Last season the Patriots lacked toughness and seemed to lose every big game that they played. Just when you thought they were on a roll they would lose big to a playoff caliber team…not a recipe for success. This year, the Pats are coming off two extremely impressive wins against the cream of the AFC crop (the Dolphins aren’t that bad), in which their defense started shaky but finished big. Where as in 2009 the defense seemed to fold when it had the opportunity to shine brightest, this year it rises to the occasion. Although it suffers from early game jitters, the defense comes up with huge plays when needed, a quality this squad has lacked over the past several years…and the hallmark of a quality unit.
2. “Cue funeral music”…
Mandatory apparel for Cowboys fans across the country.
3. The Houston Texans can’t continue to win with such a pathetic defense…
If you’re defense allows the Kansas City Chiefs to put up 417 total yards and 31 points you know things aren’t quite right. And that was with star middle linebacker DeMico Ryans, who will be out for the rest of the season on IR…imagine how bad they will be without him. If this team allows Kansas City to look so brilliant on offense, how will they make legit passing attacks such as the Saints, Patriots, or Eagles look? Kind of a scary thought. And if you think they can get away with having a bad defense because of a great offense just ask the 2009 Patriots how that went.
4. Sounding the emergency signal for Brett Favre…
You know how old people struggle to get up from a sitting position, or how a fall can be devastating? The same thing is happening to Brett Favre…a man can only take so many beatings during his lifetime, and the thousands of hits Favre has taken over his insanely long career seem to be taking their toll. Watch his next game, it takes him a little longer to get up from each successive hit, a little more effort needs to be expended just to drag him from the turf. It’s painful to watch, and I doubt he’ll last the season unless his line whips itself into top shape and gives him a clean pocket. It won’t happen though, not with the style of quarterbacking Brett Favre likes to play. He’s a gunslinger, a guy who likes to run around the backfield, evade pressure and throw long bombs…passes that take time to develop. So surely he will continue to take a beating…better have the wheel chair ready.
5. The New York Jets pulled a win out of their a$$ because…
…Mark Sanchez decided to throw a forty yard bomb that was about five yards too short to receiver Santonio Holmes, only to have pass interference called on the defender after he inadvertently reached his arm out where a facemask happened to be as an uncatchable ball was on it’s way. Teams have to earn wins…not get them because of some iffy penalty. I hate seeing a team snatch victory when they did almost everything wrong on a play…it’s like rewarding your kid because he crapped in the sink.
6. How is it possible that the San Diego Chargers are 2-4?...
Consider this: The Chargers are ranked number one in total offense (gaining 432.7 yards per game), lead the league in first downs per game (24), have the best passing offense in the game, the 13th best rushing offense in the league (respectable), are scoring 26 points per game (5th), defensively are ranked number one in total offense (allowing 255.2 yards per game), number one in passing yards allowed per game (163.7!), 6th in rushing yards allowed per game (91.5), tied for second in the NFL with 21 sacks, and tied for seventh with seven interceptions.
They dominate nearly every conceivable statistical category, and on paper have all the look of a top three or four team. So why do they suck so badly? They allow 21 points per game (26th), have a -3 turnover differential, have allowed Rivers to be sacked 18 times (29th), and possess a special teams unit so dastardly that John Bonamego is envious. The only question now is who gets fired first, Wade Phillips or Norv Turner?
7. New Orleans rounding into shape…
I know it’s only one game, but the Saints looked every bit as good as last year in their victory over the Bucs. They finally hit the big pass plays that have characterized the explosive New Orleans pass attack, and Drew Brees is back to his customary accuracy (70.6 completion percentage). If Chris Ivory is the real deal, and Pierre Thomas returns healthy this team looks to return to his perch atop the NFC. Sure it was against a bottom half team, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t an important win…New Orleans hasn’t looked dominant all season, but they finally showed they could be on Sunday.
8. Using the helmet as a weapon…
…is becoming a real problem in football. Hopefully this past Sunday will be a wakeup call to the league that they need to fix this problem as fast as possible. It’s unnecessary and results in injuries that affect the longevity of the player. The simple solution is to immediately, and without question eject players for helmet-to-helmet hits…a quick way to solve the problem. The issue goes much deeper though, and for some further insight into head injuries in football check out this fantastic article: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=easterbrook/100921_tuesday_morning_quarterback&sportCat=nfl
9. The Chicago Bears offensive line is so bad…
Some solutions:
-Run a double tight end set every offensive down
-Chester Taylor is excellent at picking up blitzes…use him!
-Trade for Logan Mankins (who cares if the asking price is too high, the Bears won’t win more than seven games with that line).
-Commit to running the ball (not going to happen with Mike Martz as the O-coordinator)
-Form a U-like shape with the line, and have every lineman hold hands; don’t ask them to pick up on certain pass rushers or to even attempt to read the defense (they’re obviously incapable) merely to stay upright and form a wall between Jay Cutler and those who wish to destroy him. Tell me why this wouldn’t be better than what they are already doing?...you can’t.
-Have Cutler line up where the punter usually does (15 yards behind the line of scrimmage under most circumstances) with the Center long snapping the ball to him. Couldn’t this work? It’s no secret that Cutler has one of, if not the strongest arms in the NFL and is great at throwing on the run…this seems like a viable solution.
No comments:
Post a Comment