Is Mississippi Running Back Dexter McCluster the Next Chris Johnson?

Mississippi’s running back sensation Dexter McCluster dominated Oklahoma State in the Cotton Bowl on Sunday rushing for 182 yards and two touchdowns and he was named the Offensive Player of the Game.

Breaking onto the scene just after the midway point of the college football season on October 24 against Arkansas when he ran for over 120 yards and had one receiving touchdown, McCluster became a force in college football.

Following his breakout game, McCluster followed it up with rushing performances of 186, 282, and 148 yards.

Drawing comparisons to the Tennessee Titans superstar running back Chris Johnson, McCluster is a similar mold in running style using shifty moves and pure speed, but he is also comparative in size (McCluster is 5’8″ 170-pounds, Johnson is 5’11” 190-pounds).

McCluster will obviously need to pack on a few more pounds once he gets to the NFL, but he has easily helped his overall draft position in the last seven games in his senior year with Ole Miss.

While Johnson was running for East Carolina, he too had a slow start to his senior year, but halfway through the season he broke out and finished his final year in college rushing for over 1,400-plus yards and he too helped his draft stock.

Originally projected to be a late second or third round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, Johnson also showcased his blazing speed at the NFL Combine tying the all-time mark in the 40-yard dash by running a 4.24.

McCluster is in the same boat as Johnson once was, but he is projected as a fifth round pick, which should now change with his bowl game performance and he will most likely light up the NFL Combine too by showing off his speed.

He will now be on the radar of many NFL teams and he could possibly be projected to be selected in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft.

McCluster finished his senior year at Mississippi with 181 rushing attempts for 1,169 yards (6.45 yard per carry average) and eight touchdowns. Also, he had 44 receptions for 520 yards and three touchdowns.

Finally, he is the only player in SEC history to rush for over 1,000 yards and have over 500 yards receiving in the same season.

The NFL is waiting and there are many team salivating at the chance to have McCluster on their offense.

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Buffalo Bills: New Decade Starts With Lots Of Excitement

When the Buffalo Bills hired Buddy Nix as their General Manager, the press conference that followed Nix’s introduction included sessions with Jim Kelly and Thurman Thomas. That Nix had sought out Kelly and Thomas for their opinion is a sign that this new regime seeks to take advantage of all the assets the Bills have at their disposal.

On Monday, Nix will begin interviewing candidates in earnest, starting with Perry Fewell. There was some type of meeting held with Bill Cowher this past week that included Ralph Wilson and Russ Brandon.

Brian Billick is on the slate for an interview this coming week. The Bills have approached San Diego for permission to interview Ron Rivera, meaning that he has to interview this week due to the Chargers playoff schedule having a bye for the upcoming week.

So for starters, we are looking at names like Bill Cowher, Perry Fewell, Brian Billick, and Ron Rivera coming out of the gate. Is the answer to the Bills woes found within that quartet?

Nix sighted at his press conference that they will put together a priority list of their favorite candidates. They will sit down with each candidate starting at the head of the list (Cowher?) and move down the list from there. Once they have confirmed that there is mutual interest, and they have two or three finalists, they will go to Ralph Wilson for the ultimate stamp of approval.

Nix is not wasting any time. He wants to make things happen. The Bills have players to evaluate, a coaching staff to put together, coordinators to fire and hire, and a team that needs to be examined from top to bottom to figure out who stays, who goes, and who is brought back to compete for a roster spot.

Now that the I.R. list has crossed the 20-man mark, there will be lots of bodies coming in to training camp in 2010 that have some degree of figuring in to the Bills new coaching staff’s plans. Nix is strong in scouting, so expect a strong haul from the draft this year, as his reputation for netting top talent is unquestioned.

I am looking forward to the start of this next decade and hope that this can be looked back to as the starting point of something big that is starting to build in Orchard Park.

 

 

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Chris J. Nelson’s Week 17 NFL Game Predictions

I went a solid 11-5 on picks last week, giving me exactly two-thirds of the game this season correct. This week looks to be much harder, however, as some teams will be resting starters and not all the best teams are going to win.

Last week’s record: 11-5
Season record: 160-80 (66.7 percent)

Bills over Colts—I think the only thing that would upset Colts fans more than pulling starters at 14-0 would be not pulling starters at 14-1. I don’t see the Colts’ stars playing much, so I like the Bills in frigid Buffalo.

Jaguars over Browns—In what looks to be the last hurrah for Eric Mangini, I don’t see the Browns playing spoiler.

Bears over Lions—Chicago has been a major disappointment this season, but I see Jay Cutler capping the season off with a big performance against the lowly Lions.

49ers over Rams—The Niners’ young playmakers in Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree are emerging, and they’re going to put up too many points for whatever quarterback St. Louis runs out there to match.

Steelers over Dolphins—Both teams have something to play for, but the Dolphins are a long shot to make the playoffs and I think they’ll fall short this year. Pittsburgh is the better team and I expect Ben Roethlisberger to lead the Steelers to victory.

Vikings over Giants—New York fell flat on its face with a blowout loss to the Panthers in Week 16, so I expect them to be deflated against a better Vikings team.

Falcons over Buccaneers—Raheem Morris might be on his way out, and I see Tampa Bay losing this week despite an upset win over the Saints last week.

Panthers over Saints—Drew Brees will serve a the emergency third-string quarterback for New Orleans today, so I like the Panthers in a game gift-wrapped by a New Orleans team playing it safe.

Texans over Patriots—This has the potential for a very good game, but New England has wrapped up the division and I might pick Houston anyway given their recent offensive play.

Cowboys over Eagles—Dallas is finally finding its stride, and I’m taking them at home in this great division rivalry.

Broncos over Chiefs—The Broncos will be without some of their offensive weapons in a crucial game after benching Brandon Marshall and Tony Scheffler, but I still like their chances against Kansas City.

Ravens over Raiders—Oakland’s quarterback situation is a mess right now, and I expect Baltimore to win this one no matter who they do or do not play.

Packers over Cardinals—Both teams have a playoff spot locked up, so I’m going with the home team in Arizona.

Chargers over Redskins—Jim Zorn is a sitting duck, and I don’t like his chances for one final win as Washington’s head coach.

Titans over Seahawks—Is there any reason to ever pick Seattle? I don’t think so.

Jets over Bengals—New York desperately needs a win, and I say they get it against a Bengals team that doesn’t have as much at stake this week.

 

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Which NFL Team Will Be the Team of the Teens?

Who will be The Team of the Teens? By that, I do not mean the team of kids between 12 and 19. I mean the team that will outshine all others in the 2010—2019 decade. The team that will record multiple Super Bowl victories. The team everyone else will hate and emulate at the same time. The team that will define the decade.

In every decade, the NFL has unofficially declared one team the premier team. In the 1960s, it was the Green Bay Packers, with their hard-charging, single-minded head coach Vince Lombardi. The ’70s belonged to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Terry Bradshaw, as they claimed four Super Bowl trophies to outshine the Dallas Cowboys, who made a remarkable five trips to the Super Bowl in that 10-year span, winning two.

The 1980s were all about The San Francisco 49ers; the emergence of the West Coast offense, the brainchild of their genius head coach Bill Walsh; and that skinny quarterback with the steely nerves and the indomitable will, Joe Montana.

The ’90s belonged to the lip-smacking, never-a-hair-out-of-place Jimmy Johnson; the brash new face of the NFL, Jerry Jones; the fair-haired, golden-armed Oklahoma kid from California, Troy Aikman; and the Dallas Cowboys in general. They won three Super Bowls in four years, the first time that had ever been done.

The first decade in the new century brought us Bill Belichick with his cut up sweatshirts and his unbelievable sixth round find, Tom Brady. The Brady Bunch won three consecutive Super Bowls. They then posted the first-ever perfect 16-0 regular season mark (the Dolphins’ perfect season was in the 14-game era), blew through the AFC playoffs, and then lost a heart-breaker to the upstart New York Giants.

So, who is next? Which team is poised to claim its very own decade and become part of that “greatest team ever” argument? To ascertain the likeliest candidates, it is first necessary to contemplate the formula. History suggests there is a predictor—a formula that seems too consistent to ignore.

Every team of the decade had a couple things in common: A relatively young coach coming into his own and establishing himself as a great leader/technician/motivator; a young superstar quarterback; a dominating (or at least very difficult to deal with) defense.

Consider…

• The 1960s Packers had Vince Lombardi, whose influence on the game was so significant they named the Super Bowl trophy after him, and Bart Starr. Now, Starr was not a sensational quarterback, but he was a great field general who understood and executed his coach’s offense to perfection.
• The 1970s Steelers had Chuck Knoll, who began a coaching tradition like no other there in the Steel City. They also had Terry Bradshaw and the Steel Curtain. The honorable mention Dallas Cowboys had a fellow named Tom Landry and a quarterback named Roger Staubach, not to mention DoomsDay I & II.
• The 1980s 49ers had Bill Walsh forever changing the game with his X’s and O’s and Joe Montana making his case for best quarterback ever. They had a salty defense led by the likes or Ronnie Lott, too.
• The 1990s Cowboys were lead by Jimmy Johnson, the first coach ever to win both a NCAA championship and a Super Bowl. They were led on the field by the unflappable Troy Aikman. And, they had a defense that was quick, nasty, and sometimes downright dominating.
• The 2000s Patriots. Belichick. Brady. Bruschi. What more need we say?

So, if we assume this formula works and is a pretty good indicator of things to come, which team currently stands poised to climb Mount Domination in the 2010s? Here are my top six candidates, beginning with No. 6:

No. 6: Cincinnati Bengals

I know. Carson Palmer is already a six-year veteran. The Bengals are good defensively, but not dominating. Marvin Lewis is not on many people’s “next coaching genius” list. Let’s not forget, however, that Lewis did help construct that Baltimore Ravens’ defense.

He did spend valuable time on that Pittsburgh Steelers’ coaching staff. Carson Palmer is a strong-armed quarterback with more than sufficient skills to get the job done. Chad Ochocinco is no slouch. The running game has found its legs.

Most importantly, this beleaguered franchise has the taste of victory fresh in its mouth.

 

No. 5: Arizona Cardinals

The biggest missing piece here is the young quarterback. What they have at QB right now is pure greatness. Kurt Warner is also nearing Methuselah’s age. The other pieces are in place, though.

Coach Whisenhunt has already made his mark on the team, getting them into last year’s Super Bowl, and coming within a Roethlisberger drive of winning it. The defense can be stingy and opportunistic. The receiving corps is as good as any in football.

And…the team finally believes it can.

 

No. 4: Baltimore Ravens

Joe Flacco is the X-factor here. Will he become more than a game manager? Will he be a play-maker? John Harbaugh, like his brother, appears to be the real deal. He could be the kind of young coach that makes his mark on the league. The defensive tradition in Baltimore is already well established and must simply be replenished.

 

No. 3: Green Bay Packers

The long shadow of Brett Favre is withering as the traitorous legend leads the Packers’ arch enemy into the playoffs. It is withering because of the play of  their Pro Bowl quarterback Aaron Rodgers. It is withering because the Packers’ defense ranks ninth in points allowed and second in yardage yielded. It is withering because Head Coach Mike McCarthy has his team poised and focused on the future, rather than dwelling on the past.

Could that future include another “team of the decade” for the citizens of the diminutive city of champions to cherish? It could.

 

No. 2: Dallas Cowboys

OK. Call me a homer, but I like where this team sits right now. The unknown quotient is a biggie: namely, who will be the coach going forward? The quarterback Tony Romo, however, I believe, is poised to become one of the league’s best. He has already set a number of team records in just his third full year as a starter.

This is no small thing when you consider he holds the position held by guys named Meredith, Staubach, White, and Aikman.

The defense, under the guidance of current coach Wade Phillips has begun to assert itself, keeping some of the league’s most potent offensive attacks in check. Most of the defense is young. In fact, apart from the aging offensive line, most of the team is fairly young.

The Cowboys could be set to do that every-other-decade thing they do. It all depends on Jerry and the choice he makes at head coach.

 

No. 1: New Orleans Saints

Drew Brees and Sean Payton have proved a lethal duo. This team hangs basketball-like numbers on opponents with a good deal of regularity. And now, they have Gregg Williams running the defense.

The Saints have already come within a game of the Super Bowl a couple seasons ago. They have gotten the home-field advantage for themselves in the current playoffs. They are young, hungry, and poised to become a force for the next eight to 10 years.

Of course, plenty of other teams could have something to say about this. The Redskins may finally be headed in the right direction with the changes in front office leadership. The Colts and Patriots are still quality, well-oiled machines with quarterbacks whose names are already legendary and will be forever in any argument about the best to ever play the game. I like where the Texans are. The 49ers have the right coach in place, I believe.

My honorable mention team, however, is Norv Turner’s San Diego Chargers. Phillip Rivers and Company are—and should continue to be—a force with which to be reckoned.

It is conceivable that this will be the decade dominated by parity, that no team will assert itself. The magic wand may pass from hand to hand, team to team, city to city. History, however, suggests some team somewhere will emerge as the team to beat.

It could be yours.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Which NFL Team Will Be the Team of the Teens?

Who will be The Team of the Teens? By that, I do not mean the team of kids between 12 and 19. I mean the team that will outshine all others in the 2010—2019 decade. The team that will record multiple Super Bowl victories. The team everyone else will hate and emulate at the same time. The team that will define the decade.

In every decade, the NFL has unofficially declared one team the premier team. In the 1960s, it was the Green Bay Packers, with their hard-charging, single-minded head coach Vince Lombardi. The ’70s belonged to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Terry Bradshaw, as they claimed four Super Bowl trophies to outshine the Dallas Cowboys, who made a remarkable five trips to the Super Bowl in that 10-year span, winning two.

The 1980s were all about The San Francisco 49ers; the emergence of the West Coast offense, the brainchild of their genius head coach Bill Walsh; and that skinny quarterback with the steely nerves and the indomitable will, Joe Montana.

The ’90s belonged to the lip-smacking, never-a-hair-out-of-place Jimmy Johnson; the brash new face of the NFL, Jerry Jones; the fair-haired, golden-armed Oklahoma kid from California, Troy Aikman; and the Dallas Cowboys in general. They won three Super Bowls in four years, the first time that had ever been done.

The first decade in the new century brought us Bill Belichick with his cut up sweatshirts and his unbelievable sixth round find, Tom Brady. The Brady Bunch won three consecutive Super Bowls. They then posted the first-ever perfect 16-0 regular season mark (the Dolphins’ perfect season was in the 14-game era), blew through the AFC playoffs, and then lost a heart-breaker to the upstart New York Giants.

So, who is next? Which team is poised to claim its very own decade and become part of that “greatest team ever” argument? To ascertain the likeliest candidates, it is first necessary to contemplate the formula. History suggests there is a predictor—a formula that seems too consistent to ignore.

Every team of the decade had a couple things in common: A relatively young coach coming into his own and establishing himself as a great leader/technician/motivator; a young superstar quarterback; a dominating (or at least very difficult to deal with) defense.

Consider…

• The 1960s Packers had Vince Lombardi, whose influence on the game was so significant they named the Super Bowl trophy after him, and Bart Starr. Now, Starr was not a sensational quarterback, but he was a great field general who understood and executed his coach’s offense to perfection.
• The 1970s Steelers had Chuck Knoll, who began a coaching tradition like no other there in the Steel City. They also had Terry Bradshaw and the Steel Curtain. The honorable mention Dallas Cowboys had a fellow named Tom Landry and a quarterback named Roger Staubach, not to mention DoomsDay I & II.
• The 1980s 49ers had Bill Walsh forever changing the game with his X’s and O’s and Joe Montana making his case for best quarterback ever. They had a salty defense led by the likes or Ronnie Lott, too.
• The 1990s Cowboys were lead by Jimmy Johnson, the first coach ever to win both a NCAA championship and a Super Bowl. They were led on the field by the unflappable Troy Aikman. And, they had a defense that was quick, nasty, and sometimes downright dominating.
• The 2000s Patriots. Belichick. Brady. Bruschi. What more need we say?

So, if we assume this formula works and is a pretty good indicator of things to come, which team currently stands poised to climb Mount Domination in the 2010s? Here are my top six candidates, beginning with No. 6:

No. 6: Cincinnati Bengals

I know. Carson Palmer is already a six-year veteran. The Bengals are good defensively, but not dominating. Marvin Lewis is not on many people’s “next coaching genius” list. Let’s not forget, however, that Lewis did help construct that Baltimore Ravens’ defense.

He did spend valuable time on that Pittsburgh Steelers’ coaching staff. Carson Palmer is a strong-armed quarterback with more than sufficient skills to get the job done. Chad Ochocinco is no slouch. The running game has found its legs.

Most importantly, this beleaguered franchise has the taste of victory fresh in its mouth.

 

No. 5: Arizona Cardinals

The biggest missing piece here is the young quarterback. What they have at QB right now is pure greatness. Kurt Warner is also nearing Methuselah’s age. The other pieces are in place, though.

Coach Whisenhunt has already made his mark on the team, getting them into last year’s Super Bowl, and coming within a Roethlisberger drive of winning it. The defense can be stingy and opportunistic. The receiving corps is as good as any in football.

And…the team finally believes it can.

 

No. 4: Baltimore Ravens

Joe Flacco is the X-factor here. Will he become more than a game manager? Will he be a play-maker? John Harbaugh, like his brother, appears to be the real deal. He could be the kind of young coach that makes his mark on the league. The defensive tradition in Baltimore is already well established and must simply be replenished.

 

No. 3: Green Bay Packers

The long shadow of Brett Favre is withering as the traitorous legend leads the Packers’ arch enemy into the playoffs. It is withering because of the play of  their Pro Bowl quarterback Aaron Rodgers. It is withering because the Packers’ defense ranks ninth in points allowed and second in yardage yielded. It is withering because Head Coach Mike McCarthy has his team poised and focused on the future, rather than dwelling on the past.

Could that future include another “team of the decade” for the citizens of the diminutive city of champions to cherish? It could.

 

No. 2: Dallas Cowboys

OK. Call me a homer, but I like where this team sits right now. The unknown quotient is a biggie: namely, who will be the coach going forward? The quarterback Tony Romo, however, I believe, is poised to become one of the league’s best. He has already set a number of team records in just his third full year as a starter.

This is no small thing when you consider he holds the position held by guys named Meredith, Staubach, White, and Aikman.

The defense, under the guidance of current coach Wade Phillips has begun to assert itself, keeping some of the league’s most potent offensive attacks in check. Most of the defense is young. In fact, apart from the aging offensive line, most of the team is fairly young.

The Cowboys could be set to do that every-other-decade thing they do. It all depends on Jerry and the choice he makes at head coach.

 

No. 1: New Orleans Saints

Drew Brees and Sean Payton have proved a lethal duo. This team hangs basketball-like numbers on opponents with a good deal of regularity. And now, they have Gregg Williams running the defense.

The Saints have already come within a game of the Super Bowl a couple seasons ago. They have gotten the home-field advantage for themselves in the current playoffs. They are young, hungry, and poised to become a force for the next eight to 10 years.

Of course, plenty of other teams could have something to say about this. The Redskins may finally be headed in the right direction with the changes in front office leadership. The Colts and Patriots are still quality, well-oiled machines with quarterbacks whose names are already legendary and will be forever in any argument about the best to ever play the game. I like where the Texans are. The 49ers have the right coach in place, I believe.

My honorable mention team, however, is Norv Turner’s San Diego Chargers. Phillip Rivers and Company are—and should continue to be—a force with which to be reckoned.

It is conceivable that this will be the decade dominated by parity, that no team will assert itself. The magic wand may pass from hand to hand, team to team, city to city. History, however, suggests some team somewhere will emerge as the team to beat.

It could be yours.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Whatever Happened to Offensive Pass Interference?

Okay sports fans, I know I’m going to take a beating on this one.

I’ve been watching NFL football for the last 42 years and I have to get this out of my system.

Back in the day, receivers depended on speed, agility, and route running ability to get open and catch passes and defensive backs were allowed to try to keep up with them, gee what a concept.

Now, with the NFL constantly changing rules in order to generate offense, receivers can do anything short of shooting cornerbacks and safeties to get to the ball.

Case in point (and here is where I will get hate mail, but I don’t care), Pittsburgh Steelers’ wideout Mike Wallaces’ game winning catch last week. Anyone who REALLY watched the constantly shown replay, saw him clearly push off before turning and making his remarkable catch.

Honestly, I’m not picking on Wallace, who is a fine young receiver. I see it happen all the time on all teams so this is just an example. What’s a poor defensive back to do?

I’m just saying that the NFL (No Fair League) needs to stop changing rules to manufacture excitement that is already there.

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Whatever Happened to Offensive Pass Interference?

Okay sports fans, I know I’m going to take a beating on this one.

I’ve been watching NFL football for the last 42 years and I have to get this out of my system.

Back in the day, receivers depended on speed, agility, and route running ability to get open and catch passes and defensive backs were allowed to try to keep up with them, gee what a concept.

Now, with the NFL constantly changing rules in order to generate offense, receivers can do anything short of shooting cornerbacks and safeties to get to the ball.

Case in point (and here is where I will get hate mail, but I don’t care), Pittsburgh Steelers’ wideout Mike Wallaces’ game winning catch last week. Anyone who REALLY watched the constantly shown replay, saw him clearly push off before turning and making his remarkable catch.

Honestly, I’m not picking on Wallace, who is a fine young receiver. I see it happen all the time on all teams so this is just an example. What’s a poor defensive back to do?

I’m just saying that the NFL (No Fair League) needs to stop changing rules to manufacture excitement that is already there.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys Keys to the Game

For the second time in two years, it all comes down to this. For all the marbles it’s our beloved Eagles and the hated Cowboys clashing in Week 17 to see who will be crowned NFC East champion, and, for the Eagles, to see who will take the second seed in the playoffs.

The Eagles are riding a six-game winning streak into this game, but the Cowboys are hot in their own right after knocking off the previously unbeaten New Orleans Saints and perhaps knocking off the mental block they always seem to hit in December.

Both of these teams are heading to the playoffs, but only one will go as the division champ. The other will have to fight and claw their way through as a wild card and make a kind of improbable run that only happens a couple times per decade.

Let’s take a look at what the Eagles must do to beat the Cowboys, and wrap up the division and No. 2 seed.

Keep Tony Romo in the Pocket

Outside the pocket, Tony Romo is almost as dangerous as Donovan McNabb, circa 2001. However, inside the pocket he’s only average at best. He doesn’t seem to see the field as well and obviously does not like to throw with guys around him. He’d rather move outside, see the entire field, and throw cleanly.

The Eagles’ defense has to keep him in the pocket. They do that by controlling their own individual gaps and not playing outside the system. Trent Cole and

Juqua Parker can’t let Romo run around them or step up because they got ridden outside, and Mike Patterson and Brodrick Bunkley have to get an inside push and avoid letting him step up.

On top of that, there should always be a linebacker with one eye on Romo. This might cause some extra receptions for Jason Witten on a hot route, but that’s less damaging than if Romo is allowed to make plays outside the pocket and gain some confidence early.

If they keep Romo in the pocket (oh, and hit him whenever given the chance), they should be able to control the passing game, and at the same time, control that draw the Cowboys like to run. If everyone is playing gap football, the draw won’t gain a yard.

Allow DeSean Jackson to Attack Cowboys’ Safeties

If that Dallas defense has a weak spot, it’s their safeties. They’re not awful like the pair out in New York, but they’re certainly not headed to the Pro Bowl anytime soon.

If DeSean can get them to go flat-footed, it will be a very long day for them.

The Cowboys shut DeSean down last time these two teams met, but that was because they were able to focus everything on shutting him down. Since then, Jeremy Maclin has seemed to come into his own and, with a big catch or two, can draw the coverage away from Jackson.

When that happens, it’s time to see what you can get down the middle of field to DeSean. If they allow a safety to cover him in the deep half of the field, it’s a play the Eagles should be able to take advantage of a couple times in this game.

Here’s a prediction: Jackson will break the single-season record for most 50+ yard touchdowns.

He’ll get his ninth today, beating Devin Hester and Crazy Legs Hisrch’s record of eight.

Give Them a Heavy Dose of Leonard Weaver

As much as the big play will be a factor in this game, so will controlling the clock and playing mistake-free football. Brian Westbrook goes down too easily, and

LeSean McCoy has had a bit of a problem with holding onto the football in key situations, so it’s time to see more of Weaver.

Weaver is a guy who will very rarely go down because of one guy. You’re going to need two, three, or even four players to bring him down and by the time those guys get there he’s dragged the others for an extra yard or two. He abuses defenses and will make guys think twice before they hit him.

If the Eagles can do this with Weaver, it will open up the deep passing attack and give an opportunity to Westbrook and McCoy to take advantage of a beaten Cowboys defense.

The best friend of an offense is a tired opposing defense. It will allow Andy Reid and Marty Mornhinweg to do almost whatever they want with success. Of course, it’s contingent upon those two actually sticking with the run.

So, in short, don’t hold your breath, Philly.

Article originally published at 2 Mintues to Midnight Green!

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Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys Keys to the Game

For the second time in two years, it all comes down to this. For all the marbles it’s our beloved Eagles and the hated Cowboys clashing in Week 17 to see who will be crowned NFC East champion, and, for the Eagles, to see who will take the second seed in the playoffs.

The Eagles are riding a six-game winning streak into this game, but the Cowboys are hot in their own right after knocking off the previously unbeaten New Orleans Saints and perhaps knocking off the mental block they always seem to hit in December.

Both of these teams are heading to the playoffs, but only one will go as the division champ. The other will have to fight and claw their way through as a wild card and make a kind of improbable run that only happens a couple times per decade.

Let’s take a look at what the Eagles must do to beat the Cowboys, and wrap up the division and No. 2 seed.

Keep Tony Romo in the Pocket

Outside the pocket, Tony Romo is almost as dangerous as Donovan McNabb, circa 2001. However, inside the pocket he’s only average at best. He doesn’t seem to see the field as well and obviously does not like to throw with guys around him. He’d rather move outside, see the entire field, and throw cleanly.

The Eagles’ defense has to keep him in the pocket. They do that by controlling their own individual gaps and not playing outside the system. Trent Cole and

Juqua Parker can’t let Romo run around them or step up because they got ridden outside, and Mike Patterson and Brodrick Bunkley have to get an inside push and avoid letting him step up.

On top of that, there should always be a linebacker with one eye on Romo. This might cause some extra receptions for Jason Witten on a hot route, but that’s less damaging than if Romo is allowed to make plays outside the pocket and gain some confidence early.

If they keep Romo in the pocket (oh, and hit him whenever given the chance), they should be able to control the passing game, and at the same time, control that draw the Cowboys like to run. If everyone is playing gap football, the draw won’t gain a yard.

Allow DeSean Jackson to Attack Cowboys’ Safeties

If that Dallas defense has a weak spot, it’s their safeties. They’re not awful like the pair out in New York, but they’re certainly not headed to the Pro Bowl anytime soon.

If DeSean can get them to go flat-footed, it will be a very long day for them.

The Cowboys shut DeSean down last time these two teams met, but that was because they were able to focus everything on shutting him down. Since then, Jeremy Maclin has seemed to come into his own and, with a big catch or two, can draw the coverage away from Jackson.

When that happens, it’s time to see what you can get down the middle of field to DeSean. If they allow a safety to cover him in the deep half of the field, it’s a play the Eagles should be able to take advantage of a couple times in this game.

Here’s a prediction: Jackson will break the single-season record for most 50+ yard touchdowns.

He’ll get his ninth today, beating Devin Hester and Crazy Legs Hisrch’s record of eight.

Give Them a Heavy Dose of Leonard Weaver

As much as the big play will be a factor in this game, so will controlling the clock and playing mistake-free football. Brian Westbrook goes down too easily, and

LeSean McCoy has had a bit of a problem with holding onto the football in key situations, so it’s time to see more of Weaver.

Weaver is a guy who will very rarely go down because of one guy. You’re going to need two, three, or even four players to bring him down and by the time those guys get there he’s dragged the others for an extra yard or two. He abuses defenses and will make guys think twice before they hit him.

If the Eagles can do this with Weaver, it will open up the deep passing attack and give an opportunity to Westbrook and McCoy to take advantage of a beaten Cowboys defense.

The best friend of an offense is a tired opposing defense. It will allow Andy Reid and Marty Mornhinweg to do almost whatever they want with success. Of course, it’s contingent upon those two actually sticking with the run.

So, in short, don’t hold your breath, Philly.

Article originally published at 2 Mintues to Midnight Green!

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Do Da Dirty Bird: Previewing Week 17, Falcons at Bucs

And so it comes down to it: One game to validate our season.

One game to prove we really are headed in the right direction. One game to show that new GM Thomas Dimitroff’s personnel moves are good enough to remake an organization. One game to send the team and fans into the offseason with heads held high.

The best chance in recent memory to break the curse of inconsistency that has plagued us and finally string together two winning seasons.

If you think I sound dramatic, you might want to mute the TV tomorrow, and you sure as hell wouldn’t want to hear head coach Mike Smith’s pre-game locker room speech tomorrow.

What said it all to me was Tony Gonzalez’s interview as he was coming off the field at the Jets game two weeks ago. If he still has something to play for this year, then everyone on that team does, too.

The stars are aligning for the Falcons: The opponent is a nobody that we beat earlier with a less healthy and less inspired bunch on our side. Still, going down to Tampa and breaking their streak is not the easiest task the Dirty Birds have had this season.

 

Tampa Bay Rush Offense v. Atlanta Rush Defense

In my preview of the Week 12 matchup in the Dome, I lamented Cadillac Williams’ lack of production this season. Now that the campaign is more or less done, the numbers I cite are even more telling:

Barring a cataclysmic Atlanta collapse, no Tampa back will finish with even 900 yards on the year; and the man second in yards behind Caddy, highly-touted free agent pickup Derrick Ward, probably isn’t going to touch 500. In other words, this is a one-headed monster on its best days.

Williams was at his most effective last week, when he topped 100 for the first time in ’09 and had his most yards since the opening game. That was against a resting Saints team, though, and not a bunch of inspired Falcons.

Because, see, while the Bay was swooning from their production against the NFC’s best, we weren’t stooping to the level of our competition. We held the Bills to 40 yards on the ground, and that’s with Curtis Lofton notching all of one tackle.

Linebackers taking a back seat like that wasn’t a method that worked so well at the beginning of the season for us, but I’m into what’s smart and what works, and the coaches seem to be, too. Defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder is favoring packages with a defensive back up in the box for extra support more and more as time goes by, as evidenced by the tackle totals for Brent Grimes (nine) and Erik Coleman (seven) last week.

I could certainly see Williams having a decent game, somewhere along the lines of 80 yards, but he will be limited as long as the Bucs have this offensive line. On the other side, we may not have anything left in the tank, but I have a feeling these fellas will run on fumes if they have to.

 

Atlanta Rush Offense v. Tampa Bay Rush Defense

Tampa’s ground D has at least been headed in the right direction since I was breaking down the first matchup: They have improved from their last-place spot.

Of course, they’re now only 30th in the league, so take that with a grain of salt. They just rely way too much on one position (linebacker) for this to be a reliable unit at all.

A couple of stats tell the story: First, the top three tacklers for the Bucs are their starting ‘backers. No, I do not expect a lineman to rack up the numbers, and no, I would not be so naive as to evaluate the line’s performance based solely upon their digits, but it’s sad that the top-tackling guy up front (Stylez White, 42) has just about exactly a third of team-leader Barrett Ruud’s 125.

Second, the team’s stoppage is dead last in runs greater than 20 yards, and that right there just about invalidates any of their efforts. After all, you can hold ’em to two or three for three plays per set of downs, but let up one big one, and well, it’s over.

On to our side of the ball, Jerious Norwood and Jason Snelling went out and did just what I said they wouldn’t do last week (that’d be a productive two-back attack). That was against an underprepared and downright scared-looking Buffalo D, sure, but it was a confidence-boosting game nonetheless.

Obviously, if we can, we want to keep it on the ground and grind it out. There are too many ballhawks in the T.B. secondary for us to be relying on the pass (but you know I’ll get to that).

Now, I thought Harvey Dahl was going to be back on the line for last week and then was proved a bald-faced liar when Quinn Ojinnaka started; this week I know for a fact that Ojinnaka’s the one out there. This is a downside for us, as Quinn has been extremely penalty-prone to this point, and seems to infect Tyson Clabo with that same problem when he’s out there.

Of course, we got over the century mark running last week and won the game, so what am I complaining about?

 

Tampa Bay Pass Offense v. Atlanta Pass Defense

On a team full of sorry units, the air game might just be the weakest for the Buccaneers. Of course, if you know who’s starting down there, that doesn’t even need a qualifier, but in case you’ve had your eyes closed for the past three months:

Josh Freeman’s not only a rookie, but one out of Kansas State. What, they play football there?

Still, I’ve never seen a guy do this poorly and keep his job. Not that Tampa has any other real options behind him, but just to give readers a taste, he’s got his team ranked 30th in interceptions, 29th in completion percentage, 29th in passer rating, 28th in first downs per game, and 28th in points to a contest.

Then again, when we saw him before, we had him playing like he did back in his college days: 20-of-29 for 250 yards, 2 TD and no INT.

So who shows up under center for them tomorrow, and just as important, who’s present in our defensive backfield?

Brent Grimes must be reading DDDB , because he’s picking up his play. I don’t think he ever expected to carry the responsibility he has this season, so really, he might just be ahead of the curve. Erik Coleman also looked more like the leader he’s supposed to be against the Bills.

Freeman just can’t be as hot as he was in the Dome, and if VanGorder goes with the containment style and box-stacking he showed last week, we won’t give up many big plays. That’s fine, because stopping Kellen Winslow after the catch is really the goal; what, you thought you were going to disrupt those hands?

But that brings me to another disadvantage for the Bay’s passing game: Winslow is the beginning and end. Note that his 72 receptions are almost double second-place receiver Antonio Bryant’s 37.

The cards are just stacked against poor Freeman.

 

Atlanta Pass Offense v. Tampa Bay Pass Defense

Matt Ryan is another week healthier, and considering his performance as he hobbled last week, I’m feeling OK about that.

The receivers have been our rocks all year long, so no worries there (except for Gonzo’s questionable rating, but I have faith). What does make me a little uncomfortable, though, is how the Buccaneer pass defense has gotten better since we played them.

Ronde Barber has the young boys around him playing up to his level, well enough that they’re all in a pack in terms of tackles and have 17 picks among them. Aqib Talib, for all his off-the-field problems and attitude questions, has emerged as a Asante Samuel-lite sort of player, and Sabby Piscitelli does a solid job of acting as enforcer.

Of course, we had Chris Redman throwing on basically every play in the Week 12 matchup, and that still resulted in no interceptions. Sure, his accuracy was piss-poor, but that’s more a symptom of his own problems, not what Tampa’s coverage was doing to him.

My thought process goes a little something like this: If we had Redman chucking the rock with reckless abandon last time, and still managed to not turn the ball over and eventually score enough to get the W, we’re going to be fine this trip with Ice dropping back instead.

I do not underestimate an 11th-ranked Bay pass D, but I focus instead on the facts that we won’t have to throw it nearly as much (41 times for Chris) and that when we do throw it, it’ll be a much more of a sure thing. If all goes well, the balance of running to gunning will even out a bit more, and Matty will only be relied upon entirely when it comes to the red zone.

 

Prediction: Falcons 27, Buccaneers 17

Neither team is going to shoot the lights out. Neither will get an early jump. But I think the Dirty Birds will be in control from start to finish.

The key for me is that our guys know what this game means (for sure they do!) and that they know we’re the better team (here’s hoping they do). Playing away from home (last road game: win over the Jets in chilly NY) and Tampa’s mini-streak cannot be concerns.

Here’s hoping I’m writing a retrospective on what it means to have consecutive plus-.500 seasons later this week.

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