September 2009 News

Matt Schaub: What a Difference a Week Makes

Published: September 22, 2009

commentNo Comments

In week one, Matt Schaub looked like a high school quarterback suddenly thrust into the NFL spotlight.

In week two, he was Joe Montana reincarnated (except, of course, for the technicality that Joe Montana is alive and well).

So, which Matt Schaub, can we expect to see in week three against Jacksonville?

Ha, trick question.  They’re both the same Matt Schaub.

The fact is, the failures of week one Matt Schaub were grossly overstated and the successes in week two were a little inflated.

Yes, I’m well aware that week one Matt Schaub passed for 166 yards, zero TD’s, and one INT.  I’m also aware that week two Matt Schaub passed for 357 yards, four TD’s, and zero INT’s. 

But I’m also aware that the circumstances surrounding both performances were significantly different.

Let’s start by looking at the Jets game. 

The fact is, that Schaub didn’t miss many opportunities in that game. 

The Texans under Kubiak have historically struggled against 3-4 defenses.  This is because 3-4 defenses generally have large, strong nose tackles whose primary function is to take up blockers so their athletic linebackers can run free and create havoc.

This doesn’t mesh well with Alex Gibb’s lighter offensive linemen.  When plagued with an especially undersized and weak center like Chris Myers, that larger nose tackle can progress from “taking up blockers” guy to “wearing Matt Schaub as a jock strap” guy.

Kris Jenkins played this role well.

Like everything else, however, this did not occur in a vacuum.  Rex Ryan also dialed up all sorts of blitzes which were executed to perfection (unlike the Texans’ blitzes which were rather unsuccessful).

These blitzes came from a variety of angles, and the offensive line and Steve Slaton struggled to pick them up. 

To oversimplify, the priority system of offensive linemen in this scheme is to work inside-out.  This becomes difficult when Jenkins is rag-dolling Myers and the guards now have to account for both their man and a 360 pound cookie monster who mistook Schaub’s head for a chocolate chip.

On blitzes, Slaton’s job is to account for the most immediate threat first, which generally involves the first blitzer.

When this process fails, Schaub can’t step into his throws and his accuracy suffers. 

Furthermore, Schaub struggled in recognizing the blitz and making the proper adjustments.  His mobility may have suffered as a result of the ankle injury, but Schaub also seemed to get frustrated and start looking for big plays.

Big plays mean longer routes.  Longer routes take more time to develop.  I think you can see where I’m going here.

Schaub’s interception was a perfect example and a microcosm of the entire game.  Schaub’s pre-snap read should have shown him an overload blitz from the right side.  Since the Jets had rarely shown blitz and backed off, Schaub should have expected it.

Fast forward to the snap—Slaton slipped out as a check down, but didn’t help with a blitz.  That meant that more guys were coming in than the offensive line could block.  Instead of checking down, Schaub tried to hang in there to allow Jacoby Jones to come open and tried to force the ball down field.

Pick.  Ball game.

So what was different in the Tennessee game?

Two things: protection and play action. 

Tennessee is not afraid to blitz, but they rely more on pressure from their front four.  The Texans’ offensive line did a much better job of protecting, and Slaton did a much better job of picking up the blitz when it did come. 

The result was that Schaub had more time—even if only a second or two—and more space to step in and make an accurate throw.

As I mentioned earlier, this time also allows the receivers to better develop their routes and given time, nobody can cover Andre Johnson.

Furthermore, despite the low rushing numbers, the play action was very effective against the Titan defense.  There may have been a bit of a residual effect from Slaton’s effectiveness in the two meetings last year.

Suddenly provided time and space to operate, Schaub was able to generate more offense and put points on the board. 

So, back to the premise, what can we expect to see next week?

The anchor of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ offensive line is big John Henderson, but he’s more of a run stopper than pass rusher.  Then again, if he’s facing Chris Myers, I know I’ll have some heartburn watching the interior line this weekend.

Other than that, the Jaguar pass rush has been seriously lacking this year. 

They have one sack, courtesy of Reggie Hayward, who was put on the IR last week.  Last week, they were credited with one quarterback hit, and that came from cornerback Rashean Mathis.

The Jags are unlikely to suddenly discover their pass rush, especially in light of the blocking adjustments the Texans made between weeks one and two, so look for Schaub to have another big day. 

In his one game against them last year, he threw for 307 yards with three TD’s and zero INT’s, and I would expect similar numbers this week.

Now, how do we stop Maurice Jones-Drew?

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com


The New England Patriots Have an Identity Crisis

Published: September 22, 2009

commentNo Comments

With two games played, Patriots fans now face more questions than answers.

The team has been largely disappointing thus far, falling behind a lackluster Bills team (necessitating a near-miracle comeback) and putting up a hard-to-watch effort on Sunday against the Jets.

Tom Brady has not looked quite right in either game: it appears obvious he has not fully recovered from his traumatic knee injury. It could be mental, or there could still be problems with the knee, but the Brady of 2009 has looked hapless, harried and gun-shy.

The offensive line has seemingly done little to help him. After a 2007 season when it seemed Brady was hardly touched until the Super Bowl, this unit has been sorely lacking. To be fair, Matt Cassel’s inexperience caused a lot of sacks last year, but this year’s iteration has allowed an unacceptable number of free blitzers, especially with a still-healing quarterback.

The receiving corps also appears to be off its game. Brady has yet to develop anything close to a rapport with Joey Galloway. Randy Moss has yet to catch a deep pass.

Wes Welker looked good against the Bills, but, in a surprise move, was held out of Sunday’s game. If Welker’s condition is chronic, it would be a great blow to this already sputtering offense.

The running game has been maddeningly inconsistent—it appears to work well at times but then vanishes, leaving the Pats in obvious passing downs and exacerbating the issues with Brady.

The defense has been decent, considering the flak it’s been getting recently (and especially considering the loss of linebacker Jerod Mayo). It’s currently ranked third in the NFL in terms of yardage allowed and, taking away a Brady pick-six in the Bills game, has allowed 17 and 16 points in its first two games.

This is not a dominant defense by any means, but it is one that should keep the Pats in games.

The Patriots need to define themselves as a team, and quickly. Next week, they play a Falcons team that has shown no signs of a letdown after last year’s surprise playoff run. Starting the season 1-2 may mean staying home come playoff time.

The Pats have played the first two games as if they expected the 2007 Brady to magically appear. Now, they must find something else on which to rely.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com


Cleveland Browns: How Do You Spell 0-16?

Published: September 22, 2009

commentNo Comments

In my Week One article following the loss to the Vikings, I attached a simple poll: “Do you think the Browns will improve upon last year’s 4-12 record?”

Over 100 votes later, the results weighed toward a resounding yes with some 73 percent. Only 12 percent chose no, with even the toungue-in-cheek choice of “Does it really matter?” garnering a higher 16 percent.

I wonder how the people feel after this week’s debacle?

If there was one game—besides Detroit—fans penciled in for a win, it was Denver. An underwhelming quarterback and rookie running back, coupled with a suspect defense incorporated of former Browns rejects looked ripe for a victory on paper. Unfortunately, the teams have to actually play out the game, and we all know how that ended.

To say that the rebuilding process is behind schedule is an understatement. Comparing the Browns to a housing project, the loony architect has not even settled on a blueprint and the building material is all moldy and warped.

The quarterback we moved up to draft more than a year ago, hailed as the prodigy that would pull the franchise out of its losing muck, did not even get to play three games last year and was denied first-team reps this offseason due to a foolish competition. Is it any wonder why he looks so awful out there?

The running back we should have drafted is breaking all kind of NFL records and predicted to pass 2,000 yards this year. Instead, we feature a has-been power-runner nearing his Social Security check-years who’s slower than my one-legged cat.

Don’t get me started on the receivers. We have an egotistical moody fellow from Michigan who thinks he gets paid per drop. Meanwhile, the two highly acclaimed receivers drafted in the second round have a grand total of zero catches between them.

We are trying to turn an inexperienced special team punt returner into a second receiver. Oh, and we traded our one passionate sure-handed receiver for a bag of peanuts in the preseason.

Our defense cannot stop the run—in a run-oriented division, no less. And our much-hyped pass defense just gave up nearly 300 yards to Jay freaking Cutler. Enough said.

Everyone and their grandmother banged on Peter King for his foolish 2-14 prediction. Well, who looks like the fool now? This team is in total disarray and it would not surprise me if they serve a big fat donut this season.

I am attaching the same poll as last week, and guess the results will be vastly different. Too bad we can’t play the Lions every game.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com


NFL Refs Need To Make The Right Calls (Or At Least The Same Ones)

Published: September 22, 2009

commentNo Comments

 

Being a referee in the NFL is a tough job.  Everyone knows that.  But refs are still highly criticized for any questionable calls they make.  It has come to a point where referees over-analyze tough calls, and the rulebook over-complicates the game.

Before you start to think I am saying we need to give refs a break—know that I am not.  I am questioning three separate calls from the first two weeks of the NFL season.  The calls are separate, but their situations are very similar. Even though the plays are similar, refs have come to different conclusions as to what the right call should be.

I am, of course, talking about three touchdown (non) catches.  The first is Louis Murphy’s (Raiders) catch.  The second is Jacoby Jones’s (Texans) catch.  And the third is Dante Rosario’s (Panthers) catch.

In Week One, the Raiders were playing the Chargers and the game was tied at seven.  As the first half was winding down, Louis Murphy makes a leaping catch in the center of the end zone. 

He secures the ball in his right hand.  Both feet touch the ground, his thigh and butt touch the ground.  Touchdown, right?  But no. 

The ball came loose after his butt hit the ground and the pass was ruled incomplete.  This ended up losing Oakland four points—and could have changed the game.

I’m not about to say that it should have been ruled a touchdown.  Here is what the rules say about a play like this:

Rule 8, Section 1, Article 3, Item 1:

Player Going to the Ground.  If a player goes to the ground in the act of catching a pass (with or without contact by an opponent), he must maintain control of the ball after he touches the ground, whether in the field of play or the end zone.  If he loses control of the ball, and the ball touches the ground before he regains control, the pass is incomplete.  If he regains control prior to the ball touching the ground, the pass is complete.”

So, technically, the call was right and it was not a TD.  So you can’t complain about that.  However, the rule is quite stupid in my opinion.

Next, we have the catch by Jacoby Jones of the Texans in Week Two against the Titans.  Jones snags the ball out of the air and is immediately thrown to the ground by the defender.  He has possession, but loses the ball as he does a flip.  The ball then touches the ground and he picks it back up.  This play was ruled a TD. 

Since he was coming to the ground as he caught it, the play should have been ruled incomplete. And seeing how the Texans escaped with a three-point OT win, this was a big mistake.

Last, we have the catch by Dante Rosario of the Panthers as they played the Falcons in Week Two.  Rosario makes a catch as he is getting tackled.  In an effort to score, he turns his body toward the end zone and reaches out.  As he comes in contact with the ground, he loses the ball.  He was going to the ground as he gained possession and the rule clearly states that possession must be retained after hitting the ground (either in the field of play or in the end zone).

I would rule all three of those catches any day.  However, refs must make calls in accordance with the rules.  And they all need to respond to similar situations in the same way.  They can’t make the call one week and go against it the next week (and certainly not twice in the same week). 

I’ll admit that I am a Raiders fan.  But I’ll also admit that the ref made the right call according to the rules.  I may not agree with that particular rule, but the rule exists so it must be followed.  And it can’t just be followed part of the time.

Either the NFL owes the Raiders an apology, or they owe the Titans and Falcons an apology.  Either the rule needs to be changed, or the refs need to start using it all the time.

 

And if you want to take a look at all three plays, check out this video.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com


Finding the Positive in the Rams’ 0-2 Start

Published: September 22, 2009

commentNo Comments

In the bottom-line business that is professional sports, the most important thing that happened to the St. Louis Rams on Sunday was another loss.

 

In losing 9-7 to the Redskins in Washington, the Rams are now 0-2 and two games back of the 2-0 San Francisco 49ers heading into next week’s home opener against Green Bay.

 

And if the Rams were a team with high expectations, falling to 0-2 would be borderline catastrophic. Three teams last year made the playoffs from 0-2, but that was an anomaly. Most of the time, 0-2 is a precursor to disaster.

 

But the Rams aren’t a team with high expectations. Not even the most die-hard pie-in-the-sky Rams fan dared dream of better than 7-9 or maybe (if they were high or drunk) 8-8.

 

So yes, the Rams lost again on Sunday, 0-2 is 0-2, and you are what your record says you are. But when you’re the St. Louis Rams and you’re 5-29 over your last 34 games, you learn to find the hidden positives in the bottom-line failures.

 

And so it comes to pass that losing 9-7 to Washington can be considered a success in many ways.

 

 

Red zone defense: The Redskins’ lone scores came on Shaun Suisham field goals of 21, 28 and 23 yards. Washington came close to a touchdown on one other occasion. In the fourth quarter, David Vobora stopped Clinton Portis two yards behind the line of scrimmage on 4th-and-1 from the St. Louis two-yard line.

 

On each of those drives, the Rams defense held strong with their backs against their own goal-line, forcing the Redskins to settle for three rather than seven.

 

 

Steven Jackson: Not only did Jackson finish with 104 yards on just 17 carries for a 6.1 yard average, he also got involved in the pass game with four catches for 15 yards.

 

A week after not catching a single ball against Seattle, it was encouraging to see quarterback Marc Bulger take advantage of the best player on offense in more ways than one.

 

 

The run defense: Washington did gain 125 yards on the ground, but it took them 33 attempts to get there. Not counting the three kneel-downs at the end, the Redskins gained 121 on 30 carries.

 

For a team that gave up 4.9 yards per rush attempt last year and 117 yards on 19 carries to Julius Jones in Week One, it was heartening to see Clinton Portis held to just 76 yards on 19 carries.

 

 

The pass defense: Even though Chris Cooley had seven catches for 83 yards—continuing a trend of the Rams defense getting shredded by opposing tight ends—it’s worth noting four of Cooley’s seven catches came in the first eight minutes, and six came in the first half. In a tight game that was in doubt until the end, Cooley did not have a single reception during the last 24 minutes of the game.

 

Other than Cooley, no Redskins received had more than four catches or 41 yards receiving.

 

 

Laurent Robinson: The state of the Rams’ passing attack is pathetic and Donnie Avery was a total non-factor (actually worse), but Robinson did his part with six catches for 54 yards. He also had his first Rams touchdown, a beautiful high grab on a 3rd-and-goal fade pass late in the first half.

 

The talk coming into this season was that Avery was the unquestioned leader and maybe Robinson could beat out Keenan Burton for the second WR position. Right now it’s Robinson leading the team in catches with 11 for 141 yards and the touchdown. He’s also been targeted a team-high 19 times, with Avery at 14.

 

Now he just needs a quarterback who can throw the deep ball.

 

(Consider that a tease for a column I’ll be running later this season; working title: “The Rams Should Have Taken Mark Sanchez.”)

 

 

To go along with the pass attack, there’s a whole lot of other things the Rams need to work on. From clock management to covering the opposing tight end to evening out the time of possession, the Rams’ gotta-get-better-at list is a long one.

 

But for going to 0-2, there was enough positive in this game to at least feel like there’s progress being made.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com


Brett Favre Leads Vikings to Win, Still Getting No Respect

Published: September 22, 2009

commentNo Comments

No thanks, Adrian Peterson. Brett Favre had this one.

Favre may still not own a 200-yard passing day as a Viking, but no one ever said winning games had to or would come by launching 50-yard passes.

Favre can’t face the 2007 Denver Broncos in overtime every week. But then again, he won’t be getting back-to-back supposed “cakewalk” matches with the Browns and Lions on a regular basis, either.

The Vikings stumbled through another sorry first half and collected themselves in time to earn their second straight victory, despite facing their second 0-2 ball club.

But no matter the excuse or reason, the criticism on Favre and the rest of this Minnesota offense has got to stop. I’m talking about you, Mike Lombardi, and the rest of you yardage-cravers that are so deep in your Drew Brees man-crush that you can’t recognize pure, honest leadership when you see it.

Down 10-0 on the road, against a hungry Lions team that hadn’t won in over an entire season, Favre gave his usual “whatever” shrug, and calmly presented a “we can do this” facial expression that mixes between a frown and a smile. We’ll call it a smrown.

The Brett Favre smrown.

Regardless, Favre proceeded to, with the help of the running game of course, march Minnesota down the field to respond with a touchdown pass.

Favre and the Vikings then went into halftime down by three points for the second consecutive week, only to emerge victorious with a 27-13 win, out-scoring the Lions 27-3 following the Lions short-lived 10-0 lead.

Yes, Favre has not passed for over 160 yards yet. Yes, he only has three touchdowns. And yes, the competition has been average, at best.

But, like most Favre skeptics, you’re only looking at the obvious truths if you banish Favre and the rest of the Vikings to the land of the mediocre this early in the season.

For instance, while both Detroit and Cleveland are sorry opponents to ramble off insane scoring sprees of 24-0 and 27-3, it must be brought to the public’s attention that both of these performances have come on the road.

I’m guessing most writers bashing Favre and the supposedly “one-dimensional” Vikings wouldn’t tell you that. Regardless of which team you’re playing, any player in the history of the league will tell you that is impressive.

And both times after trailing at halftime? Even more impressive.

But that’s not where the list of feats ends.

While Favre may not yet be airing it out to Bernard Berrian and co., he has been completely error free, while completing 77 percent of his passes, en route to a fabulous quarterback rating over 110.

The other thing to think about is how the Vikings didn’t need Favre to carry them in week one. And when they hit a block in the road against Detroit, they simply borrowed him for a touchdown pass to get back in the game, and then another late in the game to seal the win.

The guy isn’t trying to bite off more than he can chew, and the coaching staff is doing a fantastic job of not asking him to.

If you were to tell me the Vikings would be 2-0 against anyone to start the season, Favre wouldn’t have any interceptions, and both games were on the road, I probably wouldn’t have believed you.

But alas, here we are, judging and predicting, giving excuses and arguing.

The fact is, the NFL isn’t about power rankings and who we think is the best player or which team has the best offense.

Whether we like it or not, Favre is playing flawless football, the Vikings are a well-balanced attack, and their defense has allowed 26 points through two games.

Regardless of your opinion of all of that, Brett Favre has got to be loving it.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com


The Phinal Word: Positive Thinking (and Drinking)

Published: September 22, 2009

commentNo Comments

I’ve run such a gamut of emotion since Monday night that my schizophrenia developed schizophrenia. And we’re actually quite happy now.

Being an optimist is hard, especially when pessimism is easier than me after a few beers. That being said, I’m quite comfortable with the Miami Dolphins’ current predicament.

And it’s a predicament, 0-2 is a predicament. But at the risk of overusing predicament, this is one predicament I can handle.

Miami’s offense executed a near perfect game plan on offense; and if not for some suspect play calling, a leaky secondary, and drops galore, things couldn’t be peachier for the Fins.

So let’s get positive!

Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown rushed for more than 200 yards combined. The Wildcat returned in resplendent fashion. Jake Long survived the Dwight Freeney onslaught (barely). Chad Pennington managed a superb game and even made some deeper throws when the situation called for it.

Look me in the eye and tell me that Pennington had a bad game. You can’t. Mostly because of the computer screen and the thousands of miles between us, but also because Chad played a good game.

Pennington has twice as many interceptions (two) as he does touchdowns this year (one). Not inspiring. He also barely set foot in the red zone all Monday night (four plays). Inside the 20 the Fins went Wild(cat) and it worked. Don’t tag Pennington for that. Tag him for being a noodle-armed choir boy. I kid, I kid (Chad Penne-ington).

Two games, two impressive completion percentage performances (72.4 and 66.7 percent) from the most accurate passer in NFL history (I know, right?) that were wasted.

The Fins offense is a well-oiled machine, but the parts of the machine are just inferior in some places (receiver mostly). It’s like dropping a drum of Pennzoil on a remote controlled car. Which, by the way, is a good way to get kicked out of Jiffy Lube. Just saying.

Under Pennington, the Fins converted 71 percent of their third downs. The “Sheriff” Peyton Manning and his Colts only converted 43 percent. Manning couldn’t police a pioneer village with those numbers. Please refrain from looking at any other of Manning’s stats.

If you’re going to tag anyone (what is this, a manhunt or something?) ask why a couple of Pennington’s longest throws were batted down like a pinata at Al Capone’s house. Ted Ginn had himself a game, a two-headed monster that could be viewed as his coming out (11 catches 108 yards on national television) or the point where the blowback from being a semi-bust of a first-rounder turns him into a pariah (two potential touchdown passes dropped).   

This is Ginn’s year, for better or worse. He flashed some greatness, but a consistent effort (his catch rate is only 62 percent) is necessary to win in the NFL. That’s why prunes have been classified as performance enhancing drugs.

Ginn has the tools, and it looks like he and Pennington have begun to develop a rapport. That needs to continue if Miami wants to stretch the field at any point this season.

The facts are that Miami’s offense dominated the Colts front seven. Three quarters of the game were spent watching the Fins grind Indy into a fine dust that was then sold on South Beach ($9.95 a pound). Such ball control hasn’t been seen since Jerome Bettis played Hog with his kids. 

Lest we forget that a certain team started 0-2 last year, and then 1-4 after that. Those Miami Dolphins managed to win the AFC East despite early struggles. Miami has a lot of season left to play and if they can control the ball like the did against Indianapolis, while having their No-Name receiving corps step up, they can claw their way back.

I see things like this: Their run game is great, their pass game is adequate. Their run defense is great, their pass defense is ade-not quite (the height of word-smithery).

Part of that may be that Miami has a lack of rocket arms to test their defense in practice. Part of it may be the lethargic pass rush allowing two good quarterbacks pick apart a still leaking secondary. Part of it may be two premier tight ends having their way with Miami’s linebackers. Part of it may be that their rookie cornerbacks are playing like it’s their first year or something. Who knows (I do, I just told you)?.

Fortunately, next week Miami plays a San Diego team that hates to pass. They don’t?

At least the Charger’s loss of Jamal Williams has destabilized San Diego’s run defense, so the time is ripe for Miami to uncork another 45 minute possession gem. I, for one, can’t wait to watch Darren Sproles reading Little Women on the sidelines.

Also, the Fins run defense maintained it’s steadfastness by holding a team to under 70 yards rushing in back-to-back weeks. If they can limit Philip Rivers’ effectiveness while continuing to stop the run they have an excellent chance to win.

I refuse to believe this team isn’t good. It is. Get ready to see it on Sunday against the Chargers.

Stay positive folks.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com


From Playoffs to Winless: The Tennessee Titans Are Starting to Finger Point

Published: September 22, 2009

commentNo Comments

For a team with such high expectations going into the 2009 NFL season, the Tennessee Titans are in a state of disbelief. At 0-2, the Titans is starting to finger point trying to look for answers.

If the Titans wants to start finger pointing, point the finger at the defense.

For a unit that was stout against the pass last season, it has looked nothing like itself this season.

On Sunday against the division rival Houston Texans, quarterback Matt Schaub looked like a Pro Bowl quarterback, torching the Titans secondary for 357 yards and passing for four touchdowns.

Texans receivers were constantly running free through the secondary for most of the game.

After the 34-31 loss to the Texans, several defensive players said that they saw things that they hadn’t prepared for and thought the team did a poor job making adjustments during the game.

Adjustments were made on the sideline, but not executed, said Titans Coach Jeff Fisher.

Monday, Fisher cemented his position.

“Let me set the record straight here: When you are a good football team and you start off the season [0-2], there is going to be frustration, OK? And the only way that you get out of it is you avoid pointing fingers at anybody,” said Fisher.

“Everybody accepts the blame and you move on. There were adjustments made on the sideline for each and every thing that we saw. There was an adjustment made for that last big play that they made, I heard it. The players alluding to the fact that we’re having trouble making adjustments need to pay better attention to what is going on on the sideline.”

While blowing a 21-7 lead, the Titans gave up big pass plays of 21, 29, 33, 44 and 72 yards. On the 72-yard touchdown completion to wide receiver Andre Johnson, safety Michael Griffin failed to pick him up after Johnson left cornerback Nick Harper’s area.

According to Harper, the Titans “didn’t make any corrections on our sideline” and players weren’t where they were supposed to be at times.

“There were some plays that happened on my side, and (the Texans) flip-flopped and ran the exact same play on the other side and we still didn’t get any stops,” Harper said. “That tells me that me we didn’t make any corrections on the sideline but they made all the corrections, and that hurt us.”

The Titans, who are currently ranked last in the NFL in passing defense, need to eliminate big pass plays if they want dig them selves out of this 0-2 hole, because the road becomes much tougher from here on out.

With road games at the New York Jets, Jacksonville, and New England on the horizon, the Titans’ season could hang in the balance.

Everything the Titans did wrong against the Texans is correctable, Fisher said. He also said it’s OK that his players express their frustrations.

“But you have to come to terms with it and you move on,” Fisher said. “We corrected a a lot of things… we have a good secondary. They are giving up too many big plays, but this is a team loss, it is not a secondary loss.”

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com


Where Did The Good Guys Go? Tedy Bruschi Was Last of a Dwindling Breed

Published: September 22, 2009

commentNo Comments

Terrell Owens. Pacman Jones. Michael Vick. Donte Stallworth. Chad Ochocinco. What do all these players have in common?

Well, there are actually two things. For one, they are some of the NFL’s biggest and most recognizable names. Secondly, all of these players carry significant baggage.

For those who are unaware, “baggage” denotes that a player brings negative characteristics to a clubhouse. Owens is notorious for tearing apart locker rooms. Ochocinco is the poster child for prima donnas. Jones, Vick, and Stallworth have all been convicted of heinous crimes and have seen the inside of a jail cell at least once.

The NFL is an elite group. Some of the finest athletes in the world are paid an average salary of $1.25 million a year to play a game. Unfortunately, a number of these players abuse their fortunes.

In the 2008 calendar year, 58 NFL players were arrested for crimes ranging from DUI to manslaughter. This number does not include the other players commissioner Roger Goodell suspended for violations not resulting in arrests and the players such as Owens who simply carry a “holier than thou” attitude.

Even though it may not be reality, it feels like the NFL has more criminals and malcontents across its 32 rosters than not.

It’s a sad day when we as fans need to search for the good guys in the game and struggle to find role models amongst over 1,500 players. As some of the most publicized people in the world, one would hope these individuals would hold themselves to a higher standard.

Unfortunately, this is not the case. It seems like there are fewer and fewer role models to look up to in today’s NFL. On Aug. 31, the NFL lost one of its true good guys to retirement. He wasn’t the most popular player or the most widely known. He won’t get into the Hall of Fame, and he only made one Pro Bowl.

However, if one takes into account this man’s body of work, his perseverance, and his character, it is clear that he was one of the finer players to step on an NFL field in recent memory.

Now ex-New England Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi called it quits following 13 seasons in the NFL. He experienced many highs throughout his career, but he also persevered through struggles and a near death experience.

Bruschi came into the league in 1996. At the University of Arizona, he set the NCAA record for sacks as a defensive end. Despite his impressive resume, Patriots head coach Bill Parcells began a project in training camp that season to convert Bruschi into a linebacker.

Numerous NFL players would throw a hissy fit at the thought of enduring the growing pains that come with changing positions. However, Bruschi elected not to gripe about his situation and instead chose to work hard. As a result of his efforts, he was able to put together a 13-year career that has placed him amongst the greatest Patriots linebackers in the franchise’s history.

Bruschi was a member of three Super Bowl Champion squads. He was widely considered to be the heart and soul of the Patriots defense in all three victories. While the Patriots are seen these days as an offensive juggernaut, it was their defense that netted them their three titles in 2001, 2003, and 2004. He wasn’t flashy; he just did his job and helped his teammates even when the situation looked dire.

For all his accomplishments on the turf, his greatest accomplishment may have come following Super Bowl XXXIX, when the Patriots defeated the Philadelphia Eagles. It was this challenge that proved his true toughness and earned him the most respect from his teammates and the fans.

Just a few short days following his first Pro Bowl appearance, Bruschi collapsed in his home. He was rushed to Mass. General Hospital in Boston and was diagnosed as having had a stroke.

For many people, a stroke can mean the end of the line. A stroke can knock out even the toughest people. Some people give up, refuse to fight it, believe that all is lost, that they will never return to normal. Nobody would have blamed Bruschi for retiring from football following his devastating diagnosis.

But Bruschi is different. Not only did he bounce back, but he was back on the football field the next season. And it wasn’t in a reserve role where he rode the bench most of the year, he started most of the games after he returned and was named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year.

He did it without much fanfare or press. His journey from a stroke back to the playing field epitomized Bruschi.

Tedy Bruschi always gave it his all. Whether it was fighting a stroke, playing for a Super Bowl, or mentoring young players that would someday take his place, Bruschi put forward a 100% effort every single time.

Teammate and second-year Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo said that Bruschi “took me under his wing when I first got here. He told me then one day he would pass the torch on to me and the rest of the team.”

Former teammate and now Kansas City linebacker Mike Vrabel said that “if you know Tedy and know where he came from and know how he was raised, and know what he played in college, and once he had his transformation into the NFL, you realized he was giving you everything he had.”

Perhaps the best description of Bruschi came from his head coach, Bill Belichick. Belichick has coached countless players, has established himself as one of the greatest coaches to ever patrol an NFL sideline, and almost never displays emotion or doles out glowing praise to his players.

However, at Bruschi’s retirement press conference, Belichick became emotional and doled out the glowing praise that we almost never see: “I guess, if you ask me to sum up how I feel about Tedy Bruschi in five seconds … he’s the perfect player …The torch has been passed, and we’ll try to carry it on. It’s a high standard … I’m proud of everything he did.”

In an era where there are fewer and fewer role models for the average fan to look up to, Bruschi was among the best. He never complained, always worked hard, and was willing to do his job.

He is someone that we can all look up to. We will all miss him, as the NFL lost one of its greatest on-field ambassadors last month.

Bruschi did many great things throughout his career, and he will continue to do many great things the rest of his life.

You can use any number of positive adjectives to describe him, but Bruschi probably summed it all up the best at his press conference:

“When you come in this facility there’s a sign … there’s one part of it that’s important … It says, ‘Do your job.’ Do your job. Well, I did my job for thirteen years and now my job is done. My job’s done … I’m looking forward to living the rest of my life, I really am. Thanks.”

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com


Forecasting The Browns Season: Cloudy With a Chance Of Misery

Published: September 22, 2009

commentNo Comments

The Browns season may have reached it’s brightest point at halftime of week one. They led the tough Minnesota Vikings 13-10 and looked as if they might actually steal one from one of the top NFC contenders.

Since then the Browns have gone on to be outscored 51-13 and now sit at 0-2 and facing the possible scenario of being 0-8 heading into their bye week.

Here’s a breakdown of the Brown’s schedule from here on out and when/if they’ll get their first win.

 

Game 3: @ Baltimore

Tough game on the road for a team still searching for an identity on both sides of the ball. The Ravens secondary has been uncharacteristically weak, but does Quinn have the tools to take advantage of it?

This game has the makings of 31-3 heading to the 4th quarter, and we both know who has the 31.

 

Game 4: Cincinnati

A winnable game comes in week 4 but can the Browns take advantage? The Bengals have run the ball well so far and the Browns haven’t been able to stop the run. The passing game for each team hasn’t been impressive but any advantage would have to be with the Bengals there as well.

Now I know this game is in Cleveland but if the Bengals can score on the Packers in Green Bay, they’re going to be able to put up points on the Browns. Say hello to 0-4.

 

Game 5: @ Buffalo

For week five the Browns travel to the God forsaken city of Buffalo. The Bills appear to be a legitimate playoff contender with a suddenly dynamic offense and “good enough” defense. The Browns have neither and will be staring 0-5 right in the face.

 

Game 6: @ Pittsburgh

Winless and in Pittsburgh is no way to enter week 6 but the Brownies are going to try it anyway. Is a breakdown (albeit a hap hazard one) for this game even necessary? The Browns haven’t beat the Steelers since Geroge Washington planted the cherry tree that he eventually chopped down, and this won’t be the game they change that.

 

Game 7: Green Bay

Alright, at 0-6 Cleveland returns home to face Green Bay and their still developing 3-4 defense. Green Bay makes up for their defense with a dangerous offense led by Aaron Rogers. By this point there will be a new QB in Cleveland and it’ll be the one who should have been starting all along.

The Browns will keep it close and could steal it, but with not enough weapons to keep up all eyes will start looking ahead to the week 10 matchup.

 

 

Game 8: @ Chicago

The Bears are just the team the Browns need. A turnover prone offense and a defense that is much closer to a screen door than a brick wall. However as the Bears showed in week 2 they are never out of it at home, and this trip to Soldier field will prove to be just another game they could have won for the Browns.

Sitting at 0-8 some fans, well maybe just a couple, start to wonder if it’s too late to bring Romeo back.

 

 

Game 9: Baltimore

Fresh off the bye week the Browns get thrown back into the fire with Baltimore. If this game had been a week earlier the Browns wouldn’t be much of an opponent. But coming off of the bye week Mangini and the crew have an extra week to prepare and will surely have some trick (read: desperate) plays up their sleeve for the Ravens.

This could be the Browns first win. But if there’s two things I know its that Charlie Weis is a tool, and that the Browns are always capable of blowing a winning game. After 9 games they’ll have as many wins as they had coming into the season.

 

Game 10: @ Detroit

The battle for #1! Both teams may be winless heading into this one and even though the Lions have the home field advantage, that is about the only advantage they have. As they’re currently constructed the Lions try to run by don’t have the offensive line capable of sustaining a running game.

On the other side of the ball I want to say the Lions “can’t stop” anyone, but I’m not sure that they can’t, it’s more so that they don’t look interested in doing it.

Mangini might not (that middle work is a few weeks away from changing to “is not”) be a good coach, but he can get his team motivated. And that motivation ought to be enough to win this one. Too much talent for the Browns on the offensive side of the ball for them to drop to 0-10 in this one.

 

CELEBRATE BROWNS FANS! IT’S A WIN!

 

Game 11: @ Cincinnati

Now that they have their win it’s all down hill from here….sort of. If Palmer and the crew is still healthy and half of their defense isn’t serving prison time, the Bengals ought to beat the 1-win Browns.

On a side note, if Romeo were still there, how many pancakes do you think he’d throw down after that first win? I’m going with a bakers dozen.

 

Game 12: San Diego

Yeah right.

1-11

 

Game 13: Pittsburgh

Welcome to snowy Cleveland! Wait, it snows it Pittsburgh as well? Well there goes that advantage.

1-12

 

Game 14: @ Kansas City

Finally, another team who looks like the Browns. This game reminds of when one twin uses the other twin’s name and fools all of their teachers and friends. Very funny Nathaniel and Brandon!

Here’s hoping Mangini tries to fool KC fans and puts on all his Chiefs gear and one way or another gets stuck over there.

Aw what the heck, take another win Browns fans. You deserve it.

2-12

 

Game 15: Oakland

By this point the Oakland Raiders of the past few years will be back, and this competeive team of weeks 1 and 2 will be a distant memory.

What’s this? A winning streak? Fire up the presses at the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Browns are back! Well, not so much “back”, more like “playing out the season”.

3-12

 

Game 16: Jacksonville

It’s week 16, in preparation for the postseason the Browns coaches prepare a slideshow of great Browns Superbowl moments. It’s over before you can say “Bernie Kosar”

3-13

 

And there you have it. Another Browns season in the books, and it won’t be a win-less one. Moral victory anyone?

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com


« Previous PageNext Page »