Last Night on “The Knee Jerks”: Pistons Put on Hold, But Some Good Rants

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Week Three Wrap Up in the AFC North

Another week in the NFL, and once again, fans find themselves on a roller-coaster ride early in this 2009-2010 season. As all four teams had division games this week, let’s delve into the AFC North’s fun-filled adventure.

In Baltimore, the Raven’s took it to the Browns and never really let up. With a final score of 34-3, it is the largest margin of victory this week (beating the Giants, who blanked the Bucs 24-0).

While there are many factors as to why this was never even really a game, the most obvious is talent.

Coach Eric Mangini simply does not have enough talent on the roster in Cleveland to compete with a team that has been scary-good in every game so far this year. Example: The Browns won possession to begin the game, threw an interception, and allowed it to be turned into a touchdown less than five minutes into the game.

QB turmoil started anew in Cleveland, as Brady Quinn was benched for lack of production, paving the way for Derek Anderson to show Mangini that he made the wrong choice to start the season. Unfortunately for Anderson, he had no better luck against the Raven’s defense than Quinn did, and the two QB’s combined to go 17 of 27 for 126 yards and four (that’s right, FOUR) INT’s.

Coach Mangini is expected to name a starter (yes, this AGAIN!) by Wednesday, leaving Browns fans to wonder if they will ever see the 2007 magic again. Conversely, Ravens QB Joe Flacco threw a career day: 25 for 35 for 342 yards, 1 TD.

It appears that the Ravens’ defense is starting to come together (and this was definitely a game that gave it the opportunity), but like most, I am astonished at the way the Ravens have relied on their offense to win games.

As curious as this seemed to me at the beginning of the season, it is obviously a strategy that is working, as the Ravens remain undefeated and the class of the AFC North.

While one Ohio team is struggling, another is surging and living up to their own hype. In Cincinnati, the Bengals held on just long enough to put together a final drive, resulting in a TD and a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Bengals, mostly lifeless during the first three quarters (Steelers led 20-9 headed into the fourth quarter, even after giving up a pick-six), found some magic from QB Carson Palmer late in the fourth.

Palmer led a 16-play, 71-yard drive which ended with a four-yard pass to Andre Caldwell who was wide open in the middle of the end zone.

While the Bengals played well and are enjoying a victory they have not experienced since Chad Ochocinco was a rookie, the Steelers and their fans are grimacing once again. For the second week in a row, chances to put a team away have come and gone.

The early game dominance began to fade away when Roethlisberger threw a beautiful pass to Limas Sweed in the end zone, only to have Sweed lose control of the ball as he hit the ground—resulting in an incomplete pass (on a personal note, I have watched and rewatched that catch until my eyes hurt, and to me, it looked like Sweed let go of the ball as his back hit the ground a second time after bouncing from initial impact, which by rule is a completion).

The play immediately following was a painful reminder of the previous week, a missed field goal by Jeff Reed (usually one of the most reliable legs in the league, Reed has now missed three in the past two games).

Following these back-to-back missed opportunities, the Bengals struck back, once off a 23 yard run from Cedric Benson, and the other game winning drive (kept alive on 4th-and-10 by an 11-yard gain on a pass to the halfback Brian Leonard).

The Steelers, usually a team known for generating turnovers, has failed to do so in the past two games. Their defense has been excellent in clutch situations, and has failed to step up in the past two games. That said, the defense did play very well, holding the Bengals to a net total of negative 10 yards in the first quarter (that’s right, -10 yards!).

The offense did play well, however has been unable to seal the deal, due mostly to dropped passes and missed field goals.

Steelers WR Hines Ward put the Steelers 1-2 record into perspective pretty well following another heartbreak loss: “If we score touchdowns in the first half, it’s not even a game, it’s 24-0 or 24-3. It’s not very good. You’ve got to put up seven points instead of 3s. That’s how you finish a team off.”

Well said.

On the other side of the ball, the defense is clearly missing All-Pro Safety Troy Polamalu. While they have been effective, they have not come up in the clutch situations that they have been notorious for doing in the past. In the end, I think DE Brett Keisel summed up the Steelers woes fairly well in his postgame interview:

What allowed them to come back and win today?

“They made big plays and we didn’t. It’s something we need to rectify if we are going to be the great team that we strive to be. It’s disappointing, but we have the type of team that knows when things are going wrong. Hopefully, everyone can check himself and come in ready to work on Wednesday.”

 

Is it encouraging to know you are close to being 3-0, or is it frustrating to know you haven’t been able to get over the hump and stand at 1-2?

“It’s frustrating. I felt like all game we were in control. Even when they made the big pick, we were playing tough. Then, things shifted on us. They made a great drive at the end. They made the plays and we did not.”

 

What’s the fatigue level like at the end of a game when things are happening like they did today?

“I don’t think we were tired. I don’t think anyone was tired. It was a matter of making plays and not making plays. We strive to be a great defense. We strive to make those plays. If we don’t start making them, it’s going to be a long year.”

As we head into the fourth week, lets look ahead and make a few predictions. It will be the showdown in Ohio this week, as the Bengals head to Cleveland to take on the Browns. This should be another win for the Bengals, and barring some kind of fluke or serious under-appreciation on the part of the Bengals, the Browns should be 0-4 and the Bengals should advance to 3-1.

The Ravens will have arguably the toughest challenge this week, as they head to New England to take on the Patriots. As Brady continues to struggle finding his groove, Flacco could have one of the biggest games of his life as he looks to outshine fellow second year QB Matt Ryan once again.

That said, NE opened up the run very effectively in week three, and shut down Ryan’s favorite reads fairly effectively. I could see this one going either way, but in the end I think the Patriots will find a way to best the Ravens.

As for the Steelers, they have a tough opponent as well in San Diego. However, they could not have gotten the Chargers at a better time (well, except maybe week three) as they are pretty banged up already, especially on the offensive line—a weakness that Baltimore exploited all too well for Chargers QB Phillip Rivers.

Look for the Steelers to generate the same kind of pressure and penetration, and get their season back on track with a much needed win at Hines Field.

To wrap this week’s analysis up, lets just say that this is the NFL, and anything can happen week to week. For instance, if someone had said before the season began that the Steelers would be 1-2 headed into the fourth week, no one would have believed it.

Had someone else said that the Ravens would be atop the AFC North, and led their by its offense, not its defense, they would have been laughed off.

Yet here we are. Certainly, it is still a young season—and as we have seen already, anything can happen, and we can always expect the unexpected.

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Tuesday Morning Running Back Week Three: Lions Snap Skid

It’s the home base of the declining U.S. auto industry, as well as the home of baseball’s Tigers, who are clinging to a sparse two-game lead in the AL Central as I write this.

Long story short, the people of Detroit needed a pick-me-up to get them thinking positive again.

Well, they got it in the most unlikely source.

Finally, after 19 straight losses, the Detroit Lions tasted victory for the first time in over a year.

Behind the leadership of confident rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford, and the power running of Kevin Smith, the Lions were finally able to halt the snickers from other NFL fans, at least for one week.

Of course the Lions victory was aided by the poor play of the Redskins, who missed several opportunities of their own on offense, and could not stop the Lions from running out the clock on their final drive.

But a win’s a win, and it’s especially sweet if you’ve waited 21 months for one. Therefore, I don’t blame the Ford Family for acting like they won the Super Bowl when time ran out.

A victory tastes sweet no matter how long you wait for it or who you beat. The sweetest ones however are the ones that are few are far between.

Elsewhere in week three action:

• Right now, the Redskins must question if either Jim Zorn is the right coach for their system, or Jason Campbell is the right quarterback for it. In other words, a change must be made if they want to save their season.
• It was nice to see that the Patriots were more comfortable running the ball on Sunday. It was even nicer to learn that my team has a coach that is willing to go for it on fourth down deep in his own territory!
• I never realized how much Falcons coach Mike Smith looks like Steve Martin until I saw him up close on Sunday.
• The pressure’s on Donovan McNabb once he returns from his cracked rib. Not only did Kevin Kolb throw for over 300 yards on Sunday, but he also proved that he can control the offense without Brian Westbrook.
• Kudos to the Jets David Harris who had an interception and a sack on the Titans’ final two possessions to preserve New York’s victory over the Titans.
• The problem for the Texans right now is their run defense. Maurice Jones-Drew ran all over them on Sunday.
• Aaron Rodgers was the right man for the job in Green Bay. His strong arm led to several deep passes that led to scores, and he’s gone over 100 passes without throwing a pick.
• He may have overthrown some balls and taken a lot of punishment on his body, but Brett Favre can be as good a clutch quarterback as anyone in the NFL. His game-winning throw to Greg Lewis proved it.
• Phillip Rivers was smart to realize that the Dolphins had collapsed the pocket on him. Therefore, he wasn’t afraid to run with it and score the touchdown on a quarterback draw that put the Chargers ahead for good.
• Chad Pennington’s shoulder injury is the most crushing blow to a team in the NFL so far this season.
• Josh McDaniels is my early, and I stress early, choice for NFL coach of the year. He’s put his faith in Kyle Orton, and the defense did not allow a touchdown for the second straight week.
• Steelers K Jeff Reed was a goat again missing a key field goal that could have put the game away.
• Not even Otto Graham can save the Browns now.
• Devin Hester told Jay Cutler to give him the ball before the Bears final drive. Not surprisingly, Cutler’s perfect passing drive culminated in a 36-yard TD to Hester and a Bears win.
• Did someone forget to separate the colors from the whites while washing the Seahawks jerseys last week?
• The Saints won at Buffalo with a strong defensive effort, but perhaps more shocking is that TO did not record a catch in a game for the first time since 1996! I bet he’ll want out of Buffalo by the end of the season.
• The Cowboys addressed every concern they had last week last night. The running game was dominant even without Marion Barber, and the pass rush looked like it finally mastered the 3-4 defense.
• It should be a good week four with the Pats playing the Ravens and the Pack playing Favre for the very first time. See you next Tuesday for all the analysis.

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Film Study: Ben Roethlisberger’s Way Works for Steelers

It’s not always pretty. In fact, it’s rarely pretty. But it works.

Brett Favre is the classic gunslinger. Tom Brady and Peyton Manning throw the pretty passes from the pocket. Donovan McNabb has the flashy running skills. 

Ben Roethlisberger? He’s the guy who thinks every stadium is no different than his own backyard.

He will probably never set league passing records, regardless of an upward trend in pass attempts the last two seasons. 

But he has two Super Bowl rings before entering the prime of his career, so he must be doing something right.

In this week’s edition of Film Study, since there is such a focus on what’s wrong with the Steelers, we instead take a look at the unique style of play that makes Ben Roethlisberger so successful.

 

Quarterback Measurables

Stat Line Through Week Three:

78-109 (71.6 percent), 860 yards, three TD, four INT, seven sacks, 88.5 rating

 

Arm Strength

If you didn’t see Roethlisberger’s (almost) touchdown pass to Limas Sweed, then you should go back and take a look at the tape. 

Ben didn’t just heave the ball deep into the end zone as most quarterbacks do. He gunned an absolute laser right on target to Sweed, who had the ball perfectly cradled until he fell over and let the ground pop the ball loose.

These displays of arm strength by Roethlisberger are not limited to one or two pass attempts. Going back to his rookie season, there are several. 

Ben has the strength to make all of the throws and also can power the ball through coverage using nothing more than sheer speed (and some luck).

 

Accuracy

As I said in my report card yesterday, throw out the touchdown to interception ratio. At least two of the interceptions were not due to an error in decision making by Roethlisberger, instead being caused by a hit arm (intended for Mike Wallace against Chicago) and a Hail Mary (end of the first half against Tennessee).

Ben would have at least one more touchdown if not for Sweed’s drop against the Bengals and would probably have an even higher completion percentage if not for some drops by Santonio Holmes.

As it is, 71.6 percent is extremely good, considering the drops. Ben is certainly hitting on all cylinders in the early going.

For the most part, Roethlisberger throws great to spots and also can lead receivers with passes. Many quarterbacks are good at one or the other, but not both. 

 

Mechanics

One of the most important parts of quarterbacking deals with throwing mechanics.

Last year, Roethlisberger exhibited one questionable, but not necessarily bad, tendency: He held on to the ball too long.

For most coaches, quarterbacks are supposed to have a four-second clock in their heads, counting down from the snap until the average time it takes the pass rush to penetrate. Holding the ball longer than four seconds is usually considered to be holding on too long, therefore risking a sack or fumble.

But for Roethlisberger, it is a different sort of game. His large build, quick thinking, and escapability allow him to hold onto the ball until the last possible moment and still make a play with his arm.

Outside of that, mechanics consist mostly of footwork. Solid footwork allows you to step into throws and therefore get more power behind them. Poor footwork such as throwing off the back foot leads to passes that “sail” or “flutter.” This leads to incompletions or interceptions.

Roethlisberger ever since his rookie year has had solid footwork. He routinely steps up and into throws but also has the strength to throw awkwardly if necessary. He has shown an ability similar to (although the two players are not comparable) Rich Gannon, who was adept at throwing from different arm angles with accuracy.

Ben’s physical tools will always allow him to overcome any mistakes in mechanics, so these are not a concern.

 

Quarterback Intangibles

Leadership

During his first two seasons, Roethlisberger was the beneficiary of a veteran core of leaders. Hines Ward and Jerome Bettis helped Ben adjust to the NFL and tutored him in the finer points of leading the team.

By his third season, Roethlisberger stepped up and took charge on his own. He is now the unquestioned leader. He has also taken a leadership role in the offense, taking on some of the play-calling duties and taking control at the line of scrimmage.

 

Decision Making

Few of Roethlisberger’s decisions can be questioned. So far in 2009, almost none of his decisions have been poor. He has made a bad throw or two, but you cannot discount the possibility that receivers ran incorrect routes or the fact that, every now and then, defenders just make a great play.

Roethlisberger’s play-calling in the no-huddle has also been spectacular. Make no mistake, when the team has moved most effectively in 2008 and so far in 2009, it is because Roethlisberger is calling the plays and showing a great knack for it.

 

Playmaking Ability

Here is where Roethlisberger beats out Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. No one can do as much with nothing as Roethlisberger.

Do you think Brady or Manning could escape the pocket, scramble around for six or seven seconds, reset themselves, and throw a strike while two defenders drag them down?

Roethlisberger can, and often does, do just that.

This is the “it” that coaches describe loosely but can never fully define. It is the ability to make plays when the original formation, routes, and blocking schemes are total failures.

For example, the trademark play of Super Bowl XLIII was essentially a broken play. To hear Roethlisberger explain the play, Holmes was his third read (following Mewelde Moore at the front of the end zone and probably Heath Miller in the back middle of it).

Roethlisberger’s pocket was disrupted on the left side, so he angled back and to the right, calmly read the play, and saw Holmes and a small sliver of daylight. 

The next thing he knew, he was hoisting a Lombardi Trophy.

Roethlisberger has 18 times in his still young career led the Steelers on game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime. That pace is unmatched. 

Many people say that he draws a very favorable comparison to another No. 7: John Elway. 

It took Elway his entire career to win two Super Bowls. Roethlisberger still has most of his career ahead of him.

 

The Bottom Line

Like or hate his style of play, you have to admit that Roethlisberger does what every quarterback is asked to do: He wins football games.

But he does so much more than that.

During his tenure, he not only has shown an impressive and unmatched knack for snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, he has also shown an equally impressive lack of mind-blowing, poor decisions that cost the Steelers games.

Sure, he’s had his ups and downs, his signature wins and mistake-filled losses, but he wins a lot more games than he loses.

I don’t think too many learned Steelers fans would want anyone else under center during a crucial game.

Is he the best quarterback of this era? Statistically, he’s not even close. But he’s quickly closing the gap everywhere else.

Guys who win are remembered. In that category, he’s almost second to none.

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2009 NFC West Featured Columnist Competition: Week Three Results

The NFC West went 0-4 in Week Three of the NFL regular season.

Arizona was dominated, Seattle was outplayed, San Francisco was robbed, and St. Louis continued their 2008 Detroit Lions impersonation.

Despite a horrid week on the field, the FC’s here at Bleacher Report kept on churning out (mostly) winning picks.

Here are the results and honors from Week Three.

 

Week Three Individual Standings

Andrew 14, Seth 14, Dray 13, Rob 13, Scotty 13, Steven 13, Chris 11, Ron 9

 

 

Week Two Team Standings

 

San Francisco 27, Seattle 26, Arizona 24, St. Louis 23

 

Season Individual Standings

Andrew 41, Seth 38, Dray 37, Rob 37, Chris 34, Ron 34, Scotty 33, Steven 33

 

Season Team Standings

San Francisco 78, St. Louis 72, Seattle 70, Arizona 67

 

Monday Night Football Team Tiebreaker

San Francisco 8, St. Louis 8, Arizona 7, Seattle 7

 

Pick of the Week—Chris/Rob/Scotty/Seth (Cincinnati over Pittsburgh)

 

There were no Underdog Bonus points awarded in Week Three, therefore no man stood in sole possession of an outstanding pick. Instead, this award goes to the quartet who chose against the reigning Super Bowl Champs in favor of the Fighting Cedric Bensons.

 

Good call, gentlemen. 

 

 

Fail of the Week—Chris/Ron/Seth/Steven (Oakland over Denver)

 

I understand that there is only so much talent you can pack into one backfield before they win something. That being said, until JaMarcus Russell finds out how to complete a pass and/or retires, this team looks to be doomed. 

 

Chris and Seth promptly squandered their “Pick of the Week” honors by endorsing Al Davis and the colossal waste of talent amassing in Oakland.

 

Hot Streak—Andrew Garda (8-for-9 in Early Games; On Fire in the Competition)

Andrew is simply torching the competition so far this year. He has finished tied for first each week, en route to a healthy three point lead over his nearest competitor. Andrew and Ron both scored 15 in Week One, which still stands as the competition high score.

 

Struck Out Swinging—Ron Clements (nine points scored in Week Three)

This isn’t as much a case of bad selections as it is unlucky breaks. Ron made the right picks when he needed to (i.e. he chose the easy games correctly), but he seemed to be on the losing end of nearly every toss up.

Brett Favre’s Hail Mary, Ryan Mouton’s fumble-itis, Washington’s goal line anemia, and Arizona’s failing offensive line all contributed to a miserable weekend for Ron.

 

What Might Have Been—Had Greg Lewis Not Hauled in the Miracle TD in Minnesota

 

You wanna talk about a game changer? How about a competition changer? 

 

If Greg Lewis doesn’t make that play, San Francisco holds on to win the game, and the entire standings board for the week goes up in flames.

 

Seth would have finished in sole possession of first place, while his St. Louis Rams duo would have jumped two more points in the standings (both Ron and Seth picked San Francisco).

 

Conversely, Rob and Scotty, the Seattle representatives, would have slid back two points in the standings, as each picked Minnesota to win. 

 

It will  be interesting to see how Favre’s late-game heroics will factor into the season-long competition…

 

Consistently Mediocre

Each week has featured a single-digit scoring effort from one of the contestants. Scotty (nine points in Week One), Steven (eight points in Week Two), and Ron (nine points in Week Three) have contributed thus far.

Let’s see if this trend of excellence can continue in Week Four…

 

That’s it for Week Three. Chip in on what you think.

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Dallas Cowboys: Walking a Tightrope Over Disaster

The Dallas Cowboys almost made the entire NFL, and its fans, forget about the Washington Redskins losing to the Detroit Lions.

Losing to the Carolina Panthers wouldn’t have been a “worse” loss, but the Cowboys are America’s Team.  It comes with the territory.

Instead, the Cowboys squeaked out a 21-7 win over the hapless Panthers. 

Things could have been much worse.

The same culprit I wrote about last year here, here, here and here, and most recently here, is the reason the Cowboys will continue to struggle.

Jason Garrett is the worst offensive coordinator in the NFL, in relation to the talent that he has to work with.  There is no one who misuses talent like “Red Headed Jesus.”

I’m not going to repeat what I said in those columns, just take the opposing team, change it to Carolina, and the result is the same.

Wait.  They had over 200 yards of rushing offense two weeks in a row?  They lead the NFL in rushing? So is Garrett finally coming through? 

Not so much.

The yardage is greater than in the past, but a lot of that is attributed to Felix Jones, the most exciting player in the NFL, outside of Adrian Peterson. 

The timing and sequence of rushing attempts, is the biggest problem in Dallas right now.

Would you believe, that despite a 7.5 yards-per-rush average in the first half, the Cowboys never ran the ball two times in a row?

And what about that debacle down at the goal line, with two fades from the one-yard line, despite all the success running the ball.  

The Cowboys probably left 14-21 points on the board last night, and it was all due to this complex that Garrett has about running the football.

Quite frankly, the Cowboys will not beat the good teams in the NFL with this kind of gameplan.  

In fact, the Cowboys would not have beaten the Redskins last night.  Their defense is good, and Jason Campbell doesn’t throw interceptions. 

The truth hurts.

Another question I have is, why hasn’t the Dallas media jumped all over this?  It is almost like CNN not covering ACORN or the Van Jones stories.  It doesn’t make any sense.

The media needs to ask the tough questions, even after a win, because there are a lot of fans who are completely frustrated with his incompetence.

There is a poll here that asked, “Is the Cowboys talent being misused on offense?”

Not surprisingly, a lot of fans were drinking the Kool-aid, and 60 percent voted that it wasn’t being misused. 

I’ve decided to put up the same poll, to see how many are now seeing the light.

If anyone knows Garrett, please send it to him. Thanks in advanced.

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Week Three Power Rankings: Purple Reign

Team who gained the most spots: Cincinnati Bengals—jumped from 21 to 12.

Team who lost the most spots: Pittsburgh Steelers—fell from 6 to 17.

Team who I have yet to figure out: The Arizona Cardinals—lost two home games and looked bad; went to the East Coast at a functional 10 o’clock in the morning start and looked great.

Game I can’t wait for next week: Green Bay-Minnesota. Need I say more? I’m always up for a little Brett Favre revenge, as in Green Bay getting revenge.

 

1. (1) New York Giants

Giants take it to the lowly Buccaneers. Defense held the Bucs to five first downs and only 86 total yards. Won’t get another true test for their defense until week six against the Saints. 226 rushing yards will help out Eli Manning as well.

 

2. (2) New York Jets

Jets played a tough game against a feisty, desperate Titans team. Despite a second quarter where they only gained three total yards, defense played well enough to keep them in it. Held Kerry Collins to 15-of-37 passing. Mark Sanchez continues to shine.

 

3. (8) Baltimore Ravens

Beat down a Browns team who has no identity or continuity. It didn’t matter who played QB; they intercepted both of them. Holding the Browns to 186 yards a game, but next week should show people who they really are, traveling to the Patriots, who looked good.

 

4. (3) Minnesota Vikings

A good win for the Vikings and their worries about Brett Favre. Throwing 46 times and only rushing Adrian Peterson 19 times is concerning. Sticking to their game plan would have helped a lot in this game. Defense held the 49ers in check. No Frank Gore did help.

 

5. (7) Indianapolis Colts

Colts took it to the Cardinals, racking up 505 yards of offense and forcing two red zone turnovers. Peyton Manning was near perfect, and both Joseph Addai and Donald Brown looked solid. Look to do more of the same against the Seahawks.

 

6. (9) New England Patriots

Back to the Patriots of old it appears, racking up 445 yards of offense and shutting down a solid Falcon team. Tom Brady looked back on track, and this is the exact momentum they needed going into the Ravens game. Wes Welker needs to come back, and Randy Moss looked excellent.

 

7. (5) New Orleans Saints

Despite the score, didn’t pummel the Bills. Drew Brees had a modest 172 yards, but Pierre Thomas had 126 on the ground. Reggie Bush also chimed in with 60. If the running game gets going, they won’t be stopped.

 

8. (4) Atlanta Falcons

Falcons looked like they could do nothing against the Patriots. There seems to be a theme: Shut down Tony Gonzalez, and you shut down the Falcons offense. Because the game got away from them in the second half, Michael Turner only got 15 carries. Need to give him the ball more in the future, however. 49ers, Bears, and Cowboys should tell us whether this team was a fluke or not.

 

9. (10) Philadelphia Eagles

Good news: Kevin Kolb looked good, but it was, of course, the Chiefs. Donovan McNabb should be back after the bye week, and we will see if they can live up to expectations. Also, we will see how they work Michael Vick into the contest.

 

10. (11) Chicago Bears

It’s all okay in Chicago after Jay Cutler again makes magic with a 38-yard TD pass to Devin Hester to win the game. The defense did what it had to do to win the game. After the Lions next week, the game against the Falcons should be a classic.

 

11. (12) San Diego Chargers

Not a convincing win against Miami, but still better than how they usually start. Philip Rivers made some amazing throws. However, better red zone scoring is needed. Need to average more than 2.5 yards a carry if they want to go to a Super Bowl.

 

12. (21) Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals never cease to amaze me. After what seemed to be a season filled with turmoil and bad luck, they have turned it around in their favor. Carson Palmer looks to be back in form, the defense is doing enough, and Cedric Benson seems to have revitalized his career. Browns and Ravens up next means they could make some nice headway in the AFC North.

 

13. (13) San Francisco 49ers

A tough loss for the Niners, but the biggest lost might have been Frank Gore. Backup Glen Coffee only averaged 2.2 yards per carry, although the Vikings have a good rush defense. Good signs from Vernon Davis, but you have to be worried about Shaun Hill trying to win you games.

 

14. (14) Dallas Cowboys

Struggled mightily against the Panthers until Jake Delhomme realized he was Jake Delhomme. Play calling was horrendous as multiple goal line situations were blown. Felix Jones looked excellent until he got hurt.

 

15. (23) Denver Broncos

The Broncos dominated the Raiders in every aspect of the game. Only 137 total yards, 42 of those passing. Kyle Orton didn’t make any mistakes against a solid defense. Clearly the most surprising 3-0 team, but with the Cowboys, Patriots, and Chargers next, this could change quickly.

 

16. (19) Green Bay Packers

Packers dominate a lesser opponent, which is exactly what you need after a loss like that to the Bengals. Aaron Rodgers only had to endure two sacks this weekend. Big game next week against Brett Favre and company.

 

17. (6) Pittsburgh Steelers

Could it get worse for the Steelers? Without Troy Polamalu they are struggling. They did find a running game though as Willie Parker had 93 yards. They did, however, have 100 more total yards than the Bengals. Next week against the Chargers won’t be easier.

 

18. (20) Seattle Seahawks

Lost a tough game to the Bears, but I have to question the play calling. Why are they throwing the ball 44 times? Defense has to step up if they want to compete. Colts, Jaguars, and Cards could be a tough stretch for them if Matt Hasselbeck isn’t back.

 

19. (18) Buffalo Bills

Kept it close with the Saints until the fourth quarter. Run defense was atrocious, but they held Drew Brees in check. TO needs to make plays as long as Marshawn “Money” Lynch is out. However, Fred Jackson has done an adequate job.

 

20. (17) Arizona Cardinals

Despite the score being 31-10, the game was much closer than it looked. Two red zone turnovers, one on a missed defensive holding call, and it was actually a game. Allowing 500 yards of offense needs to be fixed as the defensive line got no push. The bye week should serve them well.

 

21. (15) Houston Texans

Matt Schaub had another great game; however, the defense failed to show up. Allowing MJD to finally get going is fair, but allowing 214 yards to David Garrard is terrible. Next week is really a must win for the Texans if they want to live up to expectations.

 

22. (16) Tennessee Titans

The Titans can’t catch a break. A slow start on both sides of the ball had them doomed, losing all three of their games by seven points or less. It doesn’t get any easier with Jacksonville, the Colts, and the Patriots up next. Rough start for a good team.

 

23. (30) Jacksonville Jaguars

After getting rolled by the Cardinals, the Jaguars bounced back with a nice win. The offense finally got off the schnide, but the defense is going to need to play better because the offense can’t do that week in and week out.

 

24. (25) Miami Dolphins

Dolphins lose another close game to a good team. Chad Pennington is out for the season in what was perhaps the biggest loss of the day though. With Chad Henne at the helm, I would like to see the Wildcat brought to a whole new level. Maybe 25 plays a game. That would be fun.

 

25. (26) Carolina Panthers

Hung in there with the Cowboys in Dallas. Jake Delhomme has yet to get back on track. If the Panthers want any chance of winning, Steve Smith has to get the ball in his hands. Running game also needs to help out.

 

26. (31) Detroit Lions

The biggest, and only, win since 2007, the Lions playing hard finally held up for a whole game. The defense did what it had to win the game, and Matt Stafford took a lot of strides forward. Kevin Smith looked excellent and will need more of that to keep the pressure off of Stafford.

 

27. (27) Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Looked pitiful against the G-Men. Hopefully Josh Johnson can provide a spark at the QB position with his legs. Allowing 226 rushing yards is a problem. Maybe they can get their first win against the Redskins and make it a recurring theme.

 

28. (24) Oakland Raiders

Gave up 372 yards to the Kyle Orton-led Broncos. JaMarcus Russell still is making too many mistakes, and the defense is going to need to play better if the Raiders want any chance to win. Darren McFadden ran the ball well and needs more chances to shine.

 

29. (29) Kansas City Chiefs

Allowed Kevin Kolb 327 yards of passing, but Matt Cassel was good and didn’t make any mistakes despite the Chiefs’ play. Larry Johnson needs to average more than two yards a carry to help him out though.

 

30. (22) Washington Redskins

Prediction: Jim Zorn will get fired this week. What can you say about the Redskins? They are in a downward spiral. It has to go back to play-calling; giving the ball to Clinton Portis only 12 times is unexplainable.

 

31. (32) St. Louis Rams

What else could go wrong for the Rams? Kyle Boller is their new starting quarterback, and they gave up 402 yards to the Packers. Steven Jackson did have 117 yards though, and they move out of our bottom spot. That’s good news.

 

32. (28) Cleveland Browns

What can you say about the Browns? They have outdone themselves once again. Brady Quinn looked bad, and Derek Anderson looked much worse. And only 23 carries for a team that has no consistent quarterback play. Have to question every level of the Browns organization on this one. 

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The Future of the NFL

In a series of events that most football fans have likely not noticed, the professional football league is changing at a pace that is unlike any since the dawn of the forward pass. The Wildcat and the drastic addition of the shotgun is really only the beginning of the NFL makeover. The days of a power, one-back running game and the blocking-only tight end along with many other NFL common places are soon to be over, so get ready for the future.

www.NFLHouse.com

Begin Slideshow

NFL: Wrapping Up the Rest of Week Three

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Seasons of Change, but Not in Cleveland

This is not an article to hate on Derek Anderson.  This will also be a short article.  I’m looking for a general consensus from the community on what to do.

 

How many times do we need to shift starting QBs?  How many drafts do we need to waste?  This is why Cleveland has not changed this year.  Listening to Mary Kay Cabot and Tony Grossi, you’d think that Quinn has shot the team in the foot after being named starting QB just earlier this month.

Considering the facts, when ESPN keeps saying the Browns have only 1 TD in the past (fill in the blank) games, that TD came from Brady Quinn’s arm.  If you want to say it was in garbage time, do it. A TD is a TD.  But you can also knock his INTs from 3 to 1, maybe even 0.

• Braylon Edwards runs the wrong route, Minnesota picks it off
• Browns moving down the field in “garbage time” in Denver, tipped pass gets picked
• Braylon Edwards might have run the proper right, but watches Baltimore pick it off

Enter Derek Anderson.  And what do you hear?  “The Browns need to see what he has.”  “Well he moved the ball down-field.”  “He had the Pro Bowl in 2007.”

The Browns saw what he’s had ever since late 2007 to training camp 2009.  I think if the Browns trade away Quinn or don’t give him his chance (and that includes Daboll calling a few pass plays every now and then) it will come back to bite them badly.

 

But most importantly, what do you guys think?  Let’s steer away from the insults, info/insight/opinion/analysis/facts only please.

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