July 30, 2009
Almost immediately after the NFL regular season (during the playoffs and going forward), I begin exploring prospects for the upcoming draft. I do columns on the top-15 prospects at each skill position, and this year added a write-up on the top-25 defenders. During the course of my running back research, I went through the week-by-week Ohio State game books to investigate Chris Wells' short-yardage productivity. He only scored eight touchdowns in 2008 and while watching him extensively on Saturdays I noticed a tendency to dance behind the line of scrimmage. I expected to use his percentages in situations where he ran the football with 2 or fewer yards needed for a first down or touchdown against him.
But I came away impressed. I can't find the statistics(doh), but do recall that Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel often used Dan Herron (six TDs) over Wells in short yardage. I imagine that was done to keep Wells fresh, due to his proclivity for nagging, minor injuries. Wells was a highly effective short-yardage back overall and would often break long runs even with only one or two yards needed for a first. Also, Wells scored 15 times as a sophomore, so it isn't like he lacks a nose for the end zone, despite his fairly low junior-year TD total.
Continue reading "Who will get goal-line carries in Arizona?" »
April 24, 2009
Long-time contender for MVC (Most Valuable Commenter) Scott C. is picking for the Cardinals for the second straight year. He writes that he is "sipping the Silva Kool-Aid this year." Aren't we all?
Arizona made a surprising run at the playoffs last year. After the 08 draft, not even the starting QB was decided, so to say there was a little uncertainty in the air is good a good expression. Thankfully for them they went with the right QB, added great draft picks and applied good coaching through out the year. They were the fantasy darlings of 08 - except the running backs. Last year this was a major area of need.
There was no continuity at the position and it began to weaken the offense midseason when their passing attack sputtered some. But they made adjustments, and that receiving corps is too good to contain all year, so they made the push into the big game.
Continue reading "Pancake Blocks Mock: Pick No. 31" »
April 08, 2009
We’ve already covered the fallout from the Larry Johnson grievance ruling. He carries no trade value at this point, but the Chiefs can now safely dump him without swallowing a chunk of guaranteed money. So if LJ is currently persona non grata in K.C., where is he most likely to resurface?
Saints – Michael Lombardi believes the Saints should be all over LJ should the Chiefs release him, and Sean Payton is dying to add a power back to his offense.
Seahawks – If Seattle uses the No. 4 pick on Mark Sanchez, they still have to upgrade offensive tackle and linebacker early in the draft. Running back would be left unaddressed, with Julius Jones as one of the few starters around the league who would take an immediate backseat to LJ.
Continue reading "Who wants Larry Johnson?" »
March 04, 2009
Kurt Warner is going back to the Cardinals. No matter what you think of Matt Leinart, this qualifies as fantastic news for Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, and Steve Breaston. Not that there was ever much doubt. Check out my post on Warner's return at NBCSports.com, where I continue to blog about "reality football" during free agency.
Warner wasn't the only signing Wednesday afternoon. Devery Henderson returned to the Saints, according to NFL Network's Adam Schefter. Henderson's presence is an awful sign for Robert Meachem. There are just too many targets for Drew Brees to throw to. It's hard to imagine Henderson or Meachem rising above the pack to consistently produce.
Okay, time to work on a long overdue column on free agency impact thus far. After defenses dominating the transaction wire early, there are enough offensive players to write about now.
February 23, 2009
My attention the last few days has been on the NFL Scouting Combine, but I’m not a college football guy. I need a few more days of studying to pretend I know what I’m talking about with these kids, and Mr. Silva has the event covered well in the news. Let’s see what’s gone on this weekend with the guys who are already pro.
The more we hear, the more it sounds like Torry Holt will just get out-right released by the Rams. They could delay the decision until mid-March, but it could be tough for the Rams to get any trade compensation for him. Teams may as well wait for the Rams to kill his contract first.
Jim Mora has had enough of the Michael Vick Experience, thank you very much.
Why is releasing Edgerrin James such a hard decision for the Cardinals? They can replace him in the draft at a fraction of the price, and then some.
Continue reading "Skinny Posts: Free Agency pruning" »
February 13, 2009
The NFL Network showed a replay of Super Bowl XLIII last night in its entirety. I was able to see a few things for the first time, since so much of the action came at the opposite end from my seat in the press box. This post isn’t remotely timely, but one of the most exciting fourth quarters in Super Bowl history should have a two-week shelf life … right?
A few final, random thoughts
It’s easy to say in retrospect, but Arizona went against their nature some by forgoing blitzes on Pittsburgh’s final two plays. The Steelers only left five in to block for maximum receivers, but Ben Roethlisberger felt virtually no pressure.
Before the winning touchdown, Pittsburgh had 15 plays inside the ten-yard line, and ten inside the five-yard line, with only one offensive touchdown. That nearly was the difference. Arizona’s defense made just enough big plays to keep them in the game despite the Harrison return.
Continue reading "One final look back at Super Bowl XLIII" »
February 02, 2009
The column is up and I'm back at my hotel for a quick stop before a morning flight. I'm not thinking straight enough to put together coherent thoughts on how the Steelers won, but here are a few stray things I learned after the game that I'd like to record before my goldfish-like memory forgets it all.
I stood right next to Dan Rooney as we both tried to get into a packed locker room well after the game. Even the owner of the team was having trouble going where he wanted. I’ve never met Rooney before, of course, but I said congratulations. I asked if championships were like kids or if you are allowed to have favorites. I hate that question, but it just came out. He said all championships are good, but the first one is the most special.
James Farrior said earlier in the week that he wasted too long with the media and missed a lot of the celebration the last time they won. This time, he made sure to finish up the minimum time on his podium, then run like hell out of the room while screaming in joy.
Gary Russell, despite being a rookie, seemed as overwhelmed and happy as any Steeler. Just beaming, continuing to say, “It’s better than I thought. And I’m speechless.” He said he didn’t get too caught up in his touchdown run because he had to get right back on the field for special teams.
I didn’t go into the locker room until after most of the podium pressers. It’s a strange place to be, with so many happy players trying to enjoy their moment while out-numbered by media. Chris Hoke and all the defensive linemen took turns taking pictures with the Lombardi trophy. Some players dressed and bolted as fast as possible to the team buses.
The most awkward scene in a locker room full of them was seeing ten people surround Ben Roethlisberger as he had a tearful conversation on the phone. Everyone was maintaining a respectful 5-10 feet, but it was like we were watching the “Ben Roethlisberger Show.”
Hines Ward teared up at the podium while holding his son and talking about what the Rooneys meant to him. He said he “couldn’t describe” the pain he played in. He said the injury was a 5-6 week injury. He held up well early, but blocking wore him down. Ward’s teammates have taken to calling him Papa Smurf. My wife calls him Hinesy.
Continue reading "Post-game lessons " »
February 01, 2009
Pittsburgh's defense took control of the game by stopping Arizona on their first drive to maintain a two-score lead.
The Cardinals out-gained the Steelers 129 to 27 by turning almost exclusively to the pass, which seems like a good idea, despite the final result of Kurt Warner's bone-headed pick. All nine Cardinals first downs are via the pass.
Most of the stats are close. The big difference is that Arizona didn't score off Ben Roethlisberger's interception. James Harrison scored a touchdown off Warner's throw that none of us will ever forget.
The Steelers get a chance to show they really can run the ball now with a two-score lead at halftime of the Super Bowl. If Willie Parker has a half-way decent second half, it's probably all over.
Already the press box is debating whether Tyree's play of Harrison's play is more amazing. I'd vote Tyree. Also I can confirm that that the sound-proof press box was the only place in the stadium not rocked by Bruce Springsteen. Many of us wanted to get out to listen, but it wasn't possible. So we were typing.
Karlos Dansby with his tenth career interception after Bryan Robinson tipped a Ben Roethlisberger pass. Dansby is a great player in the open field, so Mewelde Moore did a terrific job laying the wood on Dansby. And Dansby did a better job holding on to the ball.
Karlos Dansby with his tenth career interception after Bryan Robinson tipped a Ben Roethlisberger pass. Dansby is a great player in the open field, so Mewelde Moore did a terrific job laying the wood on Dansby. And Dansby did a better job holding on to the ball.
By the letter of the law, the chop block call on Edgerrin James was correct. It's questionable whether the linemen were engaged though when James hit the defender. That more or less killed a possible scoring drive for Arizona, with LaMarr Woodley's sack on Levi Brown pushing the Cardinals further backward. The game is moving very quickly. Both teams have had three possessions in 27+ minutes.
- Gregg
This game has been very chippy thus far, with at least three skirmashes and some late hits. DT Bryan Robinson definitely threw a punch, but nothing was called. The officials are letting them play.
Arizona needs to stay out third-and-long situations to keep Dick Lebeau's blitzes at bay. On their third-and-17, James Harrison blitzed without getting touched, ending the play before it started.
I'm surprised Mike Tomlin didn't go for the touchdown from the one-foot line. He did a lot during the year with mixed results. Pittsburgh's short-yardage struggles were certainly a factor in the decision.
No one will ever accuse Neil Rackers of having weak leg. He just nailed a 60-yarder in warmups, and hit the crossbar from 65. So we know where he's good from.
Jeff Reed hit from 55 with at least five yards to spare. It's always amazing to see the kickers warm-up, because they simply never miss in practice.
The crowd is picking up, but it's a closed-air press box, so it's hard to get a feel of how loud it really is. When the Steelers came out, and the place exploded. The Cardinals came out, and one or two sections cheer. It sounds pretty loud - the towels are in full effect. I suspect it's way louder than last year, if only because most of the crowd is for one team.
Ben Roethlisberger to Jerome Bettis: "It's the Super Bowl. Everyone should be nervous." Except the writers!
Cardinals inactives: NT Alan Branch, CB Eric Green, FB Tim Castille, LB Victor Hobson, OL Elliot Vallejo, OT Brandon Keith, TE Jerame Tuman, and third QB Brian St. Pierre.
Two of the former Steelers on the roster (St. Pierre and Tuman) won't be able to try to beat their former team. J.J. Arrington will return kicks and play despite being listed as questionable. Defensive ends Antonio Smith and Travis LaBoy will play, as expected.
Steelers inactives: S Anthony Smith, third QB Dennis Dixon, CB Fernando Bryant, OLB Bruce Davis, OT Tony Hills, OT Jason Capizzi, DL Scott Paxson, and DE Orpheus Roye are out for Pittsburgh. No major surprises there. Smith told me about his plans to hit Larry Fitzgerald as much as possible in the game - he won't get the the chance.
January 30, 2009
Turning to more important subjects than x-rays, I talked to Edgerrin James about his beautiful white Lamborghini purchase. First of all, James seems like the most relaxed dude on the planet. Even his saunter to his presser podium was relaxed, taking five minutes to go 100 feet. Long speed was always an issue with him.
Edge was happy to answer any question, but half of his answers started with, “It’s just football.” He said he won’t be remotely nervous for the game, and I believe him.
The only negative thing he had to say all day was that the “sweet” Bucs facility need more pictures of Tony Dungy, because, “that’s my guy.”
I brought up the Lamborghini purchase, and Edge perked up. I love so many things about the move – getting it parked outside the team hotel for his arrival is a classic memory for the team. And when I park at the team hotel, James’ car is just hanging out like my rented Pontiac, for everyone to see.
James has tested out the car some this week, and seems impressed. I asked if he’ll let any of his friends drive it too.
“My inner circle, we’ll make it work.”
When asked why he bought this particular car, James says it's partically because he doesn’t like to drive much.
“Lamborghini is a special car, it’s rare. It’s a car that nobody has. It’s one of those cars you don’t drive all the time. I don’t like to really drive that much, so it’s perfect for somebody like me. You don’t have to drive it all the time.” Then came the line that cracked me up, “Less is more, you know?”
Yes, less is more when you buy your first Lambo. I finished by asking if he would have bought the car if he didn’t make the Super Bowl.
“Why are all y’all here? It’s the Super Bowl! It makes sense to get it here. It’s a fun week. Why not?”
Ben Roethlisberger and Mike Tomlin spent part of their day issuing non-denial denials to Mike Florio's report that Big Ben underwent an x-ray on his sore ribs Wednesday. This morning, ESPN's bottom line going across their Austrailian Open coverage and Mike and Mike confirmed the report.
In typical ESPN style, they didn't credit Mike Florio or mention who from ESPN has confirmed the report. "Ben Roethlisberger underwent a second x-ray Wednesday on the rib injury he suffered in the AFC championship game," simply ran across the bottom line.
Again, Roethlisberger is clearly well enough to play and probably play well. But Pittsburgh's odd refusal to recognize this story makes it appear they don't want it to become a bigger story.
January 29, 2009
I spent the day talking to both teams, scrambing to get to the Steelers in time to be shut down by Ben Roethlisberger, omitted from a quote sheet, and then trying to overcome a computer meltdown. I'll get Edge's thoughts about his new Lambo, my long chat with the grestest strength coach ever, John Lott, and my fawning Tulane Mewelde Moore love tomorrow. For now, it's another column for NBCSports.com. My last until Sunday! Here was the Larry Fitzgerald column I filed last night. And for all you Steelers fans out there, a writer can appreciate Kurt Warner and Fitz without "hating on" your team! After talking to Moore today, it would be cool to see him get a ring. Both of us couldn't think of a Green Wave that has one.
***
The mood in Tampa has shifted dramatically today. The fans have arrived en masse. I got dinner last night with a few other writers near our hotel, and saw every possible ESPN personality at the restaurant. No one bugged them at all - that would not be possible tonight. The relatively empty downtown has been haunted only by media schlubs with an embarrasing pass dangling around their necks for the last five days. Now it's jamming. It's also raining, which is bad luck for the Coors Light girls who were scheduled to appear at the outdoor pool bar downstairs in our hotel. (No, I wasn't going to go. Yes, you can see the pool from the elevator, which is a nice bonus.)
January 28, 2009
Because I'm a dink (Great Curran-ism), I didn't put this video up on the blog until now. To put a nice little bow on our media coverage, here's a look at the biggest eaters on both teams. Sadly, the cheesburger under the arm story did not make the cut. We were robbed.
Enjoy the video while I think up Lambo questions for Edgerrin James tomorrow.
Wake up call is bright and early for the reporters covering the Cardinals. (I call us "B team.") On Wednesday and Thursday, we scurry over to their team hotel before 8AM to hear Ken Whisenhunt and a star player (Kurt Warner today) talk alone for 15 minutes each. They get off easy: the rest of the players are stuck with us for 45 minutes after that, seated at folding tables spread out underneath an outdoor tent. Six players get a podium during that time. I'll be using some of the material later for a longer story, but here are some general impressions from the morning.
The politics of who gets a podium is fascinating. They try to spread out the podium love during the week, but superstars like Warner and Larry Fitzgerald need the protection. Anquan Boldin hasn't had a podium in two days, including yesterday when over ten players did! It's not a big deal, but it's weird for a two-time Pro Bowler. If the Cardinals were at all worried about Boldin's story turning negative this week, they know now that it won't. He has been the picture of team-first talk and genuinely doesn't seem annoyed with his contract situation or the team. His tolerance for repeating inane questions is rather high.
Antrel Rolle is not a morning person, yawning repeatedly before I sidled up to talk to him. He had an interesting comment about the change in leadership by Adrian Wilson's this year, saying Wilson was unapproachable in the past. "He wasn't too player-friendly before," Rolle said.
That may be the first time in history a player was called out for not being 'player friendly."
I talked to Wilson again today and can see how he would give off that vibe. He has a laser-like intensity that could rub people the wrong way, but his love for football shines through if you listen. When the other guys showed up in suits Monday, Wilson had on a hoodie. He doesn't care much for appearances and said he turned off his phone the night Arizona won the NFC Championship so he could focus on the Super Bowl. That's how we want our athletes to be.
One local TV guy, completely disregarding everyone at the table this morning, shoved a "boom mike" in Wilson's face and asked him to speak up. Wilson said "this is how I talk. And I was talking to this dude," gesturing to me.
I loved it; the other writers loved it. (The local TV species that assumes they can just cut off any reporter if they have a camera so they can ask 'How crazy is all this attention?' is the most vile I've met down here.)
Wilson says he "idolizes" Troy Polamalu and is his ability to cover ground in the secondary. Both Wilson and Polamalu say they watch tape of each other during the off-season to improve.
I'm doing a piece on Larry Fitzgerald and everyone seems to agree his practice habits have improved quite a bit over the last two years. Fitzgerald and Ken Whisenhunt think he's better after the catch because his routes are more precise, giving him more separation and room to run when he makes a catch. Fitz also keeps mentioning how much faster he is after losing 15 pounds.
Larry Fitzgerald addressed reports Wednesday morning that he would be willing to restructure his contract to help keep Anquan Boldin.
"I don't know where that came from,” Fitzgerald started, but then didn’t exactly shoot down the reports.
"Someone asked me if I'd be willing to do something to help the team and I said absolutely. ... This is an amazing feeling and I'll do anything I have to do to get back to this point."
Fitzgerald is a very honest and open interview subject. He answered a question about helping the team; of course he wants to. Whether that’s feasible or necessary is another question.
Fitzgerald’s agent Eugene Parker, probably isn’t in love with the topic being out in the ether so publicly. Ultimately, Parker will have the biggest say here and would probably prefer that these conversations not go on during Super Bowl week.
It’s also worth pointing out that Arizona has a lot of cap room. They have every reason to want to keep Boldin happy, and NFL.com’s Adam Schefter cites league sources that believe Boldin will be happy to stay if the Cardinals give him a sufficient offer.
And why shouldn’t they? Boldin is a highly productive player in his prime, who is far more of a team leader than his recent reputation would suggest. We’ll hear plenty of Boldin rumors early in the off-season, but the most likely endgame is that he’ll return to the Cardinals.
January 27, 2009
"It seems like he knows what you’re doing before you know what you’re doing."
That quote seemed to sum up what I heard about Kurt Warner at Media Day. We've all heard the biography of the man so much, what makes him special as a performer gets overshadowed. I tried to break down what makes Warner great in on the field a column today over at NBCSports.com. (Do check it out, won't you. My pretend reporter week is now complete with a feature. Woo.)
Warner is defined by his accuracy, toughness, decisiveness, and smarts. Warner's signature play would be one where he recognizes a blitz, gets rid of the ball quickly, and hits his receiver in stride. Let them make the play. But don't take my word for it.
With the help of super producer Matt Casey, the hardest working man at NBCSports.com, we tackled the big issues of Media Day, like who's the best Ladies man. Also included at the end is video proof that Cardinals MLB Gerald Hayes digs my sunglasses. Success!
The Steelers defense knows that it will be a tall task to stop Larry Fitzgerald on Super Bowl Sunday, and have a few different ideas on how to do it.
Safety Anthony Smith and others said the best way to slow Fitz down was to hit him - often. "As a safety, I’m going to hit him any time that I can. Try to tire him out. Because if he’s fresh, he’s going to be a problem."
Surging outside linebacker Lamarr Woodley thinks you have to stop Fitzgerald by concentrating elsewhere.
"To slow Larry down, you gotta go back there and hit the quarterback. You gotta hit the guy that is most dangerous. And the most dangerous is the guy with the ball."
As I mentioned below, Fitzgerald's teammates are his biggest fans. Video Evidence below.
I focused most of my media day energy on some goofy videos that we'll get up on the site over the next few days. That didn't leave a lot of time for "football" questions, but that's what the rest of the week is for. I found last year that the sessions with the players from Wednesday-to-Friday were a lot more useful for getting good info. With that said, here are a few stray thoughts from the proceedings.
Both teams were very loose, unlike the Patriots last season. Media Day is inherently trivial and silly, but most of the players, especially the lesser ones, seem to enjoy the moment.
More than any player, Larry Fitzgerald inspires awe from his teammates. Everyone had a crazy Fitzgerald practice catch story to tell, and we'll get those up on the site shortly. Apparently he pulled off a one-handed cross-hand grab with his fingertips that is hard to imagine.
Ryan Clark and Adrian Wilson got the nods for the players who can lay the most wood on the field. Early Doucet said he's cautious around Wilson even in practice, when he knows they can't hit at full speed.
I hesitate to draw any conclusions from these gab-fests, but nothing about the Steelers smack of overconfidence. They are ready to play, but their healthy respect for the Arizona offense seems genuine. They also have enough new or young players who have talked about getting their ring. It's a good mix of youth, talent, and experience.
Surprise funniest player: Steelers C Justin Hartwig. He'll be a star of the videos.
I've come to the conclusion that tight ends are the scariest looking dudes on a football team. Heath Miller comes to mind. The offensive linemen are bigger, but they are the best talkers and not in conventionally great shape. My favorite story about some of the ridiculous eating that linemen undertake was about Max Starks. It seems he's developed a way to sneak cheeseburgers into meetings by pressing them under his arms. Then when the coach isn't looking, he takes a bite and puts it back. Yummy.
There were a lot of comments from the male population at the stadium about the impressive female talent this year. I concur. Maria Menuonous was a personal favorite. I give a lot of credit to the beat writer who essentially was hitting on her after it was over.
Cardinals MLB Gerald Hayes complimented me on my sunglasses, which is the first time anyone has ever said anything complimentary about my appearance in my life. My wife, as usual, is to thank.
More than once, I saw a young defensive back tell Deion Sanders that he was their idol and ask for a picture. It's fun to see the pros acting like nervous kids.
The NFL Players have spoken: Madden '09 was a step backward.
I'm working on a column now that will try to be a little more coherent than this mess. Thanks for stopping by.
Most players are shy about saying too much on Media Day. Cardinals rookie running back Tim Hightower is not one of those players.
"I'm not going to be shy about (saying I'm going to score.) It's going to happen. It's going to happen twice. ... It's going to be a lot of fun and I'm going to enjoy it."
Hightower will probably be in at the goal line over Edgerrin James. The Cardinals have improved their short-yardage offense in recent weeks, but running on Casey Hampton and the Steelers is another matter.
Maybe Hightower got his candor from his mentor James, who was soaking in the moment on Media Day, loose as ever. Like many of the Cardinals, James feels he has something to prove.
"I'm an African American. I'm always the underdog."
January 26, 2009
Six Cardinals got in a 15-minute practice today for answering dumb questions. This will make tomorrow's hour-long Media Day less of a shock.
One thing you quickly notice at the Super Bowl is that the media festivities are not for the big-time football media. They stand on the sidelines, knowing they won't get much of value from the big setting. These pressers are for the people that barely cover another game all year. Like me.
My least favorite kind of question is the indirect slam. It usually starts with "A lot of people are talking that you guys aren't very good at blank. (Let's say 'playing defense'.)
Or: "The perception by many people is Blank. How does that make you feel?"
Or my favorite: "What do you say to all the haters?"
This is annoying on so many levels. First, no one cares. Second, the reporter is the one bringing up the issue - no one else. Stop passing off the buck to "The perception" or "A lot of people" or "America".
A perfect example from today was a guy who asked this question to multiple Cardinals: "The problem a lot of people have with your defense is that you gave up more points than anybody else that has ever reached the Super Bowl. How many times do you expect to be asked about this?"
"I don't (expect to be asked). We were better than every opponent in the playoffs. That's all that matters."
Defensive end Bertrand Berry answered it how I was hoping.
"I'll just say this. It doesn't really matter how many times I'm asked it because I still gotta talk about it. If you want to waste your ink and paper on it, be my guest."
One unsurprising theme I took from the Cardinals first media availability Monday, especially from their forgotten defense: They are going to play the Us Against the World angle. Hard. This can be tiring, but it works. They believe in it. And judging by some of the borderline insulting questions they received Monday, there is plenty of truth in the angle.
"The fact of the matter is that perception can't help us on Sunday. ... We don't care what people thing about us. People have said they don't like the fact that the Cardinals are in the Super Bowl. Too bad. We're here. You don't wanna watch us, watch something else. I'm sure there's programming on other channels. Good luck with that. ... We deserve to be here, we've earned the right to be here and we're not making any apologies. ... Change usually comes with a lot of resistance."
Well said. I also appreciated Berry's professionalism in wearing a sweater vest despite answering questions in a humid tent. Between Berry and Fitzgerald, the Cardinals have the most sweater vests on a single team since my high school tennis squad. And we won the state title! Omen?
There is some thought that perhaps Edgerrin James won't get cut after all. He's been a nice story and all this post-season, but he's still a below average starting running back. Barring a 200-yard game in the Super Bowl, I don't think there is much chance he's back in 2009 at $5 million. A ring would bolster his Hall of Fame credentials, though
Ken Whisenhunt learned something about having a consistent message from Dick Lebeau. Expect me to talk about Dick Lebeau way too much this week as I join the Steelers players in trying to get this man into the Hall of Fame discussion next year.
Continue reading "Skinny Posts: Will Edge stay" »
It doesn’t take long to remember exactly why you arrived in Tampa this week. The minute I stepped off the plane last night, the Super Bowl welcome committee greeted me warmly, with brochures in hand. Super Bowl XLIII decals are on every elevator and hallway I’ve seen in the city. Bud Bowl and NFLPA ads are on the rest.
Spotting NFL Network's Rod Woodson at baggage claim seemed to be a good omen for the week. He looked conflicted wearing a Steelers shirt and a Falcons cap pulled low over his eyes, but couldn’t be nicer to the guy who asked for him to sign a “Football for Dummies” book.
Unfortunately, my bag never did arrive. It’s supposed to come this morning, which robs the rest of Tampa from seeing me in the same navy hoodie all week.
The media center is located right next to my hotel, so I'll be over there shortly to get the lay of the land. Be back in a few minutes first with some links from the morning.
January 21, 2009
I will be covering the Cardinals primarily down in Tampa next week, so I've inevitably jumped on the bandwagon. Okay, I'm not convinced they will win yet ... but I think they can keep it close. Plus I was assigned to write up ten reasons why the game isn't such a mismatch for NBCSports.com. I posted the column on Rotoworld as well here. The blog will get cranking when I arrive there on Sunday. In the meantime, here is a Three and Out with Tom Curran and myself. We talk Boldin, Warner, and underrated Super Bowl story line.
Bill Parcells has come out of hiding! (I dont have a picture of him handy, so there's Anthony Fasano.) Miami’s signing of CFL star Cameron Wake is interesting, if only because I can’t remember a CFL star getting $1 million guaranteed on a four-year deal.
That’s similar to a contract a late second round pick would get. He got a little less money up front for a little more over the course of the deal. I can’t ever remember a young CFL player getting that type of deal, so Miami must have had competition for him. Parcells doesn't seem to be going anywhere despite Wayne Huizenga's sale of the Dolphins yesterday.
"What does it look like I’m doing?" Parcells asked a reporter at the Senior Bowl. "It isn’t about money. I have more money than I can spend."
Mike Lombardi picks on Andy Reid’s clock management. And I wholeheartedly agree that anyone making McNabb a scapegoat is ridiculous. The Eagles got beat by a better team on Sunday. The defense got manhandled. Let’s not try to look too deeply past that.
Continue reading "Skinny Posts: The Tuna lives" »
January 19, 2009
Special Teams
Jeff Reed is an excellent field goal kicker, but punter Mitch Berger is one of the worst in the league and hurt Pittsburgh during the AFC Championship. (Although he can tackle!) Pittsburgh’s coverage teams aren’t bad, but their returns struggled during the regular season. Santonio Holmes has given them a big boost in the playoffs, though.
Neil Rackers is an up-and-down kicker, and he’s the highlight of Arizona’s special teams. Their coverage units didn’t excel all season. Like the rest of the Cardinals, they are playing better in the playoffs. J.J. Arrington and Steve Breaston are average on returns.
Our pick: Steelers
Continue reading "SB Matchups by position: Special teams and coaches" »
Linebackers
Where to start? James Harrison was a deserving Defensive MVP choice, but fellow outside linebacker Lamarr Woodley is now nearly as good a pass rusher. 12-year veteran James Farrior locks down the middle. Pittsburgh allowed the fewest yards-per-rush in football (3.3).
Like Pittsburgh, Arizona’s defense is built on creating pressure from the linebacker level. Karlos Dansby is a consistent playmaker that can also defend the pass. Chike Okeafor and Bert Berry can play standing up or with their hand down, although their very best days are behind them. Travis LaBoy is injury-prone and left the NFC Championship. This group has helped shut down Michael Turner, DeAngelo Williams, and Brian Westbrook in the playoffs.
Our pick: Steelers
Continue reading "SB Matchups by position: Back seven" »
Offensive Line
Tackles Mike Gandy and Levi Brown protected Kurt Warner well all year, but the entire unit has improved their run blocking in the playoffs. Brown is a mauler that pushed Carolina and Philly around on the right side. This group communicated well in the first half to pick up Philly's blitzes. Ken Whisenhunt finally has the rugged unit he envisioned when he arrived in the desert.
Earlier this season, Pittsburgh’s offensive line looked like their fatal flaw. They improved week-by-week, and are no longer a liability. Left guard Chris Kemoeatu and C Justin Hartwig are run-blocking better. Left tackle Max Starks is still vulnerable to speed rushers, so keep an eye on him.
Our pick: Cardinals
Continue reading "SB teams by position: The linemen" »
The Super Bowl matchups continue ...
Wide receiver
Hines Ward hurt his knee in the Conference Championship. With terrific, hands, toughness, and smarts, he is Ben Roethlisberger’s target when a play is absolutely needed. Ward’s status for the Super Bowl will be key because he draws double teams and the Steelers would prefer to keep rookie Limas Sweed on the bench. Santonio Holmes lacked maturity in his third season, but he’s a great playmaker who is peaking at the right time. Nate Washington is another deep threat with inconsistent hands.
Larry Fitzgerald is dominating like no receiver in NFL playoff history, already setting a record with 419 yards. He is the best in football at catching jump balls, but his improved route-running and ability to go over the middle make him complete. I'd put him and Andre Johnson as receivers 1 and 1A in the entire NFL. Anquan Boldin is usually exceptional after the catch, but is battling a hamstring injury. The Cardinals will need to get his mind right after a frustrating NFC Championship. Underrated second-year pro Steve Breaston topped 1,000 yards out of the slot. When fully healthy, this is the best wide receiver group in the league.
Our pick: Cardinals
Continue reading "SB teams by position: The pass catchers" »
We may not have the best Super Bowl analysis, but we are determined to have some of the first! In lieu of a Skinny Posts morning, I'm working on some quick personnel writeups for NBCSports.com to see "Who has the edge" at various positions. I'll be posting these throughout the day, but here goes the quarterback and running back spots.
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Kurt Warner has thrown eight touchdowns and two interceptions during a dominant playoff run. Warner has struggled with turnovers in the past when under duress, but he has been well protected this season. His quick release and intelligence are blitz-killers, as Eagles coordinator Jim Johnson found out. He won’t be fazed by the moment.
On paper, Ben Roethlisberger’s up-and-down statistical season mirrors his career. But don’t forget that his career yards-per-attempt average is seventh in NFL history. He throws an awesome deep ball and sheds tacklers better than any quarterback alive. That gives him extra time to make plays out of the pocket, and while he takes a lot of sacks, he usually delivers when it counts.
Our pick: Roethlisberger (Barely. This was really tough)
Continue reading "SB teams by position: Who has the edge?" »
January 18, 2009
At halftime, I asked if Donovan McNabb could lead the Eagles back from an 18-point deficit. He did, but it wasn’t enough.
Eagles fans will remember the non-call on the fourth-and-ten try to Kevin Curtis, but Curtis had his chance to make the play, just like McNabb had chances to hit open receivers the previous two plays. Philly was the beneficiary of the biggest missed call of the game on the kickoff at the end of the first half. They can’t complain about the zebras.
McNabb missed a lot of throws in the first half, but it’s hard to kill a guy who threw for 375 yards and three touchdowns. This game was about missed chances. McNabb had his opportunities, but so did his teammates.
Continue reading "Cardinals close out instant classic" »
This game reminds me so much of the AFC Championship three years ago between the Colts and the Patriots. It's a relatively even matchup, with the slight underdog having a commanding lead at halftime. (It was 21-6 then; it's 24-6 now).
Just like in '05, the trailing team had its chances in the first two quarters. Philadelphia’s defense has to find answers for Larry Fitzgerald, but the offense has moved the ball despite Donovan McNabb’s serious accuracy problems. The Cardinals, like the Patriots of ’05, had an inconsistent defense that was peaking in the playoffs but wasn’t invulnerable.
The question Philadelphia fans must be thinking: Can our quarterback lead us from a big halftime deficit? Manning pulled it off, and it ultimately sealed his NFL legacy. McNabb has that same opportunity over the next 30 minutes, if his defense can lend a hand. How he responds will help determine how these Reid/McNabb Eagles are remembered.
January 14, 2009
Although the Kansas City Star has a few facts on Scott Pioli wrong, (He never interviewed with the Seahawks and Giants), Jason Whitlock is in his corner! And Joe Posnanski is right there with him.
Some people are surprised about Bill Belichick's glowing, personal comments about Pioli, but they shouldn't be. For one, Belichick isn't shy about praising the few people that get his unbending respect: Randy Moss, Mike Vrabel, Tom Brady, Mike Shanahan, etc. And as Belichick said, Pioli was one of his best friends for almost 20 years and the person Belichick probably feels is as responsible for the Patriots success as anyone, including Brady and Bob Kraft. At nine years, Belichick/Pioli were the longest running coach/personnel man combo in the league.
As a Patriots fan, I feel pretty confident Josh McDaniels will be a good head coach. I never felt that about the three wisemen: Mangini, Weis, and Crennel. But I'm almost sure Pioli will turn the Kansas City franchise around. He had plenty of autonomy in New England and Belichick/Pioli learned to think as one anyhow. Pioli will bring his successful framework and system of acquisition to Kansas City, a team that never had a long-term vision. Now he just needs to find a coach.
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Mike Lombardi has inside knowledge of what "program" Pioli will want to run. He thinks Kirk Ferentz of Iowa would fit, but Ferentz may not be willing to go pro.
Continue reading "Skinny Posts: Pioli moves on" »
January 12, 2009
Panthers fans want blood. They want a change. Florio thinks it could happen.
The only problem? John Fox already says Jake Delhomme isn't going anywhere. Fox said, "I can promise you," that Delhomme's outing wouldn't change how he viewed his quarterback. Delhomme, who turned 34 years old on the day he threw five picks, is under contract for one more year for a total of $6.3 million. He won't get an extension, but that's reasonable for one year. Now the Panthers just need to start planning on what they will do in 2010. Matt Moore is a fine young option on the roster, but look for them to add another body in the off-season, whether it's through the draft or free agency.
More Panthers/Cardinals fallout below
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Continue reading "Delhomme isn't going anywhere" »
January 10, 2009
Kurt Warner's last chance! DeAngelo Williams' first! Some people to talk to because my wife doesn't care about football! Panthers/Cardinals liveblog starting ... now.
January 03, 2009
Third Quarter
So I guess this has evolved from a sorta liveblog into more or less a liveblog. I blame Aaron Gleeman for this. Nice work by Antrel Rolle to open the second half breaking out the dirty bird.
That's amazingly the fifth touchdown for Antrel Rolle in the last two years. He's been a disappointment overall after getting taken tenth in 2006, but he's made a lot of big plays since Ken Whisenhunt showed up.
This is the sort of game you'd expect from two flawed teams with surprise playoff berths. A lot of good, a lot of bad, and no team seems to want to take complete control. With great field position, the Cardinals have a chance to make this a two-score game. Now that would be a test for Mr. Ryan.
A ridiculous non-call on third down, with Falcons corner Chris Houston manhandling Larry Fitzgerald. Neil Rackers, who rebounded with a nice year after some ugly campaigns, misses from 51 yards. He's four-of-12 from over fifth the last two years, which is pretty poor for someone playing in the desert.
Continue reading "Cardinals/Falcons sorta liveblog, second half" »
I'll be checking in here to add any thoughts while I watch the game today. Not a live blog exactly, but a way to stop myself from over-texting and IMing everyone I know. I'll just add new bullets in this post going from top to bottom.
First Quarter
The Cardinals have let Atlanta off the hook early in the game. Arizona has accomplished everything they'd want to, but they only lead 7-0. Anquan Boldin's drop took points off the board.
Atlanta is a dominant team when they lead the game. They are average when they trail. This is a great test of Matt Ryan's poise and Michael Turner's true value.
This looks like the team Ken Whisenhunt envisioned when he arrived from Pittsburgh. The offensive line is pushing people around. The defense is multiple and unpredictable. If they can protect Kurt Warner better, they are going to be tough to beat.
It looks like all the Cardinals had to do to get their running game going was give Edgerrin James half a season off.
Continue reading "Cardinals/Falcons sorta liveblog " »
December 22, 2008
Week 17 fantasy is often all about guessing who will rest their starters and how much. This season, with so much on the line, there really aren't that many situations to keep track of. I count four. Every other NFL team has long since been out of it or has something important to play for. Carolina's loss kept them in play. Same goes with Denver and Minnesota. The five teams who don't have anything to play for: Pittsburgh, Tennessee, Indianapolis, Arizona and the New York Giants. There is an outside chance Baltimore could be out of it. Here are my guesses about how they will treat Week 17.
Continue reading "Week 17: To Play or Not to Play" »
December 17, 2008
Anquan Boldin, who knows how to play through injuries, missed practice Wednesday because of a shoulder injury. The Cardinals are hopeful he'll be ready for Sunday, and some am I as a Boldin owner in two finals. But this bothers me more than a usual Wednesday practice. The Cardinals have nothing to play for in Foxborough and it makes a lot of sense to rest Boldin if he's not 100%. With the conditions expected to be below freezing with some snow flurries, Arizona may be even more cautious.
Incidentally, I'm not too worried about the snow forecast yet. If it's light, it hurts the pass rush more than anything. And the New England defense does not have the bodies to hang with Arizona, whether Boldin is available or not.
Matt Bowen wrote an enlightening piece about how players really vote for the Pro Bowl. They never vote for rivals (Bills don't for Patriots) and they stack the ballot with reserves to help the starters on their own teams.
It didn't make huge national news, but King Carl Peterson's dethroning this week shook up the football world. I've watched Peterson closely during his last, worst days. Joe Posnanski, as always, provides some reasoned perspective.
December 02, 2008
That large man above is Kevin Williams, one half of the famed Minnesota Williams wall. The shoe finally dropped on him Tuesday, when the NFL announced four game suspensions for him, teammate Pat Williams, along with Saints Deuce McAllister, Charles Grant, Will Smith, and a very remorseful long snapper in Houston.
Pat Williams' agent said he would file a motion in federal court Wednesday . If successful, that could delay a suspension. We should know the result of that Wednesday, but it seems like a long shot. We expected Deuce's absence and his role was waning anyhow. The big impact will be the gaping void in the middle of the Minnesota defense. The Vikings schedule the next three weeks:
Week 14: Detroit (Kevin Smith)
Week 15: Atlanta (Michael Turner)
Week 16: Arizona (Tim Hightower)
Smith and Hightower become more palatable flex options in those weeks. Turner owners fretting the matchup can breathe a sigh of relief, assuming the case doesn't get stopped in court.
August 30, 2008
1. The Cardinals quarterback decision won't be officially decided until Saturday at the earliest. Matt Leinart did well Friday, but Warner is still the likely pick.
2. Ben Obomanu, sleeper no more. That cements Courtney Taylor's starting job and gets Logan Payne on the team.
3. Darius Walker and Marcel Shipp are out in Houston, which is good news for Chris Taylor. Chris Brown could get axed today.
4. Thomas Jones isn't going to lose red-zone carries to Jesse Chatman now.
(Update: Actually we don't know this at all. His agent says Chatman will not be released. Stay tuned.
5. Another team is going to fail to turn Josh McCown's career around.
6. Ryan Moats is officially a dynasty sleeper gone wrong.
7. Ronnie Brown is going to be just fine.
August 25, 2008
Let's assume that Mort got this one right, which can be dangerous. The local Phoenix rags support the notion that Kurt Warner will be the man in Week 1.
Ken Whisenhunt is making a major statement here about Leinart. The coach wasn't around to draft him, and doesn't believe in him. Warner hasn't even played well in the preseason, and is bound to get hurt eventually. The Cardinals will need Leinart, but the Heisman winner is dangerously treading towards Alex Smith territory by getting benched.
Fantasy leaguers must now decide: How high is Kurt Warner's ceiling?
Continue reading "The Resurrection of Kurt Warner" »
August 18, 2008
It's been a crazy day for draft guide updates, but let's look at my other headlines to know from preseason Week 2.
1. After another nice preseason effort, Eddie Royal looks to be keeping that starting job for good. And it was interesting to see Andre Hall replace Selvin Young twice in the red zone. Vulture, anyone?
2. Rams lost two backup offensive linemen for the season. The starters were miserable protecting Marc Bulger again this week. I won't overreact to preseason efforts, but another game like this will be cause for conern.
3. Reggie Brown couldn't stay healthy for another game. He's at risk of losing some targets to DeSean Jackson, who continues to play well.
4. Kenton Keith was the fifth-string running back in Indy. He looks like a goner. Darius Walker didn't get a carry in Houston. I'm guessing the Texans Week 1 roster will include Chris Brown, Steve Slaton, Chris Taylor and either Ahman Green or Marcel Shipp.
Continue reading "More preseason headlines: Winning jobs" »
July 09, 2008
Still down in Dallas, one day to go and our second magazine will be all done. In the meantime, check out Tiffany and I talking Cardinals.
To me, the big questions here are whether Matt Leinart is a legitimate quarterback option with Warner in the background. And whether Leinart's re-emergence will hurt the value of Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald.
July 02, 2008
Since Larry Fitzgerald's second season, he and Anquan Boldin have always been drafted in close proximity. That has changed this year. Fitz is now a second-round pick, while Boldin is going early in the fourth. The question is whether there should be such a gap.
Continue reading "The Boldin-Fitzgerald gap" »
June 12, 2008
New Marshawn Lynch developments, including a dancing pedestrian and Lynch's previous interactions with the police. Apparently Lynch has been tossed from a few local bars for ordering soda, then pouring ihis own liquor into the glass. Thrifty.
The Arizona quarterback rotation could be coming back. (Although I doubt it). The Cardinals are yet another team done with OTAs this week.
Continue reading "Skinny Posts: BYOL" »
March 12, 2008
The blog has been quiet lately as I've helped out on our baseball video previews and started to get ready for a Japan trip to see the in-laws and watch some Red Sox International. Then this place will really get quiet, although the timing feels right as we head into the Donnie Nickey/Dan Klecko/Danny Clark phase of free agency. Here are a couple loose thoughts on the events of the past few days ...
The Texans could be posturing or they could really be hesitant to draft a first-round running back. Considering their system, I'm betting the latter. Chris Taylor sounds like a nice deep dynasty league pickup.
Continue reading "Skinny Posts: Hackett, Boldin, and Darling" »
March 11, 2008
Larry Fitzgerald finally re-signed with the Cardinals, with the last negotiating point being that he could break the news himself to push traffic to his website. Okay, I made that last part up, although honestly I wouldn't be surprised.
Fitzgerald took some public hits for dragging the negotiations out, but it was the organization's fault and responsibility. They made the contract and they made it highly difficult to meet his contract escalators. He met them - good for him.
Continue reading "Fitzgerald re-signs; will numbers decline?" »
March 10, 2008
March 01, 2008
With my wife out of town, Pancake Blocks is back to the working weekend. The action has slowed on Day two of free agency, but not by that much. Let's take a look at what's transpired since I last checked in here.
While Randy Moss might be frustrated, no other teams have stepped up to the plate. I can't think of many fits to be honest. Jacksonville made the most sense, but they are out of it following the Jerry Porter signing. Philadelphia, Denver, and Washington sound like fits but no contact has been reported. Which is possibly what is frustrating Moss. It reminds me of when Adam Vinatieri had no takers for a while because everyone assumed he'd return to New England.
Continue reading "Skinny Posts: Moss hanging around" »
February 15, 2008
I wrote up the first six rounds of my "Day After Super Bowl" Mock Draft earlier this week. Here are a handful of notable names that fell far into the mid-to-late rounds.
Edgerrin James, 7.01- Arizona should get someone to split carries, so this is about right. I don't they will cut him though.
Continue reading "Falling Big Names" »
February 08, 2008
Thanks to everyone for chipping in on my Thomas Jones vs. Edgerrin James quandry yesterday. I wound up going with Jones, then Justin Fargas the next round. My RB2 spot would be weak, but S. Jackson-Owens-Ocho-Boldin-Brees would make up for it. Plus, this is a February Mock. You just look for value.
One of the reasons I passed on James was that his uncertain situation in Arizona. I think the Cards are more likely to draft a first day running back than New York (although both teams may), and James could get cut and be a backup elsewhere.
Continue reading "Fitzgerald could hold key to Edge's future?" »
February 07, 2008
This is one of the quietest times in the NFL calendar, with early July being the only thing that comes close. In a few weeks the Scouting Combine hits, then free agency, then teams start their offseason programs shortly thereafter.
I usually take my vacation now, but I'm delaying it about six weeks this year to go see the Sox play in Japan, assuming I can get tickets this week. Instead, I'm mostly starting my advance work on our magazine, whose due date gets earlier each year.
One enjoyably odd exercise I'm participating in is a day-after Super Bowl Mock Draft done by email. First time I've ever done one before free agency, or the NFL Draft for that matter. I will write about the results for next week, but wanted to mention one decision I was just faced with. Late sixth-round, I need a running back and they represent the best value for my team.
Continue reading "Early Mock Decision" »
November 28, 2007
After a fast start to the season, Anquan Boldin has been very quiet since Arizona's Week 8 bye. While still showing some aftereffects from a hip injury that forced him to miss three games, Boldin has caught only 16 passes for 212 yards and a touchdown over the last four weeks.
He's taking a backseat to Larry Fitzgerald in the offense and there are indications Boldin isn't happy about it. Using our targets report, I decided to check if Boldin's displeasure had merit.
Continue reading "Boldin unhappy with Fitzgerald's emergence?" »
October 19, 2007
Before the season, I wrote that the fates of the impressive 2006 rookie quarterbacks (Vince Young, Matt Leinart, and Jay Cutler) would help define this fantasy season. Quarterbacks usually take their biggest leap in their second season, but all three of these guys have struggled.
* Matt Leinart was ineffective, stuck in a rotation, and then broke his collarbone.
* After being a top-5 fantasy quarterback when he played last year, Vince Young is the QB25 this year and may miss this week's game.
* Jay Cutler has been erratic. And while I believe his numbers are encouraging except for an ugly TD:INT ratio (4:6), he just took a major hit with Javon Walker out indefinitely.
Continue reading "Cutler, Walker, Young continue slide" »
October 12, 2007
More notes from the Cardinals-Rams tape last week ...
* Edgerrin James had some nasty struggles this game inside the ten. He was stuffed at the goal line once, fumbled another time, and held to one-yard gains in two runs late in the game. James had similar problems at times with Indianapolis, often coming out of the game near the end zone. I checked the numbers, though, and this game was not indicative of the rest of James' season near the goal line. He's barely had the ball there at all, and he's played well before Week 5. We'll watch to see if it's the start of a trend.
* One thing I did notice with James is that he's wearing down during games. He has a 5.0 YPC average with his first ten carries of the game, and is under 3.5 thereafter. Maybe Ken Whisenhunt should get the backups more involved.
Continue reading "Cardinals Notes" »
Kurt Warner is being looked at as one of the best free agent pickups of the season, but there were some signs for concern last week in St. Louis. Warner didn't play very well. The Cardinals won, but it was mostly because Gus Frerotte kept throwing the wrong team.
The Rams had the blueprint for beating Warner: knock him silly early and hope he starts to panic. They threw a lot of blitzes at Arizona, and were mostly successful. In 28 dropbacks, I saw Warner hit seven times, most of them early. I charted 11 "bad passes" which is a very high number for that many attempts. Warner also had a fumble and was generally inconsistent against a poor defense.
Continue reading "Trouble for Kurt?" »
October 01, 2007
From Audibles at the line, Mike Tanier says, "I like Herm Edwards too, despite teasing him in Rundown all the time. He’s just not a great “Xs and Os” guy. He’s a lot like Marty Schottenheimer, but with Larry David writing his press conferences."
From Mike Silver's Monday column, one Rams player has a surprising comment: "I'm worried ... Looking at our schedule, and I'm scared we might go 0-16."
Continue reading "Notable Quotes" »
September 28, 2007
It looks like Anquan Boldin will probably miss Sunday's game, making Bryant Johnson a decent wideout pickup if you are in trouble. Johnson, though, has looked slow to pick up Ken Whisenhunt's offense and has struggled this year. He's always been serviceable as a fill-in starter the last few years, but that was under Dennis Green. I'm ranking Johnson 47th at wideout.
If I was going for a deep sleeper at wideout from that game, I'd much rather go for Nate Washington against a Cardinals secondary that can be exploited. He's entering the rankings at 41.
September 19, 2007
I think this article was intended to applaud Matt Leinart's work ethic last week.
But I can't be the only one that wonders why it took a terrible Week 1 performance and some nudging from his coaches and Edgerrin James to show up early and leave late. "There may have been a little bit of a nudge, yes," coach Ken Whisenhunt said.
Continue reading "Leinart no longer slacking?" »
September 12, 2007
Every NFL week is full of surprises; the ones early in the year just get more attention. Here's a quick list of players I'm watching closely this week.
1. Marshawn Lynch - After watching the Shortcuts of this game, I'm pretty sure he's for real. You can't teach breaking tackles. A good game against Pittsburgh would solidify his RB2 status.
2. Chris Brown - The Titans offensive line was fierce. Let's see if they can blow up the Colts.
3. Jaguars runners - Their offensive line got pushed around. Look for a better effort against the Falcons.
4. Saints offense - I know it was only one game. But I still want to see what they do against the Bucs.
Continue reading "Surprises" »
September 11, 2007
Was it good defense or just bad offense played by the 49ers and Cardinals on Monday night?
A 49ers optimist could point towards their offseason additions making a big difference, especially Nate Clements and rookie LB Patrick Willis. Arizona could hope that the team's new 3-4 scheme will fit their personnel better. They sure knew how to use Adrian Wilson.
Continue reading "Leinart, Smith off to poor starts" »
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