The Titans are now the best team in the AFC South.
Okay everyone, say it with me. The Tennessee Titans are the best team in the AFC South now and a top-5 team going forward in the NFL. If everything pans out and Randy Moss puts on a Titans jersey, he is going to do things for that team that will elevate them. Yes, I'm assuming his personality will relax a bit and he won't be a troublemaker. But I think he's looking for a good fit, a team that's going to win, and I highly doubt Jeff Fisher is going to take any crap - after all this is a guy who went to the nightclub where Kenny Britt had his little fiasco personally to investigate.
You gotta think Fisher and the Titans are grinning like the Cheshire Cat right now, because they just stole a guy who alters how other teams have to defend them. Suddenly, a safety has to pull back on Moss every play, just like they did while he was a Viking. This is going to open up tons of underneath stuff for Bo Scaife and lots of running room for Chris Johnson, as well as peel some coverage off of emerging young star Kenny Britt.
But Moss has to be happy knowing he won't get a lot of deep shots here - Vince Young is not a deep-ball quarterback and never will be. But I also think Moss has to respect that he's getting a shot here with a winning team that has a sound foundation for next year, too. This is a team with a top-10 defense, a mobile quarterback that defenses have to respect and a top-5 RB. He has a good complement in Kenny Britt. This is a good match. Moss would truly be a fool to squander this opportunity, which could very possibly be his last with a championship-caliber team. And mark my words, with Moss on their roster, the Titans are exactly that.
Oh, and remember that the Titans are on their bye this week - which gives them a week and a half to acclimate Moss to their locker room and their game plan. Brilliant move, Titans. It couldn't have worked out better for you. Unless, of course, Moss implodes for a third time this season... but I'll be honest - I think this is a good fit and I don't see it happening. Great move, should be a good fit, could make a big difference come playoff time.
That other waiver wire move...
The Bills picked up Shawne Merriman off waivers. I have to wonder how motivated he'll be to play for a winless team. But my biggest wonder is this - how good is he now? Merriman's play tapered off significantly as he took injury after injury. He hasn't had a wholly productive season in a couple years. Is he the same player? If so, and he shows up to Buffalo, then he could help give the Bills a boost for a team that's been so close in their last two losses.
Meanwhile, in Minnesota...
Sidney Rice came off the PUP list and is reportedly practicing with the team. I heard one report saying he could play as early as this weekend, but I doubt it. Make no mistake, though, the Vikings need him back. When their backup plan for Moss is Hank Baskett, they're hurting for Rice's return. But rushing him back could be detrimental in the long-run. But then again, when in the last two years have the Vikings paid heed to any sort of functional long-term plan?
While I'm at it, I'm going to tell you all what the Vikings ought to do as of yesterday, to help get this franchise straightened out, because make no mistake, they are in total disarray and I don't see a single sign telling me they're pulling out of this tailspin, because the two main problems are still there.
1) Fire Brad Childress. Now. He's sacrificed too much for the Brett Favre Experiment and the way he handled this Moss thing is just embarrassing. If you're a fan, you don't like him. If you're a player, I don't see how you can trust him. He's not fostering a good locker room.
2) Make Leslie Frazier interim head coach. This is not a talentless team, but they're certainly not playing to their talent. They can still recover some this year. Frazier is sought after every year for head coaching gigs - give him a shot here before he gets a chance to depart. He knows the players and he has the locker room. Give him a shot and if it works out, offer him the job permanently for 2011 and on.
3) Cut Brett Favre. He's not going to be there next season and, let's be honest, this season is over for the Vikings. They are not a playoff team. And if they're not winning a championship this year, there is ZERO reason for Favre to be on the field, because all he does is hold back younger players developing at the position.
4) With Favre cut, install Tavaris Jackson as QB for the rest of the season. Give him his shot. If he plays well and works out, great, continue. If not, then let your new coach get a new QB to go with him moving forward.
Make no mistake - if not now, the Vikings will be a rebuilding team next year, even if only a short-term rebuilding team. But they can do a lot of the footwork for it during the rest of this season if they accept reality now, and it'll put them in a better position to start the next year. Of course, all this would have been avoided if they had just not pursued Favre, but that's said and done now...
There are Lions on TV!
So, watching some sports shows this afternoon, I saw two Lions players on TV - I saw Matthew Stafford on Jim Rome's show and I saw Ndamukong Suh on Pardon The Interruption. Stafford looked a little intimidated - he went a long time without blinking, as far as I was watching, and didn't really show a lot of emotion or voice inflection. He is a smart kid though, you can hear it in how he talks about the game. I believe he's probably more laid back off TV, but I was hoping the kid would be a little more loose than that, especially with a guy like Rome. Suh, meanwhile, looked pretty relaxed on PTI, even laughing when they brought up his attempt to decapitate Jake Delhomme in the preseason. He gave smart responses and smiled and laughed a lot (and he blinked at a normal rate). While I like Stafford a lot, I have to say that Suh is one of the most polished rookies I've ever seen - both on the field and off of it. He just knows how to carry himself and I have a lot of respect for the young man for it... and it helps give me hope for the Lions going forward.
Showing posts with label Detroit Lions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Detroit Lions. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
This is how to start November...!
Gotta start with the Vikings...
I was going to try and think of a catchy title for this, but decided not to do that to Vikings fans who read this. I'm not even sure where to begin. For those who haven't noticed, the Viking waived - that is to say, cut - Randy Moss today. When Randy said, four weeks ago, "Get your 84 jerseys out, this'll be a fun ride," I'm pretty sure this isn't what he expected (although, admittedly, this is pretty unique). Moss was somewhat critical, in his own rambling way after the 28-18 loss to his former team, the Patriots. And I doubt his sheer adoration for the Patriots (sounds like a guy who just broke up with a girl only to realize he wants her back) was probably going to sit fantastically in the locker room. But do you cut the guy? After all, Childress himself said some fairly critical back-handed things about Favre the week before. And Moss makes (er, made) the Vikings a better team - that vertical threat opened up space for Percy Harvin and Visanthe Shiancoe. Every Vikings fan I know - and I agree - has noted that Harvin seemed to really blossom with Moss in the lineup. I figured if there was anywhere Moss would be happy to play second-fiddle and help mentor young guys, it'd be back on his first team, the Vikings. I wanted to see the guy retire in purple and gold.
Someone will pick up Moss, because he makes most teams better. I think his actions recently shorten that list though - for example, I could see the Rams or Panthers being interested in a top-flight WR, but I don't see either wanting a combustible personality burdening their young quarterbacks. I think San Diego makes a lot of sense for him, as a team full of tall WRs who could use some help with Vincent Jackson unhappy and still-suspended as well as Malcolm Floyd hurt. I could see Rivers and Moss making some good music together.
So, if Moss was productive - even without catching passes, by opening up space - why was he cut by the Vikings? I've been a vocal opponent to the Brett Favre moves of the Vikings, something I think has set the long-term potential of the franchise back by at least three years, if not more, as they've neglected to develop a young quarterback behind him. But I think Brad Childress is as much of the problem. It's clear that there's ego-friction between Favre and Childress - something that only manifests tangibly when the Vikings are losing, which is more now than it was a year ago. Which makes me wonder if this was a way of Childress to lash out at an available, ready-made target. Moss spoke out against Chilly and now, suddenly, he's gone. This says to me that it is the only move, a move born of frustration and probably some anger, this lame-duck coach can make, because he's hitched himself to Favre and he knows as well as anyone else that he's subject to Favre's whims because he let Favre's whims take precedence over establishing a strong sense of authority (see: no-show for training camp, but that's okay).
I don't understand it, though. All it does is prove that this Vikings fiasco is soaring to new heights - this is dysfunction in high form, from which I don't think they can recover. I predicted earlier this offseason that one of two teams would collapse - either the Vikings or Jets. Looks like, so far, I was right, but this has far exceeded my expectations.
How about those Lions? And, hey, is that Rex Grossman?
It's too bad that, nationally, the Lions victory over Washington is getting more attention because of Mike Shanahan's mind-boggling move to remove a healthy Donovan McNabb for Rex Grossman than it is for the Lions playing a very good football game. But we'll start with the McNabb stuff. The true mark of a good quarterback is his ability to make a 4th-quarter comeback, or lead a 2-minute drill. That Shanahan pulled McNabb with the game on the line, in the last two minutes, speaks volumes. McNabb will not be a Redskin next year. That's what it says to me.
Meanwhile, the Lions had a dominating performance. The defensive line chalked up 6 sacks and had constant pressure on McNabb. The secondary, while still nothing great, has found a gem in cornerback Alphonso Smith, who had another interception in this game and dropped another one that would have gone for a TD. Suh continues to lead the way in the Defensive Rookie of the Year race. Meanwhile, after throwing an early pick, young Matthew Stafford bounced back and ended up with 4 TDs on the day - 3 to Calvin Johnson and 1 to Brandon Pettigrew. Also, the run game found some balance, with Kevin Smith and Jahvid Best combining for roughly 100 yards on roughly 25 carries. That's what you want to see from this team. Better yet is the ball in Stafford's hands on 4th-and-1, game on the line, slinging a dart to Calvin for his last TD of the game. This wasn't just a win, but a gut-check win that the Lions won in clutch fashion. These are the kinds of games that the Lions used to be a lock to lose. These hungry, new-look Lions won it. This is a new team that's looking down that corner and starting to turn it. You can't overlook them on your schedule anymore - on any given Sunday, I truly believe they can beat any team in the NFL.
That punter must have some really big, really brass ones...
I have mixed feelings about the Jets punter going for it on 4th and 18. Did anyone else catch Rex Ryan's post-game press conference? The punter has the authority to go for it at his own discretion when he sees a good opening, but Rex chuckled and goes "I never thought he'd do it on 4th and 18..." A good moment, there. Credit to the guy for almost making it and having the brass big ones to make that call, but wow.
As for the Jets, though, I have to argue that the Packers really just demonstrated a blueprint on how to beat them, and Clay Matthews summed it up in one sentence: "We put the ball in Sanchez's hands." It's a bad thing when a defense realizes that their chance of winning goes up if they force your franchise quarterback to have to make plays. I've thought this about Sanchez for some time - that he's a very efficient game manager type of quarterback, who is reliable to protect a lead and take care of the ball. But when the game is on the line, when he's called upon to make a play, he's not the guy I want. And sure, you can say his receivers dropped a ton of balls in that game, but it still doesn't erase the lack of clutch credit on Sanchez's resume so far. While he may be looking more and more polished up to now, it just makes me happy that the Lions took the right guy at #1 in the '09 draft - the guy who can make that game-winning, clutch play when the ball is in his hands.
Final note....
Who knew that the Chiefs/Raiders game coming up in Week 9 would end up being a game that is going to have a huge impact, potentially, on the AFC West race? Both of these teams look far more credible than either the Chargers or woeful Broncos. Kudos to both of them. Tom Cable - I am not joking here - is my vote for Coach of the Year right now. It's taken time, but he's had to go back and forth through hell and adversity to get this team where it is now and many people called for his head multiple times along the way. Good for you, Cable Guy. Good for you, Al Davis, for sticking with him.
I was going to try and think of a catchy title for this, but decided not to do that to Vikings fans who read this. I'm not even sure where to begin. For those who haven't noticed, the Viking waived - that is to say, cut - Randy Moss today. When Randy said, four weeks ago, "Get your 84 jerseys out, this'll be a fun ride," I'm pretty sure this isn't what he expected (although, admittedly, this is pretty unique). Moss was somewhat critical, in his own rambling way after the 28-18 loss to his former team, the Patriots. And I doubt his sheer adoration for the Patriots (sounds like a guy who just broke up with a girl only to realize he wants her back) was probably going to sit fantastically in the locker room. But do you cut the guy? After all, Childress himself said some fairly critical back-handed things about Favre the week before. And Moss makes (er, made) the Vikings a better team - that vertical threat opened up space for Percy Harvin and Visanthe Shiancoe. Every Vikings fan I know - and I agree - has noted that Harvin seemed to really blossom with Moss in the lineup. I figured if there was anywhere Moss would be happy to play second-fiddle and help mentor young guys, it'd be back on his first team, the Vikings. I wanted to see the guy retire in purple and gold.
Someone will pick up Moss, because he makes most teams better. I think his actions recently shorten that list though - for example, I could see the Rams or Panthers being interested in a top-flight WR, but I don't see either wanting a combustible personality burdening their young quarterbacks. I think San Diego makes a lot of sense for him, as a team full of tall WRs who could use some help with Vincent Jackson unhappy and still-suspended as well as Malcolm Floyd hurt. I could see Rivers and Moss making some good music together.
So, if Moss was productive - even without catching passes, by opening up space - why was he cut by the Vikings? I've been a vocal opponent to the Brett Favre moves of the Vikings, something I think has set the long-term potential of the franchise back by at least three years, if not more, as they've neglected to develop a young quarterback behind him. But I think Brad Childress is as much of the problem. It's clear that there's ego-friction between Favre and Childress - something that only manifests tangibly when the Vikings are losing, which is more now than it was a year ago. Which makes me wonder if this was a way of Childress to lash out at an available, ready-made target. Moss spoke out against Chilly and now, suddenly, he's gone. This says to me that it is the only move, a move born of frustration and probably some anger, this lame-duck coach can make, because he's hitched himself to Favre and he knows as well as anyone else that he's subject to Favre's whims because he let Favre's whims take precedence over establishing a strong sense of authority (see: no-show for training camp, but that's okay).
I don't understand it, though. All it does is prove that this Vikings fiasco is soaring to new heights - this is dysfunction in high form, from which I don't think they can recover. I predicted earlier this offseason that one of two teams would collapse - either the Vikings or Jets. Looks like, so far, I was right, but this has far exceeded my expectations.
How about those Lions? And, hey, is that Rex Grossman?
It's too bad that, nationally, the Lions victory over Washington is getting more attention because of Mike Shanahan's mind-boggling move to remove a healthy Donovan McNabb for Rex Grossman than it is for the Lions playing a very good football game. But we'll start with the McNabb stuff. The true mark of a good quarterback is his ability to make a 4th-quarter comeback, or lead a 2-minute drill. That Shanahan pulled McNabb with the game on the line, in the last two minutes, speaks volumes. McNabb will not be a Redskin next year. That's what it says to me.
Meanwhile, the Lions had a dominating performance. The defensive line chalked up 6 sacks and had constant pressure on McNabb. The secondary, while still nothing great, has found a gem in cornerback Alphonso Smith, who had another interception in this game and dropped another one that would have gone for a TD. Suh continues to lead the way in the Defensive Rookie of the Year race. Meanwhile, after throwing an early pick, young Matthew Stafford bounced back and ended up with 4 TDs on the day - 3 to Calvin Johnson and 1 to Brandon Pettigrew. Also, the run game found some balance, with Kevin Smith and Jahvid Best combining for roughly 100 yards on roughly 25 carries. That's what you want to see from this team. Better yet is the ball in Stafford's hands on 4th-and-1, game on the line, slinging a dart to Calvin for his last TD of the game. This wasn't just a win, but a gut-check win that the Lions won in clutch fashion. These are the kinds of games that the Lions used to be a lock to lose. These hungry, new-look Lions won it. This is a new team that's looking down that corner and starting to turn it. You can't overlook them on your schedule anymore - on any given Sunday, I truly believe they can beat any team in the NFL.
That punter must have some really big, really brass ones...
I have mixed feelings about the Jets punter going for it on 4th and 18. Did anyone else catch Rex Ryan's post-game press conference? The punter has the authority to go for it at his own discretion when he sees a good opening, but Rex chuckled and goes "I never thought he'd do it on 4th and 18..." A good moment, there. Credit to the guy for almost making it and having the brass big ones to make that call, but wow.
As for the Jets, though, I have to argue that the Packers really just demonstrated a blueprint on how to beat them, and Clay Matthews summed it up in one sentence: "We put the ball in Sanchez's hands." It's a bad thing when a defense realizes that their chance of winning goes up if they force your franchise quarterback to have to make plays. I've thought this about Sanchez for some time - that he's a very efficient game manager type of quarterback, who is reliable to protect a lead and take care of the ball. But when the game is on the line, when he's called upon to make a play, he's not the guy I want. And sure, you can say his receivers dropped a ton of balls in that game, but it still doesn't erase the lack of clutch credit on Sanchez's resume so far. While he may be looking more and more polished up to now, it just makes me happy that the Lions took the right guy at #1 in the '09 draft - the guy who can make that game-winning, clutch play when the ball is in his hands.
Final note....
Who knew that the Chiefs/Raiders game coming up in Week 9 would end up being a game that is going to have a huge impact, potentially, on the AFC West race? Both of these teams look far more credible than either the Chargers or woeful Broncos. Kudos to both of them. Tom Cable - I am not joking here - is my vote for Coach of the Year right now. It's taken time, but he's had to go back and forth through hell and adversity to get this team where it is now and many people called for his head multiple times along the way. Good for you, Cable Guy. Good for you, Al Davis, for sticking with him.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
NFL Week 1 - Thoughts
Separate from my Weekly Recap, I'll attempt to add a complimentary post that delves into some of the more remarkable topics that the week's games generate. Also, my apologies for not tweeting anything during the games this weekend, but unfortunately I've been battling some cold/throat virus and it kept me from having the energy for such an interactive activity while I watched my football. Next weekend you should expect some tweets!
Bad Week for Offense / Good Week for Defense
It seemed to me that every team that made a much-spoken-about offensive acquisition in the offseason struggled to put a touchdown on the board this week. At the same time, teams that aren't traditionally defensive powerhouses put together eye-catching defensive performances. Meanwhile, teams known for their vaunted offenses also struggled. Let's break it down:
Baltimore (Anquan Boldin, WR; TJ Houshmandzadeh, WR) - 10 points.
Chicago (Mike Martz, offensive coordinator) - 19 points; two goal-line failures.
Detroit (Nate Burleson, WR; Tony Scheffler, TE; Jahvid Best, RB) - 14 points; less than 200 yards total offense.
Miami (Brandon Marshall, WR) - 15 points.
Minnesota (no significant new acquisitions; top-5 offense last year) - 9 points.
New Orleans (no significant new acquisitions; top-5 offense last year) - 14 points.
NY Jets (LaDainian Tomlinson, RB) - 9 points.
San Diego (no significant new acquisitions; top-5 offense last year) - 14 points.
Washington (Donovan McNabb, QB) - 13 points; only TD was scored by the defense.
Meanwhile, teams like the Lions, the Bills, and the Chiefs all play stout defensive games and hold their foes to respectable point totals. It seems that in this era of football, which has become known for being a high-flying, high-scoring, pass-happy golden age, perhaps some momentum is swinging back to the defense? Offenses have become more aggressive and more creative over the last five years. Perhaps in that time, defenses have caught up - defensive schemes have, over the past couple years, become more aggressive and more creative in response. Various gadget-type plays (see: Wildcat) have started to fizzle out and defenses are starting to expose the vulnerabilities in teams that pass more. I'll be interesting to see how this plays out over the season; is it a temporary thing, as new players adapt to new teams in real game environments? Or are defenses reacting and scheming properly in this pass-happy era now?
The Call That No One Is Talking About
Yes, Calvin Johnson caught a game-winning TD and it was taken away. People have talked about that and, in all the talk generated by it, another issue is being ignored. The score, at that moment, was 19-14. A successful 2-point conversion earlier would have made it 21-14. However, no one is talking about the call Lovie Smith made earlier in the game, near the beginning of the fourth quarter, when Shaun Hill fumbled the ball on the Lions' 1-yard line for a Bears recovery. The Bears went 3-and-out at the 1-yard line - much like another Lions goal-line stand earlier in the game. The score, at this moment, was 14-13 and the Lions had done nothing to inspire confidence in their offense to that point. In fact, at the time, they'd only converted one first-down for the entire second half. All evidence points to kicking a field goal in this situation - take the points, because the Lions have stuffed you on the goal-line up to then and they couldn't move the ball. If the field goal is kicked, it becomes 16-14, Bears lead, and when they make their final drive (when Forte scores the go-ahead TD), they can eat the clock and needn't scramble for a play. They can win comfortably, 16-14, and the controversial call never happens. Even if the Bears still score a touchdown, at that point, it's 23-14 and the game is out of reach for the Lions. Cardinal rule of good coaching: don't leave points off the board. It's one thing if the Lions offense had been clicking and moving the ball. It's another if they aren't. The Bears won that game and a controversial call is the news story as a result. If the Lions had won the game, that mind-boggling call by Lovie Smith is the new story - and it should be anyway, at least in Chicago.
The Must-Win Game of the Week
In Pierce's Picks this week, I chose the Houston Texans over the Indianapolis Colts. I did this because I considered it the Must-Win Game of the Week. Think about it - if the Colts win, it's another home loss for the Texans by their nemesis and says that the season goes on as all others before it have: so close, but so far; if the Texans win, it's a statement game that says "we're ready to go to war for this division and we will compete with anyone here." Turns out the Texans went for the latter. Suddenly this flips the entire division around - the Texans take the win, by running the ball, no less, and become a team you have to plan for, that you have to - dare I say it - fear a little. They have a hungry, tenacious defense. They have skill players and talent on offense. This is a team that can throw on you, run on you, and chase your QB around. They were 1-15 against the Colts, in their history, up til this weekend. That second franchise win against the Colts was a statement. I don't think you can buy the Texans as a viable playoff contender unless they can beat the Colts. They can beat the Colts. The rest of the league - take notice. They were a trendy playoff pick early last year. This year they might be a realistic one.
Bad Week for Offense / Good Week for Defense
It seemed to me that every team that made a much-spoken-about offensive acquisition in the offseason struggled to put a touchdown on the board this week. At the same time, teams that aren't traditionally defensive powerhouses put together eye-catching defensive performances. Meanwhile, teams known for their vaunted offenses also struggled. Let's break it down:
Baltimore (Anquan Boldin, WR; TJ Houshmandzadeh, WR) - 10 points.
Chicago (Mike Martz, offensive coordinator) - 19 points; two goal-line failures.
Detroit (Nate Burleson, WR; Tony Scheffler, TE; Jahvid Best, RB) - 14 points; less than 200 yards total offense.
Miami (Brandon Marshall, WR) - 15 points.
Minnesota (no significant new acquisitions; top-5 offense last year) - 9 points.
New Orleans (no significant new acquisitions; top-5 offense last year) - 14 points.
NY Jets (LaDainian Tomlinson, RB) - 9 points.
San Diego (no significant new acquisitions; top-5 offense last year) - 14 points.
Washington (Donovan McNabb, QB) - 13 points; only TD was scored by the defense.
Meanwhile, teams like the Lions, the Bills, and the Chiefs all play stout defensive games and hold their foes to respectable point totals. It seems that in this era of football, which has become known for being a high-flying, high-scoring, pass-happy golden age, perhaps some momentum is swinging back to the defense? Offenses have become more aggressive and more creative over the last five years. Perhaps in that time, defenses have caught up - defensive schemes have, over the past couple years, become more aggressive and more creative in response. Various gadget-type plays (see: Wildcat) have started to fizzle out and defenses are starting to expose the vulnerabilities in teams that pass more. I'll be interesting to see how this plays out over the season; is it a temporary thing, as new players adapt to new teams in real game environments? Or are defenses reacting and scheming properly in this pass-happy era now?
The Call That No One Is Talking About
Yes, Calvin Johnson caught a game-winning TD and it was taken away. People have talked about that and, in all the talk generated by it, another issue is being ignored. The score, at that moment, was 19-14. A successful 2-point conversion earlier would have made it 21-14. However, no one is talking about the call Lovie Smith made earlier in the game, near the beginning of the fourth quarter, when Shaun Hill fumbled the ball on the Lions' 1-yard line for a Bears recovery. The Bears went 3-and-out at the 1-yard line - much like another Lions goal-line stand earlier in the game. The score, at this moment, was 14-13 and the Lions had done nothing to inspire confidence in their offense to that point. In fact, at the time, they'd only converted one first-down for the entire second half. All evidence points to kicking a field goal in this situation - take the points, because the Lions have stuffed you on the goal-line up to then and they couldn't move the ball. If the field goal is kicked, it becomes 16-14, Bears lead, and when they make their final drive (when Forte scores the go-ahead TD), they can eat the clock and needn't scramble for a play. They can win comfortably, 16-14, and the controversial call never happens. Even if the Bears still score a touchdown, at that point, it's 23-14 and the game is out of reach for the Lions. Cardinal rule of good coaching: don't leave points off the board. It's one thing if the Lions offense had been clicking and moving the ball. It's another if they aren't. The Bears won that game and a controversial call is the news story as a result. If the Lions had won the game, that mind-boggling call by Lovie Smith is the new story - and it should be anyway, at least in Chicago.
The Must-Win Game of the Week
In Pierce's Picks this week, I chose the Houston Texans over the Indianapolis Colts. I did this because I considered it the Must-Win Game of the Week. Think about it - if the Colts win, it's another home loss for the Texans by their nemesis and says that the season goes on as all others before it have: so close, but so far; if the Texans win, it's a statement game that says "we're ready to go to war for this division and we will compete with anyone here." Turns out the Texans went for the latter. Suddenly this flips the entire division around - the Texans take the win, by running the ball, no less, and become a team you have to plan for, that you have to - dare I say it - fear a little. They have a hungry, tenacious defense. They have skill players and talent on offense. This is a team that can throw on you, run on you, and chase your QB around. They were 1-15 against the Colts, in their history, up til this weekend. That second franchise win against the Colts was a statement. I don't think you can buy the Texans as a viable playoff contender unless they can beat the Colts. They can beat the Colts. The rest of the league - take notice. They were a trendy playoff pick early last year. This year they might be a realistic one.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Favre's back; Westbrook signs with 49ers.
I caught three personnel moves as the week went on and I find interesting aspects of all three. I'll get to the most obvious one last, since it begs for the most involved discussion.
First of all - Pete Carroll at Seattle sheds another former USC player, as the Seahawks trade former first-rounder Lawrence Jackson (DE) to the Lions. Now, I noticed this in part because I'm a Lions fan, but also because Carroll seems to have little love for his former players and it's always interesting to see a first-round pick from the last three years get traded for less. It's still unsaid what the Lions paid - an undisclosed draft pick - but it's unlikely higher than a 4th-rounder, from what I've read. For the Seahawks, it's another pick to build a new core around. For the Lions, they get another possible DE to add to the scheme; it's clear they don't have a lot of faith in their depth at DE. Cliff Avril is still a question mark as a starter. Working in a former first-rounder who is, admittedly, not a specialist in any regard (neither a prolific run-stuffer or pass-rusher) seems a logical move for a team lacking DE depth and still questioning one of their starters. I'll be keeping an eye on Mr. Jackson during the last three Lions preseason games (I'll be watching the Denver game later today).
Second up - Brian Westbrook selects a team! And lucky for him, it wasn't St. Louis! I mentioned before that he seemed headed there and it seemed logical - it gave the Rams a second viable RB behind Steven Jackson and made a nice insurance policy in case he doesn't get through the season. But you have to imagine that Westbrook, who has tasted the Super Bowl before but never won it, was less than enthused about joining a team that was only just embarking on a rebuilding cycle. Fortune smiled upon him, then, as the 49ers second-year backup RB retired suddenly, creating a sudden vacuum behind Frank Gore there. As soon as the news broke, I liked it. Gore and Westbrook are as different as two RBs can get and this will make the 49ers a better team. Westbrook isn't a tough-as-nails Singletary-type of guy, but he can provide an excellent check-down receiving option to Alex Smith and help spell Gore occasionally. Keep him to 10-15 touches (including receptions) per game and he should stay healthy and effective. And of course, they kept him off the roster of another team in the division, which is always a bonus, too.
And so we move on to the finale of this update, the big event of the week - naturally, the return of Brett Favre. For the record, I never assumed at any point this offseason that Favre would not return - so when news broke last month that he didn't plan to, naturally, I rolled my eyes. His return was inevitable to me; it seemed as much last year. I seriously doubt his ability to make it through a whole season this year and I seriously doubt that he will be as efficient as he was last year, but that, of course, remains to be seen. There is no question that - this year - he makes the Vikings a better team. But I remain disgusted at how the Vikings organization has just bent over for this man and let him write his own rules throughout. I've said before that while this gives them a better chance to win now, I'm not sure what the long-term effect of doing such a thing is. Certainly, Tavaris Jackson can't trust the coaching staff's word anymore and Sage Rosenfels is as close to a cast-off as you can be when you're earning $3m/year. So what the Vikings do after this year (assuming no Favre return then)... is a good question, but one they're happy to ignore for the moment. I suppose the most shocking thing about this is that the Vikings are now planning to restructure Favre's contract, particularly alongside his speech about how he's "doing it for the guys." Given, a lot of the numbers going around for the new Favre 1-year deal look inflated, because $8m of his salary last year was deferred to this year. Nonetheless, a lot of it seems unnecessary (sending 3 players to go "convince" him, and clumsily trying to cover it up?), but that's the state of the Vikings... a team in desperation, knowing that their window is only open for so long and that it is closing and that this man gives them the best chance to win while they have the opportunity... no matter the cost.
First of all - Pete Carroll at Seattle sheds another former USC player, as the Seahawks trade former first-rounder Lawrence Jackson (DE) to the Lions. Now, I noticed this in part because I'm a Lions fan, but also because Carroll seems to have little love for his former players and it's always interesting to see a first-round pick from the last three years get traded for less. It's still unsaid what the Lions paid - an undisclosed draft pick - but it's unlikely higher than a 4th-rounder, from what I've read. For the Seahawks, it's another pick to build a new core around. For the Lions, they get another possible DE to add to the scheme; it's clear they don't have a lot of faith in their depth at DE. Cliff Avril is still a question mark as a starter. Working in a former first-rounder who is, admittedly, not a specialist in any regard (neither a prolific run-stuffer or pass-rusher) seems a logical move for a team lacking DE depth and still questioning one of their starters. I'll be keeping an eye on Mr. Jackson during the last three Lions preseason games (I'll be watching the Denver game later today).
Second up - Brian Westbrook selects a team! And lucky for him, it wasn't St. Louis! I mentioned before that he seemed headed there and it seemed logical - it gave the Rams a second viable RB behind Steven Jackson and made a nice insurance policy in case he doesn't get through the season. But you have to imagine that Westbrook, who has tasted the Super Bowl before but never won it, was less than enthused about joining a team that was only just embarking on a rebuilding cycle. Fortune smiled upon him, then, as the 49ers second-year backup RB retired suddenly, creating a sudden vacuum behind Frank Gore there. As soon as the news broke, I liked it. Gore and Westbrook are as different as two RBs can get and this will make the 49ers a better team. Westbrook isn't a tough-as-nails Singletary-type of guy, but he can provide an excellent check-down receiving option to Alex Smith and help spell Gore occasionally. Keep him to 10-15 touches (including receptions) per game and he should stay healthy and effective. And of course, they kept him off the roster of another team in the division, which is always a bonus, too.
And so we move on to the finale of this update, the big event of the week - naturally, the return of Brett Favre. For the record, I never assumed at any point this offseason that Favre would not return - so when news broke last month that he didn't plan to, naturally, I rolled my eyes. His return was inevitable to me; it seemed as much last year. I seriously doubt his ability to make it through a whole season this year and I seriously doubt that he will be as efficient as he was last year, but that, of course, remains to be seen. There is no question that - this year - he makes the Vikings a better team. But I remain disgusted at how the Vikings organization has just bent over for this man and let him write his own rules throughout. I've said before that while this gives them a better chance to win now, I'm not sure what the long-term effect of doing such a thing is. Certainly, Tavaris Jackson can't trust the coaching staff's word anymore and Sage Rosenfels is as close to a cast-off as you can be when you're earning $3m/year. So what the Vikings do after this year (assuming no Favre return then)... is a good question, but one they're happy to ignore for the moment. I suppose the most shocking thing about this is that the Vikings are now planning to restructure Favre's contract, particularly alongside his speech about how he's "doing it for the guys." Given, a lot of the numbers going around for the new Favre 1-year deal look inflated, because $8m of his salary last year was deferred to this year. Nonetheless, a lot of it seems unnecessary (sending 3 players to go "convince" him, and clumsily trying to cover it up?), but that's the state of the Vikings... a team in desperation, knowing that their window is only open for so long and that it is closing and that this man gives them the best chance to win while they have the opportunity... no matter the cost.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Week 1 NFL Preseason observations
Let's preface this quickly - it's preseason football. Preseason football is, in the great scheme of things, meaningless. It's a place where second- and third-stringers fight for jobs, it's not a place where first-stringers showcase. Part of this is because many teams run very vanilla schemes in the preseason, so as not to tip their hand to their foes and to give those men fighting for jobs the best opportunity to make an impact. Remember that the 2008 Lions, who infamously went 0-16, were undefeated in the preseason that year, 4-0.
A few Lions observations to start - Stafford looks good. He threw crisply and more accurately than I remember last season. Almost everything he threw was hitting his receivers in their hands and even the interception was more due to Jahvid Best than Stafford. I've been reading about his progress this season and it looks like it is translating to the field. He looked very comfortable with Calvin Johnson, too. Jahvid Best looks fast, but I have trouble buying him running up the middle at all. He's shifty, but he seems far better suited to cutback and outside running. If they throw him up the middle, he's going to get stuffed more often than not. The defensive line looks intimidating. I knew the first play the first-stringers were out because the Pittsburgh offensive line stopped moving backwards. Ndamukong Suh and Corey Williams look immense and indomitable - both men are moving other men. This will be the strength of the defense - and good thing, because the secondary is still severely lacking. Pressure on the QB will be necessary all game long and if a runner gets past the front-four, watch out.
On the Vikings - four sacks for Sam Bradford. The Viking defensive front looks solid, but even so, I think it's going to be a long year for Bradford. He doesn't have many weapons in St. Louis. Maybe that's why the Rams are reportedly pursuing Brian Westbrook - the more help they can get Bradford, the better. I still think that Favre will be back for the Vikings, but the debate is on between Sage Rosenfels and Tavaris Jackson already. I say wait on that - one preseason game does not make a starter when a position is in competition. The Vikings do look deep though, moreso than I expected. The offense looked sharp with a lot of its would-be starters out of the game. But then again, they were playing the Rams.
Other teams around the league - that was some comeback by the Arizona Cardinals against the Texans. Preseason or not, a 16-point second-half comeback is impressive and says a lot about the third-stringers in Arizona, their desire to play, and what Ken Whisenhunt is doing there... Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson still look like one of the best QB-WR tandems in the league... Green Bay lost to Cleveland, but Aaron Rodgers still looks like he's on fire and showing no signs of letting up. He is the best young quarterback in the league, I believe that's no longer a question - the Packers, regardless of the grace of how it was done, made the right decision letting Favre go... Washington looks a little frightening on offense... it might have been Buffalo's defense, in part, but their passing game looked solid, even with disgraced Rex Grossman leading the attack. And in typical Mike Shanahan fashion, the Redskins are absolutely flush with talented RBs - Clinton Portis, Willie Parker, Larry Johnson and Ryan Torain - enough so that this team will always have fresh, reliable legs all season long. This is an invaluable trait of a Mike Shanahan offense and is a huge part of his success. I don't entirely buy Washington yet, but if I were in the NFC East, I'd be keeping my eye on this team... Carolina looks like a young team in transition, I'm not sure if I buy Jimmy Clausen yet, he looks impatient in the pocket for someone with so much hype about him... Baltimore looks like it will be a dangerous passing team this year, with Anquan Boldin, Derrick Mason, Mark Clayton and Donte' Stallworth... Miami looked horrible in the rain, it seemed like neither Chad Henne nor Brandon Marshall could get a grip on the ball. I'm sure Tony Sparano is hoping that was only due to the rain.
Quick injury note - RB Ben Tate for the Houston Texans might be out for the year. That certainly alters their RB landscape and, assuming they don't add another running back before the season starts, means that the progress of Steve Slaton and Arian Foster become crucial to their offense. It also means that both Slaton and Foster get significant fantasy value boosts, since Ben Tate was getting talk of being the opening-day starter.
A few Lions observations to start - Stafford looks good. He threw crisply and more accurately than I remember last season. Almost everything he threw was hitting his receivers in their hands and even the interception was more due to Jahvid Best than Stafford. I've been reading about his progress this season and it looks like it is translating to the field. He looked very comfortable with Calvin Johnson, too. Jahvid Best looks fast, but I have trouble buying him running up the middle at all. He's shifty, but he seems far better suited to cutback and outside running. If they throw him up the middle, he's going to get stuffed more often than not. The defensive line looks intimidating. I knew the first play the first-stringers were out because the Pittsburgh offensive line stopped moving backwards. Ndamukong Suh and Corey Williams look immense and indomitable - both men are moving other men. This will be the strength of the defense - and good thing, because the secondary is still severely lacking. Pressure on the QB will be necessary all game long and if a runner gets past the front-four, watch out.
On the Vikings - four sacks for Sam Bradford. The Viking defensive front looks solid, but even so, I think it's going to be a long year for Bradford. He doesn't have many weapons in St. Louis. Maybe that's why the Rams are reportedly pursuing Brian Westbrook - the more help they can get Bradford, the better. I still think that Favre will be back for the Vikings, but the debate is on between Sage Rosenfels and Tavaris Jackson already. I say wait on that - one preseason game does not make a starter when a position is in competition. The Vikings do look deep though, moreso than I expected. The offense looked sharp with a lot of its would-be starters out of the game. But then again, they were playing the Rams.
Other teams around the league - that was some comeback by the Arizona Cardinals against the Texans. Preseason or not, a 16-point second-half comeback is impressive and says a lot about the third-stringers in Arizona, their desire to play, and what Ken Whisenhunt is doing there... Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson still look like one of the best QB-WR tandems in the league... Green Bay lost to Cleveland, but Aaron Rodgers still looks like he's on fire and showing no signs of letting up. He is the best young quarterback in the league, I believe that's no longer a question - the Packers, regardless of the grace of how it was done, made the right decision letting Favre go... Washington looks a little frightening on offense... it might have been Buffalo's defense, in part, but their passing game looked solid, even with disgraced Rex Grossman leading the attack. And in typical Mike Shanahan fashion, the Redskins are absolutely flush with talented RBs - Clinton Portis, Willie Parker, Larry Johnson and Ryan Torain - enough so that this team will always have fresh, reliable legs all season long. This is an invaluable trait of a Mike Shanahan offense and is a huge part of his success. I don't entirely buy Washington yet, but if I were in the NFC East, I'd be keeping my eye on this team... Carolina looks like a young team in transition, I'm not sure if I buy Jimmy Clausen yet, he looks impatient in the pocket for someone with so much hype about him... Baltimore looks like it will be a dangerous passing team this year, with Anquan Boldin, Derrick Mason, Mark Clayton and Donte' Stallworth... Miami looked horrible in the rain, it seemed like neither Chad Henne nor Brandon Marshall could get a grip on the ball. I'm sure Tony Sparano is hoping that was only due to the rain.
Quick injury note - RB Ben Tate for the Houston Texans might be out for the year. That certainly alters their RB landscape and, assuming they don't add another running back before the season starts, means that the progress of Steve Slaton and Arian Foster become crucial to their offense. It also means that both Slaton and Foster get significant fantasy value boosts, since Ben Tate was getting talk of being the opening-day starter.
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