One and Done: Irreplaceable Players for 2009-10 NFL Playoff Teams

Only days away from entering the tournament bracket that will yield the two combatants for Super Bowl XLIV, we are reminded that football is a team sport, and that contributions both large and small throughout the season helped the twelve teams get to where they are right now.

Be that as it may, there are some guys a team just can’t survive without, especially in the playoffs. Expect early exits for these teams if the following playmakers can’t get it going in the post-season.

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NFL Coaching News: Washington Redskins Talk With Mike Shanahan

In what has been a very busy day here at Walker Sports we have recently received news that the Washington Redskins have found their new head coach.

This comes less than 12 hours after firing their previous head coach, Jim Zorn. 

Owner Bruce Allen seems hellbent on improving the state of this shamed franchise as swiftly as possible.

According to reporters from 106.7 The Fan in Washington DC, Redskins Owner, Dan Snyder’s private jet landed at Dulles airport earlier today. Former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan proceded to climb off the plane and enter a limousine with Snyder and drove off to a private meeting.

While there has been no official word if Shanahan has been offered the job, the Washington Redskins have never hid their strong feelings towards Shanahan.

In other news, a source out of Houston, Texas has stated that Houston Texans head coach Gary Kubiak has wished the best of luck to Offensive Coordinator Kyle Shananan with his endeavors in Washington.

More to come.

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Super Bowl Predictions: The 10 Most Compelling Scenarios

The regular season is over. The playoffs began this weekend. The Super Bowl is a little more than a month away, and already NFL fans are salivating over potential match-ups and storylines. There are a lot of possible match-ups in the annual twelve-team tournament, and we’ll take a look at 10 of the best possible ones here.

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Fearless First-Round NFL Playoff Predictions…Saturday Edition

Well, it certainly has been a long time since I’ve ventured here to write something of value, but now that I have a bunch of free time before my LAST SEMESTER OF COLLEGE, I will once again grace you with my thoughts.

The NFL playoffs are upon us, which is equally exciting and depressing. Exciting because, well, it’s the playoffs, and who doesn’t get jacked up to watch truly meaningful games?

It’s depressing because once February passes, it’s up to the NBA, NHL, and MLB to carry us through spring, which can get pretty ugly (try getting excited about a TNT double- header featuring powerhouse teams like Golden State vs. Sacramento).

But let’s take this time to focus on what really matters, the aforementioned NFL playoffs. Week 17 wrapped up yesterday, and the playoff matchups are set. Let’s dive in to Saturday’s matchups!

NY Jets vs. Cincinnati (Sat. 3:30 CST)

If you watched this game last night, you know that Cincy might as well have just forfeited. It’s unfortunate that fans are being forced to put up with these two lackluster teams again, but I guess that’s just how the wild card matchups turn out sometimes.

The Jets have shown some fire the past few weeks, and they managed enough fortitude to grab the last playoff spot. I think the defense is playing great, the run game is gaining momentum, and Rex Ryan even busted out the surprisingly effective Wildcat formation last night.

However, Mark Sanchez has been putting up numbers that I’m pretty sure I could accomplish if given the chance (grand total of 63 yards passing last night). But I suppose it didn’t really matter, given that they stomped Cincy 37-0.

I don’t quite know what to make of the Bengals this year. They started the season hot, then essentially gained a division championship because the rest of the teams in the AFC North forgot how to win games.

I don’t expect last night’s game to be anything like what will take place Saturday. Cedric Benson is coming back to the starting lineup, and the Bengals have at least shown that despite their anemic passing offense, they can pound the football and take big chunks off the clock.

Within the friendly confines of Paul Brown Stadium, I think Cincy takes it in a close, grinding battle.

Final Score prediction: Bengals 20, Jets 13

 

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys (Sat. 7:00 CST)

I’ll spare you the statistical garbage of saying something like, “When was the last time two teams faced each other in the last week of the regular season only to play again the following week in the playoffs?” We all know it’s happening three times this weekend, and we all don’t give a crap.

That being said, this game is eerily similar to the Cincy/NYJ game. Philly came out flat yesterday and got absolutely dominated at Dallas. I still think Philly is the better team, but after yesterday’s listless effort, I don’t know what exactly to think anymore.

Dallas is a pretty sexy pick amongst national sportswriters to win the NFC, but I’m not buying it. Everyone is making a big deal about how Dallas is “getting hot at the right time.”

Really? Hmmm, would you call “getting hot” beating the Redskins 7-6 in week 11? Or wait, how about losing to the Giants 31-24 in week 13? Oh wait, they must be talking about the Dallas loss at home to San Diego in week 14?

Dallas won their last three games, and one of those wins was against the Redskins, who should seriously be relegated to the CFL.  Therefore, all this “getting hot” talk is a bunch of crap.

Philly is the better team, hands down. They have receivers who actually try to make big plays (I’m looking at you Roy Williams). Plus their defense, despite laying an egg yesterday, is better than Dallas’ and has more playoff experience.

Another thing you have to consider is the fact that Dallas swept the regular season series against Philly. History has shown that it’s extremely difficult to beat a team three times in one season, and I don’t expect things to change here.

Final score prediction: Eagles 31, Cowboys 14

 

 

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Pittsburgh Steelers: Possible Options For Tomlin’s Staff

Welcome to Black Monday, when coaches and staffs all throughout the NFL get fired.

By 4:00am on Monday Jim Zorn was already gone from Washington. So is the entire coaching staff in Buffalo.

The firings are bad news for the teams who now must rebuild their staff and the chemistry between the team and a new coach.

It’s great news, however, for teams looking to plug a few holes in their own staff. Some top names will doubtlessly be available.

One of those teams is the soon-to-be-dethroned Steelers.

The shopping list includes four potential positions: offensive coordinator, offensive line coach, defensive backs coach, and special teams coordinator.

Here’s a look at a few possible candidates, based on whether or not their team is considering (or has already) fired their head coach and/or coaching staff. This list will no doubt be upgraded in the next few weeks, but here’s a preliminary look at who should be available and, more importantly, be considered.

 

Offensive Coordinator

Jim Zorn

Zorn is a plausible name. He was never a coordinator before being hired by the Redskins. He was then, two weeks later, promoted to head coach when owner Dan Snyder couldn’t woo another big name.

Zorn didn’t fare so well in his first stint as a head coach, but he’s known through the league as a top offensive mind. Maybe he would fit as a coordinator on a team with established stars.

That team could be Pittsburgh. It has been rumored that Bruce Arians may be on his way out in Pittsburgh, a move which would seem to please a fan base tortured by the team’s offensive inconsistency.

Positional failures aside, the Steelers offense needs someone who can and will utilize the team’s versatile talent and depth to create big plays. They also need a coach who is inventive and not sold on a basic offensive system.

Zorn’s offense was not always effective in Washington, but he brings the versatile West Coast mindset to the table. The Steelers are quite effective at running short passing plays and setting up their running game with the pass. Both are trademarks of the West Coast offense.

If Zorn was hired, I would expect to see the Steelers adopt some aspects of the West Coast system, but retain their dedication to balance and to allowing quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to call the plays.

Jim Fassel

Fassel most recently coached in the fledgling UFL, but I’m sure he’d welcome a return to the NFL in some capacity.

Fassel is another respected name in coaching and, like Zorn, brings the possibility of a diverse system and better utilization of the team’s talent to the table. He’s popular with his players and is known as a good motivator.

Fassel did excellent work during his last stint in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens, where he was an offensive assistant. Since Mike Tomlin has a defensive background, it makes sense to bring in an experienced name for the offense rather than bring along a young assistant.

 

Offensive Line Coach

Joe Bugel

Bugel was on Jim Zorn’s staff in Washington and was also a holdover from the Joe Gibbs administration. He’s a long-time and well-respected assistant and would be an immediate upgrade over Larry Zierlein.

Bugel’s offensive lines have let up far fewer sack totals than Pittsburgh’s in the last three seasons, and Bugel has been relatively successful despite several key injuries during the 2009 season.

If Zorn was hired, Bugel would have an established relationship with the team’s offensive coordinator as well.

Bugel has developed many top linemen in his NFL career, something the Steelers sorely need. Chris Kemoeatu still needs some polishing and all of the team’s linemen could improve in most areas, particularly run blocking.

The Redskins were effective running the ball with Clinton Portis, who’s style compares favorably with Rashard Mendenhall. It’s likely that Pittsburgh’s running game would improve markedly under Bugel’s guidance.

 

Defensive Backs Coach

Jerry Gray

Yet another member of Zorn’s former staff in Washington, Gray is likely to be retained by the Redskins in some capacity. He was interviewed for the team’s now-vacant coaching position already, although that may have been only to satisfy the Rooney Rule.

Gray is a good secondary coach who has a lot of experience. The Redskins secondary performed well under his guidance and he would be asked to serve in a similar capacity with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Gray would be tasked with growing young corners and possibly a young safety to help the Steelers field a more effective secondary.

Lionel Washington

Washington currently is on Tom Cable’s coaching staff in Oakland, but the Raiders are rumored to be considering dismissing Cable this week.

Washington has presided over the continued development of Nnamdi Asomugha and young defensive back Michael Huff.

The development of Asomugha, one of the league’s top shutdown corners, could potentially mean good things for the Steelers, who need an infusion of young talent and good coaching at the cornerback position.

 

Special Teams Coordinator

Bobby April

April was part of the Buffalo Bills staff that was given an en masse pink slip this morning by owner Ralph Wilson and new GM Buddy Nix.

April is one of the most respected special teams coaches in the NFL and is someone the Steelers should already be on the phone with communicating interest.

Bob Ligashesky has failed, particularly this season, to field a good unit. The Steelers allowed far too many kick and punt returns for scores, and even more that went for long gains. Losing the field position battle was a huge reason for the team’s 9-7 record.

April brings a strong and lengthy resume and a great body of knowledge. His units are often at or near the top of the NFL, a place the Steelers’ special teams have rarely glimpsed in the past decade.

Special Teams has been a revolving door for Steelers assistants and April would likely bring stability to the position. He’s the best special teams coach likely to be available this offseason and he has the experience the Steelers need.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Josh McDaniels Is Not at Fault for Latest Denver Broncos Collapse

They say a picture can say a thousand words. 

If that’s the case, then the photo above says a lot about how some Broncos fans and critics alike are painting head coach Josh McDaniels.

McDaniels has been called every name in the book and is unfairly carrying the weight of the Broncos’ epic 2009 collapse. 

As the head coach of the team, it is common for McDaniels to have to carry this weight, but in this case, it is completely unjustified.

In McDaniels’ first season as head coach, the Broncos took a wild roller coaster ride, cliche’ as it may sound. 

He was chastised for trading away Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler, and following the trade, nobody in the media thought the Broncos would win more than six games, maybe seven if they were feeling generous.

Following the Cutler trade, drama with both tight end Tony Scheffler and wide receiver Brandon Marshall ensued, and McDaniels was under the microscope yet again as a young kid who couldn’t handle a professional football team.

While under the microscope, McDaniels went into the NFL Draft and free agency and upgraded many areas of need for the Broncos, and added both promising young college players and savvy veterans. 

Even then, McDaniels was cursed for “reaching” in the draft and adding too many “old” free agents to the Broncos’ defense.

The preseason was unkind to McDaniels as well, and the Broncos lost three out of four contests including a game against recently traded quarterback Jay Cutler. 

In the first preseason game, Kyle Orton threw three interceptions in a Broncos loss, and the team suspended Brandon Marshall.

On the surface, it did not appear as though the Broncos were going to have a great season, but that is only if you put a lot of stock into the preseason. 

Following the tumultuous offseason, Denver started the season 6-0, and it seemed he had repaired any burned bridges or broken hearts in Denver, and the team headed into the bye week on a high note, defeating rival San Diego on the Chargers’ home turf.

At this point, McDaniels was no longer being heralded as “McIdiot” or “McDumb(rear),” he was being called a “McGenius.” 

Winning heals a lot in the NFL, and the Broncos’ young coach was an early Coach of the Year candidate, and his team even had Kyle Orton and Elvis Dumervil in the MVP mix.

McDaniels was all hugs with his players (Brandon Marshall) and appeared to have the Broncos on the right track.

And he still does.

The Broncos finished the season with a 2-8 record, and became the first team in franchise history to start the season 6-0 and not make the playoffs.  In fact, it was the first time in Broncos history that a 6-0 start didn’t translate to a Super Bowl victory.

Is McDaniels solely to blame for Denver’s collapse? 

Absolutely not.

This is not to say the rookie head coach did not make some mistakes in the games or in how he handled his PR business, because he did. 

After all, he is new to this head coaching gig.

The 33-year old McDaniels came into Denver to an unhappy quarterback who didn’t want to be there without Shanahan anyway, and if you need proof of that, then you haven’t read enough into the story than you have been told.

And it is also not McDaniels’ fault that Brandon Marshall lets his emotions get the best of him. 

In case you didn’t see, Marshall had an epic freakout in practice before the start of the season, and recently was deactivated because he was tardy to a physical therapy session and refused to play with a minor injury.

In the end, fans right now are just angry with the Broncos’ late-season collapse, and they have every right to be. 

But to direct all the blame toward Josh McDaniels is simply unfair.

McDaniels overhauled half of Denver’s roster from 2008 to 2009, and while many rebuilding teams are picking in the top five of this year’s draft, the Broncos finished 8-8 and in the 14th slot. 

Their record did not improve this season, but the direction this team is going is exciting, and fans will come to realize that. 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

The 2009 Philadelphia Eagles Are What We Thought They Were After All

To borrow an infamous phrase from Dennis Green, the Philadelphia Eagles “are who we thought they were.”

What is that? A team that can’t run the ball, struggles on defense against well-balanced teams, and exhibits some horrible play-calling and clock management in key situations.

And that, at least for this week, is a good thing.

Gone is the six-game winning streak that brought the Birds to the brink of the NFC East title. In the blink of an eye, they went from looking at a first-round bye to a second straight No.6 seed; from a week off to having to face the Cowboys in Dallas twice in six days.

But let’s not be fooled.

After all, that six-game winning streak was full of last-second comebacks, thrilling offensive plays, and, well, victories over mediocre teams. Not a single team in that stretch made the playoffs, and only Atlanta finished better than 8-8.

In short, it wasn’t all skill, and it had to come to an end sometime…and it’s better that it was sooner rather than later.

See, by losing now, what do the Eagles actually lose? Okay, yes, home-field advantage, the division title, and a bye. All big things, sure, but their season lives on.

And while Birds fans are upset, disappointed, disgusted—name your adjective, really—about what happened in Big D on Sunday, the reality is this: Maybe now the team will learn from it.

For everything the Birds did right over the last month-and-change, all the bad habits thought to be gone resurfaced.

The deep threat passing game was all but missing; DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin had one big 30-yard play each, and that was it outside of Brent Celek exploiting a busted coverage.

That’s due at least in part to Donovan McNabb, who looked like the bumbling Donovan whose head is always on the chopping block. He consistently overthrew or underthrew receivers all night, including a early bomb to Jackson that would’ve given the Pro Bowler his record ninth 60-yard touchdown catch.

He also put a ton of balls in places where his receivers would have to be Stretch Armstrong to make a successful catch, sots where the only outcomes were drops or big hits. The most egregious was late bomb to Maclin, who simply put his head down to avoid an onrushing defender instead of trying to make a catch—and getting hung out to dry like yesterday’s laundry in the process.

Oh yeah, and then there was that first-half fumble in the red zone.

Beyond that, the rushing game (which has been improved if still bad as of late) went from disappointing to non-existent. Even with the return of Brian Westbrook, the Eagles only rushed the ball 10 times for 27 yards. That’s not even bad, that’s pathetic.

Then there was the defense.

While the Eagles gained only 228 offensive yards all day, the Cowboys shredded their top 10 defense for 291 before the half, 474 overall. The usually stout run defense allowed 182 yards on 29 carries—that’s more than six per, if you’re counting—and the ballhawking secondary got burned going for the pick on numerous occasions instead of, you know, actually trying to defend.

And to top it off, David Akers—who had statistically the best season of his career in 2009—missed a 52-yard field goal, something that has long been the bane of his existence.

They are what we thought they were: a team that will beat those they’re better than and lose to those those they aren’t. 11-5…with an 11-1 record against teams 10-6 or worse and an 0-4 mark against this 11-5 or better.

So how is this all good?

Well, for one, the Birds won’t have to worry about needing a 10-game win streak to win the Super Bowl. There have already been three in the NFL this year, and while the Colts and Saints semi-intentionally choked theirs away, the Chargers will need to make it 14 straight if they want to leave Miami as NFL Champions. That’s not easy.

Secondly, they can adjust.

In the midst of that barrage, they saw Dallas’ hand. Maybe Sheldon Brown and Asante Samuel won’t go for the pick so often next Saturday, and maybe Quintin Mikell will actually do his job at safety.

And maybe, just maybe, they might actually try to run the ball to set up that big play offense. If they think you’re passing all the time, there should be an opening for Brian Westbrook or LeSean McCoy somewhere.

So while the Dallas Cowboys may have “crowned their asses”—and crowned themselves division champs in the process—the Eagles lost the one thing they needed to: the air of invincibility.

They’re mortal. They know they can lose.

That makes them scrappy. Just like last year, when they were the NFC East runners-up and No. 6 seed in the playoffs—where Arizona was the No. 4 seed and the No. 1 seed was a team that dominated early and faded late.

You remember what happened then, right?

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

NFL Pre-Season Week Five: Why NFL Week 17 Is Now the Fifth Preseason Game

For many years we have watched the NFL season go through its 17 week progression, and seemingly every year a hot button issue will come up that causes a bit of controversy.  It has been widely known that week 17 in the NFL was a hit or miss scenario in terms of starters playing or sitting depending on the teams situation.

The controversy was amped up this year when the Colts sat their starters in week 16, giving up on the chance to have an undefeated record.  Now many articles have written about whether the Colts were right wrong, that issue is in the past and they will be judged on what happens to them in the playoffs.

Week 17 in the NFL has become preseason week five, were we get to see the dust taken off of players like Billy Volek, Curtis Painter, and J.T. O’Sullivan.  It’s the preseason all over again, and sure you have some teams that don’t roll out the backups because they do have something to play for.  There are several reasons why this is bad for the NFL, and Roger Goodell knows full well that this is a problem he needs to address.

This week during the Steelers vs. Dolphins game Goodell was interviewed, and said that he wants the competition committee to look at this issue and see if they can come up with a solution.  He is even floating incentives like extra draft picks for teams to play their starters, as he does not believe he can punish teams for doing it and I agree with him in that regard.

The reason this is a big issue stems from the fact that preseason games are labeled just that: preseason.  So when a fan attends the game they expect to see Charlie Whitehurst, Mark Brunell, and Brian Hoyer in the game.  But they pay full price for expensive tickets to see an NFL regular season game, and they show up and see all the backups playing and the stars on the sideline with their arms folded.

I know that many will say the fans should know it’s week 17 and there is a chance the starters will not play, but what about people who may be Redskins fans that live in San Diego and they purchased tickets for the week 17 game at the beginning of the season.  They wait all year too see Phillip Rivers and company come to Houston so they can see them play, and they show up and get Billy Volek instead.

This is against the whole spirit of competition, and the fact that season ticket holders are getting ripped off for a game that season.  With the cost of tickets and PSL’s (personal seat licenses) added on top of that, should the team not put their best on the field every game? 

Many will point to the Wes Welker injury from this past Sunday, and say that’s why you rest your starters to avoid injury.  That reasoning does not hold much weight, injuries are part of the game, and part of the reason we love the NFL so much.  I wonder how many times over the last 20 seasons anyone can name players who were seriously injured in a meaningless week 17 game?  I would gather to say it is less than the number who did not get injured, so the odds are that players will not get hurt.

It is impossible to predict when injuries are going to happen both on and off the field, but those players are paid to be on the field and take all the risks that come with it.  Teams hardly spend time developing backups anymore it seems, they rely so much on their starters that when one of them goes down the team is finished.

Then you have the NY Jets situation where they Colts and Bengals put up less than stellar efforts and put them in the playoffs after even their own coach declared them dead.  During the Colts vs. Jets game you could see the fans wanted them to go for perfection, and the Buffalo game this week was a joke as Colts starters were drinking Coffee on the sidelines.

I think a possible solution to this problem is to schedule all division games over the last nine weeks of the season, that way the division races would be in doubt until later in the year.  Sure teams could still go 14-0 and do the same thing, but most of the time the playoff picture does not start to shape up until most of the division races have concluded.

It will be interesting to see what the competition committee comes up with, but I doubt it will be anything substantial that will solve this problem.  With the NFL talking about expanding to 18 games the problem will only get worse, as coaches will have to find a way to get their players through more grueling weeks of games without much of a break.

Maybe I am in the minority that sees this as a problem, but watching the final week of the season is always potluck and with regional telecasts you can’t choose to watch the “good” game unless you have Direct TV.  If I spend time and money to watch an NFL game I want to see NFL football, and not a watered down game where one team could care less if they win or lose.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

NFL Playoff Predictions

Who is going to win Super Bowl 44? I can tell you 20 teams that will not. Now for the other 12 teams I am not sure.
Last year the Cardinals were dubbed the worst playoff team in the history of the National Football League. They came within a 100-yard interception return, and a Santonio Holmes toe touch in the coner of the endzone from pulling a huge upset.
Could that happen again this year?
Here are my predictions for the entire 2010 NFL playoffs.

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Lovie Smith’s Replacement as Chicago Bears Head Coach Could Be Dave Toub

While the team isn’t likely to make any announcements one way or the other in the next couple of days, it would not surprise me if the Bears go in-house for a replacement for Lovie Smith.

Dave Toub, current Special Teams Coordinator, has completed six seasons with the Bears. His teams have finished best in the league twice (2006 and 2007) and have ranked in the top third for five consecutive seasons. 

He was voted as the Special Teams Coach of the Year by his NFL coaching peers after the 2006 season.

While an assistant special teams and defensive line coach for Philadelphia from 2001-2003, the Eagles won the special teams titles in Toub’s first and last seasons there.   

Even during the Bears’ losing seasons, Toub’s units have been a silver lining in an otherwise dark cloud.

Toub has extensive coaching experience at the college level as well, spending 15 seasons coaching at the college level before making the jump to the NFL, highlighted by 12 years at Missouri (1989-2000).

In short, Toub is a well-respected coach in the league, and given that the Bears always hire coaches without previous head coaching experience, it would fit into their mold to replace Lovie with Toub.

Sure, players spent Sunday telling the media how much they desire having Lovie return as head coach. But what do you expect the players to say? If they aren’t loyal and he does come back, they might be in the doghouse.

Plus, players who generally are not being held accountable get used to that kind of favorable treatment. Jobs are usually more on the line when a new sheriff comes to town.

I know this would be somewhat of a long shot, but Toub is a good man, and with a solid staff around him, he could be a fine head coach.

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