If they are calling a tight strike zone, the hitters have the advantage.
However you slice it, the umpire behind the plate has a lot of influence over the game, but as far as difficulty goes, there is no doubt that NFL football is the most difficult. Sometimes they get it wrong, most of the time they get it right, but it is not easy (see the Motor City Miracle, Troy Polamalou interception in Colts vs. Steelers playoff game, Patriots vs. Raiders ”Tuck Rule” playoff game).
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March 5, 2008 by editor.
Much to the chagrin of the Packer faithful, Brett Favre will no longer be under center when they open up the 2008 season. We all know Brett can still play, and he is respected and loved by his teammates and many of the other players in the league. He played many times when he was hurt and probably shouldn’t have and never gave up on a play. There were times he should have given up, but that wasn’t in him. It wasn’t a part of his game. One of the great things about Favre was that he never played scared and I think that translated over to the rest of his teammates. He has a Super Bowl, MVP trophies, and every passing record that means something. Every time he laced up his cleats he laid it on the line. Even when Brett was wrong, no one wanted to call him out on it because he is loved that much. Loved by his city, his state, and pretty much the whole sporting world. He deserves all the accolades and honors due to a player of his stature.
Let’s look at the flip side of this. How long has Green Bay wanted to move on to life without Favre in the last 5 years? How long have they wanted to know whether Aaron Rodgers can handle being the new franchise quarterback? It has been exacerbated by the fact that Favre had 2 very sub par seasons in 2005 and 2006, and held his team hostage while he made up his mind about whether he was going to come back or not - 29 interceptions in 2005 and 18 more in 2006 (only 18 TD’s that year), as he made bad throw after bad throw, and bad read after bad read. He didn’t have a lot of talent around him, but he wasn’t helping matters any as well. I can’t help but think management, especially the ones who decided to draft Rodgers, is happy Brett is retiring so they can turn the page and get their team ready for life without him. If management had the guts to ask Brett to step aside for the good of the team a couple of years ago, then Rodgers would have had those years to develop and be right on time to excel when Green Bay turned the corner in 2007. I don’t blame Favre for wanting to continue his career. It’s management’s fault for letting Favre call his own shots at the expense of the team. Don’t get me wrong. Favre has done a lot for the franchise, but management can’t let everyone’s emotions cloud their business judgement and get in the way of what is best for the organization going forward. Remember, Favre’s agent said that Green Bay didn’t exactly roll out the red carpet for him to play in 2008.
Congratulations to Brett Favre for a great career and a very meaningful and exciting 2007 season, but it is time to step aside and retire. It is written, To every thing there is a season and a time to every prupose under the heaven. A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to keep and a time to cast away. And that is the Last Word!
Stay Tuned For Mock Draft!
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