An Era of NFL Greatness, Drugs, Sex Scandals, and Why I Love It All

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Never in my life had I been to a NFL game; not a preseason, not a regular season, and certainly not a playoff game, but on January 5, 2003, I awoke to the sound of a ringing phone.

A neighbor who I barely knew had tickets to the Giants vs. 49ers game, and at the last minute couldn’t use them. So, looking at the clock beside my bed, I thought if I get in the car and drive to San Francisco right now, I can make it in time for kickoff.

Up until that point I really didn’t follow football that much, although the opportunity certainly presented itself daily with the likes of the 49ers, Raiders, Chargers and even the Rams if fans were willing to travel back in time a bit talked about in my town.

But fan or not, I drove to the storied Candlestick in San Francisco to witness one of the greatest playoff comebacks in NFL history.

Being fairly late in the game and with the 49ers being down by 24, the only reason I decided to stay was because I had never been to a game and I wanted the full effect. After each play I saw more and more people get up and leave, by the hundreds, maybe even the thousands, and then something incredible happened…the 49ers offense came to life.

A young Terrell Owens began playing with the spark he’s still known for today, and Jeff Garcia started completing passes like his career depended on it.

When San Francisco blocked New York’s last-second field goal attempt as time expired, even I was screaming, and I wasn’t even sure what happened.

Head coach Steve Mariucci said in an interview after that game, “as long as you live you might never see a game better than that… It’s kind of hard to remember everything right now but I remember how it ended.”  

Although he wasn’t speaking to me, it sure felt like it after what I had just seen.

While I had witnessed greatness in person, it still hadn’t made me a NFL fan, at least not in the sense that I wanted to turn on the television and watch football all day every Sunday.

With that being said, fast forward a couple of years and a few life changes later and I find myself living in North Dakota, a state that has zero professional sports teams and no real prospects of gaining any.

After a time, I succumbed to the peer pressure and became a Minnesota Vikings fan, because that’s what most people in North Dakota did.

Maybe I grew fond of them because they were good…no, that wasn’t it.

Maybe I liked them because they were bad…they had their moments, but they weren’t terrible.

Or maybe, just maybe, I liked them because they were a little bit like me…painfully average.

In 2004, they made it to the divisional playoffs despite only finishing 8-8, they then went on to finish 9-7, 6-10, 8-8 (again), and then 10-6 last year only to fall to Philadelphia in the Wild Card game.

There was only one losing season in that mix, but not a whole lot to write home about beyond that.

A record alone can’t always generate a fan…or drive them away though, I needed something else…some kind of “X-Factor.” And finally, I got it, but it was a bad one.

In 2005, the Vikings were wrapped up in a sex scandal on a boat with several prostitutes; this was just the kind of Jerry Springer-esque moment I needed.  It was like a rite-of-passage, so that my loyalty could be the butt of every joke, and yet I wouldn’t have to feel too bad, because how could it get any worse?

I had found my free pass to being a fan without consequence right?

Wrong.

Fast forward a few seasons and now Kevin and Pat Williams find themselves in a controversy over allegedly taking a banned diuretic.

I realize that the frequency in which these two go to the bathroom really is none of my business, but something just doesn’t add up here.

In all honesty though, I don’t like the Vikings because they fail, and it certainly isn’t because they hire prostitutes, or allegedly take steroid-masking agents, but I like them because it shows that football players, like all people, are human.

They make mistakes, they break the law, they partake in questionable activities…does that make them bad people?

As a matter of fact, sometimes it does, but it’s about how the players respond, it’s about how the Vikings front office takes action, and it’s about how the fans react.

The Vikings are waiting for their day to shine, whether or not that will come this season is anyone’s guess, but if the Vikings have one more average season ahead of them to put in the record books, that’s OK with me…I’ll just react accordingly.

 

Boldin’s New Agent Could Push Him to New York

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The New York Post’s Paul Schwartz is reporting that if Anquan Boldin does indeed sign with agent Tom Condon then a trade to New York City may be his next move.

According to the New York Post story, Condon represents New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning. The close working relationship with Giants brass and the team’s star quarterback may sway a trade in the Giants favor.

The Giants are still in search of a veteran wide receiver to fill the shoes of Plaxico Burress. Boldin is not the deep threat that Burress is, but he would give the Giants an experienced wide receiver to go with a collection of young, unproven players.

For Boldin, the trade would be the end of a rocky 18 months with the Cardinals organization. Contract extension talks have stalled and Boldin still has two years, $5.75 million remaining on his deal. A trade out of Arizona or a new contract in the range of $9 to $10 million is the unspoken ultimatum Boldin has given to Cardinals management.  

In return, the Cardinals would likely receive a package of draft picks and young players for Boldin. For a Pro Bowl-caliber player, at least a second-round pick is required to make any deal enticing.

Wide receivers Domenik Hixon and Steve Smith have been rumored to be involved in New York deals this offseason, and could be a solid No. 3 wideout for Arizona. Also, with the wealth of Giants defensive linemen, former first-round pick Mathias Kiwanuka is a name general managers always inquire about.

Kiwanuka is a hybrid defensive end who can play with his hand down or standing upright, and would fit perfectly into the Cards’ 3-4 defense.

 

Burress, Sanchez, and Jones: Three Myths of the ’09 New York Jets

As New Yorkers, we try not to let facts get in the way of a good story. When Brett Favre became available last summer, it seemed the Jets had found the answer to their prayers. Favre was the smiling, gunslinger that would lead the men in green to the Super Bowl. He was the people’s quarterback.

The feeling was so electric we took the bait and ignored the warning signs:

Outside of his resurgent 2007, it had been two seasons since Favre had thrown more touchdowns than interceptions. In fact, the Packer QB saw his average completion fall under 6.5 yards during the 2005 and 2006 seasons.

According to FootballOutsiders.com, Favre’s Defense-adjusted Value Over Average (DVOA) fell below zero in 2006—a highbrow way of saying Favre performed below the average NFL quarterback in the same situations.

Favre’s DVOA shot up to third in the NFL in 2007, but the overall trend was pretty obvious. He simply wasn’t producing enough to make up for his poor decision-making.

The results were promising at the beginning of 2008, but ended up being disastrous as Favre led the league in interceptions and the Jets fell out of the playoff race.

Unfortunately, some things never change. Even this year there are still misconceptions and pipe dreams floating around Jets Nation.

They started innocently enough: high expectations for a young quarterback; big-name local receiver on the free agent market; Thomas Jones seemingly ending his holdout to return to voluntary workouts.

The conclusions seemed obvious. The stories wrote themselves. How can any of this be wrong?

Well, it’s because as New Yorkers, we overlook things like resources and time. The NFL isn’t Major League Baseball and the Jets aren’t the Yankees. Buying a team doesn’t happen in this league and developing players takes time. This isn’t the Make-A-Wish foundation. It’s the real world and New York is on a level playing field with everyone else.

In hopes of avoiding that same path this season, here are three myths the 2009 Jets are sure to disprove:

Mark Sanchez is the Next “Broadway Joe”

Sanchez’s GQ spread reminded the entire city of Broadway Joe’s most embarrassing moment. Yes, the Jets’ first round pick did do a pictorial piece for a trendy magazine, but it is unbelievably unfair to Sanchez to compare him to Joe Namath—the only Super Bowl-winning quarterback in team history—because he also happens to be handsome and outgoing.

It takes more to play quarterback than a good tan and dimples (although A.C. Slater might disagree). Sanchez’s charisma and charm certainly aren’t negatives, but they also don’t suggest he can produce like Namath did before being overcome by injuries.

This is nothing against Sanchez. The Jets traded up to the fifth pick in the 2009 NFL Draft for a reason. But hyperbole and headlines get the best of us once in awhile, so many of us chose to think of him as Joe Jr. rather than focusing on what makes Sanchez special.

The things we should be noticing are Sanchez’s strong footwork, mechanics, and football education.

“It’s about being quick, not fast, and moving in that five- to ten-yard box in the pocket,” Sanchez told Doug Farrar of Washingtonpost.com. “Your feet are really your base in whatever you’re doing, and they set you up for the rest of the throw and the rest of the play.

“It’s something I have worked on for years with (Mission Viejo High) Coach (Bob) Johnson, and he’s helped me fine-tune that. You put that together with a strong arm, and some mobility, and a really good knowledge of the offense, you get a season like last year with a lot of help from the other players on the team.”

Truthfully, Sanchez’s football pedigree may rival that of Namath. After working with the famed Coach Johnson (the father of Rob and private QB tutor of Carson Palmer) in high school, Sanchez moved on to thrive in USC’s pro-style offense over the course of his 16 starts.

Sanchez has a small sample-size of work to peruse, but he does have an impressive background—the only thing that he should be judged by at this point. It may be fun to draw comparison’s to Namath, but we should try and restrict the chatter to the football field and stay away from tawdry comparisons.

Plaxico Burress will save the Jets

Yes, we’ve all heard the rumor—the one about the former Super Bowl hero, Burress, coming to the Jets after being released by the Giants.

It made too much sense. The Jets need someone to replace Laveranues Coles. Burress needs a home.

The only thing disrupting this rumor is the thing that got it started in the first place: Burress is facing gun charges in a city with some of America’s harshest gun laws.

Burress could face up to three and a half years in jail for shooting himself in the leg at a Manhattan Club last November.

And even if he can reach a deal with prosecutors—as his defense is currently attempting—he still has the iron fist of Commissioner Roger Goodell to deal with. 

Goodell has made a name for himself with lengthy suspensions (see: Jones, Pacman) and will certainly be taking Burress’ previous transgressions into account when handing down his punishment.

That, of course, won’t be happening until the legal process has taken its course. In other words, hold off on buying a green “Burress” jersey until at least next season.

Even if Burress does return to football in 2010, he will be 32-years-old and out of football for more than a season.

Thomas Jones and agent Drew Rosenhaus are done holding out

Jones is coming off of arguably his best season as a professional and is set to make less than $1 million. A holdout was inevitable.

But when Rosenhaus predicted last week that Jones would be returning to voluntary workouts (a prediction Jones proved correct this week), many felt like the storm had blown over.

That feeling subsided, however, once Jones took off without answering any of the media’s questions.

The issue is really one of front-loaded contracts. When Thomas was averaging 3.6 yards per carry in 2007, he was making around $4.5 million. Now, when his production has increased, he believes that his yearly salary should reflect his most recent performance.

This has all the makings of something that could be dragged out. There is no guarantee as of yet that Jones will be back in for the next set of voluntary workouts and he is on the wrong side of 30. The Jets don’t seem eager to give in to his demands, but if they can keep him under salary this year, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

If the Jets cut Jones next season, they will forfeit only $1.5 million and cut nearly $6 million from their cap figure.

Don’t be surprised to see Jones in green this season, only to be jettisoned next year. In other words, this ain’t over until someone signs on the dotted line.

Revamping the Blueprint: 2009 Jaguars Playbook

Since Jack Del Rio took over the Jaguars in 2003, the Jaguars have established an identity around the NFL as a physical team. This should be no surprise given that Del Rio has coached under Mike Ditka and Brian Billick, two coaches who preached a physical style of football.

 

The Jaguars have parlayed the strong play on both lines and a solid running game along with efficient play from the quarterback position into two playoff appearances under Jack Del Rio.

 

2008 was supposed to be a year with another one of those playoff appearances, but injuries along both lines ended the Jaguars’ season before it ever really got started.

 

The health of the offensive and defensive lines is a key to success in the NFL, because all other branches of the team feed off of the quality of the lines.

 

The Jaguars’ blueprint for winning all starts up front:

 

1. Physical play on both of the lines.
2. Use a solid running game to set up the passing game.
3. Efficient play from the quarterback position with zero to minimal mistakes.
4. A passing game that stretches the chains 12-17 yards at a time.
5. Solid defense that stops the run first.

After such a disappointing 2008 season that saw the Jaguars fail to execute their blueprint week in and week out, they made some personnel moves in the offseason that will change the landscape in Jacksonville for some time to come:

 

 

 

Fred Taylor leaving via Free Agency

 

Maurice Jones-Drew is now the feature back in an offense that had seen Fred Taylor quietly rack up over 11,000 yards since coming into the league in 1998.

 

However, Jones-Drew is one of the more versatile backs in the NFL and should fill in nicely. The only question is whether he can take a pounding for all 16 games as a feature back.

 

The Jaguars’ reserve running backs aren’t going to turn many heads in terms of sheer production, but they can be called upon to handle spot carries whenever Jones-Drew needs a rest.

 

Greg Jones will be the lead blocker behind a healthy and revamped offensive line, and can also be called upon in short yardage situations.

 

 

 

The signing of veteran Wide Receiver Torry Holt

 

The Jaguars have not had a decent duo at wide receiver since the McCardell/Smith days, and even after signing Torry Holt, they still don’t.

 

The problem with the Jaguars under Del Rio is that they always have a solid No. 1 receiver, but never any real supporting cast.

 

Then, to make matters even more difficult, they replaced the malcontent/bust parade of Matt Jones, Reggie Williams, and Jerry Porter with a bunch of rookies who were second-day draft picks.

 

There can’t be much blame placed on the Jaguars for not taking a receiver in the first round, as none of their first-round receiver picks have ever done anything worth noting during their time in the teal and black.

 

Torry Holt brings a ton of experience and a Super Bowl ring with him, which will be good for the rookies to learn from.

 

Jarett Dillard could turn out to be a late round steal for the Jaguars and work his way into the lineup, as Troy Williamson and Dennis Northcutt will fill the gaps until the rookies adjust to the NFL.

 

 

 

The hiring of defensive coordinator Mel Tucker

 

One of the more contributing factors to a disappointing 2008 season was the play of the Jaguars defense. A defense that was built on being a run stopper gave up more than 100 yards per game on the ground, and the pass rush was nearly non-existent.

 

Some of this can be attributed to personnel. Most of this can be put on the coaching of former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. Jack Del Rio gave Williams free reign over the defense, and it turned out to be a disaster.

Williams is a former head coach, and there was some miscommunication and a difference of philosophies between Williams and Del Rio.

 

The addition of Mel Tucker as defensive coordinator may be a head scratcher, considering he came from Cleveland, but the Browns did tie for third in the NFL in takeaways in 2008.

 

The Jaguars lacked turnovers, dropped in sacks production, and were pushed around by bigger offensive lines.

 

Tucker’s defensive philosophy is more in line with that of Jack Del Rio’s, and with some better play from the defense, the Jaguars could right the ship in a hurry.

Seattle Seahawks Off and Running with Zone-Blocking Scheme

For the past couple of seasons, the Seattle Seahawks’ rushing attack has been very sub-par. Last season the Seahawks ranked 19th in rushing offense, averaging 110 yards per game.

 

This season the Seattle Seahawks will implement a zone-blocking scheme to help open up more running lanes for Julius Jones and T.J. Duckett. 

 

A zone-blocking scheme requires fleet-footed and athletic offensive linemen. The most important aspect of such a scheme is not to create a specific hole; rather, the key is creating movement on the defensive line.

 

Here is how the Seattle Seahawks will run a play using a zone-blocking scheme.

 

Offensive Line:  LT, LG, C, RG, RT

Defense:  DE, DT, DT, DE, ROLB, MLB, LOLB

 

The Seahawks look to isolate either the left or right side depending on the direction of the play call. Before the play, each lineman must look to see if he is covered by an opposing defensive linemen or if he is free. 

 

In a 4-3 defense, the only lineman who remains uncovered is the center. If the Seahawks play an opposing team that runs a 3-4 defense, both guards are left uncovered. 

 

Once the play has begun, the offensive tackle and guard will both block the defensive end on their respective side. The center will slide over and pick up the DT while the other guard and tackle pick up the remaining defensive linemen.

 

Once the defender declares which way he is moving, the uncovered linemen will move to the next level to attack the oncoming linebackers. This should create a small, one-cut seam for the running back to run through and then take off upfield. 

 

The scheme is designed so that the running back has to make only one cut, attempting to eliminate “dancing” in the backfield. The Seahawks feel they have a good running back for this system in Julius Jones.

 

The Seahawks will look to utilize Jones’ ability to burst through gaps and use his speed to out-run defenders. Jones has been more successful in a one-cut offensive system than other systems in the past.

 

The zone-blocking scheme will benefit T.J. Duckett as well. Duckett was mainly used in short-yardage and goal-line situations last season and looks to be used in the same capacity this season.  

 

If the scheme is effective, don’t be surprised to see Duckett break off some long runs of his own. Duckett’s touchdown numbers could go up as well.

Falcons Divisional Matchups – Carolina Panthers

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The Panthers and Falcons finished first and second in the NFC South last year and are both candidates for the 2009 title. The two teams match up very well against each other and have taken three games apiece from the last six meetings.

One of the most intriguing factors about the Falcons vs. Panthers is how similar the teams are statistically. The following table reflects this fact:

OFFENSE
                       Points/Game             Pass Yards/Game      Rushing Yards/Game
Carolina           25.9                         197.4                       152.3
Atlanta             24.4                         208.5                       152.7

DEFENSE
                   Points/Game             Pass Yards/Game      Rushing Yards/Game
Carolina          20.6                          211.7                     119.5
Atlanta            20.3                          220.4                     127.5

Because the teams were so close in their production in 2008, an important factor is the new additions from the offseason and the possible impact those players will have. The difference-maker in these games could be a standout rookie or new addition to a team who pushes them to the next level.

 

Falcons Defense vs. Panthers Offense

One of the keys for the Falcons defense will be to keep Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme out of the end zone. In 2008, Carolina was 10-1 when Delhomme threw for a touchdown and 4-0 when he scored multiple times in a game.

The Carolina receivers will also be a challenge for the Falcons as Steve Smith and Muhsin Muhammad are both standout players. The receiving corps is not very deep—Smith and Muhammad combined for more than 71 percent of the receiving yards for the team. 

The Falcons had trouble holding both receivers in check last year as they gave up 147 yards to Muhammad in the first meeting and 168 yards to Smith in the second game.

The Panthers rushing attack is also a threat to the Falcons as Carolina ranked third in rushing last year. The deadly duo of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart contributed towards 2,437 yards and 30 touchdowns on the ground for the Panthers in 2008.

Carolina has a very balanced attack that can beat you either through the air or with the run. With a lot of changes on defense, the Falcons have the potential to build and improve upon last year’s mediocre unit. This matchup is one that could make rookies Peria Jerry or William Moore the difference maker against a strong Panthers offense.

 

Falcons Offense vs. Panthers Defense

In the two meetings last year between the Panthers and Falcons, Atlanta showed up with very different offensive units. In the first game the Falcons had only 268 yards of offense. The second game saw Matt Ryan pass for 259 yards while the Falcons rushing attack went for 133 yards and four Michael Turner touchdowns.

One of the keys to beating the Carolina defense is to run the ball. Overall the team gave up 119.5 yards rushing per game, but in the four losses opponents ran for an average of 173.8 yards. As the Falcons build off the solid performance of Turner in 2008, look for them to try to exploit Carolina’s run defense in this matchup. 

Atlanta’s passing attack will also be very dangerous against the Panthers secondary.  Matt Ryan will have a new target in Tony Gonzalez, who should open up the possibility to move the ball through the air. The receivers are a lot more experienced and the depth of the Falcons offense gives them an advantage. If the Panthers do not tighten up their pass defense, Atlanta could have a big day on offense.

 

Special Teams

Another similarity between these two franchises is the kicking game. Both teams have highly efficient veteran kickers; the Falcons with Jason Elam and the Panthers with John Kasay. If the meeting comes down to a last-minute field goal, both teams have a kicker who can handle the pressure and win the game.

The special teams are solid for both organizations, but neither team has a standout return man or a particularly good coverage unit. Unless either side makes a big mistake, don’t expect the special teams to make a big difference.

 

Prediction

Expect the matchup between the Panthers and Falcons to be very close. Both teams have a strong offense and have gotten quicker and younger on defense. Look for these rivals to split the season series as neither team has a distinct advantage.

The key for the Falcons on offense will be to run the ball effectively getting a lot of yards out of Turner. On defense, the Falcons need to contain both Muhammad and Smith and slow down the passing offense of the Panthers. If Atlanta finds a way to win both games against Carolina, they will be in a great position to win the NFC South.  

 

Lions’ Playbook: Strategies May Simply Be Asking Too Much

From what I saw last year, the Lions offense ran typical pro sets, I-formations and such. With Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson opposite of each other, you would’ve thought that the Lions had a nice recipe for success outside, considering Kevin Smith’s successes in the run game.

Sure, the running game wasn’t perfect by any means, but to deny Kevin Smith’s abilities is just ignorant. The line was a mess and so was the quarterback situation—a trend in the North last season.

This year, much of that should change. Culpepper should be a prepared quarterback with a full preseason under his belt rather than a fill-in QB as he was last year. Yet you would think that he could wipe much of whatever success he had last year as a new offensive coordinator this year equals a new playbook.

Sort of.  Culpepper is familiar with Linehan from their time in Minnesota. With a premier receiver in both tenures—Moss and now, Calvin Johnson—I would expect a similar type of offense, considering it is also the same conference-brand of play.

Drafting Stafford, Pettigrew, and Derrick Williams (which I think is a superb pick that hasn’t been talked about much) to place into the mix, the Lions now have a good amount of talent in those key positions. But drafting a single lineman out in the seventh round doesn’t exactly show the Lions are worried about their line. They kinda should be.

Last year, the Lions employed more zone-blocking schemes. This year, it would be wiser to refer back to man-to-man, which I’m sure they will if they plan on doing some more running. With pretty good skill position players, the run game is needed to open up space for those receivers, which is where we come full circle.

The line is still bad, so don’t expect the running game to be too successful. It’s as if the Lions, for example, fixed an appliance from the electrical cord to the appliance itself, yet never turned on the electricity to get it started in the first place.

So, in reality, I imagine the Lions will stay to their Pro Sets, three-wide outs and strong side I formations—with of course some philosophical modifications. Linehan is different, which in turn leads to different play calls.

Will the offense be better? No doubt, but only because of the upgrade in skill personnel.

In fact, a pass-first concept wouldn’t be out of the question. In that regard, that would open up the running lanes.

Once the running game gets going, well, refer to top. But then again, this is the NFC North.

On defense, new defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham is a very experienced coordinator. I like the choice. The addition of Louis Delmas and DeAndre Levy for Cunningham to play with allows some more security on the outside thirds of the field.

The philosophy here is of course to keep the offenses on the inside. By keeping them on the inside, it allows Larry Foote, Julian Peterson, Ernie Sims, and/or DeAndre Levy to make the plays.

Hey, that’s not a bad idea at all. The Lions have definitely upgraded the personnel which virtually simplifies the philosophy: Keep the offenses to the middle will force defenses to run. So, stop the run.

The problem, though, is a similar one. Yup, the linemen are the key and, um…the line sucks.

Sure, sending Foote, Peterson, and Sims to make plays is a good idea. But all the time?

Having an old Grady Jackson lead the line, forces the younger lineman to step up. Landon Cohen fits the bill but is too light (296 lbs.) for what the staff prefers.

Kevin Seifert reported that the Lions are looking to beef up their linemen “to stand up against the run better.”  That logic ultimately shows why the Lions selected Sammie Lee Hill (331 lbs.) in the draft.

Grady Jackson is the heaviest at 345 lbs. Hill and Chartric Darby will have to make plays. If they do, the defense should be relatively okay.

Considering the passing game, the linemen must make rush the quarterback too if they plan on being successful. That may be asking too much from this corps of linemen.

But if the Lions implemented a 3-3-5 scheme as has been suggested, it takes pressure of the lineman and adds more on the linebackers. Again, we come full circle. If the linemen fail, you now may be asking too much from the linebackers, even as good as they are.

But Gunther is smart. We’ll see what he does to plug his holes. In the end, the Lions simply may be asking too much right now.

Top Five Major League Underdog Towns, No. 3 (Tie) New Orleans and Green Bay

This is the third in a series of articles about the greatest underdog venues in U.S. pro sports. The criteria is simple: small-market towns, communities that get no respect, that personify the under-rated, that constantly challenge the giants of the world, and/or that have suffered some terrible devastation but are rebuilding.

 

Big Easy and Big Cheese. Frozen Tundra and Sultry Bayou. Lutheran Wisconsin and Catholic Louisiana. Lots of contrasts.

So why are these two towns tied in our rankings? In very separate but equal ways, they both compete in major league sports with significant obstacles.

Could they be combined differently? Of course. We could have combined Green Bay with Milwaukee and New Orleans with Oklahoma City, but after considering intangibles that influence ranking, it seemed that these two teams deserve to share the No. 3 spot for some different and some similar reasons.

Since we referenced New Orleans extensively in the Oklahoma City article, we’ll start with them. This city meets most of our underdog criteria.

As a community, they have lost significant population recently. They are a popular tourist destination yet have a staggering amount of poverty and blight in certain neighborhoods and did even before Katrina.

And of course, there’s Katrina. Had the Big Easy not qualified as an underdog by any other measure, the effects of Katrina would qualify them at least for a generation.

But there is more, much more. Despite being among the larger metro areas in the United States, New Orleans was slow to receive a major league franchise. Eventually they obtained the Saints and shortly after, the Jazz. 

Then they lost the Jazz. Despite the primacy of football in the region, the Jazz had a loyal following. It was a real blow to the city.

Recently they obtained the Hornets from Charlotte, but timing has impeded the city’s ability to fully adopt their new team, not least because the Hornets played in Oklahoma City for two years after the Hurricane.

But then, there’s the Saints, known for a few painful seasons as the “Aints.” If you’re over 40, you remember the thousands of fans in the Superdome wearing paper grocery bags over their heads with holes cut out for the eyes.

The New Orleans Saints have existed for 41 seasons and have yet to make a Super Bowl appearance. They have made only six playoff appearances in that time, winning only two.

Such a record of frustration and futility over such a long span would qualify New Orleans as an underdog town for at least a generation, even if they began to regularly make the playoffs and win more playoff games.

And still, each year the team is competitive in many games, pulls its share of upsets, and the fans remain loyal, with or without grocery bags.

The argument for Green Bay is much shorter. Obviously at first glance, one might question the inclusion of Green Bay on such a list.

But despite winning three Super Bowls in the 40-plus years that Super Bowls have existed, and a few NFL Championships in the pre-Super Bowl era, the Packers have had long droughts in which they have not challenged for a title or a playoff spot and therefore, while they are legendary, they are not dominant.

The real argument,  however, comes simply from their size. The city of Green Bay has a population near 100,000. The Metro Area, with 228,000 is by far the smallest market in the NFL.

The next smallest would be Jacksonville and Buffalo each with 1.1 million. Milwaukee is often counted as part of Green Bay’s market, but since games are no longer played in Milwaukee and that Milwaukee is a three-hour drive, we aren’t counting it.

Essentially, Green Bay is the last link to the early makeup of the NFL as a semi-pro league made up of industrial teams with corporate or occupational ties, such as the Decatur Staleys.

The fact that this franchise survived intact when all the other franchises in towns of similar demographics such as Muncie, Evansville, Canton, Dayton, Rock Island, Racine, Kenosha, Pottsville, and more either folded or moved to larger cities.

The fact that this one franchise survives, and with its original industrial name, and is competitive, at times bragging the best player in the game (Favre, most recently) is a David killing Goliath act in perpetuity.

And here is the similarity, the link, between these two towns. The Green Bay franchise survives despite all odds. The City of New Orleans survives despite all odds.

The City of Green Bay knows how to win because of a team that should never be. Perhaps the Saints and Bobcats will learn to win one day, because of a city that should never be.

White To Add Wrinkles To Wildcat

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The Dolphins stood pat this offseason in adding to its offense through free agency. So expect to see Miami’s usual suspects – Chad Pennington, Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams, Ted Ginn, Jr. and Anthony Fasano – coming this fall to a stadium near you.

Also expect to see them pull the Wildcat offense from its bag of tricks a little more often than the nine or so plays a game Miami employed it in 2009. In fact, expect to see it continue to transform from gadgetry to a standard part of the Dolphins’ playbook.

When Miami unveiled the Wildcat against the Patriots in the third game of the season last year, it was met with equal parts curiosity and skepticism. Though many teams soon instituted versions of it in their own playbooks, NFL Network commentator Warren Sapp scoffed at the Wildcat, calling it “disrespectful.” He was not alone.

What it actually proved to be for Miami was effective. The Dolphins averaged more than seven yards each time they lined up in the Wildcat.

Under the guidance of offensive coordinator Dan Henning and quarterbacks coach David Lee, who used the Wildcat to great effect while at Arkansas with Darren McFadden and Felix Jones in the backfield, Miami was able to compensate for a less-than-stellar passing attack by confusing defenses.

This season will see the emerging of the Wildcat 2.0. Critical to the formation’s development was the drafting of West Virginia quarterback Pat White in the second round.

Miami had more pressing needs at wide receiver and nose tackle than it did at quarterback when it came time to make its second round selection. In fact, with the veteran Pennington and promising Chad Henne already in the fold, Miami had no need at all for a quarterback in the draft.

If anything, the Dolphins would seemingly have best been served by signing an experienced quarterback in free agency as insurance if Pennington were to suffer an injury and Henne proved too green to assume the reigns.

Instead, Miami went for White, the NCAA’s all-time leading rusher for a quarterback.

Before training camp has even started, there’s already speculation that White could leapfrog Henne and start the season as Miami’s No. 2. Considering White’s particular talents, it’s not a ridiculous notion.

He would be more effective coming in for a few plays each game as part of a Wildcat package. And because NFL’s rules stipulate that if a No. 3 quarterback plays before the fourth quarter, the first two quarterbacks on the depth chart are ineligible for the rest of the game.

It’s obvious Miami’s coaching staff sees White’s skill set adding a delicious dimension to the Wildcat. With Lee as his position coach and the formation’s most creative practitioner, White should pick up the Wildcat’s nuances quickly.

Actually, it’s not a hard offense to grasp. Despite all its supposed trickery, the Wildcat, as employed last season, has only four options, with all of them looking the same. The presence of White, with his passing and running abilities could add a few new wrinkles.

When the Dolphins ran the Wildcat last season, Brown lined up at quarterback in the shotgun with Williams in the slot to the left. Pennington usually lined up as a receiver.

Generally, one of four things happened, Brown kept the ball and went up the middle on a halfback dive, or they faked the dive and went with a sweep, with Williams in motion to the right crossing in front of Brown for the handoff.

There were also two play action pass options, one a seam and the other a half back pass with Brown throwing to a tight end. Picture White lined up at quarterback and Brown in the slot or at receiver. The defense, though familiar with the options, really wouldn’t know which one to defend.

And with White, who completed 65 percent of his passes in college, at quarterback and more dangerous at throwing downfield than Brown, that adds at least a fifth option and another potential mismatch the Dolphins could exploit.

White could also line up as a receiver and, being of far greater concern than Pennington at that position, could create an advantageous millisecond of uncertainty in the defense.

“This will take our team to another level,” wide receiver Davone Bess was quoted as saying about White’s  involvement in the Wildcat

No doubt, opposing defenses can expect to see more of the Wildcat formation from the Dolphins this season. But with White in the mix, it’ll be harder for them to expect what they’ll see once the ball is snapped.

 

 

 

Could the Pittsburgh Steelers Be Interested in Second Coming of Mike Alstott?

Every great team has something that defines them as a franchise. Not just a play for the ages, but something that is as repetitive as the heartbeat inside your chest.

Thump-thump, thump-thump, thump-thump.

Can you hear it?

If you are in the City of Pittsburgh, you can feel the pulse with every sound.

Put your ear against the Steel building and you will hear it. Stand on top of Mount Washington and you will hear the same sound that echoes through the empty steel mills that line the three rivers.

For the last 77 years, the very life’s blood of the Pittsburgh Steelers has been the tough, physical nature with which they play the game. Perhaps the signature of that physical nature is a running game that has been the blunt instrument by which the Steelers have imposed their will for decades.

It is that element of the game that brings the Steelers and their crowd to life and crushes the vitality of their opponents.

Over the course of the last year, Pittsburgh has strayed away from some of the more signature formations and plays that made them infamous to NFL defenses.

Admittedly, some of the shift occurred due to the decimation of the Steelers backfield early on in the 2008 season.

Willie Parker’s nagging injuries and the season-ending shoulder injury to first round draft choice Rashard Mendenhall quickly put the Steelers behind the eight ball. Forced to start third-down back Mewelde Moore, the Steelers rushed for a little more than 1,600 yards (23rd in NFL).

Despite the injuries, much of the changeover has occurred because of a shift in offensive philosophy brought about by coordinator Bruce Arians. 

Take one look at the red zone play-calling and you will pick up on the trend that every defense on the Steelers’ schedule did last year.

Why is it that the Steelers seemed to be the most predictable offense in the league once they got inside the 20-yard line?

The Steelers forsook the power running game for the spread passing attack.

The philosophy that goes along with the new playbook focuses on using three-receiver sets and a wide-open passing game in order to set up the run. So when a team passes the ball the majority of the time down the field, it is absurd for them to think they can take the air out of the ball once they cross the opponent’s 20-yard line.

Not only does it kill the rhythm that has been established during the current drive, it also negates the momentum that has been built up as well.

Few teams had a harder time running the ball between the tackles than the Pittsburgh Steelers last season. Call it lack of experience on the line, being forced to use the third down back as a starter or whatever else you can come up with, but it doesn’t change the fact that it was an ongoing problem for the offense.

Moore performed admirably in the role thrust upon him, but once you examine the formations in which a smallish back like Moore was being utilized, the questions start pouring in.

Going from the “I” formation, featuring a blocking fullback and a bruising tailback to a single-back set in order to employ a more open offense has not worked all that well for the Steelers’ running game.

Most of the Steelers’ rushing production occurred outside the tackles, and what couldn’t be mustered in the running game was substituted by quick screen plays and swing passes to the sure-handed Moore.

Once the team got in the red zone, the Steelers started to run the ball using stretch blocking schemes, draw plays, and the use of a third offensive tackle. These plays are predictable because of the limitations to the formation. When a third tackle is employed, it eliminates one of the skill position players on the field—virtually eliminating a high percentage of offensive options.

This works if you are able to execute, but if you are going to be predictable, you are going to have to be dominant.

There is no other way around it.

Sure, many successful Steelers teams of the past were very predictable, but they were also among the most dominant offenses in the league.

Since the retirement of Jerome Bettis, Pittsburgh has not had a back that can manage the goal line. Parker finished the 2006 season with 13 touchdowns. Since then, he has had seven total scores, and most of them have come on long runs of 20 yards or more.

In the absence of Parker and Mendenhall, Moore and practice squad promotion Gary Russell were able to score only eight rushing touchdowns all season.

So what is the common denominator in the decreased production of the running game since Parker’s double-digit touchdown year?

It’s really quite simple. Looking at the stats from 2006 until now, there is a direct correlation between the departure of fullback Dan Kreider and the decline in rushing touchdowns. The lack of fullback presence in the team’s playbook took an imperfect running game and put them at an even bigger disadvantage.

Jerome Bettis was a great back, a sure-fire Hall of Famer, but one thing even “The Bus” never did without was a great fullback. Whether it was Tim Lester or Kreider, Bettis always had himself a bus driver.

Not only has the departure of Kreider and the elimination of the fullback hurt Parker and his supporting cast in terms of production, it has also hurt them in terms of health. Parker has not played a full season since the offensive shift and obviously the rest of the team has felt the pain as well. 

It’s clear the Steelers need that dominant force in the backfield,, and they may have found one in the fifth round of the draft.

Frank Summers was nicknamed “The Tank” at UNLV because of his dominant running style. At 5’9″ and 240 pounds, Summers is small only in terms of height, and is less than shy about seeking contact out of the backfield.

It’s easy to see the resemblance between Summers and Bettis, but the comparison at this point has to stop at physical characteristics. Summers ran a 4.55 at his pro day (faster than Bettis’ 4.7).

He also managed to bench press 30 reps at 225 pounds and registered a vertical of 34.” All of which are above average, especially for a guy that wasn’t even invited to the combine.

With the return of fast Willie and Mendenhall, the backfield seems crowded, and the Steelers want Summers to become the fullback they so badly need.

Everything seems to be falling into place in order to reintroduce a new dimension of power running into the Steelers’ arsenal—but hold on just a minute.

The Steelers are asking Summers to make a move that he refused to make in college. In fact, Summers turned down an opportunity to play for Pete Carroll at USC because he didn’t want to play fullback.

If Summers makes the move to fullback, fans could see the second coming of a rare talent—not that of Jerome Bettis, but of former fullback hybrid Mike Alstott.

The ability to bring a power running dimension to an offense while taking on the duties of clearing the way for small, speedy backs like Parker could make him serviceable almost immediately at the NFL level.

It is going to take work to improve his blocking. However, the potential for Summers to come in and play a significant role in his rookie season is a definite possibility, and with that possibility comes the potential for Pittsburgh to solve it’s problems between the tackles and in goal-line situations.

The days of Kreider firmly decleating Ray Lewis on an “Iso play” are gone, but they are not forgotten. With the addition of Frank Summers the Steelers coaching staff may very well be seeing visions of the “I” formation and the fullback dive lighting up the score board at Heinz Field.

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