January 07, 2008
Links while recovering from a solid B+ slate of Wild Card games, now only five days away from the best weekend of pro football of the season.
* The dark last days of Cam Cameron. Some jaw-dropping stuff in here about Joey Porter just lambasting Cameron in front of the team Cameron seems like the ultimate coordinator that is not head coach material.
* The Tennessee papers were surprisingly negative about the Titans this morning, but I can see their point. They had a great opportunity, and they gave it away. The defensive breakdowns were tough to overcome. Keith Bullock points the finger at the offense.
Finnegan's wake: Cortland has a career-making first half only to be filleted for 30 minutes after halftime.
Continue reading "Linked: Post Wild Card weekend" »
The Titans needed to play a perfect game Sunday to beat the Chargers. They came up a few plays short.
Some that immediately come to mind were Chris Brown's fumble in the first half and Ron Bironas' missed field goal in the second half. For the Titans to defeat a much-more-talented team, they needed to capitalize in the red zone. Albert Hayesworth's penalty and the defensive breakdowns in the secondary were also problematic.
As always, Jeff Fisher had his team playing its guts out. They went further than they had any right, mostly on the back of a strong defensive line and a no-name secondary. In a year-to-year league where it's dangerous to assume teams are on the "upswing", the Titans have a young roster that should be solid for years to come.
Vince Young needs to show growth next season, but he will play better if they get him some receivers. LenDale White proved to be the opposite of his reputation: a hard-charging, no-nonsense player who fought through injuries.
Kudos to the San Diego Chargers for that second-half effort. They won a game with very little help from LaDainian Tomlinson, who had more pouts than big plays. They dominated a strong defense with a 17-0 second-half score, mostly on the arm of Philip Rivers. Every football writer in the country was ready to pounce on San Diego if the halftime score held up, but they played a nearly perfect 30 minutes.
January 06, 2008
3:14: It's not a playoff game until Guy Whimpler enters the lineup.
3:15: The Giants staying aggressive, passing on second-and-short. That's what they should be doing.
3:16: One reason to be wary of the Train next year: Ahmad Bradshaw. He's looked great in Week 16 in Buffalo, and now is getting fourth quarter snaps. He runs tough for a small guy.
3:17: Toomer keeps showing why he's still on the roster. The Giants putting this game away with a long drive. The Bucs aren't putting up much of a fight, and Bradshaw keeps making people miss.
Continue reading "Bucs-Giants Liveblog, Fourth quarter" »
2:34: Fox opens the second half with the most depressingly popular rap song of the year: "Party like a Rock Star."
2:36: Michael Spurlock fumbles the opening kickoff, right in front of Jon Gruden. Oh boy.
2:37: It's a quarter earlier, but the Giants have a chance like Washington had yesterday to take the game over after a turnover on a kickoff. Calling Shaun Suisham.
2:40: Giants inside the ten. I should have learned from yesterday, but I'm saying this one is just about over if the Giants score a touchdown here. Eli overthrows Plaxico by ten yards, five more than usual.
2:43: Two penalties by the Giants, shades of their 2006 self, wind up with the Giants scoring a field goal.
2:44: Troy Aikman informs us that there is nothing in the rulebook that says a team has to score a touchdown after giving away good field position. Good to know.
Continue reading "Bucs-Giants Liveblog, Third Quarter" »
1:43: Collective Soul for American Idol. Good to see they are still getting paid.
1:44: Jeff Garcia buys time in the pocket, but throws low on a play to Joey Galloway. Garcia hasn't been sharp so far. 10 attempts for 48 yards. Keeping the Giants close.
1:47: Tampa playing eight in the box, and not giving up the deep play. Brian Kelley gambles on a short pass, but Eli gets it to Amani Toomer.
1:49: The Giants had negative two yards in the first quarter. How about that momentum!
1:50: The Train has one yard on six carries. Looks like I choose well with Hackett over him this week on the Fix.
Continue reading "Bucs-Giants Liveblog, Second Quarter" »
1:00: Here we go. Back from a run. Never sign up for something that forces you to train in the middle of winter. It's going to be tough for today's games to match yesterday. One of the best Wild Card days in a long time: two fourth-quarter, double-digit comebacks, although both comeback teams wound up losing.
Let me know what your favorite format is. Newest post up top or last? I think the best compromise may be four separate posts-per-quarter, but with the latest post on the bottom like yesterday.
1:06: Barrett Ruud runs down Brandon Jacobs on the outside. He's going to need a big day as Tampa's best tackler. Jacobs is probably going to have to find room inside the tackles. Giants go three and out.
1:08: Tampa's o-line holds up on the first down, and Garcia has time to find our man Joey Galloway. Don't really know why I need a favorite player each game to root for, but there it is.
Continue reading "Bucs-Giants LiveBlog, First Quarter" »
I'll be back at 1PM for a Bucs-Giants liveblog. In the meantime, here are a few reasons why this game is so intriguing.
Coaching Pressure - Everyone knows Tom Coughlin is under the gun after bowing out in the Wild Card round the last two seasons. But Jon Gruden isn't far removed from the hot seat either. A playoff appearance secured his future in Tampa for now, but he still hasn't won a game since their Super Bowl title - a team that Tony Dungy built.
Graham vs. Jacobs - Graham was the better fantasy back this season, beating all odds. Jacobs, however, has a better chance for a big game Sunday against Tampa's lightweight front seven.
Eli vs. Monte - Eli Manning, in the playoffs, against the Dean of defensive coordinators in the NFL, Monte Kiffin. Sounds like a mismatch. Kiffin's defenses require a lot of patience and long drives to beat them. Eli likes throwing it up deep to Plaxico Burress. If Eli can topple this Bucs pass defense, it will be the signature moment of his career.
Galloway's time - There is a compelling argument that Joey Galloway is the most underrated player of his generation. He has played with an amazingly terrible collection of quarterbacks on bad offenses, and still produces. Galloway is having one of the most productive mid-thirties runs in NFL history. Against a banged-up Giants secondary, this could be the last time for him to shine on a big stage.
See you back here at 1PM
Mike Holmgren's wife Kathy showed up to the Seahawks game for the first time in 15 years Saturday. Listening to Holmgren, I've thought for the last few weeks that he is retiring after this season, no matter how it ends. It's obviously only circumstancial evidence, but his wife's presence at the game only supports my claim. Between him and Lane Kiffin, we're likely to get at least one more coaching change this season.
January 05, 2008
5:45: Welcome to a Saturday's almost-sorta Playoff liveblog. I won't be able to update the blog as much as I'd like, but will be checking in when I can the rest of the night with thoughts while my wife entertains friends only a room away! We will be here Sunday at 1PM for the Giants-Bucs game for a proper liveblog, with all the trimmings.
5:55: Joe Gibbs. vs. Mike Holmgren and we have a defensive battle? Washington's makeshift offensive line just isn't giving Todd Collins a chance. Neither are Collins' receivers, who have dropped three passes, one to kill a drive.
5:59: For all the Seattle domination, you are seeing some of the reasons why they have been a good, not great, team. The passing game is just a little of synch, with Matt Hasselbeck overthinking a few plays and missing some receivers. The running game started great, but has been inconsistent. The 2005 Seahawks would be up three scores by now. Of course the 2005 Seahawks wouldn't have a shutout. Patrick Kerney, Lofa Tatupu, and the boys are dominant.
Continue reading "Playoff Saturday Live" »
January 04, 2008
What a miserable week for the Titans after making the playoffs Sunday night.
* LenDale White's grandmother passed away, and his knee is ailing.
* Their starting tight end, Bo Scaife, is now out for the season with a lacerated liver.
* A starting wideout Roydell Williams suffered a rare practice injury, breaking his ankle on Wednesday.
* Their quarterback started a small controversy, aided by Rotoworld Grand Poobah Rick Cordella, when he raised the possibility of collusion during a radio appearance.
* Vince Young didn't practice fully all week, and will officially be a game-time decision. Even though it would be a shock if he sat.
*
I never count a Jeff Fisher team out. They max out their ability, and have already made it further than they should have. I desperately want the Titans to put a scare into San Diego, but I fear that all the important action of the weekend will be over by halftime of Sunday afternoon's game.
***
While I'm incorrectly predicting games, I also like the Redskins and Jaguars to win on the road, with Tampa holding off the Giants.
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