It took them 162 games to do it, but the Phillies finally proved Jimmy Rollins right. Jimmy Rollins started Spring training by declaring his team the "team to beat" despite their 14 year absence from postseason play. But after defeating the Washington Nationals 6-1 on Sunday, combined with a 8-1 Mets loss at the hands of the Florida Marlins, the Phillies clinched their first N.L. East division crown since 1993 - the only time the team reached the playoffs since 1983. In doing so, the Phillies completed an amazing comeback - being down seven games with just 17 games to play - and became one of the most beloved teams this city has ever seen.
The pitching problems are well documented, the injury list is long, and the number of times this team has been written off is multiple, but none of that matters now. This particular version of the Philadelphia Phillies will go down as a team that never gave up; no matter what happens in October.
No team, even remotely close to the playoffs, has the poor pitching stats that the Phillies have. Their team ERA, 4.76, is good for 13th out of 15 N.L. teams. Their key free agent acquisition, Adam Eaton has an ERA of 6.29. Their bullpen was so bad that they moved their opening day starter, Brett Meyers - who also threw the final clinching pitch of the season on Sunday - into the closer's role. And they have overcame it all.
Injuries are a part of baseball, but I'm not sure anyone had as many key players on the D.L. at some point this season as the Phillies have had. Previous closer, Tom Gordon, missed about a month. Brett Meyers, after moving into the bullpen, missed a month or more. Reigning MVP, Ryan Howard, missed a few weeks and was slowed for a few more before the trip to the D.L. Chase Utley missed a month with a broken hand, and shortly after his injury, Shane Victorino and Michael Bourn also went down - in the same game. And then to cap it off, the Phillies lost their ace, Cole Hamels for a month, and a key middle reliever, Ryan Madsen, still has yet to return. And they have overcome it all.
Combining the injuries with the pitching woes, it miracle this team didn't just pack it in, and say that this just wasn't their year. In fact, just about everyone in Philadelphia counted them out numerous times. After a 4-11 start, the season was done, right? Nope. When their best hitter, Utley, went out, at a time when they really need offense to make up for the poor pitching, their season was done, right? Nope, newcomer Tad Iguchi, came in and kept the team afloat. When they lost Cole Hamels right before a huge 10 game homestand at the end of August, the season was finished, right? Nope, guys like Kyle Kendrick and Kyle Lohse came out of nowhere to keep the team afloat. Then they lost 4 of the first 6 games in that homestand, heading into a 4 game series with the Mets, trailing by 7 games. Season over? Nope, they go on to sweep the Mets, and overall, gain 5 games on the Mets in 5 days. Then the Phillies struggled immediately following that sweep, and the Mets increased their lead back up to 7 games with 17 games to go. The season was definitely over now. Except, the Phillies went into New York and swept the Mets again. Then the Mets collapsed, and here we are. Division champs.
The 1993 Philadelphia Phillies are not one of the most beloved teams in this city's history just because they made one of the franchise's few World Series appearances. They were fun. They were exciting. They were a bunch of blue collar guys who the city just identified with. While this team is not so much a blue collar team, the city has fallen in love with their never-say-die attitude. They have fallen in love with their attitude - the attitude that was created when Jimmy Rollins made those much criticized statements in Spring training. Unless this team performs miserably in the postseason - which I can't see happening - the city of Philadelphia will never forget this remarkable season.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Who are the real Eagles?
As bad as everyone felt following that 20-12 Monday night loss to the Washington Redskins, that was how good everyone felt following the Eagles' 56-21 thrashing of the Detroit Lions. With their back against the wall, staring down a possible 0-3 start, the real Eagles showed up and saved their season. But was that actually the real team? Only time will tell, but there are plenty of reasons to believe that the 2007 Philadelphia Eagles are closer to the team in those Halloweenish uniforms than the team who's play was scary on its own through the first two weeks.
It's easy to get excited when your team's offense scores eight touchdowns and the defense records nine sacks. But let's not get too carried away. Sunday's performance was just an example of what can happen when an offense, eager to prove something, starts to click against a defense that simply isn't that good. But, on the other side of the coin, an offense has to be doing something right to reach the end zone eight times; no matter who is playing defense.
There really shouldn't have been any doubts that this offense would click at some point this season. There is only one difference from last year's number two ranked offense: Donte Stallworth is out and Kevin Curtis is in. It was figured that, while Curtis might not have Stallworth's pure explosiveness, he would provide more consistency and, at the very worst, should be an even replacement. The only question coming into the season was how would Donovan be coming off of that ACL reconstruction. How long would it take for McNabb to regain his form?
The answer appears to be three weeks. Granted, there are bound to be down weeks when that knee just isn't feeling as strong, but McNabb looked perfect on Sunday. As a matter of fact, he was perfect (158.3 QB rating). Was it a coincidence that he played better once he removed the knee brace that adorned his knee during preseason and the first two games? Not likely. By his own admission, McNabb said that the brace did limit his extension a little bit. And if he is admitting that much, it's a good bet that it affected his whole throwing motion at least a little bit. Removing the brace was a sign that McNabb feels healthy physically and mentally.
It is true that this offense will go where McNabb takes them, but let's not forget the other aspects of the game. Offensively, the offensive line, which played relatively poor the first two weeks, played fantastic Sunday. And they are the strength of this team, having now started 19 consecutive games as a unit dating back to the beginning of last season. And Brian Westbrook continues to prove that he is one of, if not the most, dangerous player in the NFL. It almost pains me that it has taken me this long to mention him.
Let's assume that the offense continues to play at a level similar to what they achieved last season. They will be in the same exact spot next Martin Luther King Jr. Day that they were last year if the defense also plays at the same level that they played last year. And that's where the biggest reasons for optimism come in. Even through two losses to start the season, the defense looked much improved from last year. The weak spots from last year, defensive tackle and linebacker, look to be significantly better. Broderick Bunkley, who's rookie season was a complete wash, is playing at a dominant level, and the new linebacking corps has done a great job stuffing the run thus far. And if last year proved anything, it is that, with this offense playing the way it is capable of playing, an average defense should be able to make the Eagles a serious contender in the NFC.
So who are the real Eagles? Well three games, with such a wide disparity in performances, is not enough to make an informed decision. And an educated guess would put them somewhere in between the 0-2 and the 1-0, but I believe that they truly are closer to the latter. The offense has a track record dating back to last season, and now they seem to be back on track. And the defense - the reason for last season's loss at New Orleans on January 13 - looks much better. And with a lot of new faces, and injuries on the mend, the defense could become even better. The real offense may not score 56 points a week, and the real defense may not record nine sacks a week, but the real Eagles should be able to win each and every week.
It's easy to get excited when your team's offense scores eight touchdowns and the defense records nine sacks. But let's not get too carried away. Sunday's performance was just an example of what can happen when an offense, eager to prove something, starts to click against a defense that simply isn't that good. But, on the other side of the coin, an offense has to be doing something right to reach the end zone eight times; no matter who is playing defense.
There really shouldn't have been any doubts that this offense would click at some point this season. There is only one difference from last year's number two ranked offense: Donte Stallworth is out and Kevin Curtis is in. It was figured that, while Curtis might not have Stallworth's pure explosiveness, he would provide more consistency and, at the very worst, should be an even replacement. The only question coming into the season was how would Donovan be coming off of that ACL reconstruction. How long would it take for McNabb to regain his form?
The answer appears to be three weeks. Granted, there are bound to be down weeks when that knee just isn't feeling as strong, but McNabb looked perfect on Sunday. As a matter of fact, he was perfect (158.3 QB rating). Was it a coincidence that he played better once he removed the knee brace that adorned his knee during preseason and the first two games? Not likely. By his own admission, McNabb said that the brace did limit his extension a little bit. And if he is admitting that much, it's a good bet that it affected his whole throwing motion at least a little bit. Removing the brace was a sign that McNabb feels healthy physically and mentally.
It is true that this offense will go where McNabb takes them, but let's not forget the other aspects of the game. Offensively, the offensive line, which played relatively poor the first two weeks, played fantastic Sunday. And they are the strength of this team, having now started 19 consecutive games as a unit dating back to the beginning of last season. And Brian Westbrook continues to prove that he is one of, if not the most, dangerous player in the NFL. It almost pains me that it has taken me this long to mention him.
Let's assume that the offense continues to play at a level similar to what they achieved last season. They will be in the same exact spot next Martin Luther King Jr. Day that they were last year if the defense also plays at the same level that they played last year. And that's where the biggest reasons for optimism come in. Even through two losses to start the season, the defense looked much improved from last year. The weak spots from last year, defensive tackle and linebacker, look to be significantly better. Broderick Bunkley, who's rookie season was a complete wash, is playing at a dominant level, and the new linebacking corps has done a great job stuffing the run thus far. And if last year proved anything, it is that, with this offense playing the way it is capable of playing, an average defense should be able to make the Eagles a serious contender in the NFC.
So who are the real Eagles? Well three games, with such a wide disparity in performances, is not enough to make an informed decision. And an educated guess would put them somewhere in between the 0-2 and the 1-0, but I believe that they truly are closer to the latter. The offense has a track record dating back to last season, and now they seem to be back on track. And the defense - the reason for last season's loss at New Orleans on January 13 - looks much better. And with a lot of new faces, and injuries on the mend, the defense could become even better. The real offense may not score 56 points a week, and the real defense may not record nine sacks a week, but the real Eagles should be able to win each and every week.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
It's STILL not time to panic
The Eagles are 0-2, injuries are hitting the defense, McNabb and the offense look out of sync, and the schedule only gets tougher from here on out. Time to start thinking about the 2008 entry draft? Not quite. Winless after two games is, by no means, good or acceptable. But, despite the amount of weight put on each and every NFL game, it is a long season. There is time for this team to turn it around. But most importantly, this team is capable of turning it around.
Here's why:
- Each and every year, the beginning of the NFL season becomes harder and harder to predict. Teams start great only to fall off and miss the playoffs, as well as teams starting slow and then turn it on at the right time. The Lions are coming in at 2-0, one of the surprise fast starts, but will they be around come December? The Eagles are not the only team struggling to start the season. The Saints, Jets, Rams all join the Eagles at a surprising 0-2.
- Let's be honest here; McNabb has been, well, bad. Personally, I thought he would come back from injury like he did last year, and set the league on fire. I was wrong. He is obviously still shaking off rust. But the good thing is the fact that I truly believe it is just rust. It is not a Daunte Culpepper situation where he came back too early from injury, and it is not a factor of McNabb being on the down side of his career; as many in Philly will have you believe. McNabb looked like his old self in the 4th quarter against the Redskins. He moved well, and hit guys between the numbers. If that is a sign that the rust is off, then half the problem is solved.
- The defense has looked improved from last year. Not perfect, but they don't need to be. If the offense can get back in the rhythm they had last season, this defense certainly looks like it can hold it's own. They need more pressure from the defensive ends, and they need to get off the field on 3rd down, but the run defense has been very strong; even with the offense unable to give the defense any rest. When some of the defensive backs come back healthy, they should be even better as a unit.
- When penciling wins and losses when the schedule came out, these first two games will certainly "W"s for most fans'. And that was important, especially considering the difficulty of the latter part of the schedule. However, there are surprise teams every year. This year's schedule is very similar to last season's in the sense that the Eagles' should be successful early on, building up their record, and be able to hold on through a tough second part of the schedule. So when the Eagles went 4-4 in the first half, instead of the 7-1 or 6-2 many projected, the prospects looked bleak. But, as it turned out, the teams they faced in the second half were not nearly as good as everyone projected prior to the season. The same is possible this year. The Saints loom as a second half obstacle. They are 0-2 as well. And what if the Bears have the Super Bowl loss hangover that has seemed to affect so many teams this decade? And what if the Packers and Redskins turn out to be the Saints and Jets of last season? Two games is not enough time to bury, or crown, any team.
Since the Eagles dropped the game against the Redskins Monday night, the start to the 2003 season has been a big topic of discussion; both by those with hope and those who claim that it is a completely different situation and the season is over. Yes, there are different circumstances between both 0-2 starts, but there are also a number of significant similarities. Basically that team started out struggling because of poor play by an injured McNabb and a genreally out of sync offense - the same as this season. What happened over the final 14 games of that season? McNabb got healthy, and Andy Reid brought the whole offense back to basics. The result: a 12-4 record and another NFC championship appearance. I expect Reid to go back to basics a little bit, and I expect/hope McNabb is done shaking off the rust. The rest should take care of itself.
Here's why:
- Each and every year, the beginning of the NFL season becomes harder and harder to predict. Teams start great only to fall off and miss the playoffs, as well as teams starting slow and then turn it on at the right time. The Lions are coming in at 2-0, one of the surprise fast starts, but will they be around come December? The Eagles are not the only team struggling to start the season. The Saints, Jets, Rams all join the Eagles at a surprising 0-2.
- Let's be honest here; McNabb has been, well, bad. Personally, I thought he would come back from injury like he did last year, and set the league on fire. I was wrong. He is obviously still shaking off rust. But the good thing is the fact that I truly believe it is just rust. It is not a Daunte Culpepper situation where he came back too early from injury, and it is not a factor of McNabb being on the down side of his career; as many in Philly will have you believe. McNabb looked like his old self in the 4th quarter against the Redskins. He moved well, and hit guys between the numbers. If that is a sign that the rust is off, then half the problem is solved.
- The defense has looked improved from last year. Not perfect, but they don't need to be. If the offense can get back in the rhythm they had last season, this defense certainly looks like it can hold it's own. They need more pressure from the defensive ends, and they need to get off the field on 3rd down, but the run defense has been very strong; even with the offense unable to give the defense any rest. When some of the defensive backs come back healthy, they should be even better as a unit.
- When penciling wins and losses when the schedule came out, these first two games will certainly "W"s for most fans'. And that was important, especially considering the difficulty of the latter part of the schedule. However, there are surprise teams every year. This year's schedule is very similar to last season's in the sense that the Eagles' should be successful early on, building up their record, and be able to hold on through a tough second part of the schedule. So when the Eagles went 4-4 in the first half, instead of the 7-1 or 6-2 many projected, the prospects looked bleak. But, as it turned out, the teams they faced in the second half were not nearly as good as everyone projected prior to the season. The same is possible this year. The Saints loom as a second half obstacle. They are 0-2 as well. And what if the Bears have the Super Bowl loss hangover that has seemed to affect so many teams this decade? And what if the Packers and Redskins turn out to be the Saints and Jets of last season? Two games is not enough time to bury, or crown, any team.
Since the Eagles dropped the game against the Redskins Monday night, the start to the 2003 season has been a big topic of discussion; both by those with hope and those who claim that it is a completely different situation and the season is over. Yes, there are different circumstances between both 0-2 starts, but there are also a number of significant similarities. Basically that team started out struggling because of poor play by an injured McNabb and a genreally out of sync offense - the same as this season. What happened over the final 14 games of that season? McNabb got healthy, and Andy Reid brought the whole offense back to basics. The result: a 12-4 record and another NFC championship appearance. I expect Reid to go back to basics a little bit, and I expect/hope McNabb is done shaking off the rust. The rest should take care of itself.
Monday, September 10, 2007
No need to jump off the Ben Franklin, Philly fans
Yet again, the Eagles have opened a season full of hope with a loss. For the sixth time in the last nine seasons, the Eagles are 0-1. Surely, for many, the opener in Green Bay was penciled in as a win when the schedule was released. And now after the 16-13 loss against the "lowly" Packers - a team the Eagles have owned for half a decade - fans all over the Delaware Valley have to be feeling a bit a panic. The special teams was obviously horrendous, the offense only put up 13 points, and the defense played well against a Division IA caliber offense. But fear not Eagles fans. Believe it or not, there is reason to feel more optimistic now than before the season started.
Before the less than complimentary comments come pouring in, hear me out. What was the biggest question mark coming out of preseason and into the regular season? No, it wasn't McNabb, it was the defense. They were coming off a season where they were essentially the Achilles heal of the team, and they were less than stellar during their time on the field in the preseason. Could the new, smaller, Omar Gaither stop the run in the absence of Trotter? Could converted defensive end, Chris Gocong, making his first start, be anything close to the answer at SAM? Could defensive tackles, Bunkley and Patterson, step up and play like the high draft picks they are? Was Jevon Kearse healthy enough to be a force again? Would Sean Considine be able to play the role of strong safety despite having the skill set best suited for free safety? And, speaking of free safety, could Brian Dawkins shake off an injury filled preseason, and continue to be the heart and soul of the defense? Well, in order, the answers after one game - which admittedly carries only slightly more weight than preseason - are: Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes.
The Eagles held the Packers offense to three points. The remaining 13 points, including the game winning field goal, were the direct result of Philly turnovers. The running game for Green Bay? Non-existent. The passing game, with future Hall of Famer Brett Favre? Barely existent. Granted the Packers do not have a very good offense, especially their running game, but if you remember last season, that didn't matter for the Eagles' defense. Seeing all of those question marks answered, for at least one week, has got to be an encouraging sign for Eagles fans.
Offensively, 13 points is hardly an impressive effort, but, again, there are reasons to feel good. First off, the Packers' defense should not be underestimated. They have solid defensive backs, a young and fast linebacking corps, and a great defensive line. That's a formula for a top 10 defense. So, going against a unit like that is going to cause some problems for even for the best offenses; especially on opening day. Which brings us to point number 2 and 2A/B. Offensives across the league are generally less likely to be dominant than defensives early in the season. Offenses take more timing and rythmn that is difficult to achieve at the outset of the season. And the Eagles have been slow starters for the majority of the last decade. And, lastly, but certainly not least, this was Donovan McNabb's first start since ACL reconstruction only nine months ago. And most everyone will tell you that it takes a good year or more before a player can get back to full capabilities. Combine all of that, and a 13 point effort should not surprise that much. This was the number 2 ranked defense in the league last year, and they are essentially the same group this year. They will be fine.
This loss can be directly contributed to the fact that the Eagles went into the season without anyone experienced in handling punt returns. Yes, they lost a game because of this hole, but this is a fixable hole, and a minor one compared to many of the teams in the NFC. There are basically two options to solve the problem. Send Brian Westbrook back there or bring someone else in. Westbrook is highly capable of doing the job, and could be one of the most dangerous return men in the game, but it's unclear at this time whether Andy Reid will want to risk his prized possession. And Reno Mahe - a solid, if unspectacular, return man - is probably sitting at home right now. All in all, Eagles fans should not be that upset. They should know by now that their team turns it on later in the season - when it counts most.
Before the less than complimentary comments come pouring in, hear me out. What was the biggest question mark coming out of preseason and into the regular season? No, it wasn't McNabb, it was the defense. They were coming off a season where they were essentially the Achilles heal of the team, and they were less than stellar during their time on the field in the preseason. Could the new, smaller, Omar Gaither stop the run in the absence of Trotter? Could converted defensive end, Chris Gocong, making his first start, be anything close to the answer at SAM? Could defensive tackles, Bunkley and Patterson, step up and play like the high draft picks they are? Was Jevon Kearse healthy enough to be a force again? Would Sean Considine be able to play the role of strong safety despite having the skill set best suited for free safety? And, speaking of free safety, could Brian Dawkins shake off an injury filled preseason, and continue to be the heart and soul of the defense? Well, in order, the answers after one game - which admittedly carries only slightly more weight than preseason - are: Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes.
The Eagles held the Packers offense to three points. The remaining 13 points, including the game winning field goal, were the direct result of Philly turnovers. The running game for Green Bay? Non-existent. The passing game, with future Hall of Famer Brett Favre? Barely existent. Granted the Packers do not have a very good offense, especially their running game, but if you remember last season, that didn't matter for the Eagles' defense. Seeing all of those question marks answered, for at least one week, has got to be an encouraging sign for Eagles fans.
Offensively, 13 points is hardly an impressive effort, but, again, there are reasons to feel good. First off, the Packers' defense should not be underestimated. They have solid defensive backs, a young and fast linebacking corps, and a great defensive line. That's a formula for a top 10 defense. So, going against a unit like that is going to cause some problems for even for the best offenses; especially on opening day. Which brings us to point number 2 and 2A/B. Offensives across the league are generally less likely to be dominant than defensives early in the season. Offenses take more timing and rythmn that is difficult to achieve at the outset of the season. And the Eagles have been slow starters for the majority of the last decade. And, lastly, but certainly not least, this was Donovan McNabb's first start since ACL reconstruction only nine months ago. And most everyone will tell you that it takes a good year or more before a player can get back to full capabilities. Combine all of that, and a 13 point effort should not surprise that much. This was the number 2 ranked defense in the league last year, and they are essentially the same group this year. They will be fine.
This loss can be directly contributed to the fact that the Eagles went into the season without anyone experienced in handling punt returns. Yes, they lost a game because of this hole, but this is a fixable hole, and a minor one compared to many of the teams in the NFC. There are basically two options to solve the problem. Send Brian Westbrook back there or bring someone else in. Westbrook is highly capable of doing the job, and could be one of the most dangerous return men in the game, but it's unclear at this time whether Andy Reid will want to risk his prized possession. And Reno Mahe - a solid, if unspectacular, return man - is probably sitting at home right now. All in all, Eagles fans should not be that upset. They should know by now that their team turns it on later in the season - when it counts most.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Not a Very Special Opener
There are very few losses in the NFL that can be attributed to one single aspect of the game. There are normally a number of issues from various aspects of the game that cause a team to lose. The season opener between the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers was the exception to the rule. Green Bay won the game 16-13 on a last second field goal, without scoring an offensive touchdown. All of their points, aside from one game tying field goal, came off of turnovers; most of which were on special teams. The Philadelphia Eagles, having significant question marks with their return game coming into the game, showed why by muffing two punts which led to 10 points including the game winner.
The Eagles fell behind by seven early when a punt was muffed by Greg Lewis and recovered in the end zone for a touchdown. Later on, Lewis almost cost his team again by attempting to field a bouncing punt with about five Packers around him. Luckily for him, he was able to secure it and save his team about five yards of field position. Not so luckily for him, coach Andy Reid had seen enough, and that was the last punt return he handled.
But that wasn't the low point for the Eagles' special teams. With less than two minutes left, and the game tied, the Eagles forced the Packers to punt again - setting up a possible game winning possession for the Birds. This time they sent kick returner JR Reed back to retrieve the punt. Reed called for the fair catch, but the kick was short. Reed, instead of letting it bounce, decided to run up, and weave through blockers and tacklers, to catch the ball. He was a tad late, and couldn't control the kick. Green Bay recovered within field goal range. All Philadelphia could do was watch the clock wind down until Mason Crosby kicked the game winner through.
To put it simply, special teams lost the Eagles the game. That's not taking anything away from the Packers - they played a good game defensively - but the Eagles gave them the game. The offense and defense can not be blamed for this loss for Philly. Granted, the Eagles weren't entirely in sync on offense, but they looked like the Colts compared to the Packers' performance on that side of the ball. And defensively, they shut the Packers down entirely. Aside from one field goal drive that featured some classic highlight reel, Houdini like escapes and passes, the Packers couldn't move the ball against an Eagles' defense that had its own question marks coming into the season.
The Eagles now have some serious concerns in special teams now that they have seen how poor play from that unit alone can keep your team from winning. J.R. Reed should be adequate as the kick-off returner, but he is obviously not the answer for returning punts. Greg Lewis probably will never return another punt in his career, and Corell Buckhalter, who's experience consists of returning a few punts in preseason, is unlikely to be much better. There is only one person on this roster who could do the job: Brian Westbrook. Before he became the focal point of the offense, Westbrook earned his spot on the roster by returning punts. And he was very good at it. And he is clearly the best choice to fulfill that role right now. The only question is, will Andy Reid subject his prized offensive weapon to perceived high injury risk job of return man? Only Reid knows that answer, and its unlikely that he even knows it right now, but one thing is for sure: the present strategy is unacceptable. The special teams doesn't necessarily need to be special, but it can't become a liability like it was in the opening day loss.
The Eagles fell behind by seven early when a punt was muffed by Greg Lewis and recovered in the end zone for a touchdown. Later on, Lewis almost cost his team again by attempting to field a bouncing punt with about five Packers around him. Luckily for him, he was able to secure it and save his team about five yards of field position. Not so luckily for him, coach Andy Reid had seen enough, and that was the last punt return he handled.
But that wasn't the low point for the Eagles' special teams. With less than two minutes left, and the game tied, the Eagles forced the Packers to punt again - setting up a possible game winning possession for the Birds. This time they sent kick returner JR Reed back to retrieve the punt. Reed called for the fair catch, but the kick was short. Reed, instead of letting it bounce, decided to run up, and weave through blockers and tacklers, to catch the ball. He was a tad late, and couldn't control the kick. Green Bay recovered within field goal range. All Philadelphia could do was watch the clock wind down until Mason Crosby kicked the game winner through.
To put it simply, special teams lost the Eagles the game. That's not taking anything away from the Packers - they played a good game defensively - but the Eagles gave them the game. The offense and defense can not be blamed for this loss for Philly. Granted, the Eagles weren't entirely in sync on offense, but they looked like the Colts compared to the Packers' performance on that side of the ball. And defensively, they shut the Packers down entirely. Aside from one field goal drive that featured some classic highlight reel, Houdini like escapes and passes, the Packers couldn't move the ball against an Eagles' defense that had its own question marks coming into the season.
The Eagles now have some serious concerns in special teams now that they have seen how poor play from that unit alone can keep your team from winning. J.R. Reed should be adequate as the kick-off returner, but he is obviously not the answer for returning punts. Greg Lewis probably will never return another punt in his career, and Corell Buckhalter, who's experience consists of returning a few punts in preseason, is unlikely to be much better. There is only one person on this roster who could do the job: Brian Westbrook. Before he became the focal point of the offense, Westbrook earned his spot on the roster by returning punts. And he was very good at it. And he is clearly the best choice to fulfill that role right now. The only question is, will Andy Reid subject his prized offensive weapon to perceived high injury risk job of return man? Only Reid knows that answer, and its unlikely that he even knows it right now, but one thing is for sure: the present strategy is unacceptable. The special teams doesn't necessarily need to be special, but it can't become a liability like it was in the opening day loss.
Friday, September 7, 2007
NFC East Preview
Part eight of an eight part series examining each of the NFL's divisions. Today, we conclude with a look at the NFC East.
Philadelphia Eagles
This division may be the tightest at the top with the Eagles and Cowboys likely to battle for the title all year. The Eagles should win out though. The big story with the Eagles this season is the return of Donovan McNabb, and rightfully so. But the E True Holloywood Story with this team is the defense. Offensively they will be fine; and that is with McNabb not being at 100% for the beginning portion of the season. With McNabb playing up to his capabilities, this offense will be one of the best in the league. They were the number two offense in the NFL last season, behind only the Saints. Doing it with two QBs, the Eagles showed that they can, and will, rely on Brian Westbrook and the offensive line to lead the offense. McNabb will be just fine this season, the receiving corps is underrated, and Westbrook should repeat his career year behind one of the best offensive lines in the league. Back to the defense. As few question marks as there are on the offense, there are that many about the defense. Starting with the linebackers, the Eagles will start two guys at MIKE and SAM, Omar Gaither and Chris Gocong respectively, who have never started a game at those positions. Takeo Spikes should be an upgrade at WILL, however, if he is fully recovered from injuries that slowed him the previous two years. But the Eagles don't place a high priority on LB since they rely on a solid play from the defensive line and defensive backs. However, they did not get solid play from these units the last couple years, which is why the defense has lost its status as one of the elite. If guys like tackles, Bunkley and Patterson, can perform up to expectations, and Safety Brian Dawkins can shake off preseason injuries, the defense should be plenty adequate in spite of the question marks at linebacker. Being in a weak conference, the Eagles should simply be able to outscore teams for a few wins this season.
Prediction: 11-5
Dallas Cowboys
Talent-wise, the Cowboys may be right up there with the Eagles. So why aren't they going to win the division? Well, a couple of reasons. First, they have a new coaching staff, and the last time I checked, a new coaching staff rarely reaches expecations in their first season. Plus, it's not like they are upgrading from an incompetent coach. They had Hall of Fame coach, Bill Parcells, for four seasons and they were unable to win a playoff game in that time. Secondly, the Cowboys are seriously lacking behind the Eagles in experience and leadership. The Cowboys also have serious questions marks on both sides of the ball. Tony Romo, "Snap-gate" aside, really dropped off towards the end of his season. It seemed that, once opposing defenses accumulated game film on him, he was in fact a mere mortal. The defensive backs had major coverage problems last season. Roy Williams, considered by many the most overrated player in the league, is a big hitter but he contributed greatly to those coverage liabilities. And Dallas had next to no pass rush outside of DeMarcus Ware. But again, it's a weak conference, and everyone has chinks, if not holes, in the armor. And with talented players at most skill positions, the Cowboys should earn a Wild Card birth if they don't win the division.
Prediction: 10-6
Washington Redskins
There is a huge drop off from the top two teams in the division to the bottom two teams. The Redskins underperformed in just about every aspect of the game last season, and they are bound to improve this year. However, now they have a QB starting his first full season. Analysts from all around the league really like Jason Cambell, and they see him progressing into a strong leader of the offense as the season progresses. If they're right, the Redskins could be a decent team. They have a strong two-pronged running attack with Clinton Portis and the emergence of Ladell Betts last season. However they are old and shallow at wide receiver; Santana Moss doesn't seem to have that game breaking speed anymore and there isn't much behind him. The defense is about average, but with a weak offense, they are unable to hold up for a full 60 minutes and a full season. This is clearly a transitional year for the 'Skins as they acclimate the new QB to the system. And it may be Joe Gibbs last season in this unsuccessful comeback attempt.
Prediction: 6-10
New York Giants
For some reason, coach Tom Caughlin is still the coach of the New York Giants. He has had, and still does to some extent, a talented roster every year. Yet, the Giants have been unable to accomplish much of anything. And last season it hit a low for Caughlin's Giants. That is, until this season probably. There is no leadership in that locker room and no one can keep their mouth shut. Everyone always has something to say about a teammate or a coach, and it is impossible to create a winning chemistry in that atmosphere. Aside from the negative intangibles surrounding this team, they have serious issues at a number of positions. This jury for Eli Manning is still out, but not for much longer. Eli needs to stop relying on the name on the back of his jersey and start improving the weaknesses of his game (and there are a number of them), or he will go down as a big-time bust; considering what he was supposed to be in this league. And things will not get any easier for Eli this season, with the retirement of Tiki Barber. The Giants feel Brandon Jacobs and Reuben Droughns can pick up where Tiki left off, but I don't see it. Defensively, the Giants are weak at linebacker and defensive back. It's huge that Michael Strahan decided to come back for another year, but not even he can stop this train from derailing.
Prediction: 4-12
Philadelphia Eagles
This division may be the tightest at the top with the Eagles and Cowboys likely to battle for the title all year. The Eagles should win out though. The big story with the Eagles this season is the return of Donovan McNabb, and rightfully so. But the E True Holloywood Story with this team is the defense. Offensively they will be fine; and that is with McNabb not being at 100% for the beginning portion of the season. With McNabb playing up to his capabilities, this offense will be one of the best in the league. They were the number two offense in the NFL last season, behind only the Saints. Doing it with two QBs, the Eagles showed that they can, and will, rely on Brian Westbrook and the offensive line to lead the offense. McNabb will be just fine this season, the receiving corps is underrated, and Westbrook should repeat his career year behind one of the best offensive lines in the league. Back to the defense. As few question marks as there are on the offense, there are that many about the defense. Starting with the linebackers, the Eagles will start two guys at MIKE and SAM, Omar Gaither and Chris Gocong respectively, who have never started a game at those positions. Takeo Spikes should be an upgrade at WILL, however, if he is fully recovered from injuries that slowed him the previous two years. But the Eagles don't place a high priority on LB since they rely on a solid play from the defensive line and defensive backs. However, they did not get solid play from these units the last couple years, which is why the defense has lost its status as one of the elite. If guys like tackles, Bunkley and Patterson, can perform up to expectations, and Safety Brian Dawkins can shake off preseason injuries, the defense should be plenty adequate in spite of the question marks at linebacker. Being in a weak conference, the Eagles should simply be able to outscore teams for a few wins this season.
Prediction: 11-5
Dallas Cowboys
Talent-wise, the Cowboys may be right up there with the Eagles. So why aren't they going to win the division? Well, a couple of reasons. First, they have a new coaching staff, and the last time I checked, a new coaching staff rarely reaches expecations in their first season. Plus, it's not like they are upgrading from an incompetent coach. They had Hall of Fame coach, Bill Parcells, for four seasons and they were unable to win a playoff game in that time. Secondly, the Cowboys are seriously lacking behind the Eagles in experience and leadership. The Cowboys also have serious questions marks on both sides of the ball. Tony Romo, "Snap-gate" aside, really dropped off towards the end of his season. It seemed that, once opposing defenses accumulated game film on him, he was in fact a mere mortal. The defensive backs had major coverage problems last season. Roy Williams, considered by many the most overrated player in the league, is a big hitter but he contributed greatly to those coverage liabilities. And Dallas had next to no pass rush outside of DeMarcus Ware. But again, it's a weak conference, and everyone has chinks, if not holes, in the armor. And with talented players at most skill positions, the Cowboys should earn a Wild Card birth if they don't win the division.
Prediction: 10-6
Washington Redskins
There is a huge drop off from the top two teams in the division to the bottom two teams. The Redskins underperformed in just about every aspect of the game last season, and they are bound to improve this year. However, now they have a QB starting his first full season. Analysts from all around the league really like Jason Cambell, and they see him progressing into a strong leader of the offense as the season progresses. If they're right, the Redskins could be a decent team. They have a strong two-pronged running attack with Clinton Portis and the emergence of Ladell Betts last season. However they are old and shallow at wide receiver; Santana Moss doesn't seem to have that game breaking speed anymore and there isn't much behind him. The defense is about average, but with a weak offense, they are unable to hold up for a full 60 minutes and a full season. This is clearly a transitional year for the 'Skins as they acclimate the new QB to the system. And it may be Joe Gibbs last season in this unsuccessful comeback attempt.
Prediction: 6-10
New York Giants
For some reason, coach Tom Caughlin is still the coach of the New York Giants. He has had, and still does to some extent, a talented roster every year. Yet, the Giants have been unable to accomplish much of anything. And last season it hit a low for Caughlin's Giants. That is, until this season probably. There is no leadership in that locker room and no one can keep their mouth shut. Everyone always has something to say about a teammate or a coach, and it is impossible to create a winning chemistry in that atmosphere. Aside from the negative intangibles surrounding this team, they have serious issues at a number of positions. This jury for Eli Manning is still out, but not for much longer. Eli needs to stop relying on the name on the back of his jersey and start improving the weaknesses of his game (and there are a number of them), or he will go down as a big-time bust; considering what he was supposed to be in this league. And things will not get any easier for Eli this season, with the retirement of Tiki Barber. The Giants feel Brandon Jacobs and Reuben Droughns can pick up where Tiki left off, but I don't see it. Defensively, the Giants are weak at linebacker and defensive back. It's huge that Michael Strahan decided to come back for another year, but not even he can stop this train from derailing.
Prediction: 4-12
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
AFC East Preview
Part seven of an eight part series examining each of the NFL's divisions as we approach the beginning of the regular season. Today, we take a look at the AFC East.
New England Patriots
The Patriots have won the Super Bowl already, right? Well, that's what the vast majority of the football watching community has implied. And, well, the Patriots are as much a favorite to win it as anyone has been in the past decade. This team would have been one of the favorites if they returned the exact team from last season. But, seeing just how tough the top of the AFC is, the Pats went out and had the best offseason in the league. Granted, winning the offseason means nothing - the Redskins proved that all too many times - but the Patriots are the absolute best at evaluating talent AND fitting it within the team system. The one position of weakness last season, Wide Receiver, has been big-league upgraded with Donte Stallworth, Wes Welker, and Randy Moss. Even if Moss isn't the player he used to be (which he isn't), anything would have helped the WR unit. The addition of Adalius Thomas to the defense gives coach Bill Belichick a big time joker to throw at opposing offenses. There have been some hits already though. Rodney Harrison will start the season on a four game suspension and Richard Seymour will start the season on the Physically unable to Perform list (PUP). But if there is one thing we all should have learned over the past six years, it's that you should never count the Patriots out until they are actually golfing at home.
Prediction: 12-4
New York Jets
The Jets, and their coach, Eric Mangini, are to the Patriots and their coach, Bill Belichick, what Mini Me is the Dr. Evil. Mangini, a former assistant of Belichick, has taken everything he learned from Belichick about making a solid football team, turned the Jets into a carbon copy of the New England; albeit not on the same level. But give him time. The Jets, last season, were expected to fight for the first overall draft pick this past summer. But instead they came out of nowhere to make the playoffs in an extremely deep AFC field. Normally I'd expect a drop off from a team that seemed to play over its head, but Mangini demands that Belichick vibe: never underestimate us. And I'm not. There really is nothing to write home about on this team. They added Thomas Jones, but he is just another average piece in a very average looking puzzle. But don't forget that it took a couple Super Bowl victories before people realized that the New England puzzle was not so average looking. That said, the Jets are not the Patriots. They will have to claw for a second consecutive playoff birth.
Prediction: 10-6
Buffalo Bills
The Bills will use this season to continue their youth movement. But they will not be doormats. J.P. Losman and Lee Evans have become a very dangerous QB-WR duo, and they have a rookie on each side of the ball that has the talent, and will have the opportunity, to win Rookie of the Year honors. RB Marshawn Lynch takes over for Willis McGahee and LB Paul Posluszny will step right in at linebacker and make a difference - think DeMeco Ryans and AJ Hawk last season. However, the offensive line needs to open up some holes for Lynch, and provide some time for Losman to gain some consistency. Teams who are looking for a break in between all the land mines on their AFC schedules should look somewhere else besides Buffalo. The Bills will beat the teams they should this year, and upset a few that they're not supposed to.
Prediction: 8-8
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins offseason is littered with mistakes to follow up the offseason mistakes of previous coaching staffs. New coach, Cam Cameron, started it off by ignoring the huge hole at Quarterback during the '07 entry draft. Passing up on Brady Quinn, Cameron selected WR Ted Ginn Jr. with the 9th overall pick. Why? Because he can't wait to see this guy return kicks. Somebody watched too much of Devin Hester last year. Yes, a great returner can turn games around for you, but it won't matter when you have more important holes to fill...like QB. Obviously, the Dolphins picked the wrong door last offseason, signing Daunte Culpepper over Drew Brees - I don't need to explain how that turned out - but they had a chance to fix that mistake by drafting a franchise QB in Quinn. They didn't. Then to make matters worst, they "solved" their QB problem by acquiring Trent Green from Kansas City. Again, Cameron must have been watching Chicago game too much, because he obviously didn't see Trent Green play last year in K.C. If he had, there is no way he would have thought this was the answer. Their offensive line is average and aging - How many times can Ronnie Brown run into the line for a 2 1/2 yard gain. The defense is still good, and got better with the addition of Joey Porter, but they too are getting up there in age. Being in a tough division and tougher conference will not help their situation.
Prediction: 6-10
New England Patriots
The Patriots have won the Super Bowl already, right? Well, that's what the vast majority of the football watching community has implied. And, well, the Patriots are as much a favorite to win it as anyone has been in the past decade. This team would have been one of the favorites if they returned the exact team from last season. But, seeing just how tough the top of the AFC is, the Pats went out and had the best offseason in the league. Granted, winning the offseason means nothing - the Redskins proved that all too many times - but the Patriots are the absolute best at evaluating talent AND fitting it within the team system. The one position of weakness last season, Wide Receiver, has been big-league upgraded with Donte Stallworth, Wes Welker, and Randy Moss. Even if Moss isn't the player he used to be (which he isn't), anything would have helped the WR unit. The addition of Adalius Thomas to the defense gives coach Bill Belichick a big time joker to throw at opposing offenses. There have been some hits already though. Rodney Harrison will start the season on a four game suspension and Richard Seymour will start the season on the Physically unable to Perform list (PUP). But if there is one thing we all should have learned over the past six years, it's that you should never count the Patriots out until they are actually golfing at home.
Prediction: 12-4
New York Jets
The Jets, and their coach, Eric Mangini, are to the Patriots and their coach, Bill Belichick, what Mini Me is the Dr. Evil. Mangini, a former assistant of Belichick, has taken everything he learned from Belichick about making a solid football team, turned the Jets into a carbon copy of the New England; albeit not on the same level. But give him time. The Jets, last season, were expected to fight for the first overall draft pick this past summer. But instead they came out of nowhere to make the playoffs in an extremely deep AFC field. Normally I'd expect a drop off from a team that seemed to play over its head, but Mangini demands that Belichick vibe: never underestimate us. And I'm not. There really is nothing to write home about on this team. They added Thomas Jones, but he is just another average piece in a very average looking puzzle. But don't forget that it took a couple Super Bowl victories before people realized that the New England puzzle was not so average looking. That said, the Jets are not the Patriots. They will have to claw for a second consecutive playoff birth.
Prediction: 10-6
Buffalo Bills
The Bills will use this season to continue their youth movement. But they will not be doormats. J.P. Losman and Lee Evans have become a very dangerous QB-WR duo, and they have a rookie on each side of the ball that has the talent, and will have the opportunity, to win Rookie of the Year honors. RB Marshawn Lynch takes over for Willis McGahee and LB Paul Posluszny will step right in at linebacker and make a difference - think DeMeco Ryans and AJ Hawk last season. However, the offensive line needs to open up some holes for Lynch, and provide some time for Losman to gain some consistency. Teams who are looking for a break in between all the land mines on their AFC schedules should look somewhere else besides Buffalo. The Bills will beat the teams they should this year, and upset a few that they're not supposed to.
Prediction: 8-8
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins offseason is littered with mistakes to follow up the offseason mistakes of previous coaching staffs. New coach, Cam Cameron, started it off by ignoring the huge hole at Quarterback during the '07 entry draft. Passing up on Brady Quinn, Cameron selected WR Ted Ginn Jr. with the 9th overall pick. Why? Because he can't wait to see this guy return kicks. Somebody watched too much of Devin Hester last year. Yes, a great returner can turn games around for you, but it won't matter when you have more important holes to fill...like QB. Obviously, the Dolphins picked the wrong door last offseason, signing Daunte Culpepper over Drew Brees - I don't need to explain how that turned out - but they had a chance to fix that mistake by drafting a franchise QB in Quinn. They didn't. Then to make matters worst, they "solved" their QB problem by acquiring Trent Green from Kansas City. Again, Cameron must have been watching Chicago game too much, because he obviously didn't see Trent Green play last year in K.C. If he had, there is no way he would have thought this was the answer. Their offensive line is average and aging - How many times can Ronnie Brown run into the line for a 2 1/2 yard gain. The defense is still good, and got better with the addition of Joey Porter, but they too are getting up there in age. Being in a tough division and tougher conference will not help their situation.
Prediction: 6-10
Monday, September 3, 2007
NFC West Preview
Part six of an eight part series examining each of the NFL's divisions as we approach the start of the regular season. Today, we take a look at the NFC West.
Seattle Seahawks
This may be the closest division in football. The Seahawks are still top dogs, but not by much, and not for much longer. They are no longer the team that represented the NFC in the Super Bowl, but they are not the team ravaged by injury which still won the division. If healthy, the 'hawks will be better than last season, but so will each of the other teams in the division. Matt Hasselbeck should have a bounce back year, as should Shaun Alexander. However, the running game with Alexander has not been the same since losing Steve Hutchinson to Minnesota. Defensively, there are some coverage concerns among the defensive backs. However, the linebacking core is good, led by Lofa Tatupu. The key for this team is health; even more so than every other team. Offensively they rely so much on timing, that when the key players aren't able to get a lot of reps together, the unit sputters as it did last year. Unless Seattle can show a reinvigoration of their offense heading into next season, this may be their last on top of the West for a while. But hey, for this season, they're still the best.
Prediction: 10-6
St. Louis Rams
The Rams are placed ahead of the other two teams in the division simply because of their experience. Them, and the Niners and Cardinals, are basically dead even, so the experience in St. Louis should be the X-factor. They are no longer the Greatest Show on Turf, but the Rams still have a very good offense. Marc Bulger is one of the best QBs in the conference, and he has aging, but still effective, WRs Torry Holt and Issac Bruce to throw to. But this offense has transformed into more of a running offense. Having a back like Steven Jackson will tend to do that. Jackson has quickly emerged as one of the top three backs in the game today, and he should only get better. Defensively, there are some issues that coach, Scott Linehan, continues to work on. In this division, no one really has a strong defense, so the Rams should be able to compete just fine. And this is a team that knows how to win shootouts.
Prediction: 9-7
San Francisco 49ers
The Niners showed great improvement last year, capping the season off with a win against Denver that kept the Broncos out of the playoffs. Their improvement over the past two seasons can be directly linked to the improvement of QB, Alex Smith. And Smith's improvement can be linked to Norv Turner and an improving offensive line. Well, Turner is no longer around, but the line, along with the rest of his supporting cast, continues to improve. First round draft pick, LB Patrick Willis, has a chance to make an immediate impact on a young, aggressive defense. Frank Gore has emerged, like Steven Jackson, as an elite back in the league, and that takes a lot of pressure off of Alex Smith. Look for the Niners to pick up where they left off last season, and if they don't challenge for their own playoff spot, they will certainly make it tough on other playoff contenders.
Prediction: 9-7
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals have a very bright looking future, at least offensively. Matt Leinart, Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin form a great core of offensive weapons. And Edgerrin James is still a dangerous running back when given proper running lanes. That's where the questions arise for this team: the offensive line. Levi Brown brings hope to a annual weakness of this team, but can he make the impact they will need right away? That remains to be seen. New coach, Ken Whisenhunt, brings a desire to run the ball like he had in Pittsburgh, and that bodes well for the offense. James finally started to find some running room later last season, so there is hope that the Cardinals can build on that. And, if they can, they could have as good an offense as anybody in the division. But also like everyone else in the division, their defense is spot for concern. If Whisenhunt can bring some of that Steel Curtain defense from Pittsburgh, along with the running game, then the Cardinals could easily leap frog both the Niners and Rams and contend for a playoff spot. That's a lot of ifs at this point however.
Prediction: 7-9
Seattle Seahawks
This may be the closest division in football. The Seahawks are still top dogs, but not by much, and not for much longer. They are no longer the team that represented the NFC in the Super Bowl, but they are not the team ravaged by injury which still won the division. If healthy, the 'hawks will be better than last season, but so will each of the other teams in the division. Matt Hasselbeck should have a bounce back year, as should Shaun Alexander. However, the running game with Alexander has not been the same since losing Steve Hutchinson to Minnesota. Defensively, there are some coverage concerns among the defensive backs. However, the linebacking core is good, led by Lofa Tatupu. The key for this team is health; even more so than every other team. Offensively they rely so much on timing, that when the key players aren't able to get a lot of reps together, the unit sputters as it did last year. Unless Seattle can show a reinvigoration of their offense heading into next season, this may be their last on top of the West for a while. But hey, for this season, they're still the best.
Prediction: 10-6
St. Louis Rams
The Rams are placed ahead of the other two teams in the division simply because of their experience. Them, and the Niners and Cardinals, are basically dead even, so the experience in St. Louis should be the X-factor. They are no longer the Greatest Show on Turf, but the Rams still have a very good offense. Marc Bulger is one of the best QBs in the conference, and he has aging, but still effective, WRs Torry Holt and Issac Bruce to throw to. But this offense has transformed into more of a running offense. Having a back like Steven Jackson will tend to do that. Jackson has quickly emerged as one of the top three backs in the game today, and he should only get better. Defensively, there are some issues that coach, Scott Linehan, continues to work on. In this division, no one really has a strong defense, so the Rams should be able to compete just fine. And this is a team that knows how to win shootouts.
Prediction: 9-7
San Francisco 49ers
The Niners showed great improvement last year, capping the season off with a win against Denver that kept the Broncos out of the playoffs. Their improvement over the past two seasons can be directly linked to the improvement of QB, Alex Smith. And Smith's improvement can be linked to Norv Turner and an improving offensive line. Well, Turner is no longer around, but the line, along with the rest of his supporting cast, continues to improve. First round draft pick, LB Patrick Willis, has a chance to make an immediate impact on a young, aggressive defense. Frank Gore has emerged, like Steven Jackson, as an elite back in the league, and that takes a lot of pressure off of Alex Smith. Look for the Niners to pick up where they left off last season, and if they don't challenge for their own playoff spot, they will certainly make it tough on other playoff contenders.
Prediction: 9-7
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals have a very bright looking future, at least offensively. Matt Leinart, Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin form a great core of offensive weapons. And Edgerrin James is still a dangerous running back when given proper running lanes. That's where the questions arise for this team: the offensive line. Levi Brown brings hope to a annual weakness of this team, but can he make the impact they will need right away? That remains to be seen. New coach, Ken Whisenhunt, brings a desire to run the ball like he had in Pittsburgh, and that bodes well for the offense. James finally started to find some running room later last season, so there is hope that the Cardinals can build on that. And, if they can, they could have as good an offense as anybody in the division. But also like everyone else in the division, their defense is spot for concern. If Whisenhunt can bring some of that Steel Curtain defense from Pittsburgh, along with the running game, then the Cardinals could easily leap frog both the Niners and Rams and contend for a playoff spot. That's a lot of ifs at this point however.
Prediction: 7-9
AFC West Preview
Part five of an eight part series examining each of the NFL's divisions as we approach the start of the regular season; now just four days away. Today we look at the AFC West.
San Diego Chargers
Another AFC division and another clear front runner. The Chargers may have the most talented lineup in the NFL, so anything less than a championship will be a failure for this team. Obviously, L.T. is the engine of this team, but don't forget Phillip Rivers. Rivers has quietly had a very good start to his career, and look for him to continue his development this year with Norv Turner taking over as head coach. Whether you think Turner is a quality head coach or not, he definitely has done good work with developing QBs; Alex Smith most recently in San Francisco. And with a strong aggressive defense led by Shawn Merriman, the Chargers don't really have any holes or weaknesses that would hold them back from accomplishing their goals. Really, the only thing they lack from teams such as New England and Indianapolis, is playoff experience. Last season was their first foray into the playoffs with Super Bowl expectations, and they bowed out in their opening game. If L.T. can come anywhere close to duplicating his performance from last season - which he most certainly can - and Rivers can continue making strides in just his second full season as starting QB, then there is no reason why the Chargers can't win a Super Bowl. That is, as long as they wear those powder blues.
Prediction: 13-3
Denver Broncos
The Broncos started last season with arguably the best defense in the league. Then they ran into Peyton Manning and the Colts, who shredded them for 34 points. The Broncos' defense never seemed to recover after that. Denver plays a very basic defensive scheme, relying on discipline and sure tackling. Having a true shut down corner in Champ Bailey really allows them to do that. And after adding Dre Bly to the other corner, the Broncos should continue the same defensive scheme to a relatively high level of success. But the questions start to arise, like with so many teams these days, with the offense; specifically the quarterback. The Jay Cutler era began in week 13 last season, and the Broncos went 2-3 the rest of the way. The jury is still out on Cutler, as there are those who love his rocket arm, and there are those who criticize his rash decision making. 9 TDs in his first five games is good, but you worry about him trying to do too much; especially on a team with a good defense and a good running game. And that running game was upgraded in the offseason with the addition of Travis Henry; a one cut runner who fits the Denver zone blocking scheme perfectly. If Cutler can stay within himself, and the defense can maintain its level of play throughout the course of the season, the Broncos could be a playoff team in a stacked AFC.
Prediction: 10-6
Oakland Raiders
The Raiders currently have nothing to show for their league worst record last season, and the ensuing number one overall pick, as JaMarcus Russell still has not signed with the team. No one was expecting Russell to start right away and lead this team back to respectability, but this kid has to get in with the team and starting learning the NFL game. The Raiders have picked up Dante Culpepper, and he looks to have the starting job locked up. Oakland had a shockingly good defense last year, but it remains to be seen whether that was all a result of skill or more a result of teams generally having control of the game and scaling back their offense. It's probably somewhere in between, so don't expect a Ravenesque defense to win them games on its own. Culpepper is indefinitely an upgrade at QB, but the supporting offensive cast is still a joke. Expect more of the same from last year.
Prediction: 5-11
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs are on the way down. Quickly. Yes, they just signed Larry Johnson to a contract extension, but the rest of the defense is either aging rapidly or extremely inexperienced or simply not very good. And Herm Edwards has not been able to turn the defense into a top unit like he wanted to when taking the job. At QB, it's a choice between career backup, Damon Huard, or the second year man with zero starts under his belt, Brodie Croyle. As far as the immediate season goes, that's lose lose. L.J. will get his yards and TDs, but the offense as a whole will sputter. And with a defense that is middle of the road, the team as a whole will sputter as well. The Chiefs look like a team that is doing nothing but preparing for 2008.
Prediction: 5-11
San Diego Chargers
Another AFC division and another clear front runner. The Chargers may have the most talented lineup in the NFL, so anything less than a championship will be a failure for this team. Obviously, L.T. is the engine of this team, but don't forget Phillip Rivers. Rivers has quietly had a very good start to his career, and look for him to continue his development this year with Norv Turner taking over as head coach. Whether you think Turner is a quality head coach or not, he definitely has done good work with developing QBs; Alex Smith most recently in San Francisco. And with a strong aggressive defense led by Shawn Merriman, the Chargers don't really have any holes or weaknesses that would hold them back from accomplishing their goals. Really, the only thing they lack from teams such as New England and Indianapolis, is playoff experience. Last season was their first foray into the playoffs with Super Bowl expectations, and they bowed out in their opening game. If L.T. can come anywhere close to duplicating his performance from last season - which he most certainly can - and Rivers can continue making strides in just his second full season as starting QB, then there is no reason why the Chargers can't win a Super Bowl. That is, as long as they wear those powder blues.
Prediction: 13-3
Denver Broncos
The Broncos started last season with arguably the best defense in the league. Then they ran into Peyton Manning and the Colts, who shredded them for 34 points. The Broncos' defense never seemed to recover after that. Denver plays a very basic defensive scheme, relying on discipline and sure tackling. Having a true shut down corner in Champ Bailey really allows them to do that. And after adding Dre Bly to the other corner, the Broncos should continue the same defensive scheme to a relatively high level of success. But the questions start to arise, like with so many teams these days, with the offense; specifically the quarterback. The Jay Cutler era began in week 13 last season, and the Broncos went 2-3 the rest of the way. The jury is still out on Cutler, as there are those who love his rocket arm, and there are those who criticize his rash decision making. 9 TDs in his first five games is good, but you worry about him trying to do too much; especially on a team with a good defense and a good running game. And that running game was upgraded in the offseason with the addition of Travis Henry; a one cut runner who fits the Denver zone blocking scheme perfectly. If Cutler can stay within himself, and the defense can maintain its level of play throughout the course of the season, the Broncos could be a playoff team in a stacked AFC.
Prediction: 10-6
Oakland Raiders
The Raiders currently have nothing to show for their league worst record last season, and the ensuing number one overall pick, as JaMarcus Russell still has not signed with the team. No one was expecting Russell to start right away and lead this team back to respectability, but this kid has to get in with the team and starting learning the NFL game. The Raiders have picked up Dante Culpepper, and he looks to have the starting job locked up. Oakland had a shockingly good defense last year, but it remains to be seen whether that was all a result of skill or more a result of teams generally having control of the game and scaling back their offense. It's probably somewhere in between, so don't expect a Ravenesque defense to win them games on its own. Culpepper is indefinitely an upgrade at QB, but the supporting offensive cast is still a joke. Expect more of the same from last year.
Prediction: 5-11
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs are on the way down. Quickly. Yes, they just signed Larry Johnson to a contract extension, but the rest of the defense is either aging rapidly or extremely inexperienced or simply not very good. And Herm Edwards has not been able to turn the defense into a top unit like he wanted to when taking the job. At QB, it's a choice between career backup, Damon Huard, or the second year man with zero starts under his belt, Brodie Croyle. As far as the immediate season goes, that's lose lose. L.J. will get his yards and TDs, but the offense as a whole will sputter. And with a defense that is middle of the road, the team as a whole will sputter as well. The Chiefs look like a team that is doing nothing but preparing for 2008.
Prediction: 5-11
Saturday, September 1, 2007
NFC North Preview
Part four of an eight part series examining each of the NFL's divisions as we approach the start of the regular season. Today we take a look at the NFC North; home of the defending NFC champions.
Chicago Bears
Da Bears own one of the best defenses in the game, and Devin Hester is the most dangerous return man since Dante Hall was in his prime. And that's about it. But that should be enough to once again make Chicago one of the favorites in the watered down NFC. Their run to the Super Bowl last season can be described as "in spite of the play of their QB." Compare that to the team that beat them in the big game, and you can see how important quarterback play is in the NFL. Last season, Rex Grossman was either good or horrible. If he can eliminate those horrible performances, or even if he just improves them to okay, the Bears would have to be a clear cut favorite. If he can't, combined with the loss of rushing leader Thomas Jones, the Bears will have a tough time making it back to the Super Bowl. But, being in a weak division, they should cruise to the playoffs regardless.
Prediction: 11-5
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings will follow a formula very similar to the Bears: Good defense, good running game, and hope your QB doesn't lose you games. Their defense isn't as good, but their running game is better. And it's anybody's guess how their QB, Tavaris Jackson, will do. However, Jackson will be asked to do very little with the running game he will have. Chester Taylor, who had a very good but understated season last year, will share the backfield with number one pick Adrian Peterson. If Jackson can just manage the game, and not lose the team games, the Vikings will put up a good fight and not let the Bears run away with the division.
Prediction: 8-8
Green Bay Packers
One last year for Brett Favre, right? We shall see. What we have seen, is that Favre can still play. He is nowhere near his MVP form, but in an era where the skill level at QB is very low, Favre is in a class by himself. The Packers improved as the season went on last year, finishing 8-8, and have high hopes coming into this season. However, they did nothing to improve themselves this past offseason. The still growing/learning offensive line will cause problems again for the running game, and Favre's consecutive games streak will be put in jeopardy as he should be running for his life again. The young defense was very underrated by the end of last season, and they look to build on that this season. This season won't be the exact way Farve wants to leave the game, but at least it should be ugly. The Pack should be competitive game in and game out.
Prediction: 8-8
Detroit Lions
The Lions are a very tough to team to figure out coming into the new season. Their offense looks like it could be as good as anyone's, but their defense is still a work in progress. They should be very tough in Detroit, where Mike Martz can have fun with Roy Williams, Calvin Johnson, Jon Kitna, and company on the fast turf track; much like in St. Louis. Head coach, Rod Marinelli, is a hard work, defensive oriented guy, and that should be good for a defense that finished 30th in points allowed. If the defense can over-perform a little bit, like New Oreans did last season, they have a good enough offense to surprise a lot of people; myself included.
Prediction: 7-9
Chicago Bears
Da Bears own one of the best defenses in the game, and Devin Hester is the most dangerous return man since Dante Hall was in his prime. And that's about it. But that should be enough to once again make Chicago one of the favorites in the watered down NFC. Their run to the Super Bowl last season can be described as "in spite of the play of their QB." Compare that to the team that beat them in the big game, and you can see how important quarterback play is in the NFL. Last season, Rex Grossman was either good or horrible. If he can eliminate those horrible performances, or even if he just improves them to okay, the Bears would have to be a clear cut favorite. If he can't, combined with the loss of rushing leader Thomas Jones, the Bears will have a tough time making it back to the Super Bowl. But, being in a weak division, they should cruise to the playoffs regardless.
Prediction: 11-5
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings will follow a formula very similar to the Bears: Good defense, good running game, and hope your QB doesn't lose you games. Their defense isn't as good, but their running game is better. And it's anybody's guess how their QB, Tavaris Jackson, will do. However, Jackson will be asked to do very little with the running game he will have. Chester Taylor, who had a very good but understated season last year, will share the backfield with number one pick Adrian Peterson. If Jackson can just manage the game, and not lose the team games, the Vikings will put up a good fight and not let the Bears run away with the division.
Prediction: 8-8
Green Bay Packers
One last year for Brett Favre, right? We shall see. What we have seen, is that Favre can still play. He is nowhere near his MVP form, but in an era where the skill level at QB is very low, Favre is in a class by himself. The Packers improved as the season went on last year, finishing 8-8, and have high hopes coming into this season. However, they did nothing to improve themselves this past offseason. The still growing/learning offensive line will cause problems again for the running game, and Favre's consecutive games streak will be put in jeopardy as he should be running for his life again. The young defense was very underrated by the end of last season, and they look to build on that this season. This season won't be the exact way Farve wants to leave the game, but at least it should be ugly. The Pack should be competitive game in and game out.
Prediction: 8-8
Detroit Lions
The Lions are a very tough to team to figure out coming into the new season. Their offense looks like it could be as good as anyone's, but their defense is still a work in progress. They should be very tough in Detroit, where Mike Martz can have fun with Roy Williams, Calvin Johnson, Jon Kitna, and company on the fast turf track; much like in St. Louis. Head coach, Rod Marinelli, is a hard work, defensive oriented guy, and that should be good for a defense that finished 30th in points allowed. If the defense can over-perform a little bit, like New Oreans did last season, they have a good enough offense to surprise a lot of people; myself included.
Prediction: 7-9
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