A Chat With The Trojan: Steve Smith’s Oulook on the 2009 New York Giants

Since the 2007 playoffs and throughout 2008 regular season, Steve Smith has elevated himself into one of the top targets in the New York Giants offense.  Entering his third season with GMEN, there is no question that Smith will have to step up once again in order for the Giants to win football games.  We had a chance to sit down with the former USC Trojan and ask him about the off-season, as well as the long road ahead for Big Blue.

*First things first Steve, does last season’s home playoff loss to the Eagles still sting or have you been able to move on from it?

*What have you done these past few months to keep yourself occupied during the off-season and ready for the upcoming regular season?

*Overall, were you happy with the Giants off-season acquisitions and draft choices?

*With Plax and Amani gone, we’re going to be hearing your named called much more often.  Are you ready for the challenge?

*How do you see your role changing on this team, in terms of leadership and performance?

*One thing that separates you from your defenders is your innate sense of footwork.  Is this something that you constantly work on?

*It has been very difficult for Eli Manning to overcome the Meadowlands winds. Coming from Southern California, has it been a big adjustment for you once the weather becomes bitter?

*Kevin Gilbride took some heat for his play calling when the season ended.  What was your reaction?

*Amani Toomer was very upset with his role is the offense as the end of last year.  Did you feel that his criticism was warranted?

*Your team will leave Albany with a championship or bust mentality.  Do you think this team will thrive under this type of pressure? 

*Your brother Malcolm is a standout Linebacker at USC, your alma mater.  What is it like watching him on a Saturday afternoons?  Do you become nervous as an older brother?

*Being a USC alum, what was your reaction when you saw the Jets take Mark Sanchez?

*Some people say Steelers-Cards was a better Super Bowl than GMEN-Pats, what do you say to that Steve?

Denver Broncos’ Chance In The AFC (Not So Wild) West

Not too long ago, the AFC west was viewed by fans and the media as one of the toughest divisions to play in.

All four teams had tremendous home field advantage. The Chargers had Qualcomm stadium while Oakland had the rowdy fans of the much feared Black hole. The Denver Broncos had the altitude advantage of Mile High Stadium and the Chiefs had the noisy fans of Arrowhead Stadium.

Now, some of the media and fans, appear to be content to let one team run (or perhaps Charge) their way to be the AFC Champion.

So what happened?

The stadiums are still the same, even though Mile High has moved a parking lot to the north and is now known as INVESCO field at Mile High.

And since the 21st century, only one team has been weeded out of the division, and that was the Seattle Seahawks, who now play in the NFC West.

Just seven years ago, the winners of the AFC West were four different teams. For the last three years, the same team has sat atop the standings. As preseason predictions are starting to leak out it appears that a fourth straight AFC West Championship banner will be given to the San Diego Chargers.

Last year, the AFC West came down to the final game of the season to decide who the champion would be. Denver seemed to have the division locked up after Week 14. All they needed to do was win a game to get in the playoffs.

However, matchups in the final three weeks against the Panthers, Bills, and Chargers all resulted in losses, handing the Chargers the AFC West.

Soon after the loss to the Chargers, the Broncos fired their coach for the last 13 years, Mike Shanahan.

Going into the 2009 season, the Broncos have some work to do. As a new coaching staff is coming into the Mile High Stadium with a new quarterback, there will be plenty of challenges for the Broncos.

The offense will also have to rebuild as Josh McDaniels will rebuild some positions that were vacated in the offseason. If that doesn’t work, he will try polishing some of the holes that allowed Denver to miss the playoffs the previous year.

In addition to offensive changes, the defense will be shifted around. Denver looks to change defensive schemes, as they move into the 3-4 defense.

A new defense means new players will need to be brought in and old players will have to change positions. One player who will most likely change positions is linebacker D.J. Williams.

Special teams will look to try and change as well as kicker Matt Prater will look to improve his kicking game. The returning game of special teams will try and gain more consistency in returning punts and kick offs.

Most importantly, the Broncos will need to improve on winning games, especially at the end of the season in order to avoid another late season crumble.

Focusing on the beginning of the season will be important too because if the team does not have a good chemistry with the new coaching staff, the rest of the season would be a tough ride.

The AFC West is full of teams that are in the middle of rebuilding or trying to find the secret success to win a game. It’s not just the Denver Broncos

Kansas City has been plagued with injuries and problems with personnel in coaching since winning the AFC West in 2002.

The Oakland Raiders, since losing the Super Bowl to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, seem to be in the middle of a rebuilding decade, despite drafting several No. 1 picks.

Even the champions of the AFC West in the San Diego Chargers are not without their problems. Star running back LaDainian Tomlinson, who has been affected by injury problems around playoff time, and defenses are slowly matching the lightning speed that LT has.

The AFC West was once very wild and the most unpredictable and competitive divisions in the NFL. Now, it seems that this once wild west has been tamed by the Chargers.

As for Denver’s chances, it seems that unless McDaniels and the Broncos figure each other out, then the Broncos may fit in second or worse in the 2009 AFC not so Wild West.

Miami, New England To Vie for AFC East Title Again in 2009

The AFC East garnered a lot of headlines this offseason: Tom Brady’s return, Brett Favre’s departure, and T.O. now the show in Buffalo, while Miami, which welcomed back pass rusher Jason Taylor, remained pretty much the same.

 

But even with all the fanfare, including the Jets getting a new coach in the quotable Rex Ryan, it will be Miami and New England vying for AFC East supremacy in 2009.

 

Last season, the Dolphins took the AFC East title with an 11-5 record. The Patriots finished with the same record but stayed home for the post-season. The Jets, initially looking like the class of the division after Brady went down minutes into the season, crashed in the last five games, petering out at 9-7. The Bills started 5-1 then went 2-10 the rest of the way.

 

This being the NFL, what 2009 holds in store for the teams of the AFC East is anyone’s guess. After all, who foresaw the Dolphins’ 10-game turnaround this time last year? This much is known, based on last season’s records, the teams in the AFC East have four of the seven hardest schedules this year.

 

The Dolphins 2009 opponents had a combined 152-104 record with a .594 winning percentage last season, whereas in 2008 Miami had one of the league’s easiest schedules. The Patriots face a schedule with a combined .594 winning percentage, the fourth highest of all 30 teams.

 

The Bills and Jets follow in the sixth and seventh slots, opposing teams that won 146 and 145 games respectively, last year.

 

Though the AFC East had two teams, Miami and New England, with 11-5 records, only the Dolphins made the playoffs where they failed to get by Baltimore in the Wild Card round.

 

With Brady back under center, New England is an improved team. Period. Matt Cassel did a terrific job filling in for Brady last year, but Brady, love him or hate him, is a master, and his knee shouldn’t be an issue.

 

With him taking most snaps in the shotgun anyway, and with the implementation of the “Brady Rule,”  No. 12 will be well protected and expect him to pick up where he left off in 2007.

 

Besides Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Laurence Maroney and Ben Watson, New England, as is its trademark, have added old-but-effective veterans running back Fred Taylor and wide receiver Joey Galloway, who is still running 4.4’s.

 

Despite the addition of Owens in Buffalo and linebacker Bart Scott in New York, those teams failed to markedly improve in the offseason. It can be argued the Jets got worse.

 

New York has no proven quarterback on its roster. It’ll be between Kellen Clemens and draft-day darling Mark Sanchez for the starting position. And though Atlanta and Baltimorehad success last year with rookies Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco taking the snaps, that was more exception than the rule.

 

Don’t expect the same from Sanchez, especially since New Yorklost its best receiver in Laverneous Coles and 30-something running back Thomas Jones is a year older.

 

The Bills finished 25th in total offense last year. At 35 years old, don’t expect Owens to improve that ranking dramatically. The only thing Buffalo really knows about 25-year-old QB Trent Edwards is that he’s not J.P. Losman, not a particularly encouraging fact.

 

Last year, Edwards threw just 11 touchdowns (against 10 interceptions). Owens had nearly that many touchdowns himself with 10. T.O.’s abysmal  track record with quarterbacks, especially young ones, is well documented. Things could go bad fast for the Bills if Edwards starts erratically.

 

Though it has the hardest schedule, Miami will do well because they play solid, Bill Parcells football: tough running, tough defense, ball control, and minimal turnovers. Those tried and true aspects are a staple of any team the Tuna has been associated with and have proven again and again to be a successful formula.

 

There is one stat, above all, that is a direct predictor of any team’s success—takeaways/giveaways. With parity in the league, turnovers are the name of the game. The teams that create the most and commit the least are the team’s that win. It’s an immutable law.

 

Last year the Dolphins led the league in the category with a +17 ratio. They were followed by the Ravens, Titans, Colts, and Giants—all playoff teams.

 

With Tony Sparano at the helm finding turnovers unacceptable and the influence of Parcells backing him up, expect the Dolphins to be at the top of the takeaway/giveaway category again—and with New England at the top of the AFC East.

 

 

The Bear Den: Expect Changes in the Playbook for the Bears

Going into the 2009 NFL season, expect some minor changes in the playbook, Bears fans. With a new quarterback and a couple of changes on the coaching, the playbook is bound to be different.

Let’s start off with the new quarter back, Jay Cutler. Cutler has a better arm than Orton had so look to see a lot more plays designed for going deep.

Hester is a good deep threat for Cutler, primarily because of his speed. Last year, we saw some plays that were designed for the deep ball, but Orton missed Hester in his stride.

I don’t expect to see the whole playbook re-worked just for Cutler.

Cutler likes to look down field rather than check downs more often. I expect to see some more routes for tight ends Desmond Clark and Greg Olsen down the field.

The running game might see some changes also. Maybe a little bit more of play action to use for Cutler. The Bears have two good weapons on offense in Cutler and Forte.

They should mix it up with running going to play action that will lead to big plays down field.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Bears brought in Rod Marinelli, former coach of the Lions, to be the defensive line coach.

Marinelli should bring some new defensive schemes to Chicago. I expect for more stunts from the defensive line.

 

Ten Questions for Mike Smith

st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }

Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith had an incredible first year with the team as he led them to an 11-5 record and received the NFL Coach of the Year Award.  His work ethic and determination were an example to the rest of the coaching staff and to the players as the Falcons made a quick turnaround from the wretched 2007 season.

 

Ten Questions for Mike Smith

1. In 2008, you walked into a tough situation, taking over a coaching job that many said nobody wanted.  What was the biggest challenge for you as you assumed that role for the first time with a team as bad as the Falcons were in 2007?

2. Last year, Matt Ryan surprised a lot of people with his maturity, leadership, and physical skills as he took home Rookie of the Year award honors.  What steps are you looking for him to take in 2009 as he continues his personal development into a franchise quarterback?

3. Michael Turner turned out to be one of the big stories in the NFL with his breakout year in 2008 as a starter with the Falcons. His play exceeded the expectations  of people, as he rushed for nearly 1,700 yards and earned a trip to the Pro Bowl.

What were your realistic expectations for him last year and what are you looking for out of him in the future?

4. The addition of Tony Gonzalez has a lot of fans in Atlanta very excited.  What does he bring to the team both on and off the field, and how will the offense change with him as a part of it?

5. The Falcons have made some big changes on defense this offseason with Keith Brooking leaving and the addition of Mike Peterson. The team has also drafted seven defensive players.  How will the team improve in 2009 from those additions and what particular unit will change the most from 2008?

6. The big additions for the Falcons through the draft are defensive end Peria Jerry, safety William Moore, and cornerback Christopher Owens. Who in this group is ready to contribute in 2009 and what do they bring to the team?

7. While as a coach I am sure you have a lot of confidence in your team and their ability to perform. What one part of the team are you most concerned about or working the hardest to improve?

8. One of the areas that the Falcons need improvement on is their pass defense as they ranked 21st in yards allowed.  As if it wasn’t tough enough to face division foes Jake Delhomme and Drew Brees, this year the Falcons get to see Tom Brady, Jake Cutler, Tony Romo, Eli Manning, and Donovan McNabb. 

How has the pass defense improved from last year, and how will the team hold up against the quality quarterbacks they have to face?

9. Looking at the schedule, the Falcons have a much harder road ahead of them in comparison to last year’s schedule.  What games this year jump out to you either as challenges, interesting matchups, or just a game that you are looking forward to?

10. Last year, the NFC South had more wins as a division than any other in the NFL.  As you look around in this very tough division, what team do you view as the biggest obstacle in the Falcons hunt for an NFC South title?

 

Arizona Cardinals: Can They Repeat Their Domination of the NFC West?

Without a doubt, as the NFC West goes, it’s one of the most stick-figured defensive lands in all of the NFL, which helps to explain why the Arizona Cardinals were able to carve them all up for a perfect 6-0 season against their division last year.

For a team that won just nine games to make the playoffs in 2008, to keep a stranglehold on that situation will be a key to evolution as a verifiable contender and defender of the NFC crown.

Problem is, the Cardinals’ defense hasn’t been all that much better than the St. Louis and Seattle squads. It was just that offensive tandem of quarterback Kurt Warner with his receivers Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald that could outscore everyone, of course.

But the rest of the division, in theory at least, has experienced quarterbacks in place (Matt Hasselbeck at Seattle, Mark Bulger for St. Louis) who could put up 400 yards in passing right along with Warner on any given Sunday.

So what are the changes for the Cardinals’ NFC West competitors that point to any trends for what makes to be another season of offensive circus shows among the division rivals?

The San Francisco 49ers

Sure, they had a better record than the rest, but trends aren’t good here for the Niners. The situation in the secondary, a key thing to look at for how they might do against the Cardinals, indicates a chaotic situation, at best.

The 49ers just lost cornerback Walt Harris, a three-year starter, to a season-ending knee injury. They had already lost defensive back Donald Strickland in free agency to the New York Jets. The pass defense had been one of the team’s few strengths. But who knows what the situation will be when the Cardinals tee it up to open the season at home against these guys?

Their quarterback situation has been diffuse over the years. And if drafting Nate Davis out of Ball State is any indicator, there seems to be a feeling of insecurity annually now for those who still remember the likes of Steve Young and Joe Montana.

Add that to the fact the Niners’ coach Mike Singletary publicly gave his team a failing grade for practices in May.

Yeah, good situation for the Cardinals brewing here.

Prediction: 2-0, with one close game in San Francisco.

The Seattle Seahawks

Perhaps the one team in the division likely to give the Cardinals fits this year, if Hasselbeck can get any healthier.

That’s because if all goes as planned, he’ll have a new toy to throw to in the free-agent signing of T.J. Houshmandzadeh. He had 92 catches for the Bengals last year and scored 25 TDs in three seasons with Cincinnati, and will likely be a good solution for losing Bobby Engram.

Definitely a team in transition with championship-calibre coach Mike Holmgren safely out of the picture, Seattle is the division’s biggest wild card. Under new coach Jim Mora, a new offense in beta, there’s rumors on the web that Michael Vick will be brought in.

But that’s all speculation, all powered by the comic sensibilities that might arise when thinking about defenders having to chase the scrambling quarterback around on a wet Seattle field.

But something needed to be done for the defense, too, which had no solution last year for Fitzgerald and was ranked 30th in total yards allowed per game. It tried, drafting a linebacker, Aaron Curry of Wake Forest, as the fourth overall pick in the draft.

Other actions seem more desperate. For example, did they really give a defensive tackle, Colin Cole, who had three sacks in three years at Green Bay, $6 million per year in the free agency pool?

Reeks of desperation, doesn’t it?

Again, a nice sign for the Cardinals.

Prediction: 1-1, with the game up in Seattle being the loss, most likely, depending on the weather.

The St. Louis Rams

Since they are the worst team in the division, they are most likely to give Arizona the most problems, even more than a far better team such as Seattle, which might be favored at home.

That’s basic theory when looking at the Cardinals for many years now. Though the NFC champs are a contender in the division, a clear favorite, the whole used-to-be-from-St. Louis ironies for both franchises always find new forms of drama on the field.

But yikes, the Rams gave up 465 points last season, scoring only half as many. It drafted second in the NFL Draft for the big beef for the line, and then gave a $37.5 million deal to get a center, Jason Brown from the Ravens, to make sure they could at least get the snap count right.

Also in the off season, new coach Steve Spagnuolo released half the squad, releasing receiver Tory Holt, backup quarterback Trent Green, and offensive tackle Orlando Price.

The Cardinals get their hands on the Rams late in the season, Nov. 22 in St. Louis and Dec. 27 in Phoenix, so at that point, it all depends on either Warner or Bulger are still healthy.

Usually, a division champ might look at the Rams and say “Well, that’s 2-0, for sure, right?”

Prediction: It’s a toss-up, but shouldn’t be. A lingering ghost of that old Cardinals’ sense of futility that anything that can go wrong, will go wrong during a game. But one thing is clear. The Cardinals will continue to feed off the problems faced by the other teams in transition in the NFC West.

 

The 1990 Giants: The Story Of Guts, Hard Work, and a Little Bit of Luck

Call me crazy, but the 2007 New York Giants are not going down as my favorite Giants team of all time. As much I loved what they accomplished against almost impossible odds, there is another Giants team in history that hasn’t gotten the love the 2007 one will.Before there was Eli Manning, there was the miracle that was Jeff Hostetler. I am talking about the 1990 New York Giants

That 1990 Giants team has to go down as one of all-time favorite teams in sports history, never mind just NFL. Led by all-time great Lawrence Taylor and having to go with both quarterbacks Phil Simms and Jeff Hostetler, the Giants posted a 13–3 record and went on one of the most underrated and inspired runs in playoff history.

The Giants had strong aspirations for a Super Bowl title prior to the season, as their 1989 season ended in devastating fashion. It was a year that saw the Giants go 12-4 and earn a first-round bye.

They had allowed the least amount of points in the NFL that year and seemed to have the team that could win another Super Bowl. But Flipper Anderson and the L.A. Rams broke their hearts that year with a 19-13 OT win that saw Anderson catch the game winning 30-yard touchdown in the NFC Divisional playoff. It was a punch-to-the-gut loss that only seem to motivate the Giants to get back again next year and go farther.

The start of the 1990 season showed how hungry they were as they started 10-0. In half those games, the Giants defense allowed single-digit points and had a +16 turnover differential.

They weten’t the flashiest team on offense, but they got the job done in workman-like fashion. The game that put them at 10-0 was an impressive 20-0 win over the Detroit Lions. They had shut down the run-and-shoot offense of the Lions with an unusual 2-4-5 defense designed by the great Bill Belicheck. After that game, it seemed like the Giants could go the perfect route.

But after the game, the Giants season took a serious turn. They had their undefeated season crushed when they took a serious 31-13 beatdown from their division rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles at Philly.

The Eagles broke open a close game by scoring two touchdowns in 22 seconds in the fourth quarter. The game was marked by several scuffles and one of the rare times that the Giants lost their poise.

The Giants would play their second straight tough road game when they were matched up with the defending Superbowl champions, the San Francisco 49ers. Although both teams lost in week 12 to stand at 10–1, their Week 13 matchup was one of the most highly anticipated games in Monday Night Football history.

The 49ers scored the only touchdown of the game in the second quarter on a 23-yard pass from Joe Montana to John Taylor. With four minutes left, they stopped the Giants on four passes from the 49ers’ nine-yard line and went on to win, 7-3, after which 49ers safety Ronnie Lott and Giants QB Phil Simms had a heated verbal exchange.

It was one of the best defensive efforts by the Giants all season, as they held Jerry Rice to one catch for 13 yards. This would not be the final time these two teams would meet.

After a win the next week put New York at 11-2, the Giants season seemed to have taken a turn for the worse. In a game played in miserable weather conditions, Simms broke his foot—causing him to miss the remainder of the season—and was replaced by inexperienced backup Jeff Hostetler.

To add insult to injury, the Giants lost the game 17-13 to drop to 11-3. The season that started so perfectly for the Giants now has seemed to spiral downwards. Now if they wanted to avenge the previous year’s heartbreak, they would have to do it with the backup Hostetler.

The Giants finished as champions of the NFC East with a 13-3 record. They clinched the No. 2 seed and earned a first-round bye in the playoffs, just like in 1989. They finished the regular season having committed an NFL record-low 14 turnovers, and their defense led the league in points allowed (211).

Their first playoff opponent was the Chicago Bears, and Hostetler was determined to show the NFL and the Giants fans that he had what it takes to win it all. An early goal-line stand by the Big Blue ‘D’ set the tone, as the Giants defeated the Bears 31–3.

The Giants rushed for 194 yards and dominated the Bears in time of possession; 38 minutes and 22 seconds to 21 minutes and 38 seconds. The Giants were four-for-four on fourth-down plays and converted six of 14 third downs. That is what wins titles.  

The next two games the Giants would play would be among two of the greatest playoff games in NFL history and showed the toughness this Giants team had that made me in awe of them.

First up was a trip to San Francisco to face the defending champion 49ers. I remember the whole week leading up to the game, I felt like the only Giants fan in school. Everyone was in love with the 49ers. It’s like they had become “America’s New Team.”

There were so many homers at my school that it made me so angry how they could be so against a team that’s from our own city. I honestly remember being the only Giants fan and had the only hope they could win. Everyone from teachers to students gave me grief,a saying the 49ers were going to kill my Giants. I had never been so pumped for a game in my life. I was only 10 years old, but this was the first time I wanted a team of mine to win so badly.

In a rematch of the MNF 7-3 49ers victory, the teams traded field goals in the first and second quarters to make the score 6–6 at halftime. Less than five minutes into the third quarter, Montana threw a 61-yard touchdown pass to John Taylor to give the 49ers a 13–6 lead.

A Giants field goal made the score 13–9 at the end of the third quarter. Then came one of the most memorable hits in NFL history.)In the fourth quarter, Leonard Marshall sacked a flushed-out Montana with a square blow between his shoulders and knocked him out of the game (Montana would miss the next season and a half due to injuries sustained from the hit). He would never be the same after that hit.

A fake-punt direct snap to Gary Reasons for a first down lead to another Giants field goal that brought the Giants to within one point at 13–12. But time was running out on the Giants, and Steve Young looked to put them away, as they were trying to run out the clock following a big third-down conversion.

But with just under three minutes left in the game, Erik Howard forced Roger Craig to fumble the ball, and a recovery by Taylor returned possession to the Giants. Sparked by a nifty rollout pass from Hostetler to Mark Bavaro, the Giants drove to the 49ers 25-yard line. With the Giants kicker, Matt Bahr, lining up to kick the winning field goal, I thought to myself, could this Giants team actually do this? Or was this going to be my first real broken heart as a fan and the second straight heartbreak for the G Men?

Bahr would make his fifth field goal at the gun to give the Giants a dramatic, 15-13 victory, and the Giants were going to Super Bowl XXV. I jumped so high that I hit my head on the ceiling. But I did not care because I was the happiest I had ever been. The Giants did the impossible and knocked off the mighty Niners. I really felt like they had won the championship.

But the journey was not over.

What came next was one of the greatest and emotional Super Bowls of all time. The game took place amidst a background of war and patriotism at Tampa Stadium. The Gulf War had just gotten underway, and the nation rallied around the Super Bowl as a symbol of America.

Adding to the patriotism was Whitney Houston’s incredible rendition of the national anthem. It was one of the greatest in sports history. There was nothing that can compare. The game lived up to the stirring Anthem, as it went down as the most competitive Super Bowl ever.

The Giants got off to a quick 3–0 lead. But the Bills scored the next 12 points on a field goal, a touchdown, and a safety after Hostetler was sacked in the end zone by Bruce Smith. The Giants then ran a drive that took nearly eight minutes and culminated in a 14-yard touchdown pass from Hostetler to Stephen Baker, making the score 12–10 at halftime.

The Giants received the second-half kickoff and mounted a record-setting drive that changed the tone of the game. The opening drive ran for more than nine minutes (a Super Bowl record) and culminated in a one-yard touchdown run by Ottis Anderson, giving the Giants a 17–12 lead.

The signature play of the drive came on a 3rd-and-12, when Giants receiver Mark Ingram appeared about to be tackled well short of a first down. But Ingram evaded several tacklers and dragged one defender just far enough to get the Giants the first down and keep the drive alive.

The play emphasized the Giants’ season, as their hard work had appeared to have paid off. By this time, the Giants strategy to handle the Bills offense had become clear: Keep them off the field.

The Bills struck back quickly. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Thurman Thomas ran for a 31-yard touchdown that put the Bills back in front, 19–17.

The Giants got the ball back and drove down to the Bills four-yard line. But they were unable to score a touchdown and had to settle for a 21-yard field goal and a 20–19 lead. Both teams exchanged possessions before the Bills began one final drive. The Bills drove down to the Giants 30-yard line to set up what would be a potentially game-winning 47-yard field-goal attempt by Scott Norwood.

A few moments later, in what became the game’s signature moment, Norwood’s attempt missed wide right. Giants win, 20-19! And I just witnessed the most improbable championship I had ever seen.

After all these years, it seems like that Giants season is more remembered for that one play then their body of work. Rightfully so, but this Giants team deserves a little bit more love than they get. It truly was an incredible championship and one that flies under the radar. My first team that I truly loved.

Heisler’s Headlines: May 28

This edition of Heisler’s Headlines is loaded with Steelers info.

Some teams that are included in this article are:
Steelers
Broncos
Dolphins
Bills
Jets

Some players that will be included will be:
Plaxico Burress
D.J. Williams
J.J. Arrington
Brandon Marshall
Thomas Jones
Leon Washington
Terrell Owens
Trent Edwards

Enjoy!

My Q&A (OK, OK—Just Q) with Defensive Line Coach Rod Marinelli

Lovie Smith described the off season move for long-time friend and former head coach of the win-less Detroit Lions, Rod Marinelli, as the most important off season acquisition he could have made. 

Well, no.  Not really—hindsight being 20/20 and all.

With the unexpected acquisition of Jay Cutler having since engulfed all other off season moves—not only for the Bears but arguably for the entire NFL—Rod Marinelli’s role in the Bears’ future success has taken a back seat as far as your average fans are concerned.

However, it has been widely acknowledged internally and by many NFL experts that Rod Marinelli’s return to coaching the defensive line position could still have the greatest influence over the Bears’ ability to make that next step of returning to NFC prominence.

Many fans don’t really know Marinelli’s background and reputation as one of the finest position coaches in the league and are (and I can’t blame them) more than a little underwhelmed by his recent track record as the head coach of the Detroit Lions.

So who is Rod Marinelli and what should Bears nation expect from this legendary (for better and worse) personality?  Here’s what I want to know.

1) Tell us how your experiences in Vietnam have shaped your world view.  It’s an intense test to pass for any young man- have you taken any of the lessons learned in the military and transferred them to —the football field?

2) What does it mean for you to be re-united with your long time friend and peer, Lovie Smith?  What’s your working relationship like?

3) You have a very veteran line this year with Bears—they know the system up and down and there’s nothing new in the way of technique that they haven’t seen before- how do you go about getting better play from them?

4) Can you clear something up for us? Many people think that you have been a defensive coordinator at the professional level, which isn’t actually the case. 

You do, however, have extensive experience as an Assistant Head Coach—a responsibility you will resume here in Chicago.  What are the responsibilities of an Assistant Head Coach and how do they differ from that of an offensive or defensive coordinator?

5) Two of the top four draft choices this year were defensive linemen- how much influence do you wield personally in draft day decisions when it comes to your defensive line?

6) In your estimation, what will it take from Tommie Harris to regain the form he displayed in ’05 and ’06?

7) How did your experience in Detroit change your coaching philosophy, if at all?  What did you learn?  Is there anything you would have done differently looking back on it?

8) Which of your young players are you looking to have a quantum leap in production from this year and why?

9) What coaches have you learned the most from and who has most inspired your philosophy and brand of coaching?

10) With all the teams in the NFL currently switching away from the 4-3 defense to play the 3-4, why do you think the Tampa Two derivatives, with the right personnel and executed correctly, can be the most effective scheme in the league?

It’s Time the Oakland Raiders Met Expectations

Given the way the 2008 season ended, the Oakland Raiders entered this offseason with something they haven’t had in a while: momentum.

True, a two-game win streak might not seem like much when the team’s overall record finished at 5-11, but when you’re an organization that’s won only 23 games since 2003, you’ll take whatever positives you can get.

This is in no way meant to be an apology for a tumultuous 2008 campaign, but for the Raiders to have finished on such a high note there’s reason to believe that 2009 just might be the year the Raiders take that first step in the right direction.

However, the important thing to remember about such an optimistic outlook is that it should be at best curbed, if not guarded.

After all, these are still the Oakland Raiders.

As such, they’ll open the 2009 season with yet another new head coach, Tom Cable, and a slew of questions that desperately need to be answered before the season-opener Sept. 14 against San Diego.

Most of the questions on offense center around a passing game that finished near last in most major statistical categories.

At the center of it all is third-year quarterback JaMarcus Russell. Russell struggled to find any consistency last year, and if the Raiders want to feature a more balanced offensive attack, he must become the quarterback the Raiders believed him to be when he was selected first overall in 2007.

Should Russell fail to improve, don’t be surprised if Cable is quick to play veteran Jeff Garcia, who was signed this offseason as Russell’s backup (even though the past few years have shown that Garcia never believes he’s anyone’s backup).

The second most glaring issue, among a laundry list of issues, is Oakland’s defensive front seven and their inability to stop the run. The Raiders ranked 31st in run defense the past two seasons, although they dramatically improved their sack total last year.

Enter John Marshall, the new defensive coordinator. Marshall comes to Oakland by way of Seattle, replacing Rob Ryan who left for the Browns.

Cable doesn’t expect there to be much change in schemes, but in bringing in the tough, no-nonsense Marshall, he hopes his defense will become more fundamentally sound and perform better as a unit.

The 2009 schedule doesn’t look promising for the Raiders.

Save for divisional rivals Denver and Kansas City, there aren’t any real cupcakes the Raiders will face. While it might be a stretch to say teams like the Texans, Bengals, or the Redskins are forces to be reckoned with, they certainly are in a better situation than the Raiders.

The season opens on Monday night against last year’s division champs, the San Diego Chargers.

Make no mistake, despite winning the conference with an 8-8 record, the Chargers could have finished with a couple more wins under their belts had it not been for a few bad breaks (see Ed Hochuli).

With a healthy Shawne Merriman and LaDainian Tomlinson looking like he’s ready to go, the Raiders will be hard-pressed to come up with a win in this one despite their best efforts.

The next two-game stretch of games might play into Oakland’s favor. The Raiders travel to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs in Week Two, followed up by the Broncos in Oakland.

Kansas City finished last in the division in 2008, and while they’ve made some key additions, they’ll be breaking in a new coach, a new quarterback, and a new scheme.

The same goes for the Broncos who would’ve been contenders had they held onto Jay Cutler, but with Kyle Orton in charge of a new offense, look for Denver to take a step back.

It’s almost crazy to say it, but the Raiders’ Week Four matchup in Houston might go a long way in gauging this team. Even though the Raiders bested the Texans in Week 16 last season, Houston finished the year at 8-8, and had some impressive victories to show for it.

The Texans might battle some inconsistencies throughout the season, especially in a tough AFC South, but head coach Gary Kubiak will have his team ready to compete.

Unfortunately for the Raiders, this game is in Texas and Houston will come out on top in this one.

The Raiders will be hard-pressed to come out with any wins in the following two weeks. On Oct. 11, they’ll be in East Rutherford, N.J., to play the Giants, and Eli Manning and company will be too much for the young Raiders.

Week Six, the Raiders will host the Eagles, but again, the disparity in experienced talent will manifest itself in a third consecutive loss for the Raiders.

Week Seven, the Raiders host the New York Jets, and will welcome rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez. While last season’s rookie quarterbacks (Atlanta’s Matt Ryan and Baltimore’s Joe Flacco) were phenomenal in their first years, don’t expect much of the same from Sanchez.

The Raiders will put a stop to the bleeding with a nice win over the Jets.

Week Eight will be another tough matchup against the Chargers, and unfortunately for the Raiders, this time it will be in San Diego. The Raiders head into the bye week with a loss, and a record of 3-5.

Out of the bye, the Raiders will host Kansas City, and while the Chiefs should be improved by this time in the season, expect the Raiders to come out with a win and sweep their rivals.

Much like the three-game stretch of games from Weeks Four through Six, expect the same from Weeks 11-13.

Although the Bengals struggled in 2008, former Pro Bowl quarterback Carson Palmer returns, and early reports are that he’s as healthy as ever.

The Cowboys, despite all their drama and the loss of Terrell Owens, are still loaded with talent on both sides of the ball, and of course, the Steelers will be the Steelers.

The Week 14 matchup against the Redskins could be a pivotal one for the Raiders. The Redskins, coming off an 8-8 season, are much like the Cowboys in that they’re talented on both sides of the ball. However, should the Raiders progress like they should, they just might have a chance to come up with a surprise win at home.

On Dec. 20, the team travels to Denver to take on the Broncos. You certainly expect the Broncos to be much improved at this point in the season, but while this is an away game for the Raiders, the team should be riding high off their Week 14 win.

In Week 16, the Raiders travel to Cleveland to take on the Browns, and will face a familiar face in Rob Ryan. If Brady Quinn is still starting and hasn’t been taken over by Derek Anderson, this game will depend largely on how much Quinn has progressed at quarterback.

What’s worse for the Raiders though, is the fact that they’ll be facing Ryan’s defense, and if history has told Raider fans anything about their offenses going up against former coaches, things don’t bode well for the Silver and Black.

Barring a spectacular sophomore slump for quarterback Joe Flacco, the Ravens and their annually dominant defense should defeat the Raiders, and you only hope that at this point in the season, the young Raiders have improved enough so that they can, at the very least, make it a competitive game.

Even if they should lose to the Redskins in Week 14, the Raiders should be able to manage one win from either the Texans or the Browns. Should the season come to pass as detailed, the Raiders would finish second in the division at 4-2 with an overall record of 6-10.

While that’s hardly good enough for a playoff birth, it would be a modest step in the right direction for a young Raider team.

While Al Davis and Raider Nation might clamor for better results, the fact of the matter is, this team lacks discipline on defense, and is still too young at too many critical spots on offense.

Since losing Super Bowl XXXVII in 2002, the Raiders have done nothing but fallen short of their yearly expectations, regardless of how low those expectations might have been.

To ask more of such a young team would be impractical.

Given the state of affairs in Raider Nation since 2002, simply meeting expectations should suffice as a “commitment to excellence.”

« Previous Page — Next Page »

NFL Sport Channel Latest

• Just How Far Would You Go?
• Sorry Rex, But It Isn’t Happening
• Super Bowl Predictions: Five Stat-Free Reasons Why the Eagles Will Reach The Super Bowl
• Seahawks Attempt to Turn Corner With Heavy Pursuit of Pete Carroll
• Bill Cowher Unlikely to Coach in 2010