REDSKINS -9 (over Cardinals)
Falcons +8 (over SAINTS)
Ravens -3 (over BILLS)
Patriots -17 (over DOLPHINS)
GIANTS -9.5 (over 49ers)
Buccaneers +2.5 (over LIONS)
Titans +2 (over TEXANS)
RAIDERS -3 (over Chiefs)
BENGALS -6.5 (over Jets)
COWBOYS -10 (over Vikings)
Bears +6 (over Eagles)
Rams +8 (over Seahawks)
Steelers -4.5 (over BRONCOS)
Colts -3.5 (over Jags)
Booyah.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Sunday Afternoon Thoughts
Man, it's a lazy Sunday morning. I have a couple of decent morning games: Titans-Bucs and Redskins-Packers. I find myself watching Titans-Bucs, rooting for the Bucs to pull out a win. The Titans impress me every time I watch them. I don't see any major stars, other than Vince Young. Their running backs are pedestrian. They've lost their good receivers over the past few years. You could argue that Vince Young is the offense, but Kerry Collins has stepped in after Young's quad injury and has moved the ball well against Tampa's good defense. That has to be good coaching, right? The Titans are 3-1, losing only to the Colts in a close game. At the moment their down 10-3 but are 2nd and goal. Wait, Titans just scored, so it's all tied up. The Bucs have also impressed me. It's a shame they lost Cadillac Williams - they'd reasonably be in contention for the NFC title.
Other morning games:
Minnesota is beating down the Bears in Chicago. Actually, Adrian Peterson is beating down the Bears. 233 yards on 17 carries (that's 13.7/carry) and 3 touchdowns. Damn. Where's the Bears' defense? It's fun watching the Bears get beat (and as I write that, they score a touchdown to bring the game back within reach). Meanwhile, Tarvaris Jackson is 9-22 for 136 yards, 1 touchdown. The future? Really? Shouldn't a young quarterback show a little more promise?
Jacksonville is up 37-9 with about 5 minutes left. Wow. Not this year Houston. The Texans have a nice nucleus, but they've had a few unfortunate injuries and they play in the toughest division in the league. Jacksonville, meanwhile, just announced they're playing for keeps. Next week's monday night game at home against Indy is huge. Definitely going to watch that one.
Update: Devin Hester just caught an 81-yard bomb to (likely) tie up the game. When I saw the NFL.com game center update I figured it was a short pass he'd broken for a score. Nope, it was a legitimate deep throw that Hester caught like a real wide receiver. If Hester can become a deep threat, the Bears become dangerous again.
St. Louis managed 3 points against the Ravens. Miami put up a better effort against the Browns, but both are still winless. Cleo Lemon filled in admirably, and with him and Ronnie Brown the Dolphins should win a few before the season is out. St. Louis, on the other hand, has a nice chance of going winless. Injuries have absolutely killed this team. Of course, watch them beat the Seahawks next week.
Alright, time to complain for three hours because LA's CBS affiliate is showing Raiders-Chargers instead of Cowboys-Patriots. Weak.
Other morning games:
Minnesota is beating down the Bears in Chicago. Actually, Adrian Peterson is beating down the Bears. 233 yards on 17 carries (that's 13.7/carry) and 3 touchdowns. Damn. Where's the Bears' defense? It's fun watching the Bears get beat (and as I write that, they score a touchdown to bring the game back within reach). Meanwhile, Tarvaris Jackson is 9-22 for 136 yards, 1 touchdown. The future? Really? Shouldn't a young quarterback show a little more promise?
Jacksonville is up 37-9 with about 5 minutes left. Wow. Not this year Houston. The Texans have a nice nucleus, but they've had a few unfortunate injuries and they play in the toughest division in the league. Jacksonville, meanwhile, just announced they're playing for keeps. Next week's monday night game at home against Indy is huge. Definitely going to watch that one.
Update: Devin Hester just caught an 81-yard bomb to (likely) tie up the game. When I saw the NFL.com game center update I figured it was a short pass he'd broken for a score. Nope, it was a legitimate deep throw that Hester caught like a real wide receiver. If Hester can become a deep threat, the Bears become dangerous again.
St. Louis managed 3 points against the Ravens. Miami put up a better effort against the Browns, but both are still winless. Cleo Lemon filled in admirably, and with him and Ronnie Brown the Dolphins should win a few before the season is out. St. Louis, on the other hand, has a nice chance of going winless. Injuries have absolutely killed this team. Of course, watch them beat the Seahawks next week.
Alright, time to complain for three hours because LA's CBS affiliate is showing Raiders-Chargers instead of Cowboys-Patriots. Weak.
Skeleton week 6 picks
I'll update with comments later in the day:
Bengals -3 (over CHIEFS)
JAGUARS -7 (over Texans)
BROWNS -4.5 (over Dolphins)
BEARS -5.5 (over Vikings)
JETS +4.5 (over Eagles)
Rams +9 (over RAVENS)
Titans +3 (over BUCCANEERS)
Redskins +3 (over PACKERS)
CARDINALS -6.5 (over Panthers)
Patriots -6.5 (over COWBOYS)
CHARGERS -10 (over Raiders)
SEAHAWKS -6 (over Saints)
Giants -4 (over FALCONS)
Bengals -3 (over CHIEFS)
JAGUARS -7 (over Texans)
BROWNS -4.5 (over Dolphins)
BEARS -5.5 (over Vikings)
JETS +4.5 (over Eagles)
Rams +9 (over RAVENS)
Titans +3 (over BUCCANEERS)
Redskins +3 (over PACKERS)
CARDINALS -6.5 (over Panthers)
Patriots -6.5 (over COWBOYS)
CHARGERS -10 (over Raiders)
SEAHAWKS -6 (over Saints)
Giants -4 (over FALCONS)
Monday, October 8, 2007
Currently watching MNF
Romo just threw his fifth interception. I was about to put up a post saying 'how long before Owens explodes?' but I already see him yelling and someone (maybe nobody in particular?) on the sidelines. Thoughts:
Is the AFC really that much better than the NFC? Romo had a horrible night, but still, the Bills have no business being in this game.
First Favre, now Romo. Thank goodness. Maybe this will end the national lovefest with both of these quarterbacks. I can understand Favre. Romo was getting some '06 Grossman-esque hype.
I haven't checked, but I'm sure I got killed on my picks this week. I love the NFL.
Is the AFC really that much better than the NFC? Romo had a horrible night, but still, the Bills have no business being in this game.
First Favre, now Romo. Thank goodness. Maybe this will end the national lovefest with both of these quarterbacks. I can understand Favre. Romo was getting some '06 Grossman-esque hype.
I haven't checked, but I'm sure I got killed on my picks this week. I love the NFL.
Seahawks-Steelers
Living in L.A., I get five Seahawks on network TV, including Sunday and Monday night games. The Steelers game was the first one I could watch from my living room. It would have been nice if the 'hawks had woken up for the game.
Going into the game, my bets were on Pittsburgh to win. They were coming off their first loss of the season, playing the national Fox game at home, against a Seahawks team that never seems to play well in the eastern time zone. The Seahawks surely burned through a ton of emotion with their victory over the 49ers, so I was half-expecting a flat performance. Then I heard the Steelers would be missing some of their top defensive starters, I figured that would be enough to give the Seahawks a fighting chance.
Well, that didn't happen. Here are my thoughts on the game:
Hasslebeck was not accurate like he had been in previous games. The Steelers had a great game plan to counter, and Matt needed to be dead-on to beat the coverage. He wasn't. His performance doesn't have me worried, though. He lost Deion Branch at some point, and Burleson and Obomanu weren't good enough to make up for that. The next two weeks will be trying, but after the bye we should have Branch and Hackett back. As much as I want to see Burleson do well, my eyes are telling me that he doesn't have the special ability that Hackett does. I've been a fan of Hackett from the very beginning, simply because he always makes big plays. I've heard he doesn't practice hard enough, but hopefully that can be worked with. Burleson is a great #4, not a #2.
Shaun Alexander is awful. At least, as compared to his $62 million contract he is. It's not so much that he appears to not put out a full effort. That was the case during his MVP year. I have two major problems with him. (1) He's a highly dependent runner. I've heard him referred to as a "vision runner." That's a nice way of saying Alexander looks for holes, and if nothing is there he, and Seattle's offense, is screwed. That works great with a dominant offensive line and a pro-bowl full back (i.e. 2005). Take those away and you get a 3 yard/carry average. (2) Alexander isn't a dancer, and isn't big enough to be a bruiser. I love the way young backs run today. They dance through defenders in a manner that resembles how streetballers stretch 1.5 steps to 3.5 steps on the blacktop. They run low and wide, and can change directions on a dime. Alexander can run through a hole and break through shoulder tackles. He uses a dated running style and his lack of versatility absolutely kills Holmgren's pure west coast offense.
I found out today that Mack Strong's season, and probably his career, are over. I hate to see a great team guy like Strong go, but there might be a silver lining in replacing him with a younger back like Weaver. I also heard that Mo' Morris might be given a greater percentage of game carries. I'm fine with that. And I can't believe I'm saying I'm fine with Morris taking caries away from Alexander. I found myself looking at Mel Kiper's 2008 draft board to see which running backs were projected where.
This isn't specific to the Pittsburgh game, but the left side of the offensive line, including the center, isn't good. Walter Jones is great, but he's definitely declining. Sims and Spencer may be good (or better) one day, but right now they're still learning. You can't have multiple offensive linemen learning their positions and expect to be a great team.
The defense was just 'this' close to making plays for negative Pittsburgh yardage, and Pittsburgh continually turned those plays into big gains (or at least first downs). That's the margin of error that separates teams in the NFL. Give the Steelers credit for being a great team and making plays. I don't have much of a complaint with the defense, except for some poor tackling on a few plays.
This was likely the most difficult game for the season. In the next four weeks, the 'hawks have games against New Orleans, St. Louis, a bye, and at Cleveland. Those are three very winnable games. All three should be won. If the Seahawks can get to 6-2, they'll probably have one of the top four records in the NFC and will have a nice bit of momentum going into the second half of the season. At that point, if all goes well, Branch and Hackett will be back, Weaver will have become a serviceable (and possibly dynamic) fullback, the offensive line can gel a bit more, and some kind of running game can be relied upon. If all of the happens, then maybe the Seahawks have a chance at making a run in the playoffs.
Going into the game, my bets were on Pittsburgh to win. They were coming off their first loss of the season, playing the national Fox game at home, against a Seahawks team that never seems to play well in the eastern time zone. The Seahawks surely burned through a ton of emotion with their victory over the 49ers, so I was half-expecting a flat performance. Then I heard the Steelers would be missing some of their top defensive starters, I figured that would be enough to give the Seahawks a fighting chance.
Well, that didn't happen. Here are my thoughts on the game:
Hasslebeck was not accurate like he had been in previous games. The Steelers had a great game plan to counter, and Matt needed to be dead-on to beat the coverage. He wasn't. His performance doesn't have me worried, though. He lost Deion Branch at some point, and Burleson and Obomanu weren't good enough to make up for that. The next two weeks will be trying, but after the bye we should have Branch and Hackett back. As much as I want to see Burleson do well, my eyes are telling me that he doesn't have the special ability that Hackett does. I've been a fan of Hackett from the very beginning, simply because he always makes big plays. I've heard he doesn't practice hard enough, but hopefully that can be worked with. Burleson is a great #4, not a #2.
Shaun Alexander is awful. At least, as compared to his $62 million contract he is. It's not so much that he appears to not put out a full effort. That was the case during his MVP year. I have two major problems with him. (1) He's a highly dependent runner. I've heard him referred to as a "vision runner." That's a nice way of saying Alexander looks for holes, and if nothing is there he, and Seattle's offense, is screwed. That works great with a dominant offensive line and a pro-bowl full back (i.e. 2005). Take those away and you get a 3 yard/carry average. (2) Alexander isn't a dancer, and isn't big enough to be a bruiser. I love the way young backs run today. They dance through defenders in a manner that resembles how streetballers stretch 1.5 steps to 3.5 steps on the blacktop. They run low and wide, and can change directions on a dime. Alexander can run through a hole and break through shoulder tackles. He uses a dated running style and his lack of versatility absolutely kills Holmgren's pure west coast offense.
I found out today that Mack Strong's season, and probably his career, are over. I hate to see a great team guy like Strong go, but there might be a silver lining in replacing him with a younger back like Weaver. I also heard that Mo' Morris might be given a greater percentage of game carries. I'm fine with that. And I can't believe I'm saying I'm fine with Morris taking caries away from Alexander. I found myself looking at Mel Kiper's 2008 draft board to see which running backs were projected where.
This isn't specific to the Pittsburgh game, but the left side of the offensive line, including the center, isn't good. Walter Jones is great, but he's definitely declining. Sims and Spencer may be good (or better) one day, but right now they're still learning. You can't have multiple offensive linemen learning their positions and expect to be a great team.
The defense was just 'this' close to making plays for negative Pittsburgh yardage, and Pittsburgh continually turned those plays into big gains (or at least first downs). That's the margin of error that separates teams in the NFL. Give the Steelers credit for being a great team and making plays. I don't have much of a complaint with the defense, except for some poor tackling on a few plays.
This was likely the most difficult game for the season. In the next four weeks, the 'hawks have games against New Orleans, St. Louis, a bye, and at Cleveland. Those are three very winnable games. All three should be won. If the Seahawks can get to 6-2, they'll probably have one of the top four records in the NFC and will have a nice bit of momentum going into the second half of the season. At that point, if all goes well, Branch and Hackett will be back, Weaver will have become a serviceable (and possibly dynamic) fullback, the offensive line can gel a bit more, and some kind of running game can be relied upon. If all of the happens, then maybe the Seahawks have a chance at making a run in the playoffs.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Week 5 Picks
Gotta get these out quick. No time to pat myself on the back for a 9-5 week last week, especially when that brings my season total to 19-25. Here are my picks, taking the lines from bodog at 9:10 am pacific time sunday morning.
SAINTS -3.5 (over Panthers)
Jaguars -2 (over CHIEFS)
Lions +3.5 (over REDSKINS)
Falcons +8.5 (over TITANS)
TEXANS -6 (over Dolphins)
STEELERS -6 (over Seahawks)
Browns +17 (over PATRIOTS)
Cardinals -4 (over RAMS)
GIANTS -4 (over Jets)
Buccaneers +10 (over COLTS)
Chargers -1 (over BRONCOS)
Ravens -4 (over 49ERS)
PACKERS -4 (over Bears)
Cowbows -11 (over Bills)
SAINTS -3.5 (over Panthers)
Jaguars -2 (over CHIEFS)
Lions +3.5 (over REDSKINS)
Falcons +8.5 (over TITANS)
TEXANS -6 (over Dolphins)
STEELERS -6 (over Seahawks)
Browns +17 (over PATRIOTS)
Cardinals -4 (over RAMS)
GIANTS -4 (over Jets)
Buccaneers +10 (over COLTS)
Chargers -1 (over BRONCOS)
Ravens -4 (over 49ERS)
PACKERS -4 (over Bears)
Cowbows -11 (over Bills)
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