Tuesday Night recap?

Minnesota Vikings 24 @ Philadelphia Eagles 14: Putting this game back was stupid as hell. I've heard all the "in the interest of public safety" blah, blah. You think people who would have gone to this game wouldn't have know about the weather? Do we really think that those people wouldn't have factored the snow into their travel arrangements? I hate this kind of thing. If people get stuck in their car overnight then that's their problem, let them deal with it. Most importantly, let them make the choice. Anyway, on to the game and another pick flushed down the toilet by a surprise result. But I have no problem with it. If there's one thing I hate it's the old "this guy/team/offense/defense is unbeatable" hyperbole. Well I think we can officially put the Eagles under mike Vick down as beatable. Vick himself did half good, half bad. 25/43 for 263 yards and a TD is good. 8 carries for 63 yards and a TD is good. An interception is bad. Two fumbles (one returned for a TD) is bad. Six sacks is bad. A third down efficiency of just 4/11 is bad. The Vikings were all good(ish) for a change. Joe Webb got his first start and went 17/26 for 195 yards. Adrian Peterson had 22 carries for 118 yards and a TD. And as mentioned, the defense came up with 6 sacks, an interception and 2 forced fumbles. The loss denies the Eagles any hope of being the number one seed in the NFC through the playoffs. But what is more worrying is the fact that yet another big NFC team is stumbling with the playoffs in sight. The Super Bowl future looks bright for the AFC. Now, in other news: -- I've already been hard at work preparing for the 2011 draft, with a number of names already beginning to populate the 2011 rookie watchlist. -- The Pro Bowl teams have been announced, or as they're otherwise known "The joke list of players who will play in that relic, sham of a game that nobody really cares about". I mean seriously, where the hell is Tamba Hali? This is why I hate the Pro Bowl, because every year we hear about players who've been to xyz amount of Pro Bowls, when we all know that a lot of those names are living off of their past performances. I'll admit that some calls for fresh players are a little extreme (Matt Cassel), but others are legitimate complaints. Can anyone tell me for example how not a single Chargers defensive player made the list, despite having the highest ranked D in the league? How are Darrelle Revis and Nnamdi Asomugha still on that list? Again, where is Tamba Hali? How is Maurice Jones-Drew ahead of Peyton Hillis and Rashard Mendehall, despite both having 11 TD's to Jones-Drews 5? How is Jacob Hester not the AFC fullback? No Rob Gronkowski at TE for the AFC? Drew Brees; 21 interceptions? Charles Woodson a starting corner for the NFC? I dunno. All I know is that I wont even bother doing a recap when it comes around. Who cares? -- There was something else I was going to bring up. Now I can't remember what it was. Shit.

Monday Night Football recap

New Orleans Saints 17 @ Atlanta Falcons 14: Honestly, if this is the best the NFC has to offer then I suspect the AFC teams heading into the playoffs are going to be licking their chops. With the win the Saints bagged a playoff spot, but to win the division they'll need some help from Carolina next week which is unlikely. Their more immediate concern might be their offense. Drew Brees was 35/49, which looks good on paper, but for just 302 yards leaves them with an average of just over 8 yards per pass. Brees also bagged 1 TD, but also 2 INT's, one of which was an absolute shocker that was returned for a touchdown. This was simply not good enough from either team. While some mistakes were punished, others went penalty free and that simply isn't going to happen in the playoffs. Both teams really need to knuckle down and focus this week. That also cost me another pick, taking me to 8-7 for the week. Now, before I head off to go and stab my voodoo doll of Sean Payton, I have two things to bring to your attention. The first is this article regarding some of the fines that were levied after week 15, including a $7,500 fine for a horse collar tackle. What I want you to take note of is the 341 comments. Juts read some of them. If the NFL has any questions about where the fans stand in regards to all these junk fines, I think they can find the answers there among the overwhelming hoard of negative comments. Which leads me to another article that has me questioning my most improved analyst blah, blah award. This article by Pat Kirwan makes him a strong contender as it vastly overshadows some of the shoddy work he put up earlier this year. In particular I'd like to point you towards the last point he makes (emphasis added by the way): "I don't care what teams publish as attendance at NFL games, there were way too many empty seats this weekend. The average fan simply can't afford to go to a game and I'm starting to think the clubs must get into the reality business and lower ticket prices -- or be prepared to play to half-filled stadiums." "I'm not here to name names, but it was embarrassing to see upper decks half-empty and even seats on the 50-yard line unused. The players need to look at the stadiums they play in and also realize that, unless there is a radical change, they too will suffer financially." "People can't afford to go to games, can't appreciate all the talk about how much money the players want, or see any logic in owners wanting to expand to 18 games. Let's stop thinking about the NFL machine and look at the empty seats and find a solution." As if by magic, Mr. Kirwan has been transformed from corporate spokesperson (like earlier in the season) to the voice of reason that echo's what the vast majority of NFL fans think. It's a miracle worthy of any Christmas tale and it needed to be said by someone in Kirwan's position. With any luck the rest of the mainstream media will catch on soon. I never thought I'd say this but; God bless you Pat Kirwan.

Week 16 Sunday action recap

New England Patriots 34 @ Buffalo Bills 3: Someone needs to tell Ryan Fitzpatrick that the one thing you don't do against the Patriots is throw 3 interceptions. Especially when Brady is in a 3 touchdown mood. Those turnovers were truly costly though, as the Patriots didn't exactly pour on the yardage. They just poured on the touchdowns is all. With this win the Patriots have now secured home advantage all the way through the playoffs. New York Jets 34 @ Chicago Bears 38: Considering these are two teams who are supposed to make a living off their defense, I'm surprised just how high the scoring was. Cutler threw 3 touchdowns and ran one in himself, with another rushing TD put in by Forte. The gauntlet handed down, the Bears offense came up with just 3 touchdowns of it's own. A Dwight Lowery pick 6 and a few field goals made up the difference for New York, but once again their extravagant spending in recent years on offense is still failing to reap dividends. Watching Thomas Jones rip things up on the ground for the Chiefs must hurt as well. The Jets should look on the bright side though. At least they're guaranteed a playoff spot now. Baltimore Ravens 20 @ Cleveland Browns 10: Flacco hardly did anything special (12/19, 102 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT), and nor did Ray Rice (25 carries, 92 yards). That has to be a worry going into the playoffs, as the Ravens are now assured to do. How long they will stay there is a matter of conjecture. Putting 20 points up on the Browns isn't the worst thing in the world, but it doesn't bode particularly well either. The Ravens defense at least continues to hold up their end of the bargain. They held Colt McCoy (watch list) to 15/29 for 149 yards with 3 interceptions. Poor Colt. Washington Redskins 20 @ Jacksonville Jaguars 17: It's hard to remember that the Jaguars are challenging the Colts for the AFC South title when you see results like this. It will now come down to the final game for the Jags, with them needing a bit of help from the Titans. So forget that already. Back to the game and with Maurice Jones-Drew out, it left David Garrard leading the Jaguars in rushing with 6 carries for 39 yards and a TD. That really sums the Jaguars day up. Garrard threw for 299 yards and a TD as well, but the two interceptions hurt. Rex Grossman was much more pedestrian for the Redskins, with just 19/39 for 182 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT, but it turned out to be enough as the Redskins snatched the win in overtime. Tennessee Titans 14 @ Kansas City Chiefs 34: The Titans could potentially have a big role in shaping the AFC playoff picture. Today they lost to the Chiefs, who are now the AFC West champions thanks to results elsewhere. Next week the Titans will have the honor of being beaten by the Colts to decide the AFC South. So that's two loses that lead to division winners being decided. And lets be honest, the result next week at Lucas Oil Stadium is hardly in doubt, with Kerry Collins finishing today 14/37 for 235 yards, 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Compare to Matt Cassel; 24/34, 314 yards, 3 touchdowns. The Chiefs also piled on another 150+ yards on the ground. Even the defense pitched in with Eric Berry (watch list) taking back an interception for a touchdown. Detroit Lions 34 @ Miami Dolphins 27: Going into the 4th quarter the Dolphins were looking good. After booting a field goal all they had to do was avoid making any big mistakes and giving up 17 points in the remaining time and..... oops. No sympathy, at all for the Dolphins. Teams bring this kind of thing on themselves and having run the ball quite well through the game, it almost seems ludicrous that they would suddenly get pass happy, despite leading relatively comfortably. Like I said, no sympathy for them. San Francisco 49ers 17 @ St. Louis Rams 25: With this defeat the 49ers are mathematically done for the year. And Mike Singletary is mathematically done as the 49ers Head Coach. No, literally, if you haven't already heard, Singletary has been fired. His interim replacement for the the final game will be Defensive Line coach Jim Tomsula. The writing was on the wall before the game even started though. His flip flopping between quarterbacks, an obvious lack of control at times over the players, and a lack of strategic and tactical direction all doomed Singletary. He even switched quarterbacks mid way through this one. Troy Smith was 7/19 for 153 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. Then came Alex Smith to lead a rally from behind.... and who finished 10/15 for 120 yards. Brian Westbrook had just 10 carries. Anthony Dixon another 6. Compare to the Rams who fed Sam Bradford 37 passes, of which he completed 28 for 292 yards and a touchdown. RB Steven Jackson had 24 carries for 48 yards and a TD. The Rams defense pitched in, putting up a safety, 4 sacks, an interception and 3 forced fumbles collectively. The Rams now head into a week 17 clash with the Seahawks to decide whether the NFC West winner will have an 8-8 record or a 7-9 record. San Diego Chargers 20 @ Cincinnati Bengals 34: Yesterday I said that without Owens and Ochocinco to supposedly hold him back and cause trouble, this was Carson Palmers chance to shine. Which he did. 16/21 for 268 yards and 4 touchdowns. Jerome Simpson was a grateful recipient with 6 catches for 124 yards and 2 touchdowns. Andre Caldwell caught 4 for 87 yards. Running backs Cedric Benson and Bernard Scott also combined for 34 carries for 102 yards and a TD. The Chargers meanwhile were left shell shocked. With this loss and the Chiefs win, that ends the Chargers post season hopes for the year. Houston Texans 23 @ Denver Broncos 24: Matt Schaub was 23/33 for 310 yards, a TD and an INT. RB Arian Foster had 19 carries for 91 yards and a TD. But after a great start, the Texans gradually let the game slip away. Enter then, Tim Tebow; the man, the legend. Of all the people on my rookie watch list, Tebow is one of the ones I'm most happy to promote. Given all the flak the guy took coming into the league, He's the one I most want to succeed, just so I can rub it in. 16/29, 308 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, some good play action from under center, good movement in the pocket, good throwing on the run + 10 carries for 27 yards and 1 TD later, and I'm beaming with an incredibly smug smile. All I need now is for the player who I second most want to succeed -- CB Syd'Quan Thompson -- to get a pick and I'll go to bed happy tonight.... boom!! Thank you and goodnight. Indianapolis Colts 31 @ Oakland Raiders 26: Wait, I can't go yet. A few more games to cover. The Raiders did surprisingly well on defense. They spent much of the game in single high man coverage and held Peyton Manning to 16/30 for 179 yards, 3 TD's and 2 INT's. Shame that the Raiders offense just really couldn't compete. Everyone has been praising Jason Campbell this year, but apart from the last drive Campbell looked a little lost to me, like the whole situation had overwhelmed him (29/42 for 231 yards and a TD). Most surprising was the success of the respective run games. The Colts combined for just under 200 yards (with Manning running for 27 of them!!) off of 39 carries. The Raiders? 20 carries combined for 80 yards. But who am I -- a lowly Monday morning quarterback -- to criticize the Raiders for not sticking with the second best rushing attack in the NFL. One day maybe. One thing I do have to bring up here is the officiating. Again I have to ask, why bother bringing in certain rules if you're not going to enforce them? The Raiders were routinely using 3 man wedges on kickoffs, which as far as I'm aware, are now supposed to be banned. So why no flags? Maybe it's because the Raiders managed to draw 10 for 116 yards during regular play? Which was honestly a bit of a joke. The two pass interference flags were pathetic. Occasionally the league takes the time to scoff at claims that they favour teams like the Colts or the Patriots, but penalties like these surely don't help their case. Nor does it help when Blair White runs to the endzone and the official standing near the pylon appears to point with his arm to remind White to cross the plane of the goal. New York Giants 17 @ Green Bay Packers 45: Word of advice to you all; when making picks for NFL games, check the injury report first. Had I done this, I would have realised that Matt Flynn was not starting at QB for the Packers, who promptly came out and routed the Giants. Aaron Rodgers finished the game 25/37 for 404 yards and 4 touchdowns. Wow. Eli Manning didn't fare quite as well; 17/33 for 301 yards, 2 TD's and 4 INT's. The Giants "fifth best rushing attack in the NFL" received just 20 carries split almost evenly between Jacobs and Bradshaw. Again, I'm not saying or suggesting anything, for I am a lowly MMQB. With this result it means the Eagles have bagged the NFC East even before playing their game on Tuesday, which was postponed due to weather. Seattle Seahawks 15 @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers 38: The reason people get annoyed with the NFC West was evident in this game; the Seahawks have a shot at the playoffs if they can just beat the Rams next week. Meanwhile the team that handled them easily in this game could potentially miss out. And it was easy. Josh Freeman was 21/26 for 237 yards and 5 (five!) touchdowns. RB LaGarrette Blount had 18 carries for 164 yards (All: "Didn't you describe him as woeful at the combine Chris?". Yes. Shut up... ). On the opposite side, injured Matt Hasselbeck was 3/4 for 24 yards, while Charlie Whitehurst was 11/18 for 66 yards. It was just an utter waltz for the Buccaneers, who I kind of hope make the playoffs, given how far they've come this year under Raheem Morris. So that's all of Sundays games done. Tomorrow the Falcons and the Saints clash with the NFC South title on the line (sort of) and then Tuesday we see the Vikings and Eagles go at it. As for my picks? So far this week I'm 8-6 with 2 games to go. I'll be back tomorrow to recap the Monday Night game.

Covering your backside

Jingle Bells! Jingle Bells! I hate Christmas. But in the spirit of generosity, giving and good will, I've taken time out from the nauseating, overly commercial spectacle that is Christmas and finally finished my article for the "Most Improved Analyst From a Major Network" award, otherwise known as the MIAFMN. And the winner is....... Michael Lombardi, of the NFL Network. I know. WTF? But it's true. My knock on him is that previously he's always tried to write articles from the perspective of an analyst, a commentator, a journalist or one of many other persona's that just doesn't fit, trying to do things he's not really well accustomed to. But as you can see in this article, when Lombardi sits down and writes from his experience as a former front office personnel guy, he makes a lot of sense. These articles tend to be a bit more cold and detached. There's no hype or gimmicks. He just tells the truth straight from the hip, as if he was briefing an owner on the current state of the NFL. The results are excellent and it offers an interesting perspective. But of course, nothing and nobody can be perfect. That applies to Lombardi as much as the rest of us. Just check out this video. Admittedly Lombardi places some blame on the Ravens protection scheme as a whole, but putting the pressure largely on Joe Falcco is wrong in my opinion. Particularly the criticism that Flacco didn't find his hot route quick enough is well off the mark. To demonstrate, I'll try and use some diagrams. Which now explains why it's taken so long to produce this article. Through the wonders of the "Print Screen" function and some dicking about with files, Jpeg's and God knows what else, I can now finally do some interesting diagrammatic analysis. It should be noted that all the images are screen captures taken from the NFL Networks "Playbook" show and there has been no editing afterwards of the images. So anyway, here we go. The problem with the play in question is that the Steelers have six men at the Line Of Scrimmage, ready to blitz, with a middle linebacker possibly making a 7th rusher. The Ravens obviously have their 5 linemen and they also have a tight end to the right and running back Ray Rice in the backfield. That's seven men to potentially pick up seven. Except the Ravens are using a 6 man protection, involving the lineman and the RB. The tight end is going to release. In the event of a heavy blitz, the Ravens are largely relying on the "hot" principle to pick up one of the blitzers. Now as you can see in the image below, Troy Polamalu is coming from the back side and eventually it will be him who makes the sack.

The "hot" route in this protection is to the tight end to the right. The Tight end is responsible for reading the defender over him. If that guy blitzes, then he breaks off his route and runs quickly into the flat. The quarterback is responsible for reading the linebacker, recognizing the blitz and then throwing the ball quickly to that man, as demonstrated in the next image.

As you can clearly see in the next picture, both the quarterback and the tight end make the right read. They see the blitz, the tight end breaks off into the flat and the quarterback Joe Flacco can clearly be seen starring right at his receiver, looking to the throw the ball quickly. If you watch the video again and look at Flacco's head, he never takes his eyes off that side of the field, first reading the defender and then looking for the throw to the tight end.

Unfortunately there is a problem. Troy Polamalu is about to come free on Flacco's blindside. The blitzer to the right (our left) is accounted for by the "hot"route. The four rushing defenders up the middle are being blocked. So who is accounting for Polamalu, who you can see ringed on (our) right of the picture below?

The answer is of course; nobody. And this is where the problem comes in. Lombardi is blaming Flacco for not seeing Polamalu and thus getting the ball out quickly, but I'm not sure that is Flacco's responsibility. If you look at the picture above you can see the running back is headed to the his right (our left) and by comparison to the picture below you can see that the back ends up picking up the blitz that was already accounted for by the "hot" route. This poses a problem. We have one blitzer being picked up by two people, a case of "double accounting" you might say. This is how Polamalu ends up coming free and I'm inclined to blame the back for this. It's obvious that the "hot" route has one of the blizters covered, so I imagine the back was supposed to go to his left (our right) and pick up Polamalu. Except the back goes the wrong way and as you can see in the picture below, the end result is Flacco trying to give Polamalu an unintended piggy back, which lead to a game changing fumble.

So what have we learnt? Hopefully, that Michael Lombardi is best utilized not analyzing plays on Playbook, but cutting through the layers of bureaucratic and politically correct crap that often surrounds NFL teams and their interactions with the media, and of course the media's own guilt when it comes to shovelling bullshit. And we've also learnt that the Ravens have serious protection issues, mainly involving their backs. Maybe one of the reasons for their offensive success last week against New Orleans stems from the fact that they used Ray Rice much more as a receiver in the passing game where he excels, and relied on him much less for protection purposes. I'll be back later to recap the Saturday night game and give you my picks for Sunday, but until then, Merry Christmas everyone. Bah Humbug