They're Baaaaaack . . . . . . .
| 13
|
by TheBatman
Now come the 5 months for wich we wait seven months every year. The time when our best available type of modern gladiators suit up and demonstrate all the vicissitudes of human existence in a childs game, played by adults on a field and in the hearts of men.
Forget about the part-timers, the adolescent-filled, rah-rah, sis-boom-bah, watered down, version played at the collegiate level. Forget the desperation that makes us tune into the CFL for as long as we can tolerate the silliness of three downs and a rouge. Forget about the half game called Arena ball. The real thing is here now. The offseason headlined by sickness and depravity is over. Let the games, the only games that matter, begin.
All that said, here are some subplots from some noteworthy games today.
CHI-SD
Here are two teams destined to fall of this year. Im sorry SD fans, you have a load of talent and the best young QB I've seen since God knows when. But you also have Norv Turner. And at some point this season, the Chargers will begin looking like a team full of inmates running the asylum. Nowhere to go but down for SD.
Da' Bears-I don't see either NFC finalist making it back this year. No, I'm not hatin' on Rex, I just see the NFCN getting a little better and Lovie Smith continuing to struggle to establish an offensive identity for the Bears. I think Lovie says the right things about Grossman, but I'm not sure he's sold on his QB.
And I think the Bears made a huge mistake letting Ron Rivera go.
Packers-Eagles
GB's defense will be the heart of the Packers, not the worn out, tired, game-busting act of crybaby Favre. That's good for Pack fans. The bad news is the primadonna refuses to retire and cede the job to (finally ready) Aaron Rodgers.
In Philly, it's the beginning of a swift end to the Donovan McPuke era. Ther's little question that Eagles have grown tired of the increasingly brittle, big game, human barf-box of a QB who never fit in the system into which he was forced. Don't be surprised to see big 5 on the big bench by game 12. The Eagles are getting older and talent thin on both sides of the line. That spells trouble for veteran choke-dog, QB's. Still, Jimmy Johnson will have the D playing hard in a very soft division.
Panthers-Rams
Yes the Panthers are over-rated, again. But maybe Jake Delhomme is capable of another unconscious season. Tthen again, maybe he's got Kurt Warner syndrome, meaning the aliens have returned his real body and taken the pod back. Who cares? Carolina simply isn't that talented.
And the Rams? Please. If one more talking head predicts the return of the "greatest show on turf" I'm going to "McNabb" in my helmet. Here's why; The rams no longer have Faulk, Holt and Bruce are old, and Bulger is not the "alien" Kurt Warner. Bulger reminds me a lot more of Neil O'Donnell than the Kurt Warner pod. That's why the Rams kick FG's now.
KC-HOU
Herman Edwards will make huge strides towards creating his own identity for the Chiefs. The bad news is that means kicking FG's and losing in the first round of the playoffs. I love Herm as a person, but he's not a top flight HC.
The Matt Schaub era begins in HOU. That means things will be better for Texxon fans. But they're still the Texans, and one good personnel decision doesn't cancel out the lingering legacy of Tony Boselli, and wasted moves like Mario Williams and Ahman Green. Will they be better, yes. Contenders, no.
DET-OAK
Luke McCown, Josh McCown, Cade McNown, Les Brown and his Band of Renown, who cares? They all BLEEP at QB. Of course, any time Adam Schefter reports something, I only believe it if it's already happened. But here's what matters, it'll probably be about 2 quarters before we see Duante Culpepper under center. What bothers me is that Lane Kiffin is so sissyfied that he feels like a career nobody with mor reps is a better bet than a vet who has put up some great numbers in the past. Hell, I probably know the Raiders offense better than Culpepper, but Kiffin didn't call on me this Sunday.
John Kitna will put up big numbers and still be a loser. Here's why. He's Jon Kitna. And can Detroit stop anyone from scoring?
PIT-CLE
Charlie Frye is counting the minutes until Romeo Crennell goes to Brady Quinn. So are Browns Fans. Jamaal Lewis is soft, but Quinn will have some weapons. I doubt he'll save Romeo's job though. Bill Cowher will have his dream job next year.
I see the Steelers struggling with the "new" offense for the first 4-6 games, especially because of a suspect OL. Colon is unproven, Simmons will wear down (AGAIN), Mahan is a huge upgrade over the one-legged Hartings but learning, Faneca is not going to play hard and had been getting blown up frequently the lst few years (hence the non-extension), and Smith has always been below average at LT.
But the D will be better. The big reason is the "loss" I keep hearing about in Joey Porter. In James Harrison the Steelers get a stronger, every down, every game player. Porter's most consistent performance in the last 5 seasons came from his jaw. And at least one of the two top picks at LB will be a beast. Maybe both.
This team could win 12 games, or 9, depending on how the OL comes together.
TEN v. JAX
VY will struggle. Teams will employ the Cunningham/Stewart/Vick defense and shout down his run options. He'll still be brilliant at times, but only against cellar dwellers. TN will also not run the ball like they did last year as LenDale White develops into a pro RB. It's all necessary, though. The Tacks have to take a step or two back to go forward.
JAX will still be stellar on defense. But the whole Leftwich fiasco will expose the fact that when you have two QB's, you really have none. Garrard never took the job from Leftwich and has been downright horrible at times. Until Jax drafts or signs a QB, they're not a playoff team.
TB-SEA
TB rests squarely on the oft injured Carnell Williams. Jeff Garcia is not a long term answer, nor are any of the 17 other QB's in TB. The D will be good as always. Simeon Rice will not be missed. This is an average football team, with a tremendously overrated (Switzer Rule) coach.
Seattle has a superstar running back with a chronic broken foot and a QB with a bum shoulder attached to a gimp arm. Yuk. The crybaby coach rushing to make excuses for underperforming players doesn't help either.
NE-NYJ
The addition of Randy Moss is the most overrated FA addition since Yancey Thigpen to TEN. The run game is suspect, and Tom Brady has a chronic shoulder that will not get better with time.
The D is also getting older at LB and very thin at DL and DB. This team is not the SB gimme the gabbers are gabbing about.
Jersey B will suffer from a Mangini-over this year. QB problems will ensue as Pennington continues to struggle with throws over 3 yards. Vilma is a beast and the D will be solid, but this team just lacks tools on offense.
ATL-MIN
The good news is that the Falcons are finally playing a QB at QB. The bad news is that it's Joey Harrington. But the Falcons will be better with Joey than Michael. Write it down. Not because Harrington is that good, but because Vick was the most overrated "QB" ever. I don;t knwo what to expect from Petrino defensively, but I know that JM Jr. had lost his team on both sides of the ball. I can't see the D being any worse.
Big story in MIN was that Travaris Jackson called Peyton Manning this pre-season. I could call the Pope, but it wouldn't make me a priest. What on earth is Brad Childress smoking? Then he trades for a career rumdum like Holcomb? The situation in MIN proves the old saying, "when you have no QB's, you have no QB".
BAL-CIN
The Ravens will be tough on D. They will also be tough on their fans when thay have the ball. The addition of Willis McGahee is a question mark for me, mostly because I wonder that knee will last 4-5 seasons. McNair got hot last year, but he's clearly not what he used to be.
CIN will always be a play or two from 12-4 or 4-12. This team simply lacks character all over the place. Marvin Lewis needs to start running a football team instead of a halfway house.
DAL-NY
What's the over under on how long Jerry Jones will kid himself into thinking Wade Phillips is a HC? I give him two seasons to completely waste the talent haul Parcells built in DAL. and Pardon me, Tony Romo, you've played 5 good games. So did Scott Mitchell.
Is this Eli's make it or break it year? No. Manning will be better. It is Tom Coughlin's make it or break it year, though. Bill Cowher should send Coughlin, Crennel, Wilson, and Turner fruit baskets now, for exploding his market cap.
MIA-WAS
Does anyone care? Does anyone want to see Joe Gibbs destroy his legacy? Does anyone want to see a Miami team without a guy named Shaquille on it?
DEN-BUF
Trent Edwards is the franchise QB in Buffalo. Someone please tell JP Loseman he should pack his bags now. BLEEP Jauron will drive Bill Cowher's stock even higher.
DEN-This is the SB team no one says is going to the dance. The D will be above average, but the O could be explosive. Cutler might yet be the best of the Rivers, Roth, Cutler trio. And don't underestimate Shanahan, ever.
