ROMO DRAWS PRAISE, THOUGHTS ON THE LOCKOUT HANGOVER, BRONCOS BEAT UP & FALLOUT FROM BERRY INJURY
Sorry I'm running so late with today's post, Charter Cable decided to take a flyer about 1AM & I was unable to work. Again, I'm sorry, but I had no control.
I said Sunday night that Cowboys' quarterback Tony Romo had cost his team a win over the New York Jets. I stand by those comments, an inexcusable fumble inside the Jets' 5-yad line & an interception thrown directly to Darrelle Revis, both in the 4th quarter, sent Dallas back home with a loss. It was the first time in the 52-year history of the franchise they had blown a 14-point 4th quarter lead. No surprise, team owner Jerry Jones, came to his QB's defense yesterday. Jones said "this may draw a little criticism but I thought Tony played one of the best games I've seen him play." If he's talking about recently, I would agree, Dallas is 1-7 in Romo's last 8 starts. But when you are poised to drive a stake thru the heart of your opponent, you can't get careless with the ball. His fumble at the Jets' 2-yard line was disturbing. He scrambled, moved back to the middle of the field & set sail for the endzone & it was obvious to anyone watching the game, he wasn't going to reach the goal line. At that instant, as an offensive player, you have to protect the scoring opportunity. A point blank field goal attempt puts the Cowboys up by 3 scores, a lead they're even less likely to relinquish. But he didn't protect the ball & it was knocked loose with the Jets recovering. I get that he was only "trying to make a play" easily the most overused excuse for turning the ball over in crucial situations, he's a competitor & that's the spark you want your team to have. But you also have to be concerned with throwing the game away "trying to make a play." That's what happened in this case.
Rams fans will be sad to hear starting cornerback Ronald Bartell will be placed on I.R. He sustained a small fracture of a vertebra in his neck. Another St. Louis corner, Bradley Fletcher, is day to day.
Texans wide receiver Kevin Walter's injury is not as bad as initially diagnosed during the game Sunday. After calling his injury "a broken shoulder" that has been retracted to "severely bruised collarbone." He still will miss enough time that Houston signed David Anderson to fill up the WR corps. New England center Dan Koppen will miss 6-10 weeks with a broken ankle sustained in the 2nd quarter of Monday's game in Miami. Right guard Dan Connelly moved over into the pivot with Brian Waters replacing him at guard. They didn't miss a beat.
Bears' middle linebacker Brian Urlacher has left the team to attend to a "family crisis" in Arizona. No other details were known other than it is believed the crisis pertains to his mother. No word on if he will return in time to play the Saints on Sunday.
Long before the lockout ended, I discussed what I believed would be some of the ramifications from players being away from their coaches for nearly six months. Yesterday I mentioned we saw a lot of them this past weekend, an inflated number of penalties, turnovers & kick returns for scores. Add to those figures a record number of 300-yard passing performances. There were 14 of them, an NFL record for one week. Defensive personnel were hurting in week one, cramping, winded & exhausted. Defensive players expend more energy reacting to what the offense is doing so they need to be in better condition. They're not. Another predicted lockout hangover effect, not by me mind you, was decreased TV ratings early in the season. Wrong, week 1's television ratings were the highest in league history. So much for the fans staying away. Well they did stay away in one regard, stadium attendance was down slightly, but the TV ratings increase offset that issue.
Lost in the Tom Brady explosion Monday night was the game his fellow Michigan alum had. The much maligned Dolphins' QB, Chad Henne, had the game of his life night before last. Completing 30 of 49 for 416-yards & 2 touchdowns while running 7 times for 59-yards & a touchdown, is quite a night for any NFL signal caller. Too bad very few people noticed. But for Henne, he had a night without being booed, which in itself, is reward enough.
Oklahoma 5-star recruit Jermie Calhoun is walking away from the Sooner program, intent on transferring elsewhere. He was beaten out of the starting running back spot by a walk-on. Domonique Whaley rushed for 131-yards & 4 touchdowns in OU's first game versus Tulsa. A highly touted recruit pushed aside by a walk-on is brutal & Calhoun didn't give any information about where he might go.
Four members of the Denver Broncos had to go for MRI's on Tuesday. Defensive end Elvis Dumervil, CB Champ Bailey, WR Brandon Lloyd & RB Knowshon Moreno were all injured in Monday night's loss to Oakland. Dumervil injured his shoulder but returned to action on obvious passing downs. Lloyd suffered a groin injury but also played in obvious passing situations. The results of their tests are not known yet.
Another issue for new Denver coach John Fox to deal with is the increasing fan ire aimed at starting QB Kyle Orton. Early on in Monday's game, the fans in Mile High began chanting for Tim Tebow, Bronco 3rd string QB. I think the world of Tebow as a person, but Denver fans, be careful what you wish for, you just might get it. If Fox does go to Tebow & he stinks up the place, which I think is likely, he can never go back to Orton. The bad reaction to Orton was caused by zero running attack to help take the pressure off an offensive line struggling to protect their QB. The downpour didn't help either, Orton had a key fumble without being touched. Orton is in the last year of his contract, he wants to excel more than anybody so he can get a newer, bigger deal to start 2012.
Minnesota's Metrodome is now called Mall of America Field. When did that happen?
Think Sunday's Chiefs - Lions game isn't a BFD to Detroit's defensive coordinator? Gunther Cunningham was twice fired by Kansas City, one from the head coaching position & later, after a celebrated return under Dick Vermeil, he was fired again. Then last year he was accused of tampering for mentioning how he'd like to get Chiefs' safety Jarrad Page up to Detroit. After tampering charges were filed, the NFL agreed & gave Kansas City Detroit's 4th round spot in last April's draft. Add to that, Cunningham has the best defensive personnel he's had since he coached Derrick Thomas, Neil Smith, James hasty & company in the nineties. I think the Chiefs play will imporve, it better, but they will still get smoked by Matthew Stafford, Ndamukong Suh & the Lions.
Speaking of the Chiefs, their trip to Detroit could send them to an 0-2 record. other 2010 playoff teams that lost last week, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Atlanta & Indianapolis all look to rebound with a win this week. For some, Indy & Atlanta especially, it could be very difficult. Indy plays Cleveland & the Falcons host Philly on Sunday night. The Saints will have their hands full with Houston but Pittsburgh should move to 1-1 as they play their home opener against the hapless Seattle Seahawks. Pity the poor 'Hawks, they're in for a very long afternoon. In a league where knee jerk reactions are the norm, teams are almost never as bad as they looked last week or a brilliant as they appeared either. I've seen so many reversals that left me scratching my head, almost nothing about the NFL really shocks me. Now if Seattle went into Pittsburgh & beat the Steelers, that would shock me..
I received a lot of emails & comments on the block that knocked Chiefs' safety Eric Berry out for the season. Except for a multitude of curse words, no one really got it wrong. It was a chickensh*t block by a chickensh*t player, Bills wideout Steve Johnson. If you watched the tape, Johnson came from about 15-yards away & cut Berry at the knees with his helmet while Berry was looking the other way. Most wideouts love setting a defender up in just this position so they can "decleat" him by blasting him in the chest at full speed. The highly respected RFR dictionary defines de - cleat as "the action of a blocker in the open field hitting an unknowing opponent so hard it knocks him out of his shoes." I've seen Pittsburgh wide receiver Hines Ward do this a dozen times. Often it knocks the player out of the game for a play or two, but it doesn't do permanent damage, doesn't put them out for the season. Of course you run the risk of the defender seeing you right before you unload on him & he can defend himself. When you dive at his legs, they almost never see it coming. "Decleating" causes to announcers to say "you've got to keep your head on a swivel out there, you can't let people sneak up & whack you like that."
The points most of you made in the past two days are valid. SMSGT Flores pointed out "why is it defensive players are fined all the time for hitting 'defenseless receivers' but the same doesn't hold true for offensive players." Good point sarge, the first order of business would be to change the rule, make the cut block in the open field illegal. I do believe offensive players can do just as much damage to defenseless players as James Harrison taking a shot at someone's head. I don't recall Harrison ever putting another player on I.R. When Bernard Pollard crashed into Tom Brady's knee opening day 3-years ago, it set into motion a rule change that stands today, you can't dive at the legs of a quarterback. They ought to offer the same protection for a defensive player who often is a sitting duck for guys like Steve Johnson. I think Johnson will get some "special treatment" from a few defensive backs this season to let him know you don't cut people like that. Thanks to Sean, Andy, SMSGT Flores, Tony the Tiger, JNB4EVR, Darrell, Derrick, JimmyJJ & stevejisadbag for your input.
I said Sunday night that Cowboys' quarterback Tony Romo had cost his team a win over the New York Jets. I stand by those comments, an inexcusable fumble inside the Jets' 5-yad line & an interception thrown directly to Darrelle Revis, both in the 4th quarter, sent Dallas back home with a loss. It was the first time in the 52-year history of the franchise they had blown a 14-point 4th quarter lead. No surprise, team owner Jerry Jones, came to his QB's defense yesterday. Jones said "this may draw a little criticism but I thought Tony played one of the best games I've seen him play." If he's talking about recently, I would agree, Dallas is 1-7 in Romo's last 8 starts. But when you are poised to drive a stake thru the heart of your opponent, you can't get careless with the ball. His fumble at the Jets' 2-yard line was disturbing. He scrambled, moved back to the middle of the field & set sail for the endzone & it was obvious to anyone watching the game, he wasn't going to reach the goal line. At that instant, as an offensive player, you have to protect the scoring opportunity. A point blank field goal attempt puts the Cowboys up by 3 scores, a lead they're even less likely to relinquish. But he didn't protect the ball & it was knocked loose with the Jets recovering. I get that he was only "trying to make a play" easily the most overused excuse for turning the ball over in crucial situations, he's a competitor & that's the spark you want your team to have. But you also have to be concerned with throwing the game away "trying to make a play." That's what happened in this case.
Rams fans will be sad to hear starting cornerback Ronald Bartell will be placed on I.R. He sustained a small fracture of a vertebra in his neck. Another St. Louis corner, Bradley Fletcher, is day to day.
Texans wide receiver Kevin Walter's injury is not as bad as initially diagnosed during the game Sunday. After calling his injury "a broken shoulder" that has been retracted to "severely bruised collarbone." He still will miss enough time that Houston signed David Anderson to fill up the WR corps. New England center Dan Koppen will miss 6-10 weeks with a broken ankle sustained in the 2nd quarter of Monday's game in Miami. Right guard Dan Connelly moved over into the pivot with Brian Waters replacing him at guard. They didn't miss a beat.
Bears' middle linebacker Brian Urlacher has left the team to attend to a "family crisis" in Arizona. No other details were known other than it is believed the crisis pertains to his mother. No word on if he will return in time to play the Saints on Sunday.
Long before the lockout ended, I discussed what I believed would be some of the ramifications from players being away from their coaches for nearly six months. Yesterday I mentioned we saw a lot of them this past weekend, an inflated number of penalties, turnovers & kick returns for scores. Add to those figures a record number of 300-yard passing performances. There were 14 of them, an NFL record for one week. Defensive personnel were hurting in week one, cramping, winded & exhausted. Defensive players expend more energy reacting to what the offense is doing so they need to be in better condition. They're not. Another predicted lockout hangover effect, not by me mind you, was decreased TV ratings early in the season. Wrong, week 1's television ratings were the highest in league history. So much for the fans staying away. Well they did stay away in one regard, stadium attendance was down slightly, but the TV ratings increase offset that issue.
Lost in the Tom Brady explosion Monday night was the game his fellow Michigan alum had. The much maligned Dolphins' QB, Chad Henne, had the game of his life night before last. Completing 30 of 49 for 416-yards & 2 touchdowns while running 7 times for 59-yards & a touchdown, is quite a night for any NFL signal caller. Too bad very few people noticed. But for Henne, he had a night without being booed, which in itself, is reward enough.
Oklahoma 5-star recruit Jermie Calhoun is walking away from the Sooner program, intent on transferring elsewhere. He was beaten out of the starting running back spot by a walk-on. Domonique Whaley rushed for 131-yards & 4 touchdowns in OU's first game versus Tulsa. A highly touted recruit pushed aside by a walk-on is brutal & Calhoun didn't give any information about where he might go.
Four members of the Denver Broncos had to go for MRI's on Tuesday. Defensive end Elvis Dumervil, CB Champ Bailey, WR Brandon Lloyd & RB Knowshon Moreno were all injured in Monday night's loss to Oakland. Dumervil injured his shoulder but returned to action on obvious passing downs. Lloyd suffered a groin injury but also played in obvious passing situations. The results of their tests are not known yet.
Another issue for new Denver coach John Fox to deal with is the increasing fan ire aimed at starting QB Kyle Orton. Early on in Monday's game, the fans in Mile High began chanting for Tim Tebow, Bronco 3rd string QB. I think the world of Tebow as a person, but Denver fans, be careful what you wish for, you just might get it. If Fox does go to Tebow & he stinks up the place, which I think is likely, he can never go back to Orton. The bad reaction to Orton was caused by zero running attack to help take the pressure off an offensive line struggling to protect their QB. The downpour didn't help either, Orton had a key fumble without being touched. Orton is in the last year of his contract, he wants to excel more than anybody so he can get a newer, bigger deal to start 2012.
Minnesota's Metrodome is now called Mall of America Field. When did that happen?
Think Sunday's Chiefs - Lions game isn't a BFD to Detroit's defensive coordinator? Gunther Cunningham was twice fired by Kansas City, one from the head coaching position & later, after a celebrated return under Dick Vermeil, he was fired again. Then last year he was accused of tampering for mentioning how he'd like to get Chiefs' safety Jarrad Page up to Detroit. After tampering charges were filed, the NFL agreed & gave Kansas City Detroit's 4th round spot in last April's draft. Add to that, Cunningham has the best defensive personnel he's had since he coached Derrick Thomas, Neil Smith, James hasty & company in the nineties. I think the Chiefs play will imporve, it better, but they will still get smoked by Matthew Stafford, Ndamukong Suh & the Lions.
Speaking of the Chiefs, their trip to Detroit could send them to an 0-2 record. other 2010 playoff teams that lost last week, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Atlanta & Indianapolis all look to rebound with a win this week. For some, Indy & Atlanta especially, it could be very difficult. Indy plays Cleveland & the Falcons host Philly on Sunday night. The Saints will have their hands full with Houston but Pittsburgh should move to 1-1 as they play their home opener against the hapless Seattle Seahawks. Pity the poor 'Hawks, they're in for a very long afternoon. In a league where knee jerk reactions are the norm, teams are almost never as bad as they looked last week or a brilliant as they appeared either. I've seen so many reversals that left me scratching my head, almost nothing about the NFL really shocks me. Now if Seattle went into Pittsburgh & beat the Steelers, that would shock me..
I received a lot of emails & comments on the block that knocked Chiefs' safety Eric Berry out for the season. Except for a multitude of curse words, no one really got it wrong. It was a chickensh*t block by a chickensh*t player, Bills wideout Steve Johnson. If you watched the tape, Johnson came from about 15-yards away & cut Berry at the knees with his helmet while Berry was looking the other way. Most wideouts love setting a defender up in just this position so they can "decleat" him by blasting him in the chest at full speed. The highly respected RFR dictionary defines de - cleat as "the action of a blocker in the open field hitting an unknowing opponent so hard it knocks him out of his shoes." I've seen Pittsburgh wide receiver Hines Ward do this a dozen times. Often it knocks the player out of the game for a play or two, but it doesn't do permanent damage, doesn't put them out for the season. Of course you run the risk of the defender seeing you right before you unload on him & he can defend himself. When you dive at his legs, they almost never see it coming. "Decleating" causes to announcers to say "you've got to keep your head on a swivel out there, you can't let people sneak up & whack you like that."
The points most of you made in the past two days are valid. SMSGT Flores pointed out "why is it defensive players are fined all the time for hitting 'defenseless receivers' but the same doesn't hold true for offensive players." Good point sarge, the first order of business would be to change the rule, make the cut block in the open field illegal. I do believe offensive players can do just as much damage to defenseless players as James Harrison taking a shot at someone's head. I don't recall Harrison ever putting another player on I.R. When Bernard Pollard crashed into Tom Brady's knee opening day 3-years ago, it set into motion a rule change that stands today, you can't dive at the legs of a quarterback. They ought to offer the same protection for a defensive player who often is a sitting duck for guys like Steve Johnson. I think Johnson will get some "special treatment" from a few defensive backs this season to let him know you don't cut people like that. Thanks to Sean, Andy, SMSGT Flores, Tony the Tiger, JNB4EVR, Darrell, Derrick, JimmyJJ & stevejisadbag for your input.
Hi Rich,
Listened to this Monday's podcast. Excellent content. Thanks for putting in that commitment.
Well, I just don't see it this year. I know it's early, but this team has been showing internal wear going back to late last season. The 'cake' schedule KC enjoyed in 2010 is gone. This year's tilt is much tougher; the players and coaches don't seem to be up to that challenge.
I think we are watching coach Haley's swan song in KC. Once a backer of his, I now truly feel Coach is the problem. Pioli is right behind him.
Looking forward to your continued insight and reactions.
WRITE ON, RICH!
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Thanks for the kind words John.
Once the team knew Charlie Weis was leaving, the offense went in the toilet. Since then, 7 consecutive losses, KC has failed to score more than 19 points. Five of the games, they scored 10 or fewer. Not a good trend. Not a good team.
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