The Broncos Are The Real Deal, Now And In The Future

The Broncos are the biggest surprise this year in the NFL (maybe the understatement of the year). After all the disagreements with Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall over the off-season and seemingly large holes on defense, Josh McDaniels has made the Broncos a force to be reckoned with. Here’s how he did it.

Kyle Orton – This guy gets more crap than any other QB in the NFL. One problem is that he wins. He doesn’t make mistakes when the game is on the line. He has two career interceptions in red zone situations. He gets the job done and isn’t particularly flashy. Jay Cutler is what Belichickian coaches hate: a gunslinger. Orton smarts will keep the Broncos at the top of the AFC West for a while.

Knowshon Moreno – NFL analysts hummed and hawed when the Broncos went offense in the first round this year. McDaniels must be out of his mind. Thus far, the move worked. Moreno can runs north-south with a good combination of speed and power. He blocks, he catches, and he’s a smart guy. McDaniels knew having a solid running back corps opens up more options on offense, and Moreno gives the Broncos many options.

Mike Nolan – Nolan’s exit out of San Fransisco was ugly (again, another understatement). He clashed with his players and never seem to grasp his role as head coach. Most people forgot his genius with the Ravens defense just a few years ago. He’s brought some of the same schemes to Denver, took a bad defense and turned it into the best in the NFL. He’s made underrated players like Elvis Dumervil into superstars, much in the same way he did with guys like Adalius Thomas. He highlights the strengths and has created a solid defense.

Changing the focus – McDaniels made sure this team was about winning. He plays whoever will give him the best chance to win, not the player who should be good enough to win. If a player doesn’t play up to expectations, he sits. He also pushed through difficult PR situations and focused on winning games.

The big question is how long can it last. Truthfully, I think this team will run the table. Although the squad has barely been together, McDaniels and his coaching staff has veteran leadership (Brian Dawkins, D.J. Williams) on the field to do it. The defense is fast and physical. The offense has all the weapons to be even better. Watch the Broncos continue what they started and achieve one or more Super Bowl Championships.

Filed under: Denver Broncos , Josh McDaniels, Mike Nolan

Week 3 Review

The Ravens look like they really do have offense…kind of – I still am not 100% convinced. It looks like they finally figured out how to be a big time offense, but I’d like to see a few more games against good defenses. They crushed the Browns and Chiefs, who are both poor defensive squads. Their other win came against the Chargers, who do not have the same defense they did a few years ago.

Brett Favre still has it – I thought the 49ers won that game. They kept Adrian Peterson to 85 yards (that seems strange to say) and played a solid game of football. Then Brett Favre comes along and pulls a rabbit out of a hat, again. He still has it but Minnesota has been sugar coating the offense. Adrian Peterson is the key and it should help Favre last a little longer this year.

Peyton Manning is the 100% real deal – I’ve been one to knock Peyton Manning for being the most pampered QB in NFL history. He’s had the same offensive coordinator his entire career, an experienced, great running attacks, and some of the best receivers in the NFL. This year, he’s proving that he is the greatest ever. He lost a Hall of Fame WR, has a struggling running attack, doesn’t have a strong offensive line, and one of his starting receivers came out of Division III Mt. Union. The Colts have major concerns, but they’ll win 10 games again, especially with the defense the AFC South has to offer.

Detriot is a franchise on the rise – They still have a long way to go, but Detroit is playing better. Stafford showed his promise, the defense held fairly well against the Redskins, and they look like a team on the way up. They will lose plenty of more game but Jim Schwartz will have this team in the right direction by season’s end.

The Jets will turn heads this year, then challenge the Pats for AFC East superiority next year – I like the Jets a lot. They have an incredibly talented defense, a rookie QB who looks the part and can handle New York pressures, and enough young players to build around. They need as good draft or two to really challenge the Patriots each year, but they’ve been on their way for a while.

Next week I’ll have the first quarter report looking at who looks like a contender, who will have a late rise, and who will be looking towards 2010 sooner rather than later.

Filed under: Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts, Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, San Diego Chargers, Washington Redskins

Week 2 Review

Week 2 came and went in the NFL and early indications show that this season will be an interesting one. Here’s what I saw from this week:

The Saints could be the best offense ever: Drew Brees and company continue to rack up points even without starting tackle Jamaal Brown and a true #1 receiver. I still question Jeremy Shockey’s real value but maybe being with Sean Payton will help him out a bit. If he fails to produce all season long newly acquired David Thomas has shown flashes of greatness with the Patriots in the past. The deep receiving corps will help Brees along with good hands out of the backfield from Reggie Bush and Heath Evans. Watch the Saints light up scoreboards the rest of the season, although that defense still needs to catch up.

The Patriots are starting the season off like it’s 2003…and that could be a good thing: I’m not counting out the Patriots quite yet. I still like the team. It’s been formed for the modern NFL and can do more than people realize. The offense is still getting off the ground with a QB who missed a full season. He started to find Joey Galloway and put up numbers against the Rex Ryan 3-4 defense similar to those against the same defense in Baltimore during his record setting 2007 season. The Jets are the real deal on defense so I wasn’t shocked the Patriots had issues. On defense, the team looked solid and wanted Mark Sanchez to make the mistakes. They stuffed the run and were solid against the pass. The pass rush wasn’t a major concern because the Jets were running early and often. With a few tweaks and the return of Jerod Mayo, this team could still go places.

The 49ers Could Be The Sleeper: I’m liking the 49ers. I think they will end up with a fairly good record. I still can’t see a playoff spot or major run but this team is playing their hearts out. Mike Singletary has really pointed them in the right direction.

Peyton Manning Is Looking Like Tom Brady: I think Peyton Manning is finally proving himself as a better QB than Tom Brady. He is facing difficulties that he hasn’t seen in the NFL. To this point, he has always had an experience Head Coach, offensive coordinator Tom Moore, Hall of Fame WR Marvin Harrison, a running game, and one of the best offensive lines in the NFL. He has risen to the task of playing without one of his top receivers, an effective running game, or a solid defense. Miami should have won, but his ability to rally the offense down the field in a pressure situation allowed the Colts to win. I don’t think they are Super Bowl worthy, but they should make a good run.

Watch The Broncos: I know, I know. McDaniels beat teams in Cleveland that haven’t been good since the 1980s. I like what I’ve seen. The defense beat the Bengals, who looked impressive in Green Bay. With great play calls, the winning attitude of Kyle Orton (NOTE: He still has a better win-loss record than Jay Cutler), and a much improved defense, this team could be back on the right track.

Filed under: Uncategorized

The End Of An Era (Even If It Was Disappointing)

The San Diego Chargers placed Jamal Williams on Injured Reserve today and it looks like the Chargers will have a way to go in order to get their first ever championship. The team over the past few seasons has been going through changes. LaDanian Tomlinson appears to be falling to the rule of 30, core defensive players like Williams and Quintin Jammer are starting to be past their prime, and the offensive line looks worse each season. The Raiders showed the weaknesses that the Chargers have amassed and it’s doubtful that they will become as dominant as before. Good replacement players like Vincent Jackson and Antonio Cromartie will keep them afloat, but they have too many players to replace. With teams like the Patriots and Colts continuing to find replacements for departing players, the Chargers may struggle to keep up. They have the worst coach of the three and the front office is not as strong. Expect the Chargers to have more seasons like last year rather than the string of great years they had before it.

Filed under: San Diego Chargers

Week 1 2009 Review

The first week has come and gone with some teams looking as good as ever while most still have questions to be answered. Here’s a look at the big stories from Week 1.

The Saints Offense – Sean Payton is really starting to look like an offensive genius. The Saints don’t have a true #1 receiver, they certainly don’t have a dominant running back, and they seem to dominate with only one big name on the roster. Drew Brees has easily been one of the top 5 QBs in the past 5 years and he’s been the best the past two seasons. The Saints still have big questions on defense, especially if Charles Grant and Will Smith end up suspend, but even if they are average the Saints will go far.

The AFC Teams of the 2000s Barely Pull Of Ws – The four teams that have dominated the AFC since 2000, The Patriots, Colts, Steelers, and Chargers, all won tight games with three winning in the closing minutes. The Patriots looked sloppy early on offense and struggled to contain the Bills running attack on defense. They picked up the pace late while showing the ability to pressure the QB on a defense with a much improved secondary (Terrell Owens and Lee Evans combined for 5 catches and 71 yards with no TDs). The Colts played well on defense but the days of the offense driving down the field for a TD seemingly every drive are over. The Chargers are heading towards tough decisions soon with a defense that is struggling, but Philip Rivers is looking more and more like a top NFL QB. The Steelers struggled on an offense with a questionable run game and an offensive line built for power that tends to pass block. They will still be the teams to beat in their respective divisions, but the chinks in their armor are clear.

The NFC North Will Be The Most Intriguing Division – With Brett Favre, Jay Cutler, and Brett Favre’s replacement, the NFC North will be the division to follow. Favre looked ok against the Browns, which is exactly what Minnesota needs. He will continue to bring attention to himself and the jury is out on whether he helps or hurts one of the most talented teams in the NFL. The Bears looked terrible against the Packers. They don’t have a WR for “franchise” QB Jay Cutler and the defense is a far cry from the NFC Champions of 2006. He still takes far too many chances and he doesn’t look the part of team leader. Brett Favre’s replacement on the other hand looked the part. Aaron Rodgers didn’t have a strong game but made the big play in the clutch, which was the knock on him last year. With a defense that looked better since it’s conversion to the Dom Capers 3-4, the Packers could end up being a great team in the NFC.

Rex Ryan Is Insane…And Knows Exactly What He’s Doing – The Jets defense had the talent last year but looked slow and unmotivated last year. This year they have one of the most creative defensive minds in Rex Ryan as a head coach. He added his wrinkles to the 2009 Jets defense that will not only motivate them but will generate similar results to those he achieved in Baltimore. Bart Scott has thus far looked the part of team leader and being with Ray Lewis has rubbed off on him after he started his career as a bad character guy. Look for the Jets to be dominant on defense the whole season this year.

Here’s what we can see from the Week 1 games:

- The Packers will be the sleeper team this year. Their defense will only get better and Aaron Rodgers is the leader of the offense.

- Rex Ryan, Mike Singletary, and Jim Mora were the best new head coach hires. Two have real leadership experience (Singletary as a defensive captain and Mora already had a head coaching job) and the third has a father (Buddy Ryan) to learn from. They made their teams better right away and I expect them to go far.

- The AFC will come down to old favorites. Although they all had tight games, they won in classic fashion. The AFC didn’t really show a good sleeper in Week 1 so it should come down the Colts, Patriots, Chargers, and Steelers.

- The NFC is fairly wide open. The Vikings or Packers should win the North, the Eagles or Giants in the East, and the Saints or Falcons will be the winners in the South. The West looks weak again but it could end uo coming down to the Cardinals, Seahawks, or, surprisingly enough, the 49ers. It’s a tough call who will win the NFC Championship.

Filed under: Coaches, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, Phliadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Diego Chargers, San Fransisco 49ers , Aaron Rodgers, Brett Favre, Drew Brees, Jay Cutler, Jim Mora, Mike Singletary, Rex Ryan, Sean Payton

Richard Seymour: Classic Bill Belichick

It’s been to long since I conversed about the NFL, most likely because the pre-season outside of Jerry Jones’ megatron scoreboard incident has been fairly quiet. No big cuts on cut day and no controversy until yesterday. Richard Seymour’s trade to the Raiders shocked everyone who follows the Patriots and even those who don’t. It seemed like he was one of the untouchables, the player we would never let go until he was well past his prime. Everyone was wrong.

If there was a Tom Brady of the defense during that first championship season in 2001, it was Seymour. He came in as a rookie and flat out showed why he deserved a first round selection. He was an athlete in every sense of the word. You could hardly tell he weighed 300 lb until you realized he was 6′6″ tall. When the Pats began to transition to a 3-4, he made became the best DE in football. He stuffed the run like no one else and could rush the passer at a position that usually struggles to find sack opportunities.

So why would Bill Belichick trade the player that changed his defense and has been a dominant force in the NFL? To begin answering that, look at the past two seasons. He was not the same Richard Seymour. In 2007, he missed most of the season and seemed to not quite dominate like he once did in his younger days. When 2008 came around, much of the same seemed to be true. His presence was there from time to time and he could still get on top of the QB, however it still didn’t seem to be the same player.

The main issue coming into the new season was that Vince Wilfork, another young player on the defensive line needed a new contract. So does Seymour. Ty Warren already signed an extension so hand has already surpassed Seymour’s ability. He was missed more last year when he was injured than when Seymour missed games. Wilfork is a tougher player to find. DEs in 3-4 defenses can come and go, dominant nose guards do not. Wilfork needed to be a priority of the future, even if the Pats switch to a 4-3 defense.

On that topic, the 4-3 defense seems to be the short term future of the Patriots. They traded for a 4-3 DE in Derrick Burgess and have struggled to find another inside linebacker to play beside Jerod Mayo. Sure Guyton has shown his keep, but he plays better as a 4-3 OLB and should mainly be used inside on passing downs. The other OLB spot looks to be weak as well, although Pierre Woods has shown some ability to start in the past.

The Patriots will play a 4-3 defense more often, which means a logjam with the defensive line. Seymour is a better DT than DE in the 4-3. So is Warren. Jarvis Green can play the 4-3 DE spot better than both. That meant a rotation would be in place for two highly paid players. The Pats would struggle to get everyone who deserved playing time in while playing weaker players at LB. Seymour’s pass rushing skills pale in comparison to the combination of Adalius Thomas and Derrick Burgess on the edge, so he became more expendable. Since the Pats need the money for the future, need the defensive line spot for 4-3, and want to win now. Seymour just didn’t fit those plans.

In the end, this is reminiscent of another New England favorite and team leader who lost his job shortly before the season in 2003. Writers lauded the move as a terrible mistake and that the Patriots would regret such a decision. Six years later, Lawyer Milloy’s release looks like a masterstroke. His play had been declining and the Patriots knew Rodney Harrison was the future. Milloy never achieved the same success with the Bills or Falcons and the Patriots went on to win the Super Bowl. The biggest difference this time around was that the Patriots received a 1st round pick out of it. Expect the defense to gain long term from the move and watch as the Patriots move forward without one of the most important members of the Super Bowl dynasty.

Filed under: New England Patriots

The Great Debate Continues: How 2009 Could Decide The Winner Of The Tom Brady Vs. Peyton Manning Debate

Since 2004 the greatest debate in the NFL has been over the best QB in the NFL. Some believe Tom Brady, winner of 3 Super Bowls and Single Season Passing TD record holder, is the best. Others point to Peyton Manning’s jaw dropping numbers and his offense’s dominance over the past half decade. Here’s how the debate looks right now:

Tom Brady
Why he should be seen as the best – The benchmark for QBs are Super Bowls. Terry Bradshaw doesn’t make the Hall of Fame without his four Super Bowl wins. Troy Aikman is hard pressed to be a first ballot Hall of Famer without his Super Bowls because of poor TD numbers. Tom Brady has been the Super Bowl QB of the 2000s. He also has been with poorer offenses and still finds ways to win. The Patriots were minutes away from going to another Super Bowl in 2006 with an offense that could barely be considered average without Brady. He has adjusted to new offensive coordinators and even a season without one. He rarely has the same offense going into each new season and he somehow takes each one to another level.

Why he shouldn’t be considered the best – Statistically, he doesn’t even compare to Manning. With only two 4,000 yard seasons under his belt, he seems to be short compared to Manning’s nine. Touchdown numbers tend to be the same however true dominance tends to be held by Manning’s crew. At times the Colts offense seems unflappable and cannot be stopped from going in for yet another score. Brady did have an incredible 2007 season but that only came with a completely revamped receiving corps including one the best deep receivers in NFL history Randy Moss and the best short yardage receiver in Wes Welker. His 117.2 passing rating paled in comparison to Manning’s record 121.1. Finally, the injury could prove to be Brady’s downfall although other serious injuries never brought down Dan Marino or Joe Montana.

Peyton Manning
Why he should be considered the best – Brett Favre better be shaking in his boots as Manning gets closer each year to breaking ever major passing record in NFL history. He should make short work of Steve Young’s passer rating record and yards and TDs won’t be too far behind. Manning has been consistent year in and year out with at least 12 wins each season since 2003. His passer rating regularly touches near 100 and his offenses are at times unstoppable. He’s also known for his ability to call audibles on the field as his offensive coordinator gives him the freedom to change the play entirely on the spot. The Colts offense may prove to be the example used by the NFL like the West Coast offense has been since the 1980s.

Why he shouldn’t be considered the best – The benchmark for QBs are Super Bowls. Manning has a measly one, the same amount fellow stat monsters Dan Marino and Brett Favre have combined. Although the defense can be to blame for some, Manning’s inability to take over playoff games gets to him. The 3-4 defense has always been a nuisance to him as evidenced by all of his playoff exits since 2004 (San Diego twice, New England twice, Pittsburgh once). One of the greatest advantages for Manning has come from his offensive coordinator situation: Tom Moore has been his sole offensive coordinator since his rookie season. He also had Marvin Harrison and Edgerrin James to help during their early runs, later replaced by Joseph Addai and Reggie Wayne. The offensive line has been the strongest in the league and injuries have been kept to a minimum for the most part.

So why is this the telling season? Both QBs enter interesting situations. Tom Brady will return after a terrible knee injury last season and he will need to shake off the rust quickly. Fortunately he was never an extremely mobile QB however adjustments will still be necessary. Manning will enter his first season without Tom Moore at offensive coordinator, Howard Mudd as the offensive line coach, or his favorite receiver Marvin Harrison. The coaching situation will be a big question as well since Manning will have his first inexperienced head coach in his career.

The true outcome could come very early in the season or very late. Right now I see Tom Brady doing fine with maybe one poor week early on and Manning seeing a slight drop off in his numbers. Brady has the better chance of succeeding with his powerful offense even stronger and a better defense than the Colts. Brady also has experience adjusting to new offenses while Manning will need to find a way to work with his new coaches on establishing a rhythm between them. In the end, they will continue to be the two best QBs quite possibly in NFL history however this season could decide who belongs at number one.

Filed under: Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots

Steve McNair: A Truly Special Football Player

The NFL lost one of it’s truly special players last week in Steve McNair. Now the media will begin to focus on his life after football and the circumstances surrounding his death, however he should be remembered for his playing days.

Now in terms of rating quarterbacks, I’m a believer in the win-loss category as a major factor in deciding who deserves to be considered among the elite at the position. I have a hard time including QBs who never seemed to keep a team afloat in the toughest of times. Looking back at the greatest ever, they won games plain and simple. Steve McNair was a winner. In his nine seasons in Tennessee, he only posted 3 losing seasons, one of which he only started half of the games due to injury. In his one full season in Baltimore, he had a winning record. He took a mediocre franchise that never seemed to reach its potential and turned it into a winning team.

The second part of the winning equation is a QBs ability in the playoffs. McNair never had the numbers in the playoffs but he still won half of his games in the post-season. Peyton Manning still wishes he could say that. He only encountered two playoff runs where he didn’t win a game.

In terms of his skills as a player, there have been few all around QBs like McNair. He could run, he could throw, and he could think. His leadership took a mostly average passing offense and elevated it to another level. He did gain help from underrated players like Derrick Mason and Frank Wycheck, however most of the time he did not throw to elite receivers. Sure Eddie George helped early on, but McNair stepped up when George lost most of his ability from a toe injury. McNair could throw the ball with the best of them.

Finally, there was his lead by example nature. He never gave up in a game. He believed he could win as long as he tried. He knew he could play if he forgot the play. He never allowed the media to rip him to shreds and certainly never gave them any fodder. He showed his counterparts how a football player should act on and off the field.

I doubt a player like Steve McNair will come around again. Few QBs come into the NFL with his athletic ability. Even fewer come in with his ability to take lumps and get up every time to fight another play. Even less come with his leadership skills that took the Houston/Tennessee franchise from a mediocre club to one of the best in the NFL.

Filed under: Baltimore Ravens, News, Tennessee Titans

How The Williamses Could Learn Something From Calvin Pace

I’m back after a short break to talk a little football once again. I would discuss Michael Vick but everyone knows that story and there hasn’t been any huge news in the NFL world.

Here’s a little something that caught my eye: Calvin Pace was suspended 4 games for violating the Substance Abuse Policy. Now I know it’s fairly old news to hear a player has been suspended but I think this is a story for every NFL player to read. He knew that a supplement he took caused him to fail the test. He didn’t know a banned substance was part of said substance. The best part is that Pace admits his mistake and apologized.

I know that seems like a fairly reasonable response, however Kevin and Pat Williams both need to look at this story. The Williamses have a 4 game suspension hanging over their heads pending a court case against the NFL’s decision. They decided to fight the suspension, claiming that the league’s hotline provided incomplete information along with the supplement’s information label. What they need to realize is that the NFL IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR KNOWING EVERY SINGLE SUPPLEMENT ON THE MARKET. It’s near impossible for the NFL to be on top of every new “advance” in sports medicine. The NFL also covered their rear ends by stating in very clear terms that the players are responsible for everything that goes into their body, whether they know what is in the product or not.

Players need to stop blaming others for making mistakes in their quest for an edge. Both Pace and the Williamses wanted to get a leg up on the competition. They know what the NFL allows players to take and that the league is not responsible for knowing every single little supplement. They know that they risk suspension in trying to gain an advantage. Calvin Pace went the right direction by admitting his mistake and understanding the consequences for his actions. The Williamses should do the same.

Filed under: Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, News, Roger Godell , Calvin Pace, Substance Abuse Policy, Williamses

2005 NFL Draft Review

Every year, analysts say that you can only judge a player after three years in the league and that grading drafts immediately after it happens is pointless.  So I will go ahead look at the draft from 2005 to see how everyone did.

Best Draft – Houston Texans:
Their current team’s base came from this draft. First they surprised the league by drafting Mario Williams first overall over Reggie Bush, a gamble that has thus far worked out incredibly well. Their next pick became defensive leader DeMeco Ryans who has dominated since joining the team. They drafted starters in tackle Eric Winston and tight end Owen Daniels along with a solid backup at wide receiver with David Anderson. Expect this class to help the Texans make the playoffs in the coming years.

Worst Draft – St. Louis Rams
They had ten picks in this draft and only one player (first round CB Tye Hill) that can be considered a strong contributor. Other than him, only tight end Joe Klopfenstein has seen solid starter’s time and he has been ineffective as a receiver.

Best steal – Brandon Marshall, 4th Round, Denver Broncos
The lower part of the draft had some good players, but Marshall was the best post-3rd round pick. He has been dominant in the league although his character is still a concern.

Biggest Bust – Vernon Davis, TE, San Fransisco 49ers
This draft is better known for semi-busts than full-on disasters. If there is one, it’s Vernon Davis. His physical talent at TE excited the 49ers and they hoped he could be a 3rd WR at TE. He has yet to reach his potential and has been benched in some games. The 49ers still hold some hope, but he’s running out of chances.

Best First Round Pick – Mario Williams, DE, Houston Texans
EVERYONE thought the Texans would take Reggie Bush. He was too fast, too athletic, too exciting to let slip by. “He could change the entire offense and make the team a force for years” is what most experts said. Only the Texans (and yours truly) thought otherwise. They went for the big 290 pound DE who had the speed and athletic ability of a linebacker. They wanted defense before building the offense and didn’t think Bush’s skills transferred into their offense. Gary Kubiak runs an offense that doesn’t need a great back or a back who catches the ball often. So far, they’ve been on the money. Williams is a dominant Pro Bowl player while Bush struggles to become more than a receiving back.

Overall Outcome
This draft ended up being more about the second round than the first round. Players like Greg Jennings, DeMeco Ryans, Marcus McNeill, Devin Hester, Maurice Jones-Drew, Thomas Howard, Rocky McIntosh, and LenDale White were all taken in the second round. When compared to the first round, the second round had so many great players. It think this year will be very similar where more great players come from the second round than the first.

Filed under: Houston Texans, San Fransisco 49ers, St. Louis Rams