Has the Raven Changed Its Stripes? How the Ravens Are Winning In 2009.

Prior to the 2009 preseason, I spoke with many Baltimore Ravens fans. The talk was that the Ravens, even though Joe Flacco was in his second season, the Ravens would need to pound the ball on the ground, and win with a suffocating defense.

Had you told those same fans that the Ravens defense would give up 662 yards in their first two games (580 against the pass), and been ranked 17th in total defense, Ravens fans would bet the team was 0-2.

A strange thing happened on the way to the 2009 season, The Baltimore Ravens became a pass heavy offense.

With the departure of Rex Ryan to the New York Jets, many people believed that the Ravens defense would suffer, and not be the elite unit that the Ravens fans have grown accustomed to. Turns out, those people were right.

Even with the amazing stop of Ray Lewis blowing up Darren Sproles on the Chargers final play of their 31-26 loss to the Ravens, the Ravens defense has not been remotely near what they were in 2008.

Then how do you explain the 2-0 record?  Simple, Joe Flacco.

Flacco has completed 43 of 69 passes for 497 yards to his no-name receivers. Can you imagine the Ravens throwing the ball 35 times per game? Imagine it not, as the Ravens are in the process of converting to the pass happy offense that awarded the hated Pittsburgh Steelers the Super Bowl XLIII Lombardi Trophy.

Joe Flacco is now starting to show that the Ravens do not need to pound the ball on first and second down, and hope he can throw for a first on third.

Flacco is now a real threat for the Ravens. The only question is, can he maintain it for the next 14 games?

If he can, you can expect the Ravens to be playing come January, and possibly February.

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NFL: The Future at Quarterback Is Bright

You have to wonder what the National Football League will be like after Peyton Manning and Tom Brady leave it.

Both are first ballot Hall of Famers who have had a tremendous impact on their respective franchises and the league as a whole, so it’ll be hard for anybody to succeed them.

So will the league become one that runs the ball more after those two leave? No, it won’t. The future for quarterbacks in the NFL is incredibly bright.

Mark Sanchez, New York Jets, 22 years old

I have gone on record to say that Sanchez will win Offensive Rookie of the Year. And through the first two games, he hasn’t made me look bad.

The fifth overall pick in 2009 is leading the Jets, who are 2-0, and he is 32-of-53 with 435 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. He starts his career 1-0 against the legendary Tom Brady, and I’m so impressed by his toughness, poise, and decision making.

In a preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens, he was brutal, throwing a pick-six on his first pass. But he threw a touchdown just a quarter later, and has been spotless since that bad outing.

If he keeps this up, he’ll finish with over 3,400 yards, 16 touchdowns, and eight interceptions, numbers better than Matt Ryan posted last year, and certainly deserving of Rookie of the Year.

Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons, 24 years old

Last year, Ryan had a phenomenal rookie year for the Falcons. He started all 16 games, threw for 3,440 yards, 16 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, and went 11-5 as a starter. He won Rookie of the Year, and much deservedly so.

So, would he have a sophomore slump?

So far, it doesn’t look like that. He’s won his first two games against tough teams, beating Miami, 19-7, and Carolina, 28-20. He’s combined for 449 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception. He has a career passer rating of 90.4 in 18 games, and he seems to be one of those guys who gets it.

He has what it takes to play in the NFL from Day 1. And he better, considering he was drafted third overall in 2008 and honored with a six-year, $72M contract.

Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens, 24 years old

Flacco was overlooked in 2008. He and Ryan were the two legit quarterback prospects, and while the latter was taken third, small-school product Flacco was picked 18th by the Baltimore Ravens, who were also in need of a quarterback.

Like Ryan in Atlanta, Flacco emerged as a rookie and appears to be the future of the team. Flacco threw for 2,971 yards, 14 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, and also went 11-5 as a starter.

He looks even better this year, with five touchdowns and two interceptions in his first two games, both wins.

Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers, 25 years old

Rodgers would fill monstrous shoes in 2008 after longtime Green Bay legend Brett Favre retired, unretired, and was acquired by the New York Jets.

But Rodgers actually did considerably better than Favre. In fact, Rodgers’ 2008 season (4,038 yards, 28 TD, 13 INT) was better than Favre’s habitual campaign in a Packer uniform (3,853 yards, 27 TD, 18 INT).

If Rodgers gets some help from his defense, he can win Super Bowls. He’s shown the poise on the field that proves he won’t get rattled in playoff environments.

Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears, 26 years old

Cutler reminds me very much of Brett Favre. Both have cannon arms and can win games with their arms. However, both have questionable decision making, to say the least.

But nonetheless, Cutler has been, is, and will be for many years to come an elite quarterback.

He had a convincing showing over the weekend against Pittsburgh, winning the game by himself, throwing for nearly 300 yards and two touchdowns—not an easy task against the Steelers.

Through his first three seasons, he had 54 touchdowns, 39 interceptions, and 9,024 yards. Through Favre’s first three full years, he had 70 touchdowns, 41 interceptions, and 10,412 yards. Very similar.

Matt Cassel, Kansas City Chiefs, 27 years old

Last year, when Tom Brady went down, Matt Cassel was inserted into his role as the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots. And he filled in very well, with 3,693 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.

Many argue he was a product of the system. And frankly, I agree. Look at the players he had around him. The Pats have a very good offensive line, and Cassel had Randy Moss and Wes Welker to throw to.

Kansas City was foolish to reward him with a six-year, $63 million extension, and in his first game, he was intercepted twice. But he’s still a very solid quarterback and with talent around him, he’ll succeed.

Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers, 27 years old

Rivers, in my opinion, should’ve won MVP last year. The actual winner, Peyton Manning, had seven fewer yards, one more interception, and seven fewer touchdowns. On top of that, Peyton lost to Rivers’ Chargers in the playoffs.

Oh by the way, Rivers took a Chargers team that was 4-8 with four games to go to the playoffs. So far in his career, he has 11,385 yards, 81 touchdowns, 39 interceptions, and a 33-15 record, including 22-6 at home.

That’s what I call elite.

Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers, 27 years old

While the consensus is that Rivers is in the “elite” category of quarterbacks, most think Roethlisberger isn’t. His average season of 20 touchdowns and 14 interceptions warrants that. I agree with it and see some flaws in it.

I agree that he does get a lot of help from the Steelers great defense, but nobody can deny he’s a winner, a competitor, and one of the most clutch—if not the most—quarterbacks in football.

In his career, he is 52-22 as a starter, and 8-2 in the playoffs.

Eli Manning, New York Giants, 28 years old

As a quarterback, you have to grow up fast. You have to be mature, relaxed, knowledgable, and tough at the same time. Manning became all of those during the 2007 playoffs. From 2004 to 2007, his first four seasons in the league, he was 30-25 as a starter in the regular season, 0-2 in the playoffs, and he had 77 touchdowns and 64 interceptions.

But in the 2007 postseason, he had just one interception, led the Giants to a miracle Super Bowl victory, and in the 2008 regular season, had his best year, with 3,238 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 10 picks.

And so far in 2009, he’s looked pretty flawless, with four touchdowns, one interception, and two wins in as many starts.

Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys, 29 years old

Fans, sportswriters, and even teammates are putting a lot of pressure on Romo. In his career, the 29-year-old is 28-13 as a starter, has 11,042 yards, 85 touchdowns, and 48 interceptions. So what’s the problem? Well, for starters, he’s 7-10 in December, and has yet to win a playoff game.

It’s natural he’ll get the “choke artist” label. But I don’t think of him that way. He’s had plenty of solid “big game” performances late in the year. It’s just that some of his lesser moments outweigh them.

——————————————————————————————————————–

If there’s one thing I’ve noticed over the last two years, I’ve realized it may no longer be a sin to play a rookie quarterback right away. Three rookies—Mark Sanchez (Jets), Joe Flacco (Ravens), and Matt Ryan (Falcons)—started right away. And all have been very good.

Combined, the three have a 28-10 regular season record. I think these youngsters learned from the Ryan Leaf saga. They now know you can’t survive only on physical skills. You have to have work ethic, maturity, poise, leadership, and ability to adapt.

So when Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Kurt Warner, and Donovan McNabb retire, it’ll be a sad time in the NFL, no doubt.

But there are even brighter days ahead.

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Kevin Walter’s Return Means the Return of the Texans’ Dynamic Offense

Houston Texans wide receiver Kevin Walter, coming off of a 2008 season that saw him catch 60 balls for nearly 900 yards, is likely to return to action this week against the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

Walter has yet to play in the regular season due to a hamstring injury.

Last season, with a healthy Walter complimenting superstar Andre Johnson, the Texans ranked third in the league in offense. This season, without their undisputed number two wide receiver, the Texans have played one embarrassing game and one terrific game. 

How much has Walter’s absence impacted the Texans? 

It’s hard to say that a healthy Walter would have had any impact on the manhandling the offensive line received against the Rex Ryan led New York Jets. The problem there was not the wide receivers, but the time given to quarterback Matt Schaub.

Against division rival Tennessee, Schaub was given more time, Andre Johnson worked his magic, and the Texans won on the road. In addition, Schaub was awarded AFC offensive player of the week. How much more could Walter have helped in the passing game?

In his absence, two other Texans have tried to replace Walter. First, against the Jets, Andre Davis stepped into the lineup. We all saw his alligator armed attempt to catch a key third down pass from Schaub. Clearly, Davis is not the possession receiver Walter is. 

Catching clutch third downs has become Walter’s specialty over the past two seasons in Houston. Of his 125 receptions over the past two season, 82 have gone for first downs, an outstanding number. 

Jacoby Jones next tried to replace Walter in the starting lineup against the Titans. Jacoby is the model of inconsistency.  On back to back plays, he dropped an easy first down and followed that up by scoring a 29-yard touchdown.

Jones was not terrible in replacing Walter, but was far from the clutch possession receiver Walter has become for the Texans.

Jones excels in speed routes. He doesn’t run precise routes, and scouts have said he rounds his routes off, telegraphing them to the defense. Further, Jones’ hands pale in comparison to Walter’s hands.

On the other hand, Walter runs precise routes. He breaks sharply in and out of routes.  Walter is also adept at using his size (6’3″, 218 pounds) to overpower opposing defensive backs.

If Walter is able to return this week from his hamstring injury, the Texans receiving corps will be at full strength for the first time all season. Walter means a great deal to the offense.

In addition to being an above average blocker in the run game (something neither Davis nor Jones are even average at), Walter’s return brings stability to the offense. Jones, Davis, and even David Anderson are able to return to their defined roles.

Andre Johnson remains the superstar receiver and will continue to face double teams over the top to prevent him from catching deep balls. Underneath, Walter will return to his strength and help the Texans move the chains.

While using the term in the most positive manner, Walter is the true definition of a possession receiver. Nearly 66 percent of his receptions over the past two seasons have gone for first downs. Walter can help keep drives alive by picking up first downs.

Walter can also help in other phases of the game. He can help keep the offense on the field and get the defense some rest. His return will allow Jones to return to punt return duties and Davis to return to kickoff duties full time. Both can be at full strength for special teams work. 

Walter can open things up in the run game both by blocking and drawing attention from linebackers and safeties who are concerned with his underneath routes.  I don’t know if Walter’s absence has led to running back Steve Slaton’s early struggles, but his return can only be positive.

Owen Daniels, fresh off of his first Pro Bowl, will be another beneficiary of Walter’s return.  The middle of the field will be more difficult to cover with both Walter and Daniels running routes.  Defenses will be unable to double team both, and if Schaub is given enough time and protection, the Texans will move the chains and score more points. 

In the end, Walter’s return means everything to the Texans. For a team that has forged an identity on being a dynamic offensive team, playing at full strength means a great deal. 

Walter’s return is worth more than his 60 catches and 899 yards. His return signals the resurgence of Texans firepower.

 

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Hock’s Take: NFL Power Rankings For Week Two

1. New York Giants

Last Week: 2

The Giants haven’t played a complete game yet, but what they’ve shown is flashes of what made them the Super Bowl champions a couple of years ago. If Eli Manning can stay healthy and keep his young receivers active, the Giants are staring down a long playoff run.

 

2. Baltimore Ravens

Last Week: 8

The Ravens might be the most complete team in the AFC right now. Their pass defense has left a lot to be desired, but they clamped down when they needed to, and Ray Lewis showed a preternatural instinct for diagnosing plays to stuff the Chargers at the end of this week’s game.

 

3. New Orleans Saints

Last Week: 9

The offensive explosion continues unabated in New Orleans, and Drew Brees looks to be on pace to throw for about 10,000 yards. But the running game is already wearing down (in Week Two!) and, while Darren Sharper is providing big plays, the defense has left a lot to be desired.

 

4. Atlanta Falcons

Last Week: 7

I hinted at it last week, but in case you didn’t know, Tony Gonzalez is a pretty fantastic weapon for a young quarterback to have. I still don’t think the Falcons are an elite team, but it’s looking like this year isn’t going to be dominated by elite teams.

 

5. Indianapolis Colts

Last Week: 4

It’s certainly something when you can take a bathroom break and miss the Colts’ entire offensive performance, and they still win the game. That’s neither a condemnation of the Colts’ offense (who took about 30 seconds to score every time they touched the ball) or a mark of approval for their defense (who were half asleep until Chad Pennington started lobbing shovel passes 50 yards downfield at the end of the game).

 

6. New York Jets

Last Week: 14

It takes some brass balls to send your third-string quarterback, former Patriot Kevin O’Connell, out as a captain, just to dig into Bill Belichick. But the Jets defense looked fantastic, and they backed up all the smack they talked last week.

 

7. Minnesota Vikings

Last Week: 5

At some point, the Vikings are going to have to shake out of their slow first-half playbook and put some series together or some team is going to catch them. I mean, it’s great that they’ve mastered retooling at halftime, but it’s not going to help if San Francisco blows up on them 35-0 in the second quarter.

 

8. San Francisco 49ers

Last Week: 18

It’s too bad Frank Gore exploded like he did on Sunday. Not bad for the 49ers, who suddenly look like an NFL franchise by the way, but too bad for Gore because his performance is going to be overshadowed all week by the even more insane day for Chris Johnson. But…Gore’s team won.

 

9. Pittsburgh Steelers

Last Week: 19

It all came crashing down for the Steelers in the fourth quarter. Troy Polamalu and Jeff Reed standing on the sidelines, looking like extras from a really bad funeral scene. They’ll be fine this season, but it’s going to be rougher than they thought.

 

10. New England Patriots

Last Week: 3

At some point, you have to believe that New England will find their groove. But for the time being, they’re pretty quickly falling apart.

 

11. Philadelphia Eagles

Last Week: 6

A slow and steady drop until McNabb comes back, but they’ll have an awfully big hole to climb out of in the NFC East when he does. The defense clearly misses Jim Johnson and Brian Dawkins.

 

12. Dallas Cowboys

Last Week: 10

It was the perfect set-up. Sunday Night Football. Brand new stadium. Tony Romo coming off a great performance, a huge divisional game, and… Well, things didn’t end up quite how Jerry Jones hoped. Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy. Really.

 

13. Seattle Seahawks

Last Week: 11

Without Matt Hasselbeck, this is not a particularly good team. What is it with rib injuries to quarterbacks lately? Next the NFL is going to mandate no hitting the quarterback in the upper body.

 

14. Green Bay Packers

Last Week: 12

Green Bay’s defense has flashes where it looks fantastic, but ultimately, it can’t contain anything for too long. As for their offensive line, it has flashes where it looks terrible, and ultimately it can’t contain anything either.

 

15. Denver Broncos

Last Week: 17

Say what you want about the Broncos’ offseason, but they’re sitting at 2-0, and they saw a nice uptick in production from their offense this week. They’re still not contenders, but they’re not who we thought they were.

16. Chicago Bears

Last Week: 20

Jay Cutler in a nutshell: Leading the team on a game-winning drive, Cutler takes his helmet off and rests it on his head. Looking more stoned than the cast of every Cheech and Chong movie, he manages to miss the referee standing two feet in front of him, and gets whacked in the face. The he manages to catch his flying helmet behind his back by his fingertips.

 

17. Buffalo Bills

Last Week: 22

The Bills are going to be fine. They won’t be great. 8-8, probably, but they’re making headway. Have your popcorn ready, just in case.

 

18. Houston Texans

Last Week: 24

An offensive showcase to mask how horrible their defense really is. No coverage on Chris Johnson? Really, Texans? Still, that climb to .500 doesn’t seem so far off any more.

 

19. Tennessee Titans

Last Week: 10

A one-man explosion, which dwarfed the fact that the Titans couldn’t really put anything together outside of a handful of amazing runs. This isn’t the same team that put together a great year last year, and I think they’re a few mediocre games away from Vince Young lining up behind center again.

 

20. Arizona Cardinals

Last Week: 19

Forget what Marcus Fitzgerald is Tweeting. The Cardinals have to be thrilled with their performance on Sunday. I don’t have a ton of faith in these guys to keep this up, but they’re still dangerous.

 

21. Oakland Raiders

Last Week: 21

From the most accurate passer of the week to Jamarcus Russell. The Raiders got the win this week, though. And I’m pretty damn sure one of Russell’s passes landed within 50 feet of his target. Progress, folks.

 

22. San Diego Chargers

Last Week: 13

The Chargers had it, but Ray Lewis read right through their scheme, and the Chargers’ line couldn’t keep him from stuffing Darren Sproles in the backfield. They’re probably better than this ranking allows, but without Jamal Williams, the wheels are still slowly coming off the bus for the Chargers.

 

23. Cincinnati Bengals

Last Week: 26

Chad Ochocinco dared himself to do a Lambeau Leap, and to his credit, he did it. Sort of. It couldn’t have been easy to find Bengals fans in the crowd that day. Or at all for that matter. Still, the Bengals showed they can play a little offense.

 

24. Miami Dolphins

Last Week: 22

Two things happened on Monday: The Miami Dolphins played the best ball control offense in NFL history. Secondly? The Dolphins played the worst 30-second defense in NFL history. I guess you can throw “Chad Pennington throws a pass of 10+ yards” in the achievement pile too.

 

25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Last Week: 23

Looking at the stat lines, the Bucs have given up almost 1,000 yards in total offense already this season. Somewhere, Monte Kiffin and Derrick Brooks are laughing about this. And John Gruden is grimacing at a potted plant.

 

26. Washington Redskins

Last Week: 25

The Redskins have a relatively easy schedule coming up, but I’m pretty leery about calling their next two games gimmies. They’re playing so poorly right now, that I actually believe that Washington might be the team that breaks Detroit’s streak.

 

27. Jacksonville Jaguars

Last Week: 27

The Jaguars lost starting wide receiver Troy Williamson for the rest of the year on Sunday. I don’t really have a whole lot more to say to that. I just wanted to give Vikings fans a chance to gasp at the words “starting wide receiver Troy Williamson.”

 

28. Carolina Panthers

Last Week: 28

Even when Jake Delhomme doesn’t look bad, he looks bad. The rest of the Panthers didn’t really help him, but the loss falls on Jake for not coming through at the end of the game. There isn’t a team in the league that looks like it needs the bye week more. And it’s only Week Three.

 

29. Kansas City Chiefs

Last Week: 29

Todd Haley is quickly becoming my favorite head coach. Not because I think he’s a great coach, or because I’m a huge Chiefs fan, but because every time the camera rolls anywhere near him, he launches into a swearing tirade that would make Bobby Knight cry. No wonder Matt Leinart never learned anything.

 

30. Cleveland Browns

Last Week: 30

Well, whatever the Browns thought they learned from their game against the Vikings, it’s pretty clear that they forgot it in a hurry. Eventually, Eric Mangini will probably get on the same page with his team, but right now, I don’t know that they’re in the same library.

 

31. Detroit Lions

Last Week: 32

The Lions having a successful first half against an opponent, who then dominates them in the second? Say it ain’t so! Yeah, pretty much the same old Lions this week, but you can almost see the pieces falling into place there. In two or three years, they might be dangerous. Or they might still be the Detroit Lions. Who knows?

 

32. St. Louis Rams

Last Week: 31

Maybe it’s a bit controversial, but I haven’t seen a single thing I like about the Rams this year, which is even less than I can say about a team that’s lost 19 straight games. There honestly isn’t a single game I think the Rams can win this year. Except maybe for the most epic showdown in NFL History. Week Eight. Nov. 1st. Rams/Lions. I hope I get that game in my market.

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San Francisco 49ers: Thoughts After Two Wins

I wrote this article after the third preseason game of 2009, detailing who the San Francisco 49ers were as a team. My reactions to their play in the preseason led me to make some statements about the team, as well as identify some areas that appeared to need improvement

I thought I would follow up every few weeks with some impressions about the team, especially considering that they have surprised me along the way.

I know it’s only Week Three in the NFL, and we still don’t really know most team’s true identities—and if we claim to, we’re either going to be wrong…or lucky.

That being said, I’ll do my best to give some impressions of what the 49ers have shown thus far, and also try to discern which areas constitute a real identity and which are more situational inconsistencies.

 

Running Game

Well, I had sworn the 49ers would own every team on the ground this year…or at least, I figured, they wouldn’t get shut down at all this season.

Week One proved me wrong on that front, but Week Two made me look like a genius. Obviously, the apparent reality of the running game is somewhere in the middle.

The 49ers are a running team. I have no doubt about that. I also don’t think that’s going to change by season’s end. The Arizona game was just downright weird.

First of all, the team didn’t run block well at all. Even against eight and nine-men fronts, you have to be able to find a way to get to the second level and expose the lack of defensive depth beyond the line of scrimmage.

Averaging 1.8 yards per carry can’t happen again. Ever.

Secondly, the play calling was a little suspect. Maybe the 49ers were trying to convince the Cardinals they would run the ball no matter what so Arizona would be dumbfounded when they threw it. Either way, I’d prefer not to have to win the game on Shaun Hill’s arm late in the fourth quarter.

Where was the screen game? That’s a run-blitz-beater!

And where was Glen Coffee? If the 49ers are going to bash the ball into the teeth of the defense 30 times a game, they should share the load so they don’t kill Frank Gore!

Well, the team recovered nicely in Seattle, displaying that beating a stacked line of scrimmage can be done.

Sure, their yards came mostly on two big plays, but that’s because they exposed the weakness in a stacked box. There is little to no help beyond five yards past the line of scrimmage. Gore beat the guys he had to and goodnight.

As I said, the reality of where the running game is at this point lies in the middle somewhere. The 49ers have the ability to beat run defenses, and, if they continue to prove that, we will see more varied fronts, allowing the team to hopefully grind out four to five yards per carry and control the clock.

 

Passing Game

If the home run touchdown play from Gore can open up the defense, maybe the 49ers won’t have to prove as much in the passing game. That’s significant because I’m pretty sure the team’s pass offense is a slow work in progress.

Hill has done everything asked of him thus far.

People complain about him all the time. He has a noodle arm. He can’t make deep throws. He has no mustard on the ball. Blah, blah, blah.

He doesn’t lose games.

Hill hasn’t thrown an interception yet. The team has only had one turnover through two games, with a differential of plus-two (tied for fourth in the NFL). We all know the truth in the statement: Whoever wins the turnover battle usually wins the game.

Still, there are plenty of areas the 49ers could improve that wouldn’t necessarily constitute having a “high flying” passing attack.

Hill has been sacked eight times, second only to Aaron Rodgers’ 10 sacks. Every sack has potential for a forced fumble, and every near-sack has the possibility of a bad throw leading to a pick.

Add to that, Hill has only thrown for 353 yards, which places him 28th in the NFL. I’m not as worried about this, though. I think that with confidence, practice with the receivers, and continued success of the run game, the passing game will open up some.

So, to summarize the passing game: It’s not losing any games, it’s not winning any games, per se. Sure, Hill had the drive in the fourth quarter in Arizona. But, as I said, I don’t think anyone wants to rely on that consistently. Let’s keep running the ball and let the passing game come.

 

Defense

I joined the fray in busting on the defense for its lack of pass rush this preseason. The hope from all of us was that 49ers were just in “vanilla” (still hate that word) mode for the exhibition and once they started stunting and blitzing, they’d show more pressure on the quarterback. 

Well, they’re still being called vanilla on defense, spending a lot of time in a base package. However, for whatever reason, the pass rush has shown up. 

Thankfully, thus far, the 49ers have really played as a team.

Against Arizona, the defense played as good as you could ask a unit to play, period.  Kurt Warner was on his back more than a promiscuous girl at a frat party. Good thing, too, because the offense couldn’t manage to get out of its own way save for the game-winning drive.

In Week Two, the pass rush wasn’t nearly as vicious, registering only one sack. The offense definitely stepped up with two huge touchdown runs by Gore to put the game out of reach. 

In both games, though, the run defense has been smothering. The 49ers rank third in the league, allowing only 106 yards rushing through two games. What’s more, they haven’t given up a single rushing touchdown, either.

Their takeaways are another bright spot. Three interceptions are tied for third in the league, though NFL-wide comparisons are somewhat irrelevant this early in the season.

 

Conclusions

Thus far, I would conclude the 49ers have improved upon who I “thought they were” in the preseason.

Their running game overall has lived up to expectations, though they really need to be consistent. The offensive line needs to be accountable and continue to improve and execute.

The passing game is doing what we thought it would do…not losing games, but not being flashy by any means. It will need to come along and have its moments at some point down the road in order to win the tough games.

The defense is shaping up to be one of the best in the NFL if it can continue on the path it’s on. I think this is the most consistent part of the team thus far.

They haven’t gotten lucky or had fortunate bounces of the ball. Instead, they have whipped opponents on nearly every play and won matchups, leading to outstanding team defense. The fundamentals emphasized by the coaching staff in training camp and beyond have obviously paid off.

All in all, I don’t think the 49ers fall into the same categories as other teams do at this point in the season.

Often times, when looking at a 2-0 team, there is uncertainty about whether or not it really proves they are a good team. In the 49ers’ case, though, I think they’ve played good, sound fundamental football. I look for them to continue to play well, even in losing efforts, and establish an identity to the world.

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Dallas Cowboys: Media and Fans Should Take a Deep Breath

I realize it’s Week 15 in the NFL, with only two weeks before playoffs, but…

Wait, you mean it is only Week Two? 

With the incredible ratings (16.5) that the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants got on Sunday night, you would have thought that all of the media and fans actually watched the game.

However, it seems like almost everyone is focused on the box score.

Yes, Tony Romo cost Dallas the game with his three interceptions, which were all on him. He is the main reason that the Cowboys are now 1-1, instead of 2-0.

Congrats to all the Sherlock Holmes’ out there for figuring that one out.

Why isn’t anyone mentioning that Dallas, despite four turnovers, was barely beaten by a team that almost “everyone” agrees is one of the top three teams in the NFL?

If I were a Giants fan, I would be ecstatic about the win, but I wouldn’t want to play the Cowboys again.  

What really are the chances that Romo throws three interceptions in a game, again?

He has thrown three interceptions four times in 41 starts. I’m not going to get into detail about whether or not those interceptions were on him.

But I will say that his team had a chance to win all of those games, including that magical Monday night in Buffalo, when he drove them for the winning field goal—despite five interceptions.

And please, stop with the “Romo loses all the big games” craziness. If the regular season game that he just lost is a “big” game, then I guess the 4-1 regular season record against the Giants indicates that he has at least won four big games.

Is that not fair to say? I think it is. Basically because all games in the NFL are big. Not just the ones Romo loses.

The Cowboys absolutely dominated the game, but Eli Manning played exceptionally well and capitalized on Romo’s mistakes. That is the real story.

Ask yourself, “If the Cowboys win the game, are the Giants suddenly suspect and the Cowboys a team who can win despite adversity?”

Better yet, ask yourself this, “If the Giants and Cowboys played this weekend, and you had to bet something valuable on the game, who would you take?”  

I’m taking the Cowboys, because Romo isn’t going to repeat that performance.

He had a bad game. Relax. Take a deep breath. Step back from the ledge.

It’s a long season. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. The Cowboys are going to be fine.

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Bears Unlock Forte-Knox and Find Gould!

Memo to Nation’s headline writers:

There. To the best of my knowledge, I got in the first egregious play on words using all three of these players. I know the names Knox and Gould have been gnawing at you. But it’s over now. So let’s get past it all you “Punsters of the Midway,” and talk football.

_____

I know there are a lot of Chicago fans out there who read that headline and screamed, “But Forte hasn’t done anything yet! He’s in a sophomore slump, and he can’t see the field!” First of all, stop screaming at your PC. It’s unseemly, and you’re spraying spit all over the monitor.

Bears fans have a habit of scratching through silver linings to get a better look at the cloud. Wednesdays are particularly hard, as the football news cycle inexorably turns from game day highlights towards next game’s predictions.

It’s when the euphoria wears off, and the reverse-alchemists come out, using statistics to turn our gold (even our Gould) into lead.

I read a column this week in one of Chicago’s two main dailies that argued the Bears should have gone for the first down rather than kick the (game-winning) field goal against the Steelers Sunday. The theory is that it proves Lovie Smith doesn’t trust Jay Cutler.

And aren’t amazing finishes, what the Bears brought Cutler to Chicago for, in the first place?

No. They brought him here to win football games. Which he did. Against the Pittsburgh Steelers, reigning Super Bowl champions and perennial NFL powerhouse. A week after the Steelers outlasted Tennessee, to win in overtime.

What madness would cause Smith, Turner, et al. to decide to just chuck one out there, and see what happens?

The Bears are not going to stop being the Bears. They’ve changed their weapons, not their base philosophy.

Which brings us back to Forte, and the latest sign of the upcoming apocalypse. He has a 2.2 yard rushing average, after two games. If you write “two, point two” on your bathroom mirror and say “The Bears get off the bus running” three times, the ghost of Brian Piccolo will appear and stiff-arm you into the tub.

The Bears offense has a lot of spiffy new gadgets that they’re still discovering. Like your mom with her first cell phone, there’s going to be a period of adjustment while they figure out how things work. It’s primary function won’t be forgotten.

Look for Forte to run the ball more, as soon as the Bears get their first lead in a game. This team has always run defenses down by coming up the gut, over and over. They don’t need to do that these days, so they’re trying to work out Forte’s role in a system where he doesn’t have to be the bull. He may even become a better back for it.

So relax a little Chicago fans. Two games is too soon to try to find the doom spelled out in the tea leaves. Just drink the tea.

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New York Giants @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers Preview: Let’s Keep It Rolling

As we approach Week 3 of the NFL regular season, the New York Giants are 2-0. Coming from a great win while spoiling Jerry Jones’ stadium-opening party, it is safe to say that the Giants are gaining momentum.

 

However, standing in the Giants way is a hungry Tampa Bay Buccaneers team. Moving on with my weekly previews, this is what the Giants are up against next Sunday.

 

 

 

New York Giants @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers—Sept. 27

 

Eli Manning and his young wide receivers have shown in the last two weeks a glance of a very bright future for this offense, and proved in a national stage, and before the biggest crowd in NFL history, that the Big Blue passing game is far from dead.

 

The highly doubted group of wide receivers has been, so far, one of the team’s biggest strengths. Steve Smith and Mario Manningham have emerged as legitimate threats, and they both currently rank as the best 1-2 punch at the WR position in the NFL.

 

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers reach Week 3 with an opposite record from the Giants. Coming from two straight losses, to the Dallas Cowboys and the Buffalo Bills, this team is hungry for a win, and should be playing with a lot of heart come Sunday.

 

With several changes performed in the entire roster in the off-season, this Tampa Bay team is still struggling to find its own identity, to come into their own as a team. Nevertheless, in the first two games of the season, they showed that they can be competitive.

 

The Buccaneers’ running game, featuring the likes of Cadillac Williams, former Giant Derrick Ward, also known as “Wind”, and Ernest Graham (all very talented backs) had a great performance against the Cowboys, but struggled in Buffalo.

 

Even so, there is no doubt that these guys can torch any defense, and the presence of “Wind” in this mix is worrisome, as he knows the Giants defense pretty well, which brings us to Task One: stop the running game.

 

The Giants defense must not allow this group of RBs to get things going, as with the constant change of pace between the backs, it can be hard to stop them. Anyone doubting the success of these players should just watch their game against Dallas.

 

Stopping the run means making the Bucs’ offense one-dimensional, and put the game into Byron Leftwich’s arm.

 

Signed this off-season, Leftwich has been solid so far, tossing 574 yards, 4 TDs and 2 INTs, but with the Giants pass rush, there is a good chance he will have a long afternoon this Sunday.

 

It is a known fact that Leftwich is a statue in the pocket, and has a slow-motion release, which may prevent him from escaping the pressure applied by the Giants. In the game against Buffalo, he had two interceptions, and one of them returned for a TD.

 

By stopping the run, the Giants are going to put Leftwich on the hot seat to make things happen, and with the Giants’ ferocious pass rush, the defense might be able to capitalize on more turnovers committed by Leftwich.

 

Moving to the Giants offensive side, we come to Task Two: know when to change the pace.

 

Even now that Steve Smith and Mario Manningham embarrassed the Cowboys in their house, it is likely that no team in the NFL is completely sold on the Giants passing game. This why I see the Bucs stacking the line, just like Dallas and Washington did.

 

Make no mistake, though. People know that Eli has people to throw to now, and once the Tampa Bay defense gets burned a couple of times, I think they will stop putting eight men on the box and start playing the pass too.

 

This may allow the Giants to display their so much wanted balance. If Tampa tries to cover the pass, Jacobs and Bradshaw will most likely run all over them, and if they stack the line, Smith and Manningham will get the job done.

 

If the G-men are able to sustain this balance, offensive success is imminent.

 

Following this, we face Task Three: keep the focus. It is true that Tampa Bay lost both their games, and that their defense is not what it once was, being past its recent glory days, but don’t fool yourselves, the Buccaneers are still a dangerous team.

 

If New York goes out thinking they already won, taking this Bucs’ team for granted, the Big Blue might be upset. I realize this is not the New York Giants profile, but too much focus can never hurt.

 

Facing Dallas and Washington, Tampa Bay kept themselves in the game until the fourth quarter, when they fell behind on the scoreboard.

 

Because of this fact, they will be playing even harder to remain in this game until the final whistle, and finally win their first game of the season. The fact that they will be in front of their fans in the Florida heat can become a factor as well.

 

This fact leads us to a Recurrent Task Four: Make the most of the opportunities. Against the Dallas Cowboys we continued to struggle in red zone situations.

 

The Giants need to fix this problem in this game, and the sooner they are able to do that, the sooner they may be able to put this game away. Converting red zone trips into touchdowns is crucial, and it is past the time for Kevin Gilbride to figure it out.

 

As I said last week, if the Giants are to continue winning in this league, playing in the though NFC East, they have to stop wasting opportunities to score.

 

 

 

Probable Outcome

 

The Giants are a lot better positioned to win the battle in the trenches on both sides of the Ball, so I believe that Tampa’s running game won’t be able to do much. On offense, the Giants O-line is likely to get the job done, and keep Eli on his feet all game.

 

With Byron Leftwich having to carry the team to victory while the Giants D-line wreaks havoc, there may be some turnovers committed by Leftwich’s part, and the Giants can capitalize on that.

 

This is controversial, though, as the Dallas Cowboys were better positioned too, and ended up giving 174 yards through the ground.

 

Concurrently, while initially worried about stopping the run, the Buccaneers will stack the line, but only to be burned downfield by Steve Smith and Mario Manningham early in the game.

 

This may cause the Bucs’ defense to play the pass. After that, the Giants balanced offense will thrive, and Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw will be the ones who put the game away, bringing a W back to New York.

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In Defense of Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback Kevin Kolb

Despite playing in just three games so far in his three-year career, Philadelphia Eagles backup quarterback Kevin Kolb has taken more heat from fans then Kanye West did after he stole the microphone from Taylor Swift at this year’s VMA’s.

From a Philadelphia fan’s point of view, when looking at the four quarterbacks on the Eagles’ roster (McNabb, Kolb, Michael Vick, and Jeff Garcia), Kolb seems to be the last option anyone wants to see taking snaps for the Birds.

They wonder why A.J. Feeley was released when he seemed to be the better fit as a backup quarterback. They wonder why not start Garcia after what he did for the team at the end of the 2006 season. They wonder why not start Vick considering his blazing speed and ability to run the ball as a quarterback.

The fans from the City of Brotherly Love can say whatever they want about head coach Andy Reid’s decision to play Kolb at quarterback. They can be upset and say whatever they want about his performances n the three games he’s played in during his short career. However, the truth is Kolb deserves a break after all the heat he has taken.

As an Eagles fan, I will be the first to admit that I have taken my fair-share of shots at the way Kolb has performed with the Eagles. At times, I too would wonder how Reid could have so much faith in a player like Kolb. After last weekend’s game against the New Orleans Saints, it finally hit me that we need to give this kid a break and cut him some slack.

Kolb’s first real-game action came against the Baltimore Ravens last season when McNabb was benched after a horrendous first half. His first experience in a NFL game came against a defense that has built a reputation this decade for having some of the most ferocious defenders this game has ever seen.

After spending his first season-and-a-half as a backup, Kolb found himself facing a Ravens team that finished second in the NFL last season to the Pittsburgh Steelers when it comes to total defense. Not to mention Kolb was already at a disadvantage since the game was being played in Baltimore.

In his first real performance as an Eagle, Kolb struggled, finishing just 10-of-23 for 73 yards and two interceptions, including an interception by Ed Reed that was returned 107 yards for a touchdown. The Eagles ended up losing 36-7 in a game that was arguably one of the worst losses of the season considering how embarrassing the team’s performance was.

When Kolb replaced McNabb against the Carolina Panthers opening weekend this season, there was nothing for fans to be upset with him about other than low passing numbers and a lost fumble. He finished 7-of-11 for just 23 yards, but threw zero interceptions. Not to mention the scenario this time around was far different from the one with the Ravens since the Eagles had already established a 38-10 lead.

Last weekend, Kolb made his first career start against the Saints since McNabb was dealing with a cracked rib injury from the game against the Panthers. The matchup seemed to be decent for a quarterback making his first career starts considering the Saints were ranked 23rd last season when it came to defense and gave up 27 points to the Detroit Lions, who finished 0-16 last season, the week before.

Despite the Eagles horrendous 48-22 loss to the Saints, Kolb shouldn’t be blamed for his performance. Fans can say what they want about the way he played and the decisions he made, but the truth is he is inexperienced and until he gains enough experience in the NFL, he’s going to have to deal with the learning process.

Reid said it best after the game when he discussed how Kolb did some things that were good and did some things that were bad in his first career start against the Saints. He looked impressive during the first drive as he found DeSean Jackson for a 71-yard touchdown, but struggled in the second half as he tried to help lead a comeback for the Eagles.

In Kolb’s defense, he was not the problem or the reason why the Eagles lost the game against the Saints last Sunday; the defense and the special teams failed to give him the support he needed to take pressure off when he was on offense.

When Kolb helped kill over eight minutes off the clock to help David Akers kick a field goal to tie the game 10-10 with a little over two minutes left in the second half, the defense allowed the Saints to march 54 yards in just 37 seconds to score a touchdown.

On the first play of the second half, defensive back Ellis Hobbs fumbled the kickoff to allow Heath Evans to score three plays later. All of a sudden, the Eagles trailed 24-13 and there was more pressure on Kolb to throw the ball more to help try and lead a comeback.

From a quarterback’s point of view, a football game is much easier with a decent effort from the defense. In Sunday’s loss to the Saints, the Eagles defense was picked apart by Drew Brees, who finished 25-of-34 for 311 yards and three touchdowns.

Their lack of support left Kolb no other choice but to throw the ball more than he preferred to in the second half and even tried to force a few passes to his receivers in desperation.

Against the Saints, Kolb set the NFL record for most passing yards in a single game for a quarterback making their first career start with 391, which was also the 12th highest total yards in a single game in Eagles history.

The fans can say what they want about No. 4, but the truth is Kolb isn’t as bad as most people make him out to be. Sure, he had a disastrous game against the Ravens, but most players would in their second year, especially if they never really played their rookie season.

The Eagles may have come up on the wrong end of the blowout in the 48-22 loss against the Saints. However, the lack of defense and special teams had a major influence on the outcome of that game. It’s not fair to blame Kolb for his decisions at quarterback considering the position the defense and special teams put him in.

Look for Kolb to bounce back against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday as the Eagles get one more home game before they head into the bye week. If he gets enough support from his defense and special teams, kind of like McNabb did against the Panthers, Kolb may be looking at his first career win as a starting quarterback in the NFL.

Dan Parzych Is the Eagles Fan Voice for NFLTouchdown.com

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Mark Sanchez Is Running Away from Fellow Rookies

Hard to make an accurate assessment after two weeks, but I am going to throw this out there and see what you all think.

This year’s rookies are not even close to last year’s class.

Am I going to get killed in the comments for that? Highly doubtful. With the exception of New York Jets’ quarterback Mark Sanchez, I think it’s safe to say this year’s crop has underwhelmed considerably. Good thing there still is plenty of time for the rooks to pick up the slack.

Finally, the rookies that were expected to have immediate impacts this season are starting to live up to their potential. I think I will actually be able to have a list of the top-five rookies this week for the first time since the start of the regular season.

 

1. Mark Sanchez, QB, Jets

What more can be said about Mark Sanchez? I thought he would be dead meat playing the New England Patriots. Sanchez struggled in the first half, but bounced back in the second half, while leading the Jets to a win over the Patriots.

He finished with only 163 yards passing and one touchdown, but he threw no interceptions. Sanchez has impressed so far in his first two games this season.

 

2. Knowshon Moreno, RB, Broncos

Knowshon Moreno had an effective game running the ball for the Denver Broncos against the Cleveland Browns. He carried the ball 17 times for 75 yards and looks like he is on his on his way to becoming the No. 1 running back in Denver.

He is still losing touches to Correll Buckhalter and goal line carries to Peyton Hillis, but he should take carries away from Buckhalter as he improves.

 

3. Percy Harvin, WR, Vikings

Percy Harvin has scored two touchdowns in two weeks. He only had 41 yards receiving due to Adrian Peterson hogging the yards from the backfield. The Minnesota Vikings don’t need to throw the ball as much because of Peterson, which may keep Harvin’s value down.

 

4. Louis Murphy, WR, Raiders

Louis Murphy did not supply the big plays he did in week one, but he did make two catches for 26 yards in week two against the Kansas City Chiefs. Murphy may soon fall from this list because of the inconsistencies in the Oakland Raiders’ passing game.

Until JaMarcus Russell can figure out how to be an NFL quarterback, Murphy will not be able to put up the numbers needed to remain on this list.

 

5. Chris ‘Beanie’ Wells, RB, Cardinals

Chris “Beanie” Wells showed a burst through the hole he has not displayed in previous opportunities probably due to preseason injuries. He finished with seven carries for 44 yards with a long of 17 yards.

Tim Hightower has performed well as the lead running back and unless he gets hurt or struggles, Wells will probably be delegated to the backup role in the desert.

 

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