National Football Post Diner News

31    Oct 2008

QUOTE:  “If I were to try to read, much less answer, all the attacks made on me, this shop might as well be closed for any other business. I do the very best I know how - the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing so until the end. If the end brings me out all right, what's said against me won't amount to anything. If the end brings me out wrong, ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference.”  The Inner Life of Abraham Lincoln: Six Months at the White House by Francis B. Carpenter

FROM DAN BICKLEY OF THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC…Mike Singletary lost his debut as 49ers head coach, getting waxed by a Seattle team that entered the game with only one victory.   Yet Singletary's post-game rant and his decision to send Vernon Davis to the showers was cheered from coast to coast, resonating with a nation of football fans tired of all the thugs, punks and bonus-baby divas in the NFL. The whole story is even more bizarre. At halftime of that game, Singletary called for the attention of his players.   He then dropped his pants, turned around and pointed to his backside.  He used this occasion and that visual to describe what happened to his team in the first half. A NFL source inside the room confirmed the story with my radio partner, XTRA 910 football guru Mike Jurecki, and added that Singletary then addressed the team for 3-4 minutes with his pants around his ankles. The 49ers trailed 20-3 at halftime.  They would lose the game, 34-13. So, the question in San Francisco becomes this:  Does Samurai Mike's legendary intensity rally a football team or does the Crazy Man Act alienate a football team?  After all, old school only goes so far in the new world, especially with today's breed of pampered players.

Magic Johnson and Larry Bird were great competitors and Hall of Fame players-- like Mike Singletary.  Yet, both Bird and Johnson struggled to be consistently successful coaches because they could not deal with players giving less effort that THEY would have given.  The game was always evaluated through their eyes, through how they played and how they prepared.  And coaching is about inspiring each person in his own way.  It is not about who yells the loudest.  That stuff does not even work in high school.  Mike Singletary needs someone who can help him and advice him.  Scott McCloughan, the GM, needs to find a way to help Mike as he navigates through these tough times.  If I was in McCloughan’s shoes, I would call Tom Peters and try to find a way to hire him for a consultant position, or call Pat Lencioni of the very successful leadership company called The Tablegroup--his office is in Danville and would love to help.  It would fall upon my job to find a way to give Mike the tools he needs to help him as he deals with this transition.  Clearly Mike has not prepared for what he was going to do, because if this act is a part of his preparation, I am not sure what leadership books he has been reading.  Yes, I know this is his personality, but his personality has to be channeled in the right way, not the wrong way.  He is working in an office that was once the think tank for leadership, for motivation and for new ideas.  He is working in an area where creativity runs wild and within a half hour of his office are some of the most talented leaders in the country.  Use all the resources available, spend the money, and use them now because this is not going to work the way it is going.  And if it fails and you don’t at least try and help Mike, is that fair?  NO ONE is EVER ready to be a head coach--No one. 

FROM MIKE HARRIS OF THE PITTSBURGH POST TRIBUNE REVIEW… “It's the quality of men we have playing for us - I'm blessed to coach them,' said LeBeau, whose unit ranks No. 1 in the league in total defense for the second consecutive season. It's their effort, their execution. All I do is call the defense. They're the people that make it happen.' LeBeau has earned the respect of his players. "It's been the greatest joy of my career,' defensive end Brett Keisel said of working with LeBeau."Since he came here, I think it really lifted all of us up. We all just really respect him.' Defensive captain James Farrior also praised LeBeau. "He's the general," Farrior said. "He's the guy who puts it all together. That's why we all love him.' Another testimonial comes from linebacker Larry Foote. "Coach LeBeau is in our corner," he said. "He listens to the players. If we don't like something, he'll throw it away. When he comes with that love and respect, you have no choice but to give it right back.' To a man, LeBeau's defensive players believe he should be enshrined in the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. When the Steelers played in the Hall of Fame Game in Mike Tomlin's first game as coach, some of the players honored LeBeau by wearing special jerseys bearing his name and number. "Last year, when we played in Canton, they showed me I was on their Hall of Fame team," LeBeau said. "That's the only team I want to be on.

Dick LeBeau played in the NFL before Mike Singletary.  He is over 70 years old and he inspires the players every SINGLE day through his mind and preparation.  He is a powerful leader, because he leads through intellectual stimulation.  He prepares the players to perform their best, without ever having to throw someone off the field, or dropping his pants.  He knows that leadership is about stimulating their minds and making them better players, not yelling the loudest.  I watched LeBeau work in pre game and he acts like he is 30 years old--he loves football, he is passionate about the game and he respects the players.  This mutual trust and bond is the basis for great leadership.  And it has nothing to do with what era of football you may have played.  You must be a part of the change and you must find ways for players to hear your message.  LeBeau is one of the most innovative and creative coaches in all aspects of his teaching. 

FROM PAUL SCHWARTZ OF THE NEW YORK POST…If the Cowboys are going to upset the heavily favored Giants, Johnson is going to need plenty of support from his running game, which is the sole responsibility of bruising Marion Barber. That leads to a fairly simple rule: Stop Barber, short-circuit the Cowboys.  "It escalates it," defensive end Justin Tuck said. "Especially with a quarterback like Brad who's not as mobile. If you can get Barber off early in a game and establish that running game, that doesn't allow third-and-long situations to allow us to get after the quarterback. Obviously he's our No. 1 focus."  He's the only focus when it comes to the rushing attack. The Cowboys love the intensity and brute force Barber takes to the field, but have always coupled him with a change-of-pace back capable of sharing the load.  Rookie Felix Jones, a first-round pick from Arkansas, was everything the Cowboys envisioned, and more. He was averaging a staggering 8.9 yards per carry before a hamstring injury put him on the sideline. He won't play against the Giants, meaning other than a very few attempts for rookie Tashard Choice, it will be Barber right, Barber left and Barber up the middle. 

There is no way the Cowboys are going to beat the Giants with just a run game.  They will see an eight man front from the first snap to the last one.  In addition, the Giants will press and double Owens and force the ball to go somewhere else.  The Cowboys need to keep the score in the teens because based on the play at quarterback right now, there is not much of a passing game.  Barber alone cannot beat the Giants and that is why I expect the Cowboys to have to turn to Bollinger at some point during the game.  The key component of the game will be the first quarter.  They Giants have to get a lead and force the Cowboys to play an up tempo game because that is not a way the Cowboys can function.  Playing from behind is not what the Cowboys can do right now. 

FROM BILL COATS FROM THE ST LOUIS DISPATCH… “I think he's going to be, again, a game-time decision," coach Jim Haslett said after Thursday's practice. Jackson took some reps in the 11-on-11 team drills, sharing time in the backfield with Antonio Pittman, Kenneth Darby and Travis Minor. "The strength is there. So now, we'll just get some of the on-field work," Jackson said. "These last two days felt pretty good." Still, Jackson has reported that his thigh is "not 100 percent, but it's not something that's unbearable." That was the term he used to describe how it felt when he worked out before the Patriots game, before being scratched. Asked whether he was optimistic about his chances Sunday, Jackson paused and then replied, "I'm practicing to play, if that tells you anything."

This is a hard one because he is not going to be full strength, and once there is some fatigue in the thigh, he will break down.  I don’t expect him to be the same player and there is nothing that the team doctors can do to help him during the game.  But if he is on the field, he will help the passing game and take some of the pressure off of Marc Bulger. 

FROM JASON LACANFORA OF THE WASHINGTON POST…Washington Redskins defensive coordinator Grag Blache, stressing the potential significance of entering the bye week at 7-2, called Monday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers "the biggest game we've played since I've been here" during a typically entertaining news conference. He said the Redskins are beat up and tired and looked "like the Confederate army going home" after Sunday's 25-17 victory in Detroit. As a result, Redskins coaches are trying to keep the players as fresh as possible, practicing out of pads. Blache said he is asking his defense to "be the big brother" this week and help out the offense, which will facing the league's top-ranked defense. Blache's defense needs to take some pressure off the offense by "trying to create a short field," he said. The Steelers have allowed 23 sacks, but Blache remarked that the Redskins aren't showing the ability to get to the passer much this season. Washington is tied for 28th in the NFL with just 10 sacks.  "We applied for a job at Giant and couldn't get it because we couldn't sack groceries," Blache said.

They may not get many sacks, but this defensive line is the best line in football at pushing the pocket and making the quarterback feel uncomfortable.  They don’t have any flash in their game, but they are very sound and they can work the pocket very well.  They play hard, they play like a team, and they keep coming play after play.  They are one of the most consistent lines I have seen.  This will be a tough game for the Skins, as they will face a defense that can rush the passer and is almost impossible to run the ball against. 

FROM BOB LEGERE FROM CHICAGO DAILY HERALD… Is there really any point in the Bears worrying about the Detroit Lions on Sunday? The 0-7 visitors are 28th in scoring and last in points and yards allowed. They're also 31st in rushing yards, first downs, rushing yards allowed and passing yards allowed. They've been outscored 212-114. But Bears players and coaches say there are plenty of reasons to take their winless NFC North opponents seriously. "I know in the Lions' camp they're focused on just getting that first win, and they'd like nothing more than to get it against us," defensive lineman Israel Idonije said. "Our focus is to play them like they're undefeated or having a great year. Just don't take anything for granted." But, come on, this is a team that has 1 win in its last 15 games. In the first meeting three weeks ago, wide receiver Roy Williams caught 7 passes for 96 yards against the Bears, more than half of the Lions' total offense of 185 yards. But Williams, arguably the team's most talented player, was traded to the Dallas Cowboys nine days later. The Bears insist they will not be complacent against the Lions, whom they outgained 425-185 in the first meeting. "Not when you're dealing with a team that beat you twice last year," said quarterback Kyle Orton, who posted personal bests in passing yards and passer rating in the first game this season. "They came in here last year and beat us at home. We've got to defend our home field and come out and play well coming off the bye week."

This game is about the Bears playing to their level and not playing to the level of the Lions.  This is a game about just doing your job and not beginning with the end in mind.  Take each play one at a time and work on improving and not worrying about who you are playing.  When mistakes happen in the game, adjust and move on, don’t let panic move in and start thinking about how you could lose to the Lions.  The key is to play at your own level, not the Lions level.  These are the kind of games that build team chemistry and build unity when you prepare and play with determination.  When this happens, then you know you have good leadership in the locker room and a mature team. 

FROM TOM KOWALSKI OF THE DETROIT FREE PRESS…Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Jim Colletto talked to the media today and sent conflicting signals about whether quarterback Drew Stanton would play soon -- or if it all this year. Colletto started out by saying the Stanton, who was not getting many reps at all with the first offense, is now taking 20 percent of the reps. "I didn't want to take turns away from (starter) Dan (Orlovsky),' Colletto said. "Now he's played enough where we can get Drew a few turns here and there.' But then Colletto dropped the suggestion that Stanton might need another preseason before he's ready to play in an NFL regular season game. When asked how big the gap was between Orlovsky and Stanton, Colletto said: "The big difference is that one has played. Drew is like a rookie. He's throwing the ball way better than he's ever thrown it. (Quarterback coach) Scot (Loeffler) has done a real nice job with him. But you're talking about a guy who's never played in a game, other than a couple of those preseason games (this year).”

If I were Stanton, I would treat every practice as a game and take all of the scout team repetitions.  And the Lions front office needs to watch every throw and have every pass in practice on a tape, so that they have some idea of what this player can be down the road.  The key for everyone in Detroit is to correctly evaluate the players they have on the roster and it does not take games to always make that evaluation.  If they had a program, this would all be handled. 

FROM SAL MAIORANA OF THE ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE…"I don't know Josh Reed's status, but I'm always here," Parrish said Sunday after learning that Reed would miss some time after suffering ankle and Achilles' tendon injuries in the 25-16 loss to the Dolphins. "I always want a bigger role on offense. That's what I came in for, not to be a special teams player. I don't want to start a conflict, but I want to have more on offense and do what I do which is make plays and do whatever I can to help the team." After running with the first string the past two days while Reed has watched practice wearing a protective boot on his foot, Parrish did not back down on his request to become more involved in Buffalo's offense. "I don't want to make an issue about it, we're winning games and we're doing good," he said. "But you don't have to do special things to utilize me. I heard before you have to use gadget plays, but it's not true. I run routes, I do everything. Just call my play."

I agree with Parrish.  He is not a run a “play” player, he can function in the offense.  And the more they get him the ball, the better and more explosive this offense will become.  Parrish can make a difference in the game and with the emergence of Lee Evans as a real number one receiver, the field is open for Parrish.  Just make Parrish into their version of Wes Welker, and the Bills will keep improving on offense.  He is a unique player and needs the ball three times a quarter.  No one can match him and he is a nightmare for the Jets this weekend, as they won’t have an answer for him. 

FROM LINDSAY H JONES OF THE DENVER POST… Paymah will play Sunday against Miami when he is expected to make his first start of the season in place of Bailey, an eight-time Pro Bowler who is out for at least three more weeks with a partially torn groin. Paymah started three games as the nickel corner in 2007. "Just a chance to be in there, starting, with all the fellas, just flying around having fun, is something I haven't done this year," Paymah said. "It's exciting, and that's what keeps me going." That it was Paymah, 25, who was tapped to start at corner opposite Dre Bly, initially was surprising considering rookie Jack Williams had supplanted Paymah as the nickel corner after three games, relegating Paymah's role primarily to special teams. It was Williams who initially replaced Bailey after the stalwart was injured in the first half against New England on Oct. 20.  Paymah said he spoke to coaches after Williams' promotion, promising them he was committed to doing whatever they wanted in order to get back on the field. "I just had to have a good attitude through the whole process and let them know I wanted to get back out there, let them know I wanted to help the team out however I can and I wanted to be in Denver," said Paymah, who is in the final year. 

Paymah must play press, as he will struggle to play off coverage.  He does not have man to man skills from off coverage and he limits what the Broncos can play in the back end.  The Broncos, I am sure, will have new scheme and new front this week as they continue to try and hide their lack of talent on defense.  They have to be a zone team, because without Bailey they don’t have a man to man player. If they lock up, Paymah and Bly will be burnt even by the poor Dolphin wide receivers.   This will be an interesting game to watch. 

HIGH SCHOOL COACH OF THE WEEK

ED DOMSITZ    ARCHBISHOP ALTER KETTERING OHIO

The Knights lost in the state D-4 second round to eventual champion Coldwater in a thrilling 59-52 triple OT game last season, but they were seeded #1 in their region and hope to get another shot in 2008. QB Austin Boucher is back to run the offense. RB Justin Hall and Chris Borland, a Wisconsin recruit as an LB, will take over for the graduated Corey Roark. OLB Collin Boucher will lead the defense.  They have not lost a regular season game in two years.

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