QUOTE: “The only place where Success comes before Work is in the dictionary.” -- Vidal Sassoon
At the end of long a Sunday on Week Four of the NFL, my first thought was, how about them Denver Broncos? They find ways to win games, and their attention to detail as a coaching staff is very impressive. Here are some other random thoughts:
1. How can the Cowboys not have Jason Witten in the route on the two biggest plays of their young season? They had him protecting, and this had to make the Broncos very happy.
2. I hope Matthew Stafford doesn’t have much structural damage to his knee, but there’s often some damage with a dislocated knee cap. Stafford was playing very well and was developing a feel for the pro game. He was taking some hits, but he was making some impressive throws.
APMarvin Lewis nearly tallied a second tie onto his coaching record before Carson Palmer and the Bengals escaped in overtime.
3. Marvin Lewis is the king of overtime games. Sunday, he was one minute away from being the first coach in NFL history since the new overtime rule to finish with two ties. A huge play by Carson Palmer bailed him out.
4. One thing that drives me nuts watching NFL games is how undisciplined defensive linemen are with their rush at key moments of the game. The killer cause for the Brett Favre play in Week 3 was the stupid pass-rush stunt by the 49ers ran that allowed Favre to move around the pocket. Same thing happened to the Browns on Sunday.
5. At least the Browns might have something to build on with the play of running back Jerome Harrison and wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi. They had great days against a good Bengals defense.
6. Let’s face it, the Bills are just good enough to win five games, and the longer the season goes, their lack of size will affect their ability to stay healthy. Their bad planning on their offensive line, especially at tackle, is too much to overcome. But what they’ll really need to decide is whether they can win with Trent Edwards at quarterback.
7. The Steelers, despite of their previous two-game losing streak, do not have Super Bowl fever. They’re still very good, and when they get the running game going like Rashard Mendenhall showed last night, they’re tough to beat.
8. The Chargers have had a tough stretch of games against physical teams -- Baltimore, Miami and the Steelers. They really need the bye week to get healthy.
9. Ray Rice is really a special player. His lower body is so powerful, almost Maurice Jones-Drew-like, and his ability to break tackles is impressive. The Ravens know they have to win games by making opponents play from behind. They’ll face the Patriots again in January.
APTom Brady and the Patriots are nearly unstoppable at home.
10. Tom Brady of the Patriots has won his last 18 home starts, including playoffs, and is 70-3 career as starter when leading at halftime and 73-1 when entering fourth quarter with a lead. The Patriots know they need to build the lead with their passing game, which looks to me like it’s swinging back into form.
11. If your quarterback is throwing at less than a 40-percent completion percentage and has one touchdown pass in two games, you might want to think about making a change. But not Tom Cable in Oakland. He’s staying the course of bad offensive football that rivals the Tom Walsh era in Oakland. JaMarcus Russell was awful again, losing a fumble against the Texans, and it doesn’t get any easier as the Raiders travel to New York to play the Giants next.
12. How about this comment from reader Jason Dezen regarding my comments about the ‘Skins in the Sunday Post: “Skins won today...and DOMINATED the second half. So hmpp. P.S.: You got fired by the Raiders.” Jason, what game where you watching? Dominating the Bucs is an achievement? Two hundred seventy yards of offense is a great outing. Get real. They are not a good team.
13. Mark Sanchez is going to have days like Sunday in New Orleans, but I expect him to grow and learn from the experience. The crowd noise and blitz pressure was too much for a young player to deal with.
14. The Saints continue to impress me with their ability to win games without having Drew Brees do all the work. This year, they have balance.
15. Tennessee needs to forget about all the playoff talk and start making improvements to the team. This is not about changing to Vince Young at quarterback, as Kerry Collins was not great, but he wasn’t the sole reason the Titans lost. They can’t defend the pass and they can’t stop making mistakes. They’re 4-9 since their 10-0 start last year.
16. We’ll hear the cries for Vince Young all week, but I talked to Jeff Fisher after the game and he told me he was not even thinking about a change. The team was bad, not Kerry Collins.
17. Jacksonville was very impressive on both sides of the ball playing without their starting tackles, Eugene Monroe, who had the flu, and Eben Britton, who is still recovering from a knee injury. Tra Thomas and Mo Williams filled in well.
APAre David Garrard and the Jags primed for a playoff run?
18. David Garrard dominated the game with his pinpoint accuracy, and Mike Sims-Walker looks like the real deal at wide receiver. They both were very impressive, and now the Jags have faced every team in the AFC South, winning two and losing one. With Seattle and St. Louis up next, they might be able to make a push for the playoffs.
19. It’s hard to really know what Seattle is as a football team since most of its players are not healthy. But one thing is clear: The Seahawks do not have the offensive or defensive lines to dominate. They put way too much money into linebackers and wide receivers.
20. By his fifth possession in the game against the Seahawks, Indy’s Peyton Manning engineered four touchdowns scores, which is more points than the Rams have scored all year. The Rams are bad, but being shut out twice in four weeks is horrendous.
More in the Tavern today.
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Michael,
In all your articles, you refer to coaches that sweat the details vs those that don't. Could you elaborate? Without giving away the recipe to the secret sauce, what's are some of the tells a casual fan look for detail-wise?
Regards
You mention the Broncos' coaching staff and their attention to detail. What exactly do you see that is so impressive, Mike? Certainly the defense, but what specifically did you have in mind when you typed that?
Mike,
Collins was flat out bad against one of the worst passing defenses in the NFL, got his team in a 30-3 hole , and couldn't begin to dig them out. A theory needs to be refutable to be valid; if Fisher's going to maintain Collins should be starting through this, under what conditions would he pull him for Young? 0-4, 3rd worst passer rating in the league, no timely plays all season, couldn't do anything in a must win against a bad secondary, 5.9 YPA, as many turnovers as last year through 4 games?
Collins was missing receivers and airmailing the ball all day yesterday, had all his new weapons at his disposal and didn't get sacked. Sick of hearing all the excuses for this guy's play. From this perspective, Fisher seems awfully stubborn and not recognizing the actual play he's getting.
Where was Witten? Ask Brian Dawkins, he helped bracket Witten most of the time.
Does Williams, the big money wideout for Dallas, get yards after catch?
The Cowboys should have tried to get Brandon Marshall when the Broncos rumoredly flirted with trading him. That amazing TD catch was TO-like, maybe if Owens continues to hustle at it he'll be lucky enough to be compared with Brandon Marshall at year's end....
If you looking for attention to details, try to go back and watch the adjustments the Broncos made in the 2nd half. I don't know if there is a team in the league that has made better adjustments at half time this season than the Broncos. Of course, having Orton throw 15 times in the first half and only have 5 rushes, even a casual fan will tell you adjustments needed to be made.
I'm a little skeptical of the "Williams renaissance" on defense in New Orleans. They, have, in 4 weeks, faced:
1. a rookie QB in his first game, at NO; 2. a QB getting his first career start, and still managed >350yds on them; 3. a QB starting behind an O-line with at least two rookies in their third starts, with a WR who annually competes for the league lead in drops, and without his starting TE (lost for the season); 4. another rookie QB, in his 4th career start. I'm not saying the style of play isn't useful; after all, the Falcons, with limited talent, used a "bend don't break" and takeaway-based approach in 2008 with much success. But having NEVER had to make stops to keep the team in the game (Saints have led every minute this season) and playing mediocre-to-poor O-lines (both Andrews brothers were out for Eagles, though the Jets have a good line) and mediocre/inexperienced QBs, consider me a skeptic. Let's talk after they make Brady or Manning or Barber look human. Even if I do think they'll win the division, it will be because of the offense.
Williams actually copied some of the Ryan concepts and blurred the quarterback reads with his defense right where most of the route adjustments come up at.
That made the passer hesitant just enough to enable some other items.
Key play, the Sharper INT return for six, from his own goal line.
Sanchez is used to running the automatic routes for the cover set, they show man, you throw to dual route side. If the first route clears, the second always opens against ooutside leveraged corners. Sharper jumped the route because there was no deep field to defend, safety gets the INT on the run when he jumps the slant window.
Young QB there, his read key was the safety that close, not the outside corner past the first slant being squeezed outside in on slot. Corners can cheat, safeties never lie.
I agree with WC.
Fisher must really not like what he seeing from Young to stay with Collins at this point. I think it's more of a lack of faith in Young than support for Collins. Maybe the contract they gave him in the offseason is coming into play a little bit too. I usually support Fisher blindly because he's one of the best coaches imo, but it looks like he's losing his team. They weren't in that game for a minute. If you put Young in now, you have a chance that he'll play well, motivate the team, and maybe make a late season push for a .500 record.. If Young hasn't developed and plays like he has before, then at least they know they need a QB for next year. Maybe Fisher is targeting the bye in a few weeks to make a change. I also think the play calling has been terrible this year. Outside of the Houston game they have been doing a terrible job of getting Johnson the ball in space.
BusMan,
Give a listen to the Broncos post-game comments from yesterday. Marshall's winning TD: Orton and Marshall were well prepared for that particular Cowboys personnel grouping and knew exactly what the defense was going to do because of the Broncos' attention to detail. On that final goal line stand, McDaniels stated that the D was well prepared for that situation because it has been rehearsed ever since OTAs. The Broncos also seem to make excellent half time adjustments. They finish their games strong. They may not have all the blue chip players a team like the Cowboys have, but they are extremely well-coached. That is their x-factor.
I can't believe you responded to Jason Dezen. I'm a Skins fan and this guy doesn't have a clue how bad the Skins are. 4 turnovers by Campbell. Zorn will not say it now, but he HAD to be thinking of giving Campbell the hook after the 3rd turnover. And, it looks like the Skins were 0 for 3 with their 3 2nd round draft picks in 2008. Thanks Vinnie!
Nice read, Lombardi.
YESSSS! My Broncos always find ways to win these days and it's so exciting to defy the skeptics (of course you and Jim Rome have always thought the Broncos to be good!) As for the Redskins, one of my in-laws is a devout fan and he knows Washington sucks. Their win over Tampa Bay did little, if anything, to dissuade his opinion. I must say that I still hold the Ravens in high regard as Mark Clayton let Joe Flacco down against the Pats. Baltimore is the better team of those two and will prove it in January. The Dolphins, as horrifically as they've started, looked resurgent against the BIlls and despite being 1-3, are 1-0 in the AFC East. Right now, no one can refute the New Orleans Saints' excellence. If Drew Brees doesn't throw for 350 yards and five touchdowns, no trouble. Pierre Thomas is a scary sight for opposing defenses. In closing, neither the Chargers or the Steelers are playoff teams. While that game was exceptionally exciting, it has to be embarrassing for either defense. Let's see if the Broncos can go 5-0!
Garrett leaves Witten in protection on 3rd and 4th down. This is inexcusable, especially considering that Roy and MB3 are not in the game. What this means is with the game on the line, you have Romo trying to find 2 undrafted WRs (Austin and Hurd) and a 7th round WR (Crayton), who have made fewer big catches in all of their careers combined than Witten makes every few weeks.
If you need an extra Tight End to pass protect, then get Martellus out there, and take out a WR for Witten in the slot. This should not be this complicated.
Did the Redskins play well in the first half? No, they played terrible. But isn't that the sign of a resilent team, being able to bounce back and play all 4 quarters? By no means are the Redskins a great team, but denying the potential they displayed in the second half is dilusional. You brush aside the fact that the 'Skins were playing an inferior opponent, but when the "beloved" Giants do the same thing (ala Cincainatti last year), you praise their resilency. You tell me to "get real," but the only when who needs to get real is you if you think you are a credible jounalist/columnist. You biasism is blatant, your prediction are horrendous, your "insight" on player development is usually dead wrong, and it's clear you know nothing about a successful football team, doing nothing to help the Raiders, only getting fired. Your "scoops" on information are usually wrong, already been reported, or handed to you by Brad Briggs. The NationalFootballPost is a credible news source. Help keep it that way be doing us all a favor and stop with the nonsense, get a clue on football, and then maybe have the audacity to claim you are a "football writer."
Greg: You make good points, but consider the state of the Saint defense prior to Gregg Williams' arrival. The plays the defense is making against these teams are the plays good defenses make regardless of opponent, and these are the plays the Saints NEVER got out of their defense under Gary Gibbs and during the Jim Haslett era.
I see this start as a confidence-building exercise for that unit. They are learning what they are good at - shifting schemes to confuse opposing offenses and creating takeaways - and that will benefit them once the big boys of the league start rolling into their schedule.
The fact that we're seeing Charles Grant actually come up with sacks should be telling enough. My god, I don't think I've ever been so excited to see a now-300 pound former 1st round pick finally make plays after a 4-year spell of mediocrity.
Jason Dezen: you are as much of a moron as your leader, Little Danny Snider. You make me laugh. Since you live in Washington would I be correct to guess that you are the same guy who came up with the idea of socialized medicine?
Jason, it is extremely rare that I call people names as a tag, but in your case I cannot help myself. You are, in the parlance of my youth, a dink. I went back to the Sunday Post and saw where you called out Lombardi for calling Chad Rinehart "Corey". Wow-that is what I would really call a 15 yarder! While you nit-picked this miss, you try to get the rest of us to believe the Redskins are DOMINATING (my God, not even Chick McGee would go that far) and to prove your point you . . . call out Lombardi again today. Like I said, you-sir-are a real dink.
Brad James: as for Baltimore being better than NE, i wouldn't be so sure of yourself. Take away the strip sack TD by Suggs and NE wins going away... If I was a Baltimore fan, I'd be asking why my team can't win against the NE's, Pittsburgh's, and Indy's of this league?
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Oct 05, 2009
12:48 PM
Don't worry Mike, not all Redskins fans are delusional. As one of my friends said watching the game yesterday, "it's like watching the a battle of equals." The Bucs are a really bad team..and the Redskins barely beat them. The Rams are a really bad team...and the Redskins barely beat them. (Don't think we didn't notice SF's 35-0 pasting yesterday. That's what a team with real playoff aspirations does to the Rams.)
Feh. The demoralizing thing for me is that after an 8-8 season with a giant second-half slide, the Redskins changed nothing. There's no progress. Campbell is exactly the same. The offense is exactly the same. The defense is even a little worse, but pretty much the same. Their NFC rivals can just dust off last year's game plan because the team is the same - but one year older and slower. Double Moss. Cover Cooley. And let Portis try to beat you, because this year - he can't. Meh.