With conference realignment and Big 12 chaos swirling in the Midwest air, a new scent appeared in Columbia, Missouri today: the sweet scent of southern sweet tea took over, with appearances from deep fried chicken and the bite of bourbon and whiskey. The expansion craze has hit my college in full force; the Missouri Tigers and SEC have informally agreed to join.
Now many on campus are somewhat concerned about the possible move. Is Mizzou ready to compete in the best and most brutal football conference in America? Are the Tigers fast enough? Will the students here see many winning seasons or New Year's bowl games? Why would we join the Southeast when we're in the Midwest?
These concerns need to be alleviated and replaced with excitement. The past five national champions have come from the SEC, and some of the best atmospheres in football call it home. Missouri will now travel to hallowed grounds like Death Valley, Between the Hedges, the Swamp, and Bryant-Denny Stadium. Students will have the best teams in the country coming to Columbia to play every year, creating an even more hyped and insane aura than ever before.
Financially, this move is pure brilliance. The SEC has a ridiculous TV contract, along with a gargantuan amount of bowl money. All of this can put our athletic facilities officially over the top. We are now sharing revenue with at least eight powerhouse programs instead of four. More seats could even be added to Faurot Field with the new profit.
From a recruiting standpoint, the Tigers are gaining a major selling point. Instead of having to keep up with the SEC in terms of conference prestige when selling the program to recruits, they can now say they are a part of the power. Kids nowadays aspire to play in Dixie Country, as it's the first conference that comes to mind when discussing college football with anybody. The Pac 12 and Big 10 boast impressive programs and venues as well, but can they really match the combined power of all the stadiums I mentioned earlier along with the out-of-this-world tailgates occurring there (or the insanely attractive southern belles that cheer wildly in them)? Players and coaches are revered in this conference, and the bottom line is that players want to become heroes in the South.
Getting better players will only build the Tiger program further. That will happen over time, which may bring me to my biggest point to any Mizzou fan or student: be patient. At first, the Tigers will most likely not be winning the SEC. Being competitive is fully possible, but they might not be quite ready for the wear and tear of an SEC schedule. Some of you are underrating the program that is currently housed here, with 42 wins over the past five years and the eleventh most wins in the country over the past decade. We're putting out NFL players every year, as Missouri has had more players picked in the NFL Draft than any other school over the past four years. This team has talent and a great coach in Gary Pinkel. Everything is honestly looking up, especially with a young and talented quarterback like James Franklin at the helm as well. (We also become one of the better basketball teams in the conference as well.)
Change is great, but it's always a little rough at first. Embrace and hope for this move because it is truly the best one for the Tigers. We'll absorb some Southern hospitality and give in return some trademarked Midwest love, along with our damn good barbecue (a huge plus for any SEC traveler). Columbia, Missouri is one of the best college towns in America, and it perfectly fits into the homey feel of Dixie. The times they are a-changin; but they sure are looking sweeter here.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
Fading Glory: The Fall of Notre Dame
Touchdown Jesus. The Golden Domes. Rudy. Play Like a Champion Today. Knute Rockne. All of these college football icons are associated with the pride and tradition that defines Notre Dame football, the program that is tied for most national championships with eleven. They've produced more Hesiman trophy winners and All-Americans than any other school as well. The Fighting Irish have been one of the most prestigious programs in college football history; but not today.
The Notre Dame that was is no more. Gone are the days when teams feared entering South Bend. Coaches like Lou Holtz and Ara Parseghian no longer grace the sidelines to strike pride and motivation in their players. Instead, there have been four different head coaches since Holtz and teams that are simply overrated and overmatched. This Irish fall has now taken a ten year period, and it really has no signs of stopping.
Since 1997, the year Bob Davie took over the program, Notre Dame's overall record is 99-75. They have been to nine bowl games during this tenure, only winning two of them, both not being BCS games. In fact, the last BCS bowl win for Notre Dame was in 1992 against Florida. The average margin of loss in the bowl games that Notre Dame failed in? 23 points. Needless to say, they have been irrelevant in terms of postseason success in during this time.
Somehow, through all of this, Notre Dame has continued to bring in top recruiting classes. They are continuously in the top 25 in this, including a number one ranking by Rivals and Scout in 2008. With such top talent, one would think these players turn into top players in the country. Some have, but many simply have not. From 1992 to 2004, the Irish had no players finish in the top ten of Heisman voting. Their last Heisman winner in general was in 1987 with Tim Brown. The last Irish player to be an All-American at the end of the season was Jeff Samardzija in 2005, and there has only been one other All-American with Samardzija since 1997, that being Shane Walton in 2002.
This trend has carried on to the NFL as well, with only seven players during this tenure making multiple Pro Bowl appearances. Only one of those players was selected as an All Pro multiple times, that being Jerome Bettis. They have produced no MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, or Defensive Player of the Year award winners in this period. In reality, the Irish only have one current NFL player that a majority of fans and average football fans may know: Justin Tuck of the New York Giants. Since Joe Montana, there has not even been a Notre Dame quarterback who has had a great deal of success; hell, not even a little bit. Players like Brady Quinn and Jimmy Clausen have failed to live up to lofty expectations, as they have now become backups on their respective teams.
Another one of Notre Dame's classic stalwarts are their major rivalries against USC, Michigan, Michigan State, and Navy. Recently, these have not been going in the Irish's favor, some being a bit lopsided. Since 2000, they have only beaten their most bitter rival, the USC Trojans, once in 2010. They have lost to Navy three times in the past five years (2007, 2009, 2010) and Michigan State seven times in the past ten years. Which brings me to the Michigan rivalry...
Since 1997, the two teams have played thirteen times, with Notre Dame only winning five times. It could have been six if they had not blown a four point lead in the last 30 seconds of the game. They were even leading the Wolverines by two touchdowns at one point, really controlling the game. But everything swung to Michigan, which in my opinion, was the worst thing that could've happened to the Fighting Irish. This was a game that they needed to win, one that would've actually been quite impressive. To come and play Michigan in the first night game at the Big House, with the largest college football crowd in history, and win would've been a energetic shot of life for the program. To blow the game, like they have too frequently lately, proved that nothing has changed. Many think, due to all of this, that Notre Dame is a perennial disappointment.
Here is the harsh reality: Notre Dame is no longer a disappointment. Such failure and shortcomings have become the status quo for the Golden Domers. They have gotten top recruits, apparent "offensive masterminds" (Charlie Weis, Brian Kelly), and preseason top 25 rankings; but to no avail. Irish supporters can point to the tradition and the pageantry every minute of every day and we can all be in awe for a couple of minutes. This generation has not seen the Fighting Irish that your parents watched. Rather, they have seen a program continuously tumble from the peak of the collegiate football mountain. The luck is dying, the gold is rusting, and the glory is fading. And most of all, the Fighting has transformed into Feigning.
The Notre Dame that was is no more. Gone are the days when teams feared entering South Bend. Coaches like Lou Holtz and Ara Parseghian no longer grace the sidelines to strike pride and motivation in their players. Instead, there have been four different head coaches since Holtz and teams that are simply overrated and overmatched. This Irish fall has now taken a ten year period, and it really has no signs of stopping.
Since 1997, the year Bob Davie took over the program, Notre Dame's overall record is 99-75. They have been to nine bowl games during this tenure, only winning two of them, both not being BCS games. In fact, the last BCS bowl win for Notre Dame was in 1992 against Florida. The average margin of loss in the bowl games that Notre Dame failed in? 23 points. Needless to say, they have been irrelevant in terms of postseason success in during this time.
Somehow, through all of this, Notre Dame has continued to bring in top recruiting classes. They are continuously in the top 25 in this, including a number one ranking by Rivals and Scout in 2008. With such top talent, one would think these players turn into top players in the country. Some have, but many simply have not. From 1992 to 2004, the Irish had no players finish in the top ten of Heisman voting. Their last Heisman winner in general was in 1987 with Tim Brown. The last Irish player to be an All-American at the end of the season was Jeff Samardzija in 2005, and there has only been one other All-American with Samardzija since 1997, that being Shane Walton in 2002.
This trend has carried on to the NFL as well, with only seven players during this tenure making multiple Pro Bowl appearances. Only one of those players was selected as an All Pro multiple times, that being Jerome Bettis. They have produced no MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, or Defensive Player of the Year award winners in this period. In reality, the Irish only have one current NFL player that a majority of fans and average football fans may know: Justin Tuck of the New York Giants. Since Joe Montana, there has not even been a Notre Dame quarterback who has had a great deal of success; hell, not even a little bit. Players like Brady Quinn and Jimmy Clausen have failed to live up to lofty expectations, as they have now become backups on their respective teams.
Another one of Notre Dame's classic stalwarts are their major rivalries against USC, Michigan, Michigan State, and Navy. Recently, these have not been going in the Irish's favor, some being a bit lopsided. Since 2000, they have only beaten their most bitter rival, the USC Trojans, once in 2010. They have lost to Navy three times in the past five years (2007, 2009, 2010) and Michigan State seven times in the past ten years. Which brings me to the Michigan rivalry...
Since 1997, the two teams have played thirteen times, with Notre Dame only winning five times. It could have been six if they had not blown a four point lead in the last 30 seconds of the game. They were even leading the Wolverines by two touchdowns at one point, really controlling the game. But everything swung to Michigan, which in my opinion, was the worst thing that could've happened to the Fighting Irish. This was a game that they needed to win, one that would've actually been quite impressive. To come and play Michigan in the first night game at the Big House, with the largest college football crowd in history, and win would've been a energetic shot of life for the program. To blow the game, like they have too frequently lately, proved that nothing has changed. Many think, due to all of this, that Notre Dame is a perennial disappointment.
Here is the harsh reality: Notre Dame is no longer a disappointment. Such failure and shortcomings have become the status quo for the Golden Domers. They have gotten top recruits, apparent "offensive masterminds" (Charlie Weis, Brian Kelly), and preseason top 25 rankings; but to no avail. Irish supporters can point to the tradition and the pageantry every minute of every day and we can all be in awe for a couple of minutes. This generation has not seen the Fighting Irish that your parents watched. Rather, they have seen a program continuously tumble from the peak of the collegiate football mountain. The luck is dying, the gold is rusting, and the glory is fading. And most of all, the Fighting has transformed into Feigning.
Opening Statements Speak Loudly in Week 1
Across the NFL on the 10th anniversary of 9/11, teams looked to bark a statement to their fan bases. The first game is always a tremendous opportunity to show your fans either a new edge you have this year, or continued success from the previous one. A win ignites some initial interest in the team, especially one that comes with some style points. Even a loss can sometimes provide some positive light (at least if you're in Carolina).
But then there is the other side of the coin, one of disappointment. Fans who have waited all offseason to see what their team has to offer come away with a new sense of worry. Some of them root for teams who made it to the playoffs last year, teams that ended up looking nothing like that playoff form. Questions for the season already begin to linger and you just hope your team can shake off some initial struggles.
With all of that being said, let's examine the proud statements and the worried ones.
Loud and Proud: We're Here
Baltimore Ravens - There was no other team that was looking for a larger statement win to begin the season than the Baltimore Ravens. They were handed their most hated rival on opening day in their own stadium, and when that rival is a team that has ended your playoff run twice in the past three years (along with other numerous heartbreaking losses), you want to shake them. The Ravens did not shake the Steeler monkey off of their monkey; they flipped it off and put their talons on its throat. Baltimore dominated this game from the start, as Ray Rice gashed the vaunted Steelers' run defense and Joe Flacco fired three touchdown passes. Perhaps the most impressive feat was the play of the new offensive line, who only allowed one sack to the feared rush of James Harrison, Lamarr Woodley, and Lawrence Timmons.
Actually, that can't be right. The Ravens' defense pulled off the best performance in this game. When you force the Raven Killer, Ben Roethilsberger, himself to turn the ball over five times, along with two other turnovers by Rashard Mendenhall and Mewelde Moore, you deserve a heap of praise. Terrell Suggs and Haloti Ngata proved why they are some of the top defensive players in the league, while Ray Lewis and Ed Reed continued to be ageless wonders. New defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano turned up the heat on Pittsburgh and never let up, as Big Ben looked rattled for the first time in a while. In fact, Pittsburgh in general looked rattled, which is something nobody is accustomed to seeing. But we'll get to their issues later. Bottom line: This was the perfect start for the new Baltimore Ravens.
Buffalo Bills - In what was by far the most surprising performance of the day, the Bills came out and decimated the Kansas City Chiefs in the always raucous Arrowhead Stadium. This team, who has had so much trouble finding their quarterback to rely on, was led by a man who began to stake his claim last season and only strengthened his hold on it yesterday: Ryan Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick is a vastly underrated quarterback who, in my opinion, always plays with something to prove. Whether it's the doubts of playing in the NFL after playing in the Ivy League or the ones that came with some struggles in Cincinnati, this guy has a chip on his shoulder. After a 23 touchdown and 15 interception season last year, he absolutely lit up the Chiefs, throwing four touchdowns in dominant fashion.
Buffalo actually came to play on defense as well, making Cassel and his offense look extremely disorganized. For an offense that features some distinct weapons, like Dwayne Bowe and Jamaal Charles, Kansas City was simply overpowered by the Bills. They turned the ball over three times, as Buffalo forced two fumbles and picked Cassel off once. It may only be one game, but one like this provides a glimmer of hope to one of the NFL's most loyal, yet lately tortured, fan bases.
Chicago Bears - It seems like you would've never known the Bears made it to the NFC Championship game last season. They took a great deal of a beating after so much success, but if you watched their game against Atlanta at all yesterday, you now know that the Bears are a legitimate NFC contender. Their biggest question, the offensive line, performed rather well, keeping Jay Cutler upright and letting him stand in the pocket and fire that laser of his. Matt Forte was bouncing off of Falcon defenders and the once criticized Cowboy Roy Williams made some very nice catches in tough spots.
The real story though was just how much the Bears defense dominated Matt Ryan. Julius Peppers and his crew were relentless, constantly laying crunching blows on the Ryan. They were breaking his ice, if you will (never been a fan of that nickname). The lasting image I have was when Matty was simply sandwiched between Peppers and another defender, and then slammed to the ground with vicious force. It was symbolic of the whole day for the Falcons, as it seemed like their finesse had been worn out and beaten by what looked like the Maulers of the Midway. Da Bears are well on their way to challenging the Packers for NFC North supremacy.
Detroit Lions - Speaking of the NFC North, there has been plenty of buzz about the Detroit Lions in the offseason. With a healthy Matthew Stafford, the always amazing Calvin Johnson, the intimidating Ndamukong Suh, and supporting stars Brandon Pettigrew and Jahvid Best, many think the Lions can finally chase a playoff berth. But some mistakes by the Lions may have struck some of their hopefuls with concern.
Stafford put the Lions down by a touchdown when he was intercepted by Buccaneers cornerback Aqib Talib, who then took it to the end zone. Even the Lions had control of the game, they continued to make mistakes to try and keep the Bucs in the game. The old Lions would have let the game slip away, and Josh Freeman would have another comeback to add to his history. Perhaps these new Lions finally get it though, as when you can make so many costly penalties and give up long kickoff returns, and still come out with a win, you know you may have a good team. Winning ugly may never be the most popular, but it is most certainly a sign of a team who looks to contend. Start the motors of expectation in the Motor City.
Wow We're Worried
Pittsburgh Steelers - In my estimate, the Pittsburgh Steelers will be absolutely fine. They played an immensely motivated Raven team in their home opener, which just adds on to the difficulty, as Baltimore is already one of the toughest places to play in the NFL. But I'm sorry, you just don't see the Steelers get absolutely manhandled like they did yesterday. And that must rise at least a little bit of concern.
For one, that was the worst game I've seen Ben Roethilsberger play in a while. He never looked comfortable and seemed to be shaken by Baltimore's constant pressure. Just when you thought he was coming to form by doing a trademark sack escape, he disappointed with terrible throws on the run, two of which ended up in the hands of Ed Reed. Big Ben has dealt with a subpar offensive line for years, but could this be the year where he really can't take it anymore?
The biggest cause of worry for any Steeler fan though should really be how slow the Steelers looked yesterday. Many praised Pittsburgh for sticking with their same core on both sides of the ball, as they did not bring in many new faces. Having said that, they have one of the oldest rosters in the league, which may tell some that they could use an infusion of youth and speed. They had no burst off of the ball and were immediately blown off of the line, which in turn, completely tore down their physical mindset. It put them in a shocked and beaten state.
Look, the Steelers are one of those teams that I'm sure will not let a performance like yesterday's happen again. But since we only have one game to go off of, it does not look like the defending AFC champs will just waltz through with superiority.
Kansas City Chiefs - I'm going to go ahead and give the Chiefs the award for most embarrassing home opener. First game in Arrowhead against the Buffalo Bills coming off of a momentous playoff season and you lay an absolute egg? Ouch. Kansas City was never even in this game, as the BILLS dominated every aspect of it.
What was really concerning for many Chiefs fans was the inability of the offense to move on Buffalo. The Chiefs have talented players on the offensive side of the ball, with Dwayne Bowe, Jamaal Charles, and Steve Breaston. But when those guys are simply not bringing it, then you will be beaten. And truly, one of those three does not come to play every week: Dwayne Bowe.
I watched a play in which Bowe was coming across the middle on a quick slant. He ran his route, saw a defender coming towards him to hit him, saw the pass, and just put his hands out to hit the ball. Not to catch it, but simply stick his hands out there and then walk back to the huddle. Bowe wanted no part of the hit or even the game a this point. It was a legitimate wuss move. That play in itself explains to me why I will never consider Dwayne Bowe an elite receiver in the NFL. His toughness is not there and he simply does not give 100% on every play. He drops easy passes and then hauls in ridiculous ones, which shows no consistency whatsoever.
Matt Cassel did nothing to silence any doubters either. He only threw for 119 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, while averaging just 3.3 yards a throw. If Kansas City is going to take the AFC West again, the first step is Matt Cassel making more plays, while finding a way to get Jamaal Charles the ball more. Until that happens, the favorites are in San Diego.
Atlanta Falcons - I think Matt Ryan has come to an interesting road block in his career. After a disappointing performance against Green Bay last year, many expected Ryan to come out firing against Chicago, especially with new weapon Julio Jones and the rest of the offense. The complete opposite happened: Chicago obliterated Ryan. He threw 47 passes, but threw no touchdowns and one interception.
Part of the blame goes to the offensive line, as Ryan did hit the ground five times for sacks. But this was not the performance that he needed, along with the rest of the Falcons. They generated no pass rush and got torched by Jay Cutler. This was the number one seed in the NFC last year, but they really looked like a non-playoff team. In what was a disappointing day for the NFC South, their leaders really did fail the most.
Tony Romo - Yes, I'm giving Romo his own section. The Cowboys actually played a great game against the Jets, and I never like to place blame solely on a quarterback, but in this situation, I think Romo blew it. If someone can explain to me the logic behind lobbing a lame duck pass anywhere near Darrelle Revis in the final minutes of a game, when you could take your team down the field for the win, then maybe I will change my mind. Combine that with a fumble inside of the five yard line, and he continued his trend of not coming up in the clutch.
Romo is a great guy and has improved as a vocal leader. But I cannot put him anywhere near the elite status that fans hope for him to be. The guy has won one playoff game in his career and really does not have a defining moment so far. Maybe it will come soon enough, but right now, Romo has much to prove.
But then there is the other side of the coin, one of disappointment. Fans who have waited all offseason to see what their team has to offer come away with a new sense of worry. Some of them root for teams who made it to the playoffs last year, teams that ended up looking nothing like that playoff form. Questions for the season already begin to linger and you just hope your team can shake off some initial struggles.
With all of that being said, let's examine the proud statements and the worried ones.
Loud and Proud: We're Here
Baltimore Ravens - There was no other team that was looking for a larger statement win to begin the season than the Baltimore Ravens. They were handed their most hated rival on opening day in their own stadium, and when that rival is a team that has ended your playoff run twice in the past three years (along with other numerous heartbreaking losses), you want to shake them. The Ravens did not shake the Steeler monkey off of their monkey; they flipped it off and put their talons on its throat. Baltimore dominated this game from the start, as Ray Rice gashed the vaunted Steelers' run defense and Joe Flacco fired three touchdown passes. Perhaps the most impressive feat was the play of the new offensive line, who only allowed one sack to the feared rush of James Harrison, Lamarr Woodley, and Lawrence Timmons.
Actually, that can't be right. The Ravens' defense pulled off the best performance in this game. When you force the Raven Killer, Ben Roethilsberger, himself to turn the ball over five times, along with two other turnovers by Rashard Mendenhall and Mewelde Moore, you deserve a heap of praise. Terrell Suggs and Haloti Ngata proved why they are some of the top defensive players in the league, while Ray Lewis and Ed Reed continued to be ageless wonders. New defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano turned up the heat on Pittsburgh and never let up, as Big Ben looked rattled for the first time in a while. In fact, Pittsburgh in general looked rattled, which is something nobody is accustomed to seeing. But we'll get to their issues later. Bottom line: This was the perfect start for the new Baltimore Ravens.
Buffalo Bills - In what was by far the most surprising performance of the day, the Bills came out and decimated the Kansas City Chiefs in the always raucous Arrowhead Stadium. This team, who has had so much trouble finding their quarterback to rely on, was led by a man who began to stake his claim last season and only strengthened his hold on it yesterday: Ryan Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick is a vastly underrated quarterback who, in my opinion, always plays with something to prove. Whether it's the doubts of playing in the NFL after playing in the Ivy League or the ones that came with some struggles in Cincinnati, this guy has a chip on his shoulder. After a 23 touchdown and 15 interception season last year, he absolutely lit up the Chiefs, throwing four touchdowns in dominant fashion.
Buffalo actually came to play on defense as well, making Cassel and his offense look extremely disorganized. For an offense that features some distinct weapons, like Dwayne Bowe and Jamaal Charles, Kansas City was simply overpowered by the Bills. They turned the ball over three times, as Buffalo forced two fumbles and picked Cassel off once. It may only be one game, but one like this provides a glimmer of hope to one of the NFL's most loyal, yet lately tortured, fan bases.
Chicago Bears - It seems like you would've never known the Bears made it to the NFC Championship game last season. They took a great deal of a beating after so much success, but if you watched their game against Atlanta at all yesterday, you now know that the Bears are a legitimate NFC contender. Their biggest question, the offensive line, performed rather well, keeping Jay Cutler upright and letting him stand in the pocket and fire that laser of his. Matt Forte was bouncing off of Falcon defenders and the once criticized Cowboy Roy Williams made some very nice catches in tough spots.
The real story though was just how much the Bears defense dominated Matt Ryan. Julius Peppers and his crew were relentless, constantly laying crunching blows on the Ryan. They were breaking his ice, if you will (never been a fan of that nickname). The lasting image I have was when Matty was simply sandwiched between Peppers and another defender, and then slammed to the ground with vicious force. It was symbolic of the whole day for the Falcons, as it seemed like their finesse had been worn out and beaten by what looked like the Maulers of the Midway. Da Bears are well on their way to challenging the Packers for NFC North supremacy.
Detroit Lions - Speaking of the NFC North, there has been plenty of buzz about the Detroit Lions in the offseason. With a healthy Matthew Stafford, the always amazing Calvin Johnson, the intimidating Ndamukong Suh, and supporting stars Brandon Pettigrew and Jahvid Best, many think the Lions can finally chase a playoff berth. But some mistakes by the Lions may have struck some of their hopefuls with concern.
Stafford put the Lions down by a touchdown when he was intercepted by Buccaneers cornerback Aqib Talib, who then took it to the end zone. Even the Lions had control of the game, they continued to make mistakes to try and keep the Bucs in the game. The old Lions would have let the game slip away, and Josh Freeman would have another comeback to add to his history. Perhaps these new Lions finally get it though, as when you can make so many costly penalties and give up long kickoff returns, and still come out with a win, you know you may have a good team. Winning ugly may never be the most popular, but it is most certainly a sign of a team who looks to contend. Start the motors of expectation in the Motor City.
Wow We're Worried
Pittsburgh Steelers - In my estimate, the Pittsburgh Steelers will be absolutely fine. They played an immensely motivated Raven team in their home opener, which just adds on to the difficulty, as Baltimore is already one of the toughest places to play in the NFL. But I'm sorry, you just don't see the Steelers get absolutely manhandled like they did yesterday. And that must rise at least a little bit of concern.
For one, that was the worst game I've seen Ben Roethilsberger play in a while. He never looked comfortable and seemed to be shaken by Baltimore's constant pressure. Just when you thought he was coming to form by doing a trademark sack escape, he disappointed with terrible throws on the run, two of which ended up in the hands of Ed Reed. Big Ben has dealt with a subpar offensive line for years, but could this be the year where he really can't take it anymore?
The biggest cause of worry for any Steeler fan though should really be how slow the Steelers looked yesterday. Many praised Pittsburgh for sticking with their same core on both sides of the ball, as they did not bring in many new faces. Having said that, they have one of the oldest rosters in the league, which may tell some that they could use an infusion of youth and speed. They had no burst off of the ball and were immediately blown off of the line, which in turn, completely tore down their physical mindset. It put them in a shocked and beaten state.
Look, the Steelers are one of those teams that I'm sure will not let a performance like yesterday's happen again. But since we only have one game to go off of, it does not look like the defending AFC champs will just waltz through with superiority.
Kansas City Chiefs - I'm going to go ahead and give the Chiefs the award for most embarrassing home opener. First game in Arrowhead against the Buffalo Bills coming off of a momentous playoff season and you lay an absolute egg? Ouch. Kansas City was never even in this game, as the BILLS dominated every aspect of it.
What was really concerning for many Chiefs fans was the inability of the offense to move on Buffalo. The Chiefs have talented players on the offensive side of the ball, with Dwayne Bowe, Jamaal Charles, and Steve Breaston. But when those guys are simply not bringing it, then you will be beaten. And truly, one of those three does not come to play every week: Dwayne Bowe.
I watched a play in which Bowe was coming across the middle on a quick slant. He ran his route, saw a defender coming towards him to hit him, saw the pass, and just put his hands out to hit the ball. Not to catch it, but simply stick his hands out there and then walk back to the huddle. Bowe wanted no part of the hit or even the game a this point. It was a legitimate wuss move. That play in itself explains to me why I will never consider Dwayne Bowe an elite receiver in the NFL. His toughness is not there and he simply does not give 100% on every play. He drops easy passes and then hauls in ridiculous ones, which shows no consistency whatsoever.
Matt Cassel did nothing to silence any doubters either. He only threw for 119 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, while averaging just 3.3 yards a throw. If Kansas City is going to take the AFC West again, the first step is Matt Cassel making more plays, while finding a way to get Jamaal Charles the ball more. Until that happens, the favorites are in San Diego.
Atlanta Falcons - I think Matt Ryan has come to an interesting road block in his career. After a disappointing performance against Green Bay last year, many expected Ryan to come out firing against Chicago, especially with new weapon Julio Jones and the rest of the offense. The complete opposite happened: Chicago obliterated Ryan. He threw 47 passes, but threw no touchdowns and one interception.
Part of the blame goes to the offensive line, as Ryan did hit the ground five times for sacks. But this was not the performance that he needed, along with the rest of the Falcons. They generated no pass rush and got torched by Jay Cutler. This was the number one seed in the NFC last year, but they really looked like a non-playoff team. In what was a disappointing day for the NFC South, their leaders really did fail the most.
Tony Romo - Yes, I'm giving Romo his own section. The Cowboys actually played a great game against the Jets, and I never like to place blame solely on a quarterback, but in this situation, I think Romo blew it. If someone can explain to me the logic behind lobbing a lame duck pass anywhere near Darrelle Revis in the final minutes of a game, when you could take your team down the field for the win, then maybe I will change my mind. Combine that with a fumble inside of the five yard line, and he continued his trend of not coming up in the clutch.
Romo is a great guy and has improved as a vocal leader. But I cannot put him anywhere near the elite status that fans hope for him to be. The guy has won one playoff game in his career and really does not have a defining moment so far. Maybe it will come soon enough, but right now, Romo has much to prove.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
NFL Week 1 Picks
Football at last ladies and gentlemen. Here are my Week 1 picks, the winners are in bold print.
Cincinnati at Cleveland
I think Cleveland is going to be quite a scrappy team this year. Colt McCoy is going to start to shine through Cleveland's dark clouds and he gets a perfect opener against the worst team in Ohio; the Bengals. Look out for tight ends Evan Moore and Benjamin Watson to be favorite targets of McCoy.
Tennessee at Jacksonville
Matt Hasselbeck vs. Luke McCown. I think I'm obviously going with Hasselbeck. Jacksonville not only lacks a reliable quarterback, but also any real weapons besides MJD and Marcedes Lewis. At least Hasselbeck has Chris Johnson and Kenny Britt, and a whole wealth of experience over McCown.
Oakland at Denver
Kyle Orton is seriously going to let loose in this game. After an offseason of being overshadowed by Tebow drama, Orton will have a great game against an Asomugha-less Oakland secondary. Look for new runningback Willis McGahee to make a nice impact in Denver's running game as well.
Seattle at San Francisco
Is there another pair of quarterbacks who need a great game to impress their fan bases? Tarvaris Jackson needs to show the Seahawk faithful that he was worth the signing, while Alex Smith wants to prove to 49ers fans that they for some reason deserve his presence. San Fran's defense gets at T-Jack and Frank Gore has a big day to kick off the year for the Niners.
Carolina at Arizona
Kevin Kolb draws one of the worst teams in football to start his new life in Arizona with. Cam Newton will struggle a bit, but he'll flash some of his uber potential a few times. Larry Fitzgerald starts off another great year with a touchdown or two.
Minnesota at San Diego
Donovan McNabb and Adrian Peterson travel to the West Coast and start off on the wrong track. Philip Rivers will torch the Viking secondary, as he plays with all of his vertical toys named Antonio Gates, Vincent Jackson, and Malcolm Floyd.
Buffalo at Kansas City
Arrowhead gets to rock out with a win to start off the year, as Jamaal Charles will run all over Buffalo. Look out for new slot receiver Steve Breaston to have a few big plays for Kansas City as well.
New York Giants at Washington Redskins
Upset pick of the week here folks. The Giants are extremely banged up, especially in the secondary, which is what new Redskin quarterback Rex Grossman might need to prove some doubters wrong. Tim Hightower and Ryan Torain will get on a bit of a roll, and the underrated Redskins defense will bottle up Ahmad Bradshaw.
New England at Miami
The Patriots will decimate the Dolphins this week. Tom Brady could be well on his way to another MVP year, and he'll fly out of the gates this week with a tremendous game. Chad Henne will continue to struggle, and Miami will wonder why in the world Reggie Bush is their every down back.
Philadelphia at St. Louis
The Dream Team travels to the Edward Jones Dome for what should be quite the interesting game. The new Philly secondary may initially struggle against budding star quarterback Sam Bradford, but I do not think the Rams defense will be able to stifle the Eagles' firepower.
Detroit at Tampa Bay
Detroit is an extremely promising team this season. The problem is that they're running into one of the most talented, youth-filled teams in the league in Tampa. The Bucs will be in a dogfight for the NFC South this year, and they need every non-division win they can get. Josh Freeman will show Detroit's primary secondary weakness (see what I did there? Ok, I'll just keep going).
Indianapolis at Houston
The Kerry Collins Era begins in Indy as they travel to the desperate Reliant Stadium. If Houston does not win this game, with no Peyton Manning on the field, then the city will riot. Arian Foster may tear his hamstring from running from pitchforks and mobs. Matt Schaub will literally have to hide from being rounded up by the town for the next rodeo show. And Gary Kubiak will still have a job.
Atlanta at Chicago
This is quite the intriguing matchup. Matt Ryan is trying to shake the demos of last year's playoff game against the Packers, while Jay Cutler is trying to gain some respect from the fans after the whole knee injury fiasco from last year. He could definitely get a great start by defeating a talented Atlanta team, but I think the Falcons roll into Soldier Field and steal one from the Bears. I see a tight game, maybe even some overtime.
Dallas Cowboys at New York Jets
The Cowboys are not all hype this year; considering they have none. Their defense, led by the crazed Rob Ryan, will rattle Mark Sanchez a bit and force a turnover or two. I think this could be quite the low scoring game as well, a definite battle to the end, with the Cowboys taking one away from a furious Rex Ryan. Both of these teams will be well on their way to successful seasons, but Dallas' talent will finally begin to shine through.
Pittsburgh at Baltimore
The best rivalry in football writes another chapter. This is a huge game for Baltimore, who could really use a win over Big Ben to exercise their black and gold demons of late. The problem is that this will be the first time that a new Ravens offensive line has played a game together, along with only three weeks of full practice as a unit. Pittsburgh's defense, with their ridiculous blitzes and loaded pass rush, is the wrong unit to make a debut against. Joe Flacco will stand in and make some nice plays, but he will take too many hits in this game. Look for Ray Rice to have a great game, and Roethilsberger to come through in the clutch once again. It will be another slugfest for the ages, but at the start of this season, Pittsburgh will gain an upper hand.
New Orleans at Green Bay
The potential NFC Championship game will be one hell of a matchup. Rodgers and Brees will have an air raid battle, but what will make the difference is the revamped defensive line of the Saints. Shaun Rogers, former Brown and new Nawlins nose tackle, will begin to prove why he was the most underrated addition of free agency. Aubrayo Franklin will work with him at the tackle position to wreak even more havoc, and rookie Cameron Jordan will be bringing the pass rush from defensive end. The Packers and Saints will be each other's best competition in the NFC this year, and the Saints will take the early lead out of the gate.
Cincinnati at Cleveland
I think Cleveland is going to be quite a scrappy team this year. Colt McCoy is going to start to shine through Cleveland's dark clouds and he gets a perfect opener against the worst team in Ohio; the Bengals. Look out for tight ends Evan Moore and Benjamin Watson to be favorite targets of McCoy.
Tennessee at Jacksonville
Matt Hasselbeck vs. Luke McCown. I think I'm obviously going with Hasselbeck. Jacksonville not only lacks a reliable quarterback, but also any real weapons besides MJD and Marcedes Lewis. At least Hasselbeck has Chris Johnson and Kenny Britt, and a whole wealth of experience over McCown.
Oakland at Denver
Kyle Orton is seriously going to let loose in this game. After an offseason of being overshadowed by Tebow drama, Orton will have a great game against an Asomugha-less Oakland secondary. Look for new runningback Willis McGahee to make a nice impact in Denver's running game as well.
Seattle at San Francisco
Is there another pair of quarterbacks who need a great game to impress their fan bases? Tarvaris Jackson needs to show the Seahawk faithful that he was worth the signing, while Alex Smith wants to prove to 49ers fans that they for some reason deserve his presence. San Fran's defense gets at T-Jack and Frank Gore has a big day to kick off the year for the Niners.
Carolina at Arizona
Kevin Kolb draws one of the worst teams in football to start his new life in Arizona with. Cam Newton will struggle a bit, but he'll flash some of his uber potential a few times. Larry Fitzgerald starts off another great year with a touchdown or two.
Minnesota at San Diego
Donovan McNabb and Adrian Peterson travel to the West Coast and start off on the wrong track. Philip Rivers will torch the Viking secondary, as he plays with all of his vertical toys named Antonio Gates, Vincent Jackson, and Malcolm Floyd.
Buffalo at Kansas City
Arrowhead gets to rock out with a win to start off the year, as Jamaal Charles will run all over Buffalo. Look out for new slot receiver Steve Breaston to have a few big plays for Kansas City as well.
New York Giants at Washington Redskins
Upset pick of the week here folks. The Giants are extremely banged up, especially in the secondary, which is what new Redskin quarterback Rex Grossman might need to prove some doubters wrong. Tim Hightower and Ryan Torain will get on a bit of a roll, and the underrated Redskins defense will bottle up Ahmad Bradshaw.
New England at Miami
The Patriots will decimate the Dolphins this week. Tom Brady could be well on his way to another MVP year, and he'll fly out of the gates this week with a tremendous game. Chad Henne will continue to struggle, and Miami will wonder why in the world Reggie Bush is their every down back.
Philadelphia at St. Louis
The Dream Team travels to the Edward Jones Dome for what should be quite the interesting game. The new Philly secondary may initially struggle against budding star quarterback Sam Bradford, but I do not think the Rams defense will be able to stifle the Eagles' firepower.
Detroit at Tampa Bay
Detroit is an extremely promising team this season. The problem is that they're running into one of the most talented, youth-filled teams in the league in Tampa. The Bucs will be in a dogfight for the NFC South this year, and they need every non-division win they can get. Josh Freeman will show Detroit's primary secondary weakness (see what I did there? Ok, I'll just keep going).
Indianapolis at Houston
The Kerry Collins Era begins in Indy as they travel to the desperate Reliant Stadium. If Houston does not win this game, with no Peyton Manning on the field, then the city will riot. Arian Foster may tear his hamstring from running from pitchforks and mobs. Matt Schaub will literally have to hide from being rounded up by the town for the next rodeo show. And Gary Kubiak will still have a job.
Atlanta at Chicago
This is quite the intriguing matchup. Matt Ryan is trying to shake the demos of last year's playoff game against the Packers, while Jay Cutler is trying to gain some respect from the fans after the whole knee injury fiasco from last year. He could definitely get a great start by defeating a talented Atlanta team, but I think the Falcons roll into Soldier Field and steal one from the Bears. I see a tight game, maybe even some overtime.
Dallas Cowboys at New York Jets
The Cowboys are not all hype this year; considering they have none. Their defense, led by the crazed Rob Ryan, will rattle Mark Sanchez a bit and force a turnover or two. I think this could be quite the low scoring game as well, a definite battle to the end, with the Cowboys taking one away from a furious Rex Ryan. Both of these teams will be well on their way to successful seasons, but Dallas' talent will finally begin to shine through.
Pittsburgh at Baltimore
The best rivalry in football writes another chapter. This is a huge game for Baltimore, who could really use a win over Big Ben to exercise their black and gold demons of late. The problem is that this will be the first time that a new Ravens offensive line has played a game together, along with only three weeks of full practice as a unit. Pittsburgh's defense, with their ridiculous blitzes and loaded pass rush, is the wrong unit to make a debut against. Joe Flacco will stand in and make some nice plays, but he will take too many hits in this game. Look for Ray Rice to have a great game, and Roethilsberger to come through in the clutch once again. It will be another slugfest for the ages, but at the start of this season, Pittsburgh will gain an upper hand.
New Orleans at Green Bay
The potential NFC Championship game will be one hell of a matchup. Rodgers and Brees will have an air raid battle, but what will make the difference is the revamped defensive line of the Saints. Shaun Rogers, former Brown and new Nawlins nose tackle, will begin to prove why he was the most underrated addition of free agency. Aubrayo Franklin will work with him at the tackle position to wreak even more havoc, and rookie Cameron Jordan will be bringing the pass rush from defensive end. The Packers and Saints will be each other's best competition in the NFC this year, and the Saints will take the early lead out of the gate.
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