NFL Observations through Week 3

[Joe in PB]

Some random thoughts on the season to date.

The most disappointing thing for this Charger fan is by the team starting out 1-2 this season with the upcoming schedule of @New England, Pittsburgh, @Oakland, @Philadelphia, Kansas City and @N.Y. Jets all before the bye week, making up ground won’t be easy, if not impossible. And if the Charger pass defense can’t keep opposing QB’s from completing 66% of their passes then it won’t be long before the Chargers think about the future, and that future is not likely to include a trip to the playoffs. Before yesterdays game Brees rarely, if ever, looked at Tomlinson when he dropped back to pass. This is a major problem. You may say it is the play calling, you may say it is the presence of Antonio Gates, or you may say it is a lot of different things. As a long time season ticket holder, I can tell you the bulk of the problems on offense come from the Oline and the QB position. Brees wants to be the man, he wants to go downfield, and until yesterday he limited his options by ignoring the best offensive player in the game and denying Tomlinson the ball in the short-yardage passing attack.

The bottom line is Brees looks replaceable, especially considering his 8 mil salary, and is living on a one-year contract. If the Chargers fall out of the hunt by their bye week, Marty and GM AJ Smith may have no choice but to get the best possible evaluation on Rivers, which is by playing him.

The NE Patriots continue to suffer injuries and the backups continue to pick up where the starters left off. Losing Rodney Harrison and LT Matt Light for what looks like the season will be another hurdle for Belichick on top of the pressure of trying to 3 peat. But he's always proved to be one of the best, if not the best, at making adjustments in game plans and personnel since his arrival in NE. Why Pittsburgh didn’t blitz when Light went out is baffling to say the least. NE pulling out that game in Pittsburgh confirms they are still the team to beat in the AFC.

Expect to see more of Kevin Faulk this season. The NE Oline isn’t as good as years past and Faulk appears to hit the hole quicker than Dillon. He's also a better pass catcher.

The 2nd best team in the AFC East is Miami.

The Carolina Oline might not be as strong either as evident from their 2.6 YPC in Miami. Anytime they have to throw more than 50% of the time they’re in trouble. Steve Smith isn’t going to score 3 TD’s every week, and they simply don‘t have anyone else to throw to. I think they need to be using the quicker Deshaun Foster more to improve their YPC, and to control the clock.

People are down on the Colts offense. To me the team finally has the look of a championship contender. At this point in the season they appear to be NE’s biggest competition.

The NFC South looks to be one of the toughest divisions in the NFL. They could end up with 3 teams in the playoffs, Atlanta, Carolina and Tampa.

Arizona failed to pick up a single sack against the Seahawks on Sunday. After a rough start in Week 1, the Seahawks’ offensive line has regrouped and played well. I would say the pass protection, coupled with an amazing rushing display, solidifies this line as the best in football at this point, and things will get better when Floyd “Pork Chop” Womack returns to action.

Is it just me or did Trent Green’s passes in Denver look a little like Chad Pennington‘s?

Denver played much better this week than they did against the Chargers. To this point the Brownies and Ron Dayne have panned out, but it's still early. :wink:

Thoughts?

Agree or Disagree?

[Rushville]

People are down on the Colts offense. To me the team finally has the look of a championship contender. At this point in the season they appear to be NE’s biggest competition.

I would estimate that 90% of those "people" are fantasy leaguers who have Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne or all of the above on their fantasy squad. The other 10% are bandwaggon fans who haven't watched enough football to know what a championship style team looks like. The offense will come around. Defenses have figured out that blitzing Peyton isn't the best idea. They've given up the blitzes and are dropping 8 back and daring Edgerrin James to carry the load. Sofar he has. Sofar they're 3-0 doing so. But, as I've said in other threads, once they do that against the Steelers or Patriots, then I'll be impressed.

[G.O.]

the colts, NE, and pitt are all better than the fins, IMO.

[Bucmonkey]

I believe Joe said the fish were the 2nd best team in the AFC East, not the AFC as a whole. As for the Colts, Dungy is a defensive minded coach first and foremost. Though he couldnt finish the job here in Tampa I've always considered him a solid head coach with good direction.

Look foward to that defense improving as the year goes on and for years to come with Dungy in place. As long as he keeps his overly conservative hands off the offense the Colts have a bright future IMHO.

[Mississippi Neck]

All I would say is that its too early to make much of an analysis.

[Red]

Denver played much better this week than they did against the Chargers. To this point the Brownies and Ron Dayne have panned out, but it's still early. Wink

As I said in another thread, the biggest addition to the Denver defensive line this season is a healthy Trevor Pryce. Those Browns linemen are nice to have as depth, but Pryce is the difference maker on that defense. His pressure and double-team draw hurts the opponent's running game and passing game, as was evidenced againts the chefs.

As for Dayne, he is a big back who fills in to spell Anderson - that's about it. He fits the system well and does what he was brought in to do.

[poptart]

Good post, Joe.

I agree that NE is still the "team to beat" in the AFC, but I think it's pretty wide open.

I could see this being THE year the Colts finally kick the door down.

If not, I see them trading for Gruden so that he can get it done for 'em.

:wink:

[Dumbass]

Kyle Boller sucks and why can't Jake hit Colbert?

[T REX]

Is it just me or did Trent Green’s passes in Denver look a little like Chad Pennington‘s?

Yours would too if your offensive line roled out the red carpet for Trevor Pryce and Co. to REPEATEDLY get to you.

Excuse machine at work again.....

[Rushville]

Good post, Joe.

I agree that NE is still the "team to beat" in the AFC, but I think it's pretty wide open.

I could see this being THE year the Colts finally kick the door down.

If not, I see them trading for Gruden so that he can get it done for 'em.

:wink:

It would have to be a trade because the Colts just extended Dungy for another 3 years.

[Hapday]

Losing Harrison might be the final straw for the Patriots. He is the defense's leader and a hell of a player. I am not sure how well they are going to fare now. Then again, Bellicheck is a witch and find a way to win.

[G.O.]

I believe Joe said the fish were the 2nd best team in the AFC East, not the AFC as a whole.

ah, you are correct, sir. :wink:

[DrDetroit]

Through Week 3...Detroit still needs major help on the O-line, QB, and DB's.

The O-line is as porous as the US southern border. It can't pick-up a blitz, let alone stop one and Kevin Jones, despite how good he is, simply cannot get any big gains behind this line.

This was supposed to be (as was last year) Harrington's break out year and it appears that even though a QB should have a decent completion rate in the west coast offense (somewhere around 70% given all the short passes), Harrington continues to struggle. Our problem now is that Garcia went down and we're forced to stick it out with Harrington for another three weeks.

The DB's just plain suck and have for several years now. Dre Bly, despite being a Pro Bowler, I think is an overrated commodity, slow and often gets himself into difficult situations where he's unable to make a play on the ball.

The Lions were supposed to be chocked full of talent at the WR position, but Roy Williams drops way too many balls while Charles Rogers is being a big baby. Kevin Johnson might be a nice surprise if we get a QB that can get him the ball.

Of course, there is a coaching problem, too. Mooch is a big pussy. After that loss to Chicago, the Lions got four days off. Pathetic. Those four days could have been used for the receivers to practice beating the press, the O-line learning blocking schemes and how to pick-up the blitz, and to get Mike Williams some additional work and reps as he might be replacing Rogers if Chico can't unfuck himself soon.

[jiminphilly]

Through Week 3...Detroit still needs major help on the O-line, QB, and DB's.

The O-line is as porous as the US southern border. It can't pick-up a blitz, let alone stop one and Kevin Jones, despite how good he is, simply cannot get any big gains behind this line.

This was supposed to be (as was last year) Harrington's break out year and it appears that even though a QB should have a decent completion rate in the west coast offense (somewhere around 70% given all the short passes), Harrington continues to struggle. Our problem now is that Garcia went down and we're forced to stick it out with Harrington for another three weeks.

The DB's just plain suck and have for several years now. Dre Bly, despite being a Pro Bowler, I think is an overrated commodity, slow and often gets himself into difficult situations where he's unable to make a play on the ball.

The Lions were supposed to be chocked full of talent at the WR position, but Roy Williams drops way too many balls while Charles Rogers is being a big baby. Kevin Johnson might be a nice surprise if we get a QB that can get him the ball.

Of course, there is a coaching problem, too. Mooch is a big pussy. After that loss to Chicago, the Lions got four days off. Pathetic. Those four days could have been used for the receivers to practice beating the press, the O-line learning blocking schemes and how to pick-up the blitz, and to get Mike Williams some additional work and reps as he might be replacing Rogers if Chico can't unfuck himself soon.

Move this to the political forum please. :roll:

Seriously, I think Detroit has to recognize that Harrington isn't the real deal. The guy just continues to make bad throws, even without pressure. He seems to know when the camera is on him on the sidelines when he barks at his players but that fire does not seem to carry over to the field.

[DrDetroit]

Harrington simply is not a leader. He has no locker room presence and he has no leadership qualities on the practice field or on game day.

I think fans and players have recognized that Joey is not the real deal, and I think Mooch seemed to catch on last season, hence, the move to get Garcia.

But, in typical Mooch fashion, he hemmed and hawed with this shit that the job was Joey's, that Garcia was simply a backup.

[Jeff 2K5]

Wasn't Mooch a pretty smart guy in Frisco? When did he go stupid? :?