I’M BUYING A ROUND FOR THE HEAD COACH OF THE WEEK…
APJosh McDaniels has his Denver Broncos sitting atop the AFC West at 4-0.
Josh McDaniels, Denver. He took tremendous amounts of criticism for his handling of the Jay Cutler situation, but that can’t take away from the ability he’s shown to be a great head coach. McDaniels has demonstrated all the characteristics needed to be successful, and he’ll bring a consistent winner to Denver. He’s well schooled beyond his years, is very smart, and once he gets a better quarterback, the sky’s the limit. But he’s laid down a successful infrastructure in Denver and has that city excited about the Broncos.
I’M BUYING A ROUND FOR AN ASSISTANT COACH OF THE WEEK…
Gregg Williams, New Orleans defensive coordinator. Williams has provided the Saints with an aggressive style of defense that complements their offense well. Sunday, the Saints welcomed Mark Sanchez to the NFL with multiple blitzes that were hard to handle -- and the Superdome crowd noise was at an all-time high. The Saints need to keep doing the little things well, like converting third-and-short situations, in which they currently rank fifth after being so bad last year. Once they get a lead, they’ll be tough to beat when their defense plays at this level.
RAMBLING THOUGHTS
1. Tony Romo loves to throw the ball to his right, as most right-handed passers do, but his eye level was to the right as well and he missed Miles Austin on the left. This is not on Romo. The pressure was overloaded to that side, and quarterbacks are taught to look at the side the blitz is coming from, and he was not protected (the Broncos brought more than the Cowboys could block from that side). Change the formation, change the call, change the personnel group; the coach must make it easier for the quarterback. Denver ran the same blitz twice. Situational football is key.
2. Did you notice that Jason Garrett was saying something to Wade Phillips on the fourth-down call, but Wade never said a word? Those situations must be practiced over and over, and losing a down at that point of the game is hard to overcome. They had to stop the clock, but they needed to have two plays called — or throw the ball in the back of the end zone. A throwaway is better than a completion for four yards.
APThe health of Shawne Merriman is vital to the success of San Diego's defense.
3. San Diego’s Shawne Merriman is not right health-wise. He was not factor Sunday night, and he needs to get back to full strength before the Chargers defense will be able to stop anyone. No sacks, no tackles for loss this season – and no sacks in his past five games, longest drought of his career.
4. Speaking of not being the same, Patrick Crayton of the Cowboys is either hurt or has gotten much slower. All the Romo haters out there might want to watch the play he makes on fourth down because no one was open. He had to make something out of nothing.
5. Denver is playing much better on defense, and a big reason is its ability to tackle so well in the secondary. The Broncos are making stops in the secondary.
6. Someone sent me this today: With the Raiders’ loss in Houston, they are 25-75 in their last 100 games since they played in the Super Bowl. Tom Cable just completed his 16th game as the head coach, and the offense has gone seven games without a touchdown, four games with one touchdown, two games with two and two games with three.
7. In the last 10 years playing the Packers at home, the Vikings have averaged 26 points per game and only twice have been below 20 — in ‘06 and ‘07. Vikings coach Brad Childress is 1-2 at home against the Packers.
8. The NFL trading deadline is Oct. 20, and I wonder if some of the very bad teams might be inclined to trade a good player for a draft choice. Was thinking if the Browns got a call from the Jets about Braylon Edwards, who was held without a catch, what might they do now. Same with the Rams and Stephen Jackson.
9. Heath Miller is on my all-underrated team. He blocks like a tackle and makes plays in the passing game with his overall speed that are very deceptive. He’s a very good all-around player, and he never ceases to amaze me with his ability to just keep scoring.
10. Another player on my all-underrated team is Ravens linebacker Jarret Johnson. He’s really talented, and while the others get the publicity, Johnson is hard to block and must be accounted for in the Ravens’ front.
11. Darren Sharper might have lost a step, but he can read quarterbacks’ eyes and has to be looked off, especially in the red zone. His hands are exceptional.
APPatrick Willis helps lead a physical 49ers defense.
12. Dwight Freeney was not even supposed to play for the Colts on Sunday, but he did anyway and got another sack. He’s always been great, but he’s really special this year.
13. Patrick Willis was all over the field against St. Louis, and the 49ers’ front was just too tough and too physical for the Rams. The Niners are winning with their ability to play mistake-free, with a great punter and with physical football. All three of their wins have come against the NFC West.
14. Talent young players find a way make to plays, and Johnny Knox of the Bears is very talented. His return further identifies his unique skills.
Teams to Start 0-4 or Worse
NO. 1 SEED IN PREVIOUS SEASON, SINCE 1975
Started Finished
'09 Titans 0-4 ?
'02 Rams 0-5 7-9
'99 Broncos 0-4 6-10
'87 Giants 0-5 6-9
LET’S SAY A PRAYER FOR THE FAMILY OF…
Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Paul Soliai. He’s mourning the loss of at least two relatives in the disaster-stricken Samoas, and he fears the toll on his family could grow worse
"It's a pretty tough time," Soliai said Thursday. "I've been talking to some of my family members. They say there's too much damage. They're still finding more bodies. There are still people missing -- cousins, relatives. They keep me updated."
Follow me on Twitter: michaelombardi
Don't know if you would qualify him as 'underrated" but my nominee is the pride of all UW Madison alums; Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Owen Daniels!
I think you have to give a tip of the assistant coach cap to Mike Nolan, Denver's D coordinator. Even if the schedule has been on the lighter side, 26 points in 4 games is nothing to sneeze at, unless you have Oakland on the schedule each week.
If the Packers can't move the ball tonight on the ground (and Ryan Grant has been pretty consistently good against the Vikings the past few years) does the Packer brass look to make a move for the Rams' Steven Jackson? Overall, Grant is no gamebreaker; Brandon Jackson cannot stay healthy; and DeShawn Wynn can pick up a blitz but do little else. The offense has a top QB, top WRs, solid TEs, but below average RBs. As TT's #1 picks have been iffy, with Rodgers the exception, maybe the Packers should cough up a couple number ones for a stud running back with some tread left on his tires. Jackson likely would love to get out of StL. I give Ted my blessing on this move.
I can remember hearing Al Michaels on opening night say something along the lines of "you can't tell anyone in Pittsburgh that Heath Miller isn't the best Tight End in the league". There are a lot of other guys in the same category if you ask me; Dallas Clark, Daniel Graham, Kevin Boss, etc. Guys that never get their due because of the infatuation with Atonio Gates and Tony Gonzales among the media analysts. I give you credit for recognizing this for Miller.
In regards to Shawn Merriman, in my opinion, he has not been the same player since being suspended for illegal enhancement drugs.
McDaniels should get credit for his offseason moves as well. He brought in a ton of players for that defense and they are all playing well. There is a ton of new personel and not only have they gelled as a unit, they are getting BETTER. Take robert ayers. He had a huge game yesterday. The best he has played.
Regarding your chart of 0-4 teams Mike, the '87 Giants shouldn't count, since three games in the middle of the season were played with replacement players, really pitiful ones at that.
And if you're throwing around "underrated" players, you can't get any more underrated than EJ Henderson.
Well before you buy that round for McDaniels you might want to ask when exactly is the offense going to improve? Ya know the side of the ball this guy is supposed to be an expert on? Nearly 50% of the points the offense in Denver has scored this season have come off of turnovers.
Denver plays a full 60 minutes, something it did not do under Shanhan the past 2-3 seasons. Hat's off to him for that, especially given all the off-season issues. But it'll be a 2-3 seasons before anyone knows if the foundation for future success is there. Let's see if the old secondary he's put together this year holds up next year before we declare that McDaniels has laid a foundation for success in Denver, OK? Denver is winning because Dawkins is a beast when it comes to tackling and leading the defense, something they haven't had since Al Wilson left.
raiders problem is not the players, coaches or asstiant coaches, it is the managment, any other team would have replaced thier managment by now, in raiderland the owner is also the managment.
to Dan Miller.
I agree 100%. Shawn Merriman is a bust player now. I'm tired of injuries as an excuse. He is terrible at the point of attack (which Lombardi, you harp on CONSTANTLY about with 3-4 OLB's).
I watched last night and thought I saw Vernon Gholston dressed in Chargers White.
This idea Merriman is a "blue" or "almost blue" player since his PED suspension is a joke. And I'm amazed the "story" in the media continues to forget to mention this.
San Diego's front-7 last night was the worst I've seen ANY team in the last year. They had a rookie nose tackle who I don't think ever played there before. They have a DE that is a scrub. The have below average ILB's (Brandon Siler should be playing). And Merriman is nothing. I've watched every Steelers game going on 2 years and San Diego made that offensive line look like All-Pros.
I blame AJ Smith. The depth is terrible while he uses top-50 picks on Eric Weddle, Jacob Hester and Craig Davis. Smith might have had a good run from 2004-2006, but his recent drafts are killing them.
Manning/Brady/Brees/Rotheilsberger/Rivers/McNabb/E. Manning/Cutler/Favre/Flacco/Ryan/Warner/Palmer/Hasselbeck.
There's not one QB on this list that I would put below Tony Romo. Start from this poing and go from there to see where Romo ranks.
Speaking of Heath Miller and tight ends, I've been very disappointed in Greg Olsen of Chicago this season. Was meant to have a break out season but he's been powderpuff.
Glad to see you give some props to 49ers punter Andy Lee. He is a dangerous weapon, not because he kicks it 70 yards but because he doesn't kick it 5 yards deep into the end zone. The Rams had horrible field position all day thanks to Lee.
He is the exact opposite of the Patriots punter who absolutely should have been cut on the spot Sunday. How many friggin times is Belicek going to put up with that nonsense!!!
The best thing McDaniels did was bring in Dawkins to lead that defense. What a difference.
Merriman will never be the same as he once was in my opinion. I'm just basing this on his performance AFTER the drug suspension. I'll leave it that!! I'm a big bronco fan. And I like us playing other teams when they are at their best so no one has excuses. So, I wish Merriman does come back full strength, but I doubt it. Chargers are still talented, but I thnk we'll take the division this year. No meltdown this year - the coaches are too aware of what has happened the last few years.
@s1rweeze
"Regarding your chart of 0-4 teams Mike, the '87 Giants shouldn't count, since three games in the middle of the season were played with replacement players, really pitiful ones at that"
LT crosed the line and played the 3rd game against the Bills.
http://www.nytimes.com/1994/12/24/sports/baseball-only-the-nfl-uniforms-looked-familiar.html
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Oct 05, 2009
06:13 PM
OK, maybe Romo isn't all that bad. I wouldn't characterize myself as a Romo hater, but I still don't think he is a top ten QB. If it is not Romo, then you have to start looking at the coaches. Maybe Jason (I am Troy's second favorite coach) Garrett isn't all that great.