Packers’ Jekyll and Hyde Run Defense Prepares For NFL’s Elite Runners

The Packers’ defense should thank Cedric Benson.

What better way to prepare for facing Steven Jackson and Adrian Peterson than by giving up 141 yards, 12-yards at a time? Better to know your run defense needs work before you’re in the midst of a two-week span against two of the NFL’s most dangerous backs.

“Sometimes you’re going to have some bumps in the road,” Packers’ defensive line coach Mike Trgovac said of the run defense’s poor performance against the Bengals.

Wherever the bumps in the road were, they didn’t stop Benson from rolling early in the game. He had six runs of 10 yards or more and averaged 4.9 yards a carry. The entire defense had guys making poor decisions, not giving enough effort, and missing tackles. But the Packers’ defense showed some ability to adjust.

“Maybe somebody gives you something a little bit different that you don’t expect and you have to take time to adjust it on the sideline,” Trgovac said. “And that’s a lot of what happened in that game.”

The in-game adjustments did seem to yield some results. In the second half, Benson only had one run of over 10-yards and was tackled for a loss multiple times. The team hopes a week’s worth of focusing on the run defense will yield more improvement.

“One thing about these guys here—and what [defensive coordinator Dom Capers] does a great job with—is we went into that meeting, we showed them the mistakes, we corrected the mistakes, and held them accountable,” Trgovac said. “And then it’s time to move on and work on the Rams.”

Indeed, Benson was just the warm-up act. This week they face Steven Jackson, before the headliner against Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson. How the run defense responds could make or break the season.

Jackson only has 171 yards in two games with St. Louis’ ‘Lamest Show on Turf.’ Despite his offensively-challenged team, Jackson averages a healthy 5.2 yards a run.

“He’s a big guy,” Packers running back coach Edgar Bennett said of Jackson. “He’s a very good receiver out of the backfield. He has power. He has the ability to make people miss. And he breaks tackles. That’s the bottom line. And I also think, when you talk about a complete back, he’s a guy who never comes off the field.”

Peterson’s numbers look even better. He leads the league with 272 yards in two games and has a 6.8 yard per run average.

What can the Packers do to stop these guys?

“You just tighten things down,” Capers said. “Know that you’re going to play backs like that, and those are two of the really good backs in the league. We have to do a nice job of being able to play gap-control defense, get off blocks and then tackle well; because they’re both physical runners.”

The Packers did have success stopping the run in Week 1 against Chicago. Matt Forte was held to just 55 yards on 25 carries. I’m not a math guy, but 55 divided by 25 equals consistently good run defense.

These Jekyll and Hyde performances cast some doubts about the defense going forward. Whichever run defense shows up, the one that was so gracious to Benson or the one that shut down Matt Forte, will probably be the difference between success and failure for the Packers; in the next two weeks and throughout the season.

“So, we have another challenge ahead of us,” Trgovac said. “In the NFL, that’s a challenge every week. You have to have a priority of stopping the run in this division. We put a lot of emphasis on it this week and we’ll see how we respond to it.”

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NFL Week Two Review and Week Three Picks

Week two consisted of a mix of atypical and ho-hum finishes. The Patriots faltering at the expense of a very loquacious Jets team is currently classified as a shock. But down the road, when we see that this Jets team is legitimate and the Patriots don’t have the horses to protect Brady this win will not be looked upon with the same regard.

Meanwhile, under the “what else is new?” category, the Cowboys continued their trend of being unable to stand strong on the defense in historical games for their stadium, old and new. After sending out their home by giving up roughly 160 total rushing yards on two consecutive series, the Cowboys managed to send their fans home distraught in a more pedestrian fashion.

Trailing by one, Eli Manning dug himself out of a first and 20 hole and ultimately put the Giants in range for Lawrence Tynes to hit two game winning field goals. And for the second consecutive home game, Jerry Jones and his booger-laden finger were sent home with a loss that would be placed under “worst-case scenario,” had Jerry mapped out all possibilities.

Unfortunately for the Steelers, kicker Jeff Reed was unable to hit either of his game-sealing and potentially game-winning kick. And now they’ll heading to the Jungle to face a Bengals team riding high after a 31-24 victory over the Packers.

As for the Broncos, they are within striking distance of a 3-0 start as they take on the Oakland Raiders. Although the Bengals and Raiders are no gimmes, they are the teams you can get your season jumpstarted by playing. After this game, they get their first legitimate test of the year in week four as they host the Cowboys to start a brutal stretch that will span the rest of the season.

And now, after a meager 9-7 showing after a 13-3 start, here are my week three picks:

Week Three

Chiefs @ Eagles

Packers @ Rams

49ers @ Vikings

Titans @ Jets

Falcons @ Patriots

Jaguars @ Texans

Giants @ Buccanneers

Redskins @ Lions

Browns @ Ravens

Bears @ Seahawks

Saints @ Bills

Dolphins @ Chargers

Broncos @ Raiders

Steelers @ Bengals

Colts @ Cardinals

Panthers @ Cowboys

Record: 22-10

What to watch for:

Before the year I was intrigued by the 49ers. But not enough to pick them for the playoffs. Mike Singletary has imposed an attitude change there, but would that compensate for the lack of skill at skill positions? What about at quarterback?

So far, it’s been so good. A 2-0 division record against what is thought to be their main competition in the West. And now, they bring Weapon 59 against the Vikings own freak Adrian Peterson. It’s as close to a mono e mono situation that Peterson will encounter, as Willis quickly emerged from budding star to full blown mega star.

I think the 9ers take it. And if they do take the 2-0 Vikings home opener, it’s a type of win that could really let a season take off. Keep an eye out for this one.

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Looking Ahead to Cleveland Browns vs. Baltimore Ravens

Most Cleveland fans are looking forward to this game like most people look forward to a trip to the dentist.

After reading various other preview articles and running down the rosters, I see no point in doing any kind of typical matchup or “Here’s what we need to do to win.”

The reason?

This team is terrible.

The Detroit Lions have a better chance of winning on Sunday than the Browns do, and the Browns have won a game in the last calendar year.

A Cleveland victory on Sunday would be the equivalent of Appalachian State beating Michigan a few years ago.

It would be almost foolishly optimistic to go into this game expecting a win, especially considering how bad the first two weeks have played out, so instead, let’s look at some attainable goals the Browns need to accomplish this week.

 

Score a meaningful touchdown

The touchdown scored at the end of the Vikings game essentially was a “gimme” achieved in garbage time, so it’s time for the Browns to put together a drive that focuses on getting the ball into the end zone, and not just field goal range.

Head coach Eric Mangini has become known for his almost comically elaborate efforts to keep everything a secret so as not to give opposing teams a competitive advantage.

Right now, it looks like he’s so obsessed with keeping his offensive scheme a secret that he hasn’t even revealed it to his own team yet.

I think he’s saving the “real” offense for a playoff run, so why waste it this early in the year so teams can defend against it later?

Snarkiness aside, it’s time to start running plays my dog is calling from the living room floor (okay, keep the snarkiness). It’s not that the offensive schemes shown so far are boring, they’re almost pathetically amateur.

If our running game is so non-existent that it’s not even worth trying, use it to your advantage. Try a flea-flicker. It’s not like the Ravens are expecting Brady Quinn to throw deep.

Speaking of Quinn, let me be the last person to say, “Stop playing not to lose!!”

Quinn’s play smacks of a guy so fearful of throwing an interception, he won’t throw to a receiver unless he’s absolutely, 100 percent positive that receiver is open.

While it may limit his interceptions, it also allows the defense to close in and eliminate the short game.

Take a chance, already.

 

Play four quarters

The defense has run out of gas in the first two games by the end of the third quarter. The corollary to that is the offense barely sees the field in the second half.

Either way, this team needs to come out and play the entire game.

I’d keep writing on this point, but that about says it all.

This is one of the few times where I’ll take a moral victory over a real victory. It’s been far too many years of bad football in Cleveland.

I want to be Appalachian State.

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Fourth & 1 Debate: Which Surprise WR Is for Real?

Time for another Fourth & 1 Roundtable Debate.  Junkyard Jake came up with this week’s topic.  Click here to see the full article.

Every year there are Wide Receivers that get off to quick starts. The key is sniffing out if they are contenders or pretenders. 

The obvious choices early on are the Giants duo of Mario Manningham and Steve Smith and St. Louis’ Laurent Robinson.  I would endorse those three, especially the Giants duo first and foremost, but I decided to dig a little deeper.

A name that comes to mind is Seattle’s Nate Burleson.  He started the season with a bang with 7 catches for 74 yards and a TD in a win over St. Louis. He followed that up with 4 catches for 46 yards in a loss to San Francisco. 

Aside from the production, the encouraging aspect was the number of targets.  He led the Seahawks in targets both games, with 11 and 10, respectively.

The key for his continued success is his health.  Though Matt Hasselbeck is questionable with a fractured rib, Seneca Wallace is a capable replacement.

With T.J. Houshmandzadeh and John Carlson receiving most of the defensive focus, Burleson makes a solid fill-in player during the bye weeks.

Panelists
Junkyard Jake of www.junkyardjake.com
Ryan Lester of www.lesterslegends.com
Paul Greco of www.fantasypros911.com
Bryce McRae of www.kffl.com
Kurt Turner of www.top-fantasy-football.com
Eric Stashin of www.rotoprofessor.com
Lee of www.footballjabber.com
Smitty of www.fantasyfootballxtreme.com

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Saints-Bills: Three Keys To a New Orleans Win at Buffalo

How do you like me now?

That has got to be the New Orleans Saints’ attitude in regards to the national media and non-Saints fans after their 2-0 start.

After posting 45 points against the Detroit Lions, many critics said, “Yeah, that was good, but it was against the Lions. You won’t match that against the Philadelphia Eagles’ defense.”

48 points later, not only did they match it, but they surpassed it on the road in a hostile environment.

Unfortunately, the Saints will have to march into Buffalo without running back Mike Bell. Bell is fourth in the league in rushing and has one touchdown.

Pierre Thomas, now back healthy after suffering a sprained MCL in the preseason, will have to carry the load for the Saints’ running game.

 

The Saints will win if…

1) The passing game can flourish even in the wind and rain

The entire New Orleans Saints organization, not just the offense, relies so much on quarterback Drew Brees.

Brees has had ideal passing conditions in the Superdome and at Lincoln Financial Field. Now he must go to Buffalo, a town known for giving opposing quarterbacks a difficult time.

The forecast in Buffalo calls for a windy, wet afternoon.

Brees and his receivers are going to have to turn up their concentration levels even higher than usual in order to be successful.

Jeremy Shockey’s impact should be substantial in this game. Patriots tight-end Benjamin Watson exploited the Bill’s defense for two touchdowns in the fourth quarter in New England’s thrilling fourth quarter comeback victory in week one.

Look for Brees to take advantage of Buffalo’s 31st ranked pass defense.

 

2) The defense slows down running back Fred Jackson

Fred Jackson has been a big reason why the Buffalo Bills are averaging 28.5 points per game.

Jackson leads the team in both rushing and receiving yards. He has more catches (11) than wide receivers Lee Evans and Terrell Owens have combined (nine).

Jackson has been getting the carries that suspended running back Marshawn Lynch usually gets, but I don’t see him ceding the carries to Lynch when he returns in week four.

As Jackson goes, so does the Bills offense.

 

3) New Orleans limits Buffalo’s big plays

The Saints have surrendered big plays in each of the first two games. Luckily, the Saints have been able to overcome them with big plays of their own.

Buffalo has big-play ability all over the field.

Wide receivers Lee Evans and Terrell Owens have the ability to break a play wide open and score a touchdown.

Roscoe Parrish, the Bills’ ace return man, has returned a punt for a touchdown in each of the past three seasons and has led the NFL in yards per return the past two years.

On paper, the Saints appear to be the more talented team, but they can’t allow the Bills to gain momentum with big plays.

 

Three questions for New Orleans headed into week three…

1) How will the running game look?

The offseason expectations for Pierre Thomas were high. He had over 900 yards in total offense to go along with 12 touchdowns last year. He hasn’t played more than a few downs this season as he makes his way back from injury.

 

2) How will Jabari Greer perform in his return to Buffalo?

Greer spent his first five seasons in Buffalo before moving to New Orleans this past offseason. As a Saint, he has been playing as one of the top two corners on the roster.

Players always get extra pysched up when they face their old team. It’ll be interesting to see how Greer reacts to playing in his old stadium.

 

3) How will the Saints handle the Bills’ no-huddle attack?

The Saints use the no-huddle but only in certain circumstances. The Bills use the no-huddle constantly.

Last week the Saints allowed the Eagles to hold the ball on one drive for over eight minutes but were given the opportunity to sub in players on that drive because the Eagles used a huddle.

They won’t have that luxury against Buffalo.

 

Prediction…

New Orleans 28, Buffalo 24

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NFL Predictions: Week Three

Tennessee Titans @ New York Jets (-3)

 

The Jets are riding an incredible wave of enthusiasm right now.  The combination of Rex Ryan and Mark Sanchez has transformed them from Jersey boys, into national darlings.  The talk of the league has been how staunch their defense has been and how they’ve shut down two prolific offenses so far in Houston and New England.  I’m not convinced.

It’s not that I think the Jets are bad.  Far from it.  I’m just not ready to hand the AFC East to a team with a first year coach, a rookie quarterback and no visible receiving targets.

The Titans, on the other hand, are in fight or flight mode.  Dropping to 0-3 in a difficult division would all but kiss their playoff hopes goodbye.  Jeff Fisher is going to have to pull out all the stops for this one.

It seems impossible that a team who had a running back score three touchdowns from 50-plus yards in one game would lose…but that’s how things have gone for the Titans so far.

I’m going with the upset this week though because of the differences in mindsets.  The Jets are riding high on a euphoric opening run.  The Titans are the grizzled veteran that has been knocked down.  Think Rocky Balboa in Rocky III during the second Clubber Lang fight.  If the Titans are a decent football team they’ll beat the Jets this weekend.

Pick:  Titans, 24-17

 

 

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Houston Texans (-3.5)

 

This spread I don’t understand.  The Jaguars are awful.  Their offense has no direction and their usually tough defense is non-existent.  The Texans are going to score points like they always do and I’m not sure Jacksonville has any answer for that.

Another aspect of this game that is getting undervalued is the fact that the Houston Texans are a very good team at home.  Over the last three years only the Steelers and the Patriots have better home records than the Texans.

Combine that with the fact that Mario Williams is getting to go up against a pair of rookie offensive tackles and things don’t look good for the Jaguars this Sunday.

Pick:  Texans, 31-16

 

 

Kansas City Chiefs @ Philadelphia Eagles (-7.5)

 

The Eagles are the better team here.  There’s no doubt about that.  Whether they have Donovan McNabb, Kevin Kolb, Jeff Garcia or Michael Vick under center is going to make no difference in the outcome of tomorrow’s game.  Defensively the Eagles will just be too tough for the struggling Chiefs to score on.

Speaking of the Chiefs…have any of you ever seen a team and a fan base waffle on a new free agent “franchise quarterback” faster than the Chiefs have with Matt Cassel?  Is there something I’m missing here?  Cassel has played in one game Kansas City.  One game.  And he’s still recovering from an injury.  It would make more sense if the backup they were calling for was an established starter or a youthful fan favorite.  But Brodie Croyle?

Croyle has never won a game as a starter in the NFL.  Cassel won 11 last year.  I think Kansas City should give him a chance to lose nine in a row before calling for Croyle again.  Never mind the afterthought that is Tyler Thigpen right now.  A man who single-handedly won hundreds of fantasy leagues for appreciative owners (myself among them) last season.

KC is a mess.  Philly is going to be riding an electric crowd who will be feeding off the enthusiasm of seeing Michael Vick’s first action since 2006.  They are going to roll in this one.

Pick:  Eagles, 34-13

 

 

Cleveland Browns @ Baltimore Ravens (-13.5)

 

This game is always fun.  The new Browns vs. the old Browns.  Unfortunately for Cleveland fans, this game is going to feel like seeing an ex-girlfriend a few years down the road; only she’s gotten about three times hotter and is dating a guy who is better looking and makes more money than you.  In other words…agony.

The media has been having a field day talking about all the irony in Baltimore.  They’ve giggled and joked about what a powerhouse offense the Ravens have in contrast to a mediocre defense.  This does two things:

1)  It shows just how short the memory span of the national media is.

2)  It has to have infuriated Ray Lewis to the point that he might eat one of the Browns on Sunday.

As far as the game goes, the Ravens should make quick work of the directionless Browns.  Brady Quinn is so lost as a quarterback. Virtually through no fault of his own (Mangini is turning out to be a colossal flop as a head coach).  The rest of the Browns offense just seems to be going through the motions.

The Ravens, on the otherhand, look like they are building towards something special.  I’m always hesitant to jump on the Baltimore bandwagon though.  As anyone who has lived in DC or Maryland and has spent time in Baltimore (like I have) you know just what a terrible city it is.  Inner harbor is the only redeeming quality of that dirty and downtrodden town. 

But they have a good football team this year.  Ravens win.

Pick:  Ravens, 31-12

 

 

New York Giants @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+6.5)

 

This line seems a little strange to me.  The Giants are a fantastic team that makes every team it plays conform to it’s style. 

The Bucs have been frisky so far this season and it’s nice to see Cadillac Williams running strong again…but you’ve got to like the G-Men in this one.

There’s not really much else to say here, the Giants should have no trouble with the Bucs on Sunday.  I’d be shocked if this one was close.

Pick:  Giants 27-14

 

 

Washington Redskins @ Detroit Lions (+6.5)

 

As a Redskins fan this game terrifies me.  The ‘Skins have nothing to gain.  If they win…great.  They were supposed to.  If they lose…well…I don’t even want to go there.

Some good news for the Redskins is that Clinton Portis is listed as questionable for the game.  You read that right.  Portis always seems to do well when he shows up on the injury report.  Don’t ask me why.

Pick:  Redskins, 31-17

 

 

Green Bay Packers @ St. Louis Rams (+6.5)

 

The Packers should cover the spread in this game easily.  Just because the Rams only lost to the Redskins by two points last week (and they could have won) doesn’t mean that this team is ready to hang with the big boys yet. 

First of all, the Redskins should have won that game by over ten points (if they’d been able to get anything going in the redzone) and the Packers are not nearly as bad as they played last week.

Green Bay is looking to bounce back after a poor showing that saw Cedric Benson run all over them and Greg Jennings be held without a catch.  The Packers defense creates a lot of pressure and should force at least two errant Bulger interceptions.

I like the Packers to cover in this one…a lot.

Pick:  Packers, 28-17

 

 

San Francisco 49ers @ Minnesota Vikings (-7)

 

Brett Favre’s first “home game” at the Metrodome.  Should be very interesting to watch.  After putting on his best Trent Dilfer impression through two weeks, Favre might actually be forced to make some plays this weekend against a hungry 49ers defense.

San Francisco comes into this game looking to build on the success they’ve had so far.  Frank Gore has been great as of yet and Shaun Hill continues to refuse to lose.

This game should be hard fought until late in the fourth quarter where I think the team with the ball last will win.  I expect the 49ers to cover the spread but I think Minnesota gets the game amass a sea of Purple No. 4 jerseys.

Pick:  Vikings, 23-20

 

 

Atlanta Falcons @ New England Patriots (-4.5)

 

No game has caused me more pause this week in contemplating the victor.  On one hand, the Falcons are everything we all thought they could be with Tony Gonzalez…and more.  On the other hand, the once dominant Patriots look shockingly mortal.  Like Captain Barbosa’s crew in Pirates of the Caribbean once all the gold is returned to the chest.  They look just as surprised too.

This could be a defining game for Matt Ryan.  If he is able to lead his team into New England and beat Tom Brady and the Patriots that would mark a new step in his career.

For Brady and the injury plagued Patriots, they have never needed a double-digit victory more than they do now.  NFL teams are like sharks…they can smell blood.  If the Pats fall to Mark Sanchez and Matt Ryan in consecutive weeks, after being a mental error away from losing to Trent Edwards…the wheels might come off.

Word is that Wes Welker AND Randy Moss are questionable for this game but I would be amazed if both didn’t play.  The Pats need this one bad.  Much like the Minnesota game, I expect the Falcons to cover but the Pats to pull out a win in dramatic fashion.

Pick:  Patriots, 27-23

 

 

Chicago Bears @ Seattle Seahawks (+2.5)

 

If I was a gambling man, which, of course I’m not (because, you know, gambling is illegal…most places), I would be betting the Bears hard this weekend.  Once again, is there something I’m missing here?

The Seattle Seahawks looked totally lost last week once Matt Hasselbeck went down, and nothing against Seneca Wallace but playing the Bears is hard for any QB.  Julius Jones, Edgerrin James and Justin Forsett aren’t exactly a three-headed monster and have been shut down for the most part this season too.  It’s gonna be tough for Seattle to find ways to score against the Bears even without Urlacher patrolling the middle.

Phewwwwwwwwww. Phewwwwwwwwww.  The Windy City was straight blustery this week from the exhaling of Bears fans.  They finally got to see the quarterback they practically mortgaged their franchise to trade for.  He showed that he is going to win them some games with his arm which no one has been able to do there for a long time.

I also think that this is the game that Matt Forte remembers how to play football.  If you took him in the first round of your fantasy draft you must be harboring a pretty intense grudge to this point.  But fear not.  Forte is too talented to be stymied all year long.  I expect a big game from the Bears against a Seattle team that just can’t seem to catch any breaks (aside from the ones in their quarterbacks ribs).

Pick:  Bears, 27-17

 

 

New Orleans Saints @ Buffalo Bills (+6)

 

I’m not even going to write about this game.  How the Saints are only favored by six sends up all kinds of red flags to me.  Vegas must know something about this game.  On paper, Brees and co. should murder the Bills.  And yet the line is less than a touchdown.  Amazing.  I got nothing guys…I think the Saints are gonna smash ’em.

Pick:  Saints, 34-23

 

 

Miami Dolphins @ San Diego Chargers (-6)

 

I like the Chargers in this one.  The Dolphins were devastated last Monday night and now have to fly across the country and play a tough San Diego team on a short week.  That’s enough to scare me away.

Pick:  Chargers, 24-13

 

 

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals (+3.5)

 

I’m starting to drink the Bengals Kool-Aid just a little bit.  Cedric Benson is a completely different running back than he was last year and Ochocinco found his mojo.  Cincy has an offense that can move the ball and is building confidence by the drive.

Pittsburgh, on the other hand, seems a little lost.  The entire identity of their team seems to have changed since last year and it’s not working out so well for them.

I’m having a tough time deciding which side of the fence I’m going to be on for this game but in the end I think I would kick myself for not taking the Steelers.  Gotta go with the champs.

Pick:  Steelers, 23-17

 

 

Denver Broncos @ Oakland Raiders (+1.5)

 

Are enough people really betting on Oakland to keep the spread at less than a field goal?  How is this possible?  JaMarcus Russell is easily the worst starting quarterback in the league and the Raiders are the most inept franchise, maybe in professional sports.

The Broncos defense is better than expected and Orton is doing what he does…be completely average.  If Knowshon Moreno can get something going on the ground and Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal can turn back the clock to last year they should smash the Raiders.

Pick:  Broncos, 24-16

 

 

Indianapolis Colts @ Arizona Cardinals (-2.5)

 

I’m surprised the Cardinals are favored in this one.  Not that I don’t think it’s merited, it’s just still a little surprising to see that Arizona is favored over Indy.

That being said the game should be very close.  Arizona has more weapons and they’re healthier whereas Indy has the experience and “The General.”  Seriously though, how ridiculous is that nickname?  Can you even give a player a nickname 10-plus years into their career?  Is that allowed?  Let’s just stick with Peyton or “that guy from the Sony commercials” for now okay America?

Pick:  Cardinals, 27-20

 

 

Carolina Panthers @ Dallas Cowboys (-8.5)

 

Haha.  Man it brings me joy that the Cowboys blew the opener in their new billion dollar stadium.  That must have left a terrible taste in Jerry Jones’ mouth.  Luckily for them they get lowly Carolina this week.

The Panthers rebounded from their week one catastrophe last week but I think everyone knows that their potential this year is no greater than 8-8.

The Cowboys usually take care of over-matched opponents and I expect that big scoreboard to be buzzing next Monday night with Cowboy highlights.  ‘Boys win.

Pick:  Cowboys, 34-20

 

-Brad Vipperman

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Broncos-Raiders: Week Three Gameplan

The Denver Broncos are undefeated so far this season.  After conquering coach McDaniels’ home state of Ohio, Denver faces a challenge with greater implications this Sunday as they square off against their division rivals the Oakland Raiders in the Black Hole.

As far as football rivalries go, Broncos vs. Raiders has to up there with the best of them.  There is no team that Denver fans love to hate more than the Raiders, and no team that Oakland fans enjoy despising more the Broncos.  

Many Broncos and Oakland alike don’t care if their team loses every other game they play in a given season, as long as they win these games.

In fact this hate-hate relationship is arguably the most intense rivalry in all of football. The reasons are many and varied, but they have stood the test of time and like the Hatfields and the McCoys; it is a feud that will never find its end. 

These two teams know each other very well, and always come to play each other.  But both teams face many challenges this week because both squads have changed significantly since they last met.

The Raiders Offense

Quarterback

No. 2 JaMarcus Russell

This is the year that Russell gets to prove whether or not he is a boom or a bust, and I have to say that right now it doesn’t look so good for JaMarcus. 

Even Raider Nation, who has steadfastly supported their young QB is beginning to believe that Russell, who signed a six year $61 million dollar contract in 2007 as the first overall pick in the draft, is just another overpaid under-performing talent.

This conclusion is not an emotional one at all, but rather one based on reason.  Russell’s passer rating so far this season is a 46.6 and he has completed less than 36 percent of his passes. 

Russell’s performance has nothing to do with pressure or coverage either, he simply has no accuracy with the football, often missing his receivers by what might as well be a mile.

JaMarcus needs to get his stuff together and fast if the Raiders are to have a hope that their ragamuffin team has final turned a corner and can once again hang with the rest of the league.

Wide Receivers

During the preseason Russell seemed to be in sync with one receiver in particular, Chaz Schilens (6’4″, 225 pounds). 

Unfortunately, he suffered a foot injury before the season began and has not been able to be the go-to guy Raider fans thought he was going to be.  Schilens will be out again this week against the Broncos.

The Raiders also have decided not to start Javon Walker (6’3″ 215 lbs).  Walker, who coincidentally signed a six year $55 million dollar contract last year,has not been able to show coach Cable that he can run fast enough to even be on the depth chart for the Raiders.

So the Raiders will once again start a pair of wide receivers who were playing ball in college last year.

 

No. 18 Louis Murphy, 6’2″, 200 pounds

This fourth round pick has been a huge surprise to the Raiders.  In two games Murphy has six catches for 118 yards and one touchdown.  Murphy who was often overlooked in the shadow of Percy Harvin at Florida has been the only bright spot in the Raiders receiving corp this season.

 

No. 12 Darrius Heyward-Bey 6’2″, 210 pounds

The seventh overall pick of the 2008 draft who signed a five-year, $38 million dollar contract, of which $23.5 millions in guaranteed, has caught just one pass for 18 yards.

Both of these players are big play threats because of their lightning speed.  Murphy ran a 4.43 second 40 yard dash at the combine, while DHB ran it the fastest clocking in at 4.29 seconds. 

Both of these receivers have the disadvantage of being rookies trying to adapt to a whole new level of play and have been thrown into the fire expected to perform in their first year. 

And unfortunately their quarterback’s passing accuracy has not really given them the chance to make a lot of plays either.

 

Running Backs

Now here is the bright spot for the Oakland Raiders.  They have some great running backs.

 

No. 20 Darren McFadden, 6’2″, 210 pounds

McFadden was the fourth overall pick of the 2008 draft and signed a six year $60 million dollar contract (are we starting to see a trend here).  McFadden who ran a 4.33 second 40 yard draft at the combine is a promising young talent who has shown flashes of brilliance as a running back for the Raiders when he hasn’t been hurt.

McFadden has all the skills and is a very versatile back who can hurt a team in many ways and is quite elusive in the open field.

 

No. 29 Michael Bush, 6’1″, 245 pounds

Bush was a steal for the Raiders in the 2007 draft.  He was drafted in the fourth round because he had broken his leg.  Before his injury, all signs pointed to Bush being a first round draft pick.  Now that he is healthy, he is playing up to that first round standard. 

Bush is a punishing hard and fast runner who has a motor that won’t stop.  He fits the Raider ideology of pounding the rock up the gut perfectly and is a dangerous weapon for Oakland.   

Both backs will be getting carries for the Raiders this year, and thus far Bush has been performing better out of the two of them running for 4.3 yards per carry over McFadden’s 3.6 yards per carry. (In my personal opinion, Bush is the better back)

 

Offensive Line

The Raiders O-Line is built to run the football, and they are good at it.  Anyone who saw their first game of the season against the Chargers saw an O-line that imposed their will on the defense.  They were knocking the defense back with bad intentions that paid a unique homage to their head coach. 

Unfortunately the Raiders lost one of their starters on the O-line this past week.  Second overall pick in the 2004 draft Robert Gallery broke his leg, leaving Paul McQuistan to take his place at Left Guard.

Offensive lineman need to communicate and they develop chemistry with one another.  Gallery’s absence may be obvious this week if McQuistan fails to communicate well with his teammates.

 

Tight End

No. 80 Zach Miller, 6’5″, 255 pounds

Miller is the biggest receiving threat on the Raiders offense.  Miller hauled in six catches for 96 yards against the Chargers and helped the team march down the field on several drives. 

The Chiefs knew he was a threat and made sure he was covered all over the field last week.  That combined with JaMarcus’ accuracy shut Miller out of the game as a receiver.

 

Denver’s Defensive Strategy

The Denver Broncos have a new identity this year as a team.  Last year, the Broncos were an offensive juggernaut and finished the season with the second most prolific offense in football, while having one of the most pathetic defenses in the game.

Denver got a complete overhaul in the off-season though and now boast a very formidable defense and a more high percentage than prolific offense.

The defensive gameplan is against the Raiders this week is twofold.  

1) Stop the Run

2) Cover Zach Miller

The Raiders have proven they do one thing well, and that is run the football.  They get a great push off the line and move the line of scrimmage and their running backs pound the rock up the middle.  

So Denver needs to be run oriented on defense.  Stop the run and make JaMarcus “accuracy” Russell with his 36 percent completion percentage beat us through the air. 

Denver’s secondary is one of the best in the league.  Though older and slower than the Raider wide outs, they know how to play the game and should have no problem handling a couple rookie receivers.  This frees up the other seven guys to stop the run.

Denver also needs to make sure that Zach Miller does not get to roam freely.  Make sure he is covered because he is the most sure handed receiving threat the Raiders have. 

Take him out of the equation and the Raiders won’t be able to get anything going in the passing game, and their drives should stall like a K-car.

The Raiders Defense

The Raiders defense is no joke.  Their front four are all big guys who play equal to their size.  Richard Seymour, Tommy Kelly, Gerard Warren, and Greg Ellis. 

Each are capable of disrupting the backfield, racking up sacks, and stuffing running lanes.  Each of them has played well thus far this year and need to be taken seriously.

Linebackers Thomas Howard and Kirk Morrison are two very underrated linebackers who wreak havoc all over the field.

And we all know that Nnamdi Asomugha is a shutdown cornerback who is right at the top of the list with Champ Bailey as the best cornerback in football.  Chris Johnson has come into his own opposite Nnamdi to make them one of the best tandem of corners in the league.

After Nnamdi and Johnson though, the talent tapers off.  Stanford Routt is fast, but is not great in coverage.  Kansas City exposed him by exploiting him in coverage last week when he was called to action while Nnamdi was dehydrated late in the game.

Michael Huff has also recently come into his own at safety, and had two picks last week in Kansas City.   

The Raiders defense is strong at every level, and poses a real problem to game plan against.

Denver’s Offensive Strategy

Denver’s offense played better last week than they did the week before, and I hope to see them continue to play better each week.

The Broncos showed they can run the ball well, and Buckhalter has had the opportunity to show that he can make things happen as a running back in Denver.

Moreno may be out with a groin pull, so that may hamper the running game somewhat, but a healthy dose of Peyton Hillis pounding the football should fill in nicely to this game plan in his absence.

The Raiders can be run on and Denver needs to establish the run early in order to wear down Oakland’s pass rushing lineman and keep them honest.  If Denver runs right at Seymour or Ellis it will run them down and hamper the energy and mental burst to attack the pass.  

Denver has a great Offensive Line which benefited greatly from week one to week two with Kuper being back from injury.  It will be a battle up front, but one that is evenly matched.

Nnamdi and Johnson are so good in coverage that the Broncos are going to need to rely on Running backs, tight ends and slot receivers more as passing targets this week. 

Hillis or Moreno (if healthy) should see some balls fly their way on screens and check downs.  Tony Scheffler should see some more action this week too as he is a mismatch target no matter who is covering him. 

Brandon Stokley out of the slot is no secret after his week one heroics. Stokley should easily take advantage of Stanford Routt’s poor coverage skills and catch a good many balls this week.

As long as Denver continues to protect the football and doesn’t give the game away with penalties, I think Denver has a very good shot at taking down the Raiders this week in their home Stadium.

I give Denver the edge in this game because of Oakland’s lack of a passing game on  offense, and the Broncos improved defense.  Though it is usually loud in the Black Hole, the game is set to be blacked out in Oakland so that shouldn’t be an issue.

My prediction: Denver wins, 20-6.

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Bears-Seahawks: Complete Breakdown And Analysis

The Bears head to Seattle this weekend for what should be a pretty exciting game against the Seahawks. Even though Seattle is dealing with some injury issues, going into Qwest Stadium and getting a win is never easy.

But since I am getting this out late, we should get right down to brass tacks…

 

OFFENSE

Quarterbacks: Matt Hasselbeck/Seneca Wallace vs. Jay Cutler

One of the injuries Seattle has to deal with is the cracked rib that Matt Hasselbeck suffered last week against the San Francisco 49ers. It has yet to be determined who will start for them, but backup Seneca Wallace is being prepped to play.

Jay Cutler is coming off a very fine comeback victory over the defending champion Pittsburgh Steelers. He looked more calm and collected, and his throws were consistently more accurate. He finished the game 27-of-38 for 236 yards and two touchdowns.

Verdict: Seattle either has an injured starter or a pretty good backup going for them…

ADVANTAGE: BEARS

 

Running backs: Julius Jones vs. Matt Forte

Now this might actually be closer than you think. Julius Jones had a good Week One against the St. Louis Rams with 117 rush yards that included a couple breakaway runs. 

In Week Two, he couldn’t muster much against the 49ers defense, but he did catch a short touchdown pass from Wallace.

Forte, on the other hand, has been ineffective through the first two weeks. To be fair, one of those weeks was against the vaunted Steelers defense, but Bears fans everywhere are still waiting and praying for the Matt Forte of last year to arrive.

Verdict: Jones is a cagey vet, but Forte is facing a defense that allowed 200+ yards to Frank Gore last week.

ADVANTAGE: BEARS

 

Wide Receivers: Nate Burleson/T.J. Houshmandzadeh vs. Devin Hester/Earl Bennett

Housh has yet to make into the end zone this year, but you can never sleep on him. He is excellent at gaining separation from defensive backs, and his hands allow him to catch passes most others couldn’t.

Burleson, in my opinion, is one of the more underrated second-tier receivers in the league. He is athletic and smart and always seems to be in on plays. His only problem has been injuries, one of which kept him out for basically the entire season last year.

For the Bears, both Hester and Bennett have outplayed expectations (at least MY expectations).

While neither did much in terms of yards/catches against the Steelers, Bennett had seven receptions in his first game and Hester had a solid first game plus a big third down conversion on one of the final drives of the game against the Steelers.

Verdict: Life might be made more difficult by the injuries at QB for the ‘Hawks, but we are just comparing receivers. And despite the Bears continued improvements at that position…

ADVANTAGE: SEAHAWKS

Tight End: John Carlson vs Greg Olsen

If you had asked me this question during training camps, I would have said that Olsen is the clear-cut winner. But two weeks and several key drops into the season, Carlson has been the much better player.

In two weeks, Carlson is the Seahawks leading receiver in terms of catches (12), yards (141) and touchdowns (2).

In two weeks, Greg Olsen has not even been the most prolific tight end on his own team. Kellen Davis has five catches for 38 yards and a touchdown. Olsen has four receptions for 49 yards, zero touchdowns and at least four drops.

Verdict: This might be different by the end of the year if Olsen can get it together but as of right now, this one is to easy.

ADVANTAGE: SEAHAWKS

 

Offensive line: Seattle vs. Chicago

I won’t name all 10 starters, partly because it is obnoxious and partly because I am not qualified to judge every starter on Seattle’s line.

For them, I look at the numbers, and they show that the running game is averaging 4.1 yards per carry and there has only been one sack of a Seattle QB.

For Chicago, their running game has averaged 2.7 yards per carry and have given up four sacks.

I also believe that left guard Frank Omiyale has under performed so far this year. I know that he is better when he is pulling and can get out into space and I am hoping, with time, he improves on his interior blocking. But I am hoping that time comes soon.

Verdict: It pains me. I realize that while the Packers and 49ers are pretty even, the Bears faced the Steelers while Seahawks faced the Rams. But regardless, three of the sacks against the Bears came in the Packers game, so what does that tell you?

ADVANTAGE: SEAHAWKS

DEFENSE:

Cornerbacks: Ken Lucas/Kelly Jennings vs. Charles Tillman/Nathan Vasher

Lucas is actually questionable for this game with a groin injury, although expect him to play and Kelly Jennings is filling in for starter Josh Wilson, who is out with an ankle injury.

If Lucas can’t go, then look for Travis Fisher to play, despite the fact that he is also trying to shake off a hamstring problem.

Lucas is a savvy vet and should play all right, but Jennings has only one season as a starter under his belt and that was from 2007. His job will more than likely be defending Earl Bennett while they let Lucas use his experience to frustrate Hester.

Charles Tillman recorded the first turnover of the year for the Bears last week when he intercepted a Roethlisberger pass in the first half. He is still working his way back from off season back surgery, but it was good to seem him making plays on the field.

Zachary Bowman was fairly quiet even though he played more against the Steelers than he did versus the Packers. Bowman’s ball skills and athleticism should keep in most plays but his inexperience is a factor to keep in mind.

Verdict: If Lucas plays, that gives the Seahawks the edge in experience, but the Bears still have their two starters from week one plus an edge in depth.

ADVANTAGE: PUSH

Safeties: Deon Grant/Jordan Babineaux vs. Danieal Manning/Al Afalava

Grant is one of those players who is a steady, reliable starter. In fact, this will be Grants 131 consecutive start in the NFL. He has started in every game of every season since 2001. He played for the Panthers, Jaguars, and Seahawks and has recorded 23 career interceptions. Model of consistency.

Babineaux has not had quite the same success but is still a pretty reliable player. He has not started an entire season, but this is his sixth year in the NFL, all with Seattle, and has six career interceptions.

I will point out though that both Grant and Babineaux spent some of their time last Sunday trying to catch up to Frank Gore, who gashed the Seahawks defense to the tune of 207 rushing yards on a mere 16 carries.

Manning and Afalava again lack their counterparts’ experience, but they do make up for it in terms of athletic abilities. Manning has become an excellent blitzer and Afalava, who is a rookie sixth-round pick, has proven that he, unlike many of our previous safeties (i.e. Adam Archuleta) can make tackles.

In the span of five plays, Afalava stuff Willie Parker for a short gain, made a picture-perfect tackle on Steelers tight end Heath Miller after a gain of only three yards, and a touchdown saving tackle at the goal line on Mewelde Moore.

Verdict: Experience vs. Youth… you be in the judge.

ADVANTAGE: PUSH

Linebackers: Will Herring, Lofa Tatupu, and Aaron Curry vs Lance Briggs, Hunter Hillenmeyer and Nick Roach

The catch here is that Tatupu is doubtful for the game with a hamstring injury. The Seahawks are already without starting WLB LeRoy Hill, and if you’re missing two of your starting linebackers, including your MLB, then well, you are where the Bears are at.

Curry was arguably the best pick in this year’s draft, but combine his two starts from this year with the number of career starts for David Hawthorne (Tatupu’s backup) and Herring’s before this year and it equals a total of four total starts… Ouch.

Lance Briggs is a Pro Bowler and while Hillenmeyer and Roach started the season as back ups, both have had experience in the starter’s role.

Hillenmeyer started as the strong side linebacker from 2005 to midway through the 2008 season. And Roach finished last season as the strong side linebacker.

Verdict: Even though the Bears are without Urlacher and Tinoisamoa, if Tatupu doesn’t play, the Seahawks are in trouble.

ADVANTAGE: BEARS

 

Defensive line:

Corey Redding, Brandon Mebane, Colin Cole and Patrick Kerney vs Adewale Ogunleye, Tommie Harris, Anthony Adams and Alex Brown

Mebane is listed as questionable on the injury report, but he participated in practice, so I expect him to be out there.

Redding and Kerney are solid defensive ends, both with a lot of experience at getting to the QB. Redding should be used to the Bears, as he spent six seasons with the Detroit Lions before being traded this past off-season.

Mebrane missed a start with a calf injury, but if he plays, he will should help in trying to stop Matt Fote. The weak link might be Colin Cole, who had a total of eight starts in his previous seven seasons in the NFL.

The Bears D-line has already showed improvement from last season, as both Brown and Ogunleye have recorded two sacks each through the first two games. Brown also hurried Roethlisberger into an interception last game that altered the momentum.

Before that interception, which was the third play of the second quarter, the Steelers had racked up 144 yards of total offense. After that play, the Steelers gained a 164 yads for the rest of the game.

Tommie Harris has shown flashes of big play ability but still does not look like his old self yet. Adams on the other hand, has been a pleasant surprise in the starting role. He has been successful in disrupting the rushing offenses of both the Packers and Steelers and at one point pressured Roethlisberger right into the waiting arms of Alex Brown.

Verdict: Both have solid lines, but the Bears have given up 181 rushing yards in two games. The Seahawks gave up over 200 in just one game.

ADVANTAGE: BEARS

 

OVERALL:

I left out special teams and coaching because while I think the Bears have the superior special teams, I am still not sold on Lovie/Ron Turner.

The Seahawks are hurting, but the Bears spent most of last season not winning two games in a row. A lot of win one… lose one… win one… lose one.

But despite the home field advantage, look for the Bears to pull this one out…

Bears 27, Seahawks 20

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Will the Washington Redskins Crumble Under the Eyes Of Observation?

I am terrified of 2:00pm PT Sunday afternoon.  I am terrified for so many reasons that thinking about them causes my body physical angst.  Allow me to explain.

I have been a Washington Redskins fan for as long as I can remember.  Unfortunately, rather than Super Bowl championships and playoff runs, that usually means overpaying free agents and wallowing in mediocrity. 

Every year when I buy the new “Madden” video game, there is always some new Redskin(s) that I am excited to play with for the first time.  This year was Albert Haynesworth and Brian Orakpo.  Last year was Jason Taylor, Devin Thomas, and Malcolm Kelly.  The year before that was LaRon Landry.  Before that…Adam Archuleta.  The list goes as far back as Dan Wilkinson and Dana Stubblefield.  Bruce Smith and Mark Carrier.  Deion Sanders and (gulp) Jeff George.

The Redskins have made so many questionable decisions in the last decade.  Some decisions have worked beautifully (Sean Taylor, Chris Cooley, London Fletcher, Clinton Portis, Santana Moss, etc.), whereas others have not (Archuleta, Wilkinson, Stubblefield, Sanders, Smith, Jason Taylor, etc.).  All of the choices, good and bad, have led them to this point…and I have been on board the whole way. 

Something inside me is starting to change though.  I’m starting to become less of a fan and more of a critic.  When you’re younger it’s hard to criticize personnel moves because you don’t totally understand.  As you grow up, you’re afraid that dissenting will jinx the incoming arrival and the bad karma of your negative thoughts will condemn them to fail.  Now, as a 23 year old college graduate, I’m starting to get fed up.

I’m fed up that my team’s coach has to be literally mugged by our special teams coach to avoid calling an idiotic timeout.  I’m fed up that with an offensive line currently thinner than the thread Jim Zorn’s job is hanging by, he would still try, and fail, to pound the ball in the redzone.  And as a change of pace…Why not a little halfback pass on third-and-goal from the five?  Seems like Jim Zorn has been playing too much Madden.

These are all new feelings for me.  Even when Marty Schottenheimer was clashing with everyone, I was on board.  When Steve Spurrier turned us into the ’96 Gators, I was on board.  And when Joe Gibbs came back I was definitely on board.  Jim Zorn, however, is one bad move away from losing me completely…and that’s saying something.

I’ve never liked fans who openly bashed members of their favorite organization.  In a way, players and coaches (at least in-season) are sort of like family.  Love them or hate them, you’re stuck together for the next 17 weeks.

This leads me to Sunday’s game.  I live in Arizona and will be watching the 10:00am kickoff as the Lions try and avoid losing an amazing 20th game in a row.  National media and bloggers alike seem to have pegged this as the perfect chance for the Lions to end the streak and finally put one in the win column.  All this because the Redskins failed to score a touchdown against the hapless Rams last week, and, at times, looked completely inept in the process. 

The reason this game terrifies me is because the Redskins have absolutely nothing to gain.  If they win, who cares?  They were supposed to.  If they lose, they will literally make history and become the answer to the trivia question, “What team did the Lions beat to end their 19 game losing streak?”

All this being said, the Redskins are the superior team right?  I mean, their quarterback is experienced, their running back is better and their defense has some legit stars on it.  At the same time their receiving corps leaves much to be desired and their offensive line is banged up to the point that Chad Rinehart is starting at RG.  And he’s never even dressed for an NFL game before!

If the Redskins lose, all hell is going to break loose in the Nation’s capital and I don’t think Jim Zorn makes it to October as head coach.  If they win like they did last week, it will just delay the inevitable.  The only way to save face in this situation is to beat the Lions by a touchdown or more.  That, plus the reality of being 2-1 with a few winnable games coming up, should be enough to settle the storm. 

Needless to say, I’m terrified of 2:00pm PT Sunday afternoon.

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49ers Will Need To Find Their Hearts and Minds To Beat Vikings

Barreling at ludicrous speed toward Sunday’s clash between your 2-0 San Francisco 49ers and the 2-0 Minnesota Petersons, I’m hearing all kinds of cute descriptions for what the matchup signifies.

My media tent buddy Matt Maiocco of The Santa Rosa Press Democrat has been trying to trademark the phrase “GPS Game” as in finding out where your team stands.

Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee, in an effort to tweak Maiocco, dubbed it the “WPS Game,” reasoning that the Wi-Fi based navigation system is supposed to be more accurate than the satellite-based one.

Mike Florio, over at ProFootballTalk.com, referred to it as a “checkpoint game,” while noted Sports Illustrated windbag Peter King called it a “barometer game.”

Me? I just think it’s a winnable game, and whether the 49ers do so or not depends far more on their brains and guts than their hands and feet. 

They’ve got the talent, that much is clear. In convincingly beating Arizona and Seattle they’ve shown that their front seven are more than stout enough to squash the run, and they’ve got a couple of corners in Nate Clements and Shawntae Spencer that aren’t afraid to stick their noses in there in support.

Actually, a major reason Spencer won the starting job ahead of Dre’ Bly and Tarell Brown was for his size and willingness to tackle. He might not be quite the playmaker that the other two are, but he’s sturdier, and coach Mike Singletary has made it clear that stopping the run is the defense’s top priority.

The 49ers held Vikings super-duper star Adrian Peterson to three yards on 14 carries in a ’07 meeting, a game that Peterson confided he remembers all too well, calling it “the worst game of my career,” and while no one expects him to be that bad again, it was hard to argue with Purple Jesus when he suggested that San Francisco’s defense is even better now.

For Minnesota to move the ball against the Niners, they’re going to have to let Brett Favre do what they brought him over to do, and throw the damn ball and not those mincing five-yard checkdowns to Percy Harvin or Visanthe Shiancoe either.

You don’t pay a guy 12 million bones and piss off two quarterbacks who busted their humps all offseason and in training camp just to bring in a guy to dink and dunk for 16 weeks.

San Francisco’s defense thrives against conservative offenses. God in heaven knows they see enough of it during practice every day.

The question isn’t whether the Vikings, and their coach, Brad “Twisted Steel” Childress will unleash Favre on Sunday—he will. Rather, it’s whether Singletary, and his offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye, will follow suit.

And this is where the brains and guts come in to play.

Do the coaches have enough trust and confidence in quarterback Shaun Hill to win the game for them?

All signs point to a firm, “NO”.

For one thing, they’ve spent the whole week talking about how they’re undaunted by the “Williams Wall”, the Vikings formidable defensive tackle tandem of Pat and Kevin Williams, who are completely unrelated except for their badass-ness. 

Running back Frank Gore did run for over 200 yards last week against the Seahawks last week, including untouched sprints of 79 and 80 yards to paydirt, but that was against a Seattle team missing their own best run-stuffing tackle in Brandon Mebane, as well as linebackers Lofa Tatupu and Leroy Hill.

Gore’s nursing a gimpy ankle this week as it is, so to go to the well too often with him this week would be foolish.

Meanwhile, Singletary, when given the chance to show his support for Hill last Monday and confirm that yes, he did think his quarterback can carry the team on his back and win a game for him, gave the question far too much thought, sighed, and glumly offered that, “Hopefully, we won’t ever need him to do that.”

What a vote of confidence.

No wonder Hill gets no respect nationally. Even his own coaches won’t stand up for him to their local media, to whom they’re more than willing to stretch the truth about everything else.

The fact of the matter is that at this stage of their careers Hill is every bit as good as 40-year old Favre. The difference is you’ll never catch Childress saying “I hope Brett won’t have to win any games for us.”

That level of confidence affects locker room morale; it affects game planning, and it sure as heck affects play calling on 1st-and-10, let alone 3rd-and-6.

If Singletary and Raye have the guts to let Hill win the game for them, the Niners have a fighting chance. Still, the offensive line has to play better and communicate well inside the noisy Metrodome—this is where the brains come in—and Hill has to be on the same page with his receivers and make sure that no one zigged when they should’ve zagged.

The game is sitting there, begging to be won. We should know pretty quickly if Singletary feels that way, or whether we’ll need to use a GPS, WPS, or UPS to find his cajones.

 

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