| Speed kills in the National Football
| |
| | Rams were just begging to give that game
|
| League - but never forget that this sport
| |
| | away, allowing the Cards to move down to
|
| is predicated on power. Right now,
| |
| | their 5-yard line with time running out.
|
| Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Kansas City,
| |
| | But Kurt Warner was sacked back to the
|
| Tampa Bay and Cincinnati are each 2-0 and
| |
| | 10, and instead of spiking the ball to
|
| have won their games by an average score
| |
| | stop the clock (he had 20 seconds left)
|
| of 25-9. What is it that these teams have
| |
| | he tried to call a play. The result was a
|
| in common besides an unblemished record?
| |
| | false start by Leonard Davis with seven
|
| That would be their complete and total
| |
| | seconds left, which ended the game.
|
| dominance along the offensive and
| |
| |
|
| defensive lines.
| |
| | * I know it's only been two weeks, but
|
|
| |
| | check out the quarterback ratings of
|
| On offense, these teams are completely
| |
| | these players and tell me who sticks out:
|
| controlling people up front. Pittsburgh,
| |
| | Brett Favre (76.1), Peyton Manning
|
| Indy and K.C. each boast lines with at
| |
| | (74.7), Kyle Orton (74.4), Joey
|
| least two Pro Bowlers on it. Cincinnati
| |
| | Harrington (52.3), Dante Culpepper
|
| was one of only two teams that returned
| |
| | (41.6). If you said Orton you're not only
|
| all five of its starters from last year.
| |
| | correct but you're probably as surprised
|
| Tampa Bay - I honestly have no idea how
| |
| | as me.
|
| they're doing it with that line, but it's
| |
| |
|
| working - possesses the NFL's leading
| |
| | The Bears young QB has shown moxie and
|
| rusher, Cadillac Williams (276 yards).
| |
| | arm strength, but more importantly he's
|
| These five teams are muscling their way
| |
| | shown results. Through two games, the
|
| to an average of 155 yards per game on
| |
| | Bears are leading the league in
|
| the ground and have yielded only eight
| |
| | third-down efficiency (oddly enough,
|
| total sacks between them. That
| |
| | they're tied with Minnesota and Green
|
| outstanding play by the offensive linemen
| |
| | Bay) by converting 50 percent of their
|
| is allowing each of these teams to
| |
| | chances. Through all of last season, the
|
| control the ball and dictate tempo to
| |
| | Bears managed only 25 percent on third
|
| their opponents.
| |
| | down.
|
|
| |
| |
|
| Conversely, on the defensive side of the
| |
| | * Why Oakland has made its way to the
|
| ball it's all about getting after the
| |
| | top of my Stay Away From List: The
|
| quarterback for these five. Besides Cincy
| |
| | Raiders are down 23-17 at home to the
|
| (two sacks) the other four clubs have
| |
| | Chiefs on Sunday night. They're driving
|
| notched an average of nearly four sacks
| |
| | down for the game-winning touchdown with
|
| per game, with Pittsburgh accounting for
| |
| | around two minutes left, and have just
|
| 11 and Indy chipping in nine. While
| |
| | gained 14 yards on their last two plays -
|
| household names like Dwight Freeney and
| |
| | rushes by the bruising Lamont Jordan - to
|
| Simeon Rice still anchor their units,
| |
| | get down to the KC 14-yard line. The
|
| it's been the production of players like
| |
| | Chiefs defense is exhausted. The Raiders
|
| the Colts' Montae Reagor and the
| |
| | have all the momentum. They just need to
|
| Steelers' Aaron Smith that's really
| |
| | run right over them, killing the clock
|
| paying dividends.
| |
| | along the way, right? Wrong. Incomplete
|
|
| |
| | pass, four-yard pass, incomplete pass,
|
| All of this may seem kind of remedial
| |
| | timeout, incomplete pass. On
|
| and trivial, but it's not. I believe that
| |
| | fourth-and-six, though they still
|
| while it takes a few weeks for the skill
| |
| | could've gotten a first down inside the
|
| players to get in a groove, the pure
| |
| | 10, they threw a weak lob pass to Joey
|
| muscle and strength of players in the
| |
| | Porter. They didn't even go to Moss
|
| trenches is a determinant of early season
| |
| | (forget the fact that they just needed
|
| success. This is important because I
| |
| | six yards!). Unreal. That was a rookie
|
| think that the teams that have the most
| |
| | mistake by Norv Turner and Kerry Collins
|
| stability and performance at their
| |
| | - two retreads who shouldn't be making
|
| foundations - the offensive and defensive
| |
| | those kind of errors.
|
| lines - will be the most consistent
| |
| |
|
| throughout the season, and stats like the
| |
| | * What a complete and total shocker in
|
| ones I've tossed out are good indicators
| |
| | Dallas on Monday night. The Cowboys
|
| of future success.
| |
| | absolutely dominated the first 55
|
|
| |
| | minutes, were up 13-0, and had Mark
|
| Also, popular opinion about NFL clubs -
| |
| | Brunell at third-and-27 with about four
|
| one of the components used to set a line
| |
| | minutes to play. Game over, right? Wrong.
|
| - is determined in part by humans
| |
| | Brunell pulls two bombs out of nowhere
|
| tendency for grandiose delusion, which is
| |
| | and all of a sudden Daniel Snyder looks
|
| the process of attributing inflated worth
| |
| | like he just won the Super Bowl. Be wary
|
| to someone famous. This is why people are
| |
| | of the effects this loss has on Dallas
|
| so quick to assume that teams like
| |
| | next week. A game like that can be a
|
| Minnesota, Oakland and St. Louis are
| |
| | season-crippler. Also, that says a lot
|
| "good" teams because they identify with
| |
| | about the character of this Washington
|
| the stars at more visible positions
| |
| | squad. That game may have changed the
|
| (quarterback, running back, receiver).
| |
| | complexion of the NFC.
|
| But what they fail to realize is that
| |
| |
|
| each of those three teams has serious
| |
| | * Does anyone else think it might be a
|
| issues on their offensive and/or
| |
| | bad idea to rebuild the whole of New
|
| defensive lines, which leads to them
| |
| | Orleans back into a major metropolitan
|
| getting pushed around in a game based on
| |
| | area? I mean, just think about the toxic
|
| physicality.
| |
| | chemicals - oil, gas, feces, pesticides,
|
|
| |
| | decaying corpses, etc. - that have been
|
| Anyway, that's my little five-cent
| |
| | stewing about in that place for almost a
|
| psychology lesson for you. Here are the
| |
| | month. And the federal government, in all
|
| rest of my Week 2 thoughts:
| |
| | its glory, didn't even put the
|
|
| |
| | Environmental Protection Agency on its
|
| * Gutty performance by Carolina, which
| |
| | list of first responders. Mark my words,
|
| showed why you never abandon the run.
| |
| | all of that stuff is getting dumped back
|
| While their numbers on the ground (36
| |
| | in the water supply and in about 20 years
|
| carries, 104 yards) are pedestrian, the
| |
| | that place is going to look like
|
| rushing attack paid off with a perfect
| |
| | Venusville from Total Recall.
|
| 3-for-3 conversion rate in the red zone.
| |
| |
|
| A gift touchdown from the referees (one
| |
| | * So far this season Indianapolis has
|
| of Stephen Davis' three scores) didn't
| |
| | given up just 10 points in two games.
|
| hurt either. The Panthers play Miami,
| |
| | Pittsburgh has yielded 14 points, Chicago
|
| Green Bay, Arizona and Detroit in the
| |
| | 15 and Tampa Bay 16 through eight
|
| next four weeks. Get ready to ride this
| |
| | quarters.
|
| train.
| |
| |
|
|
| |
| | * I'm not sure what the future holds for
|
| * It will be interesting to see how the
| |
| | the enigma that is Seattle, but they
|
| Jaguars respond to their 10-3 loss to
| |
| | smacked around an Atlanta squad that
|
| Indianapolis on Sunday. They were just 22
| |
| | everyone was ga-ga about one week
|
| yards away from overtime in the RCA Dome,
| |
| | earlier. Seattle has been very good at
|
| but there was nothing soft or cutesy
| |
| | home (13-3) over the past two seasons,
|
| about what the Colts did to the Jags -
| |
| | but have had trouble on the road (6-10).
|
| they just beat them up. Indy had a drive
| |
| | I would play them that way until they
|
| right out of the 1920's - a 17-play clock
| |
| | prove otherwise.
|
| drainer that featured 14 running plays
| |
| |
|
| and straddled the third and fourth
| |
| | * Minnesota's game against Cincy was
|
| quarters. Edgerrin James (27 carries, 128
| |
| | over before halftime. That "retooled"
|
| yards) carried the load for the Colts
| |
| | Vikings defense got torched for 337 total
|
| like he was in a contract year or
| |
| | yards in the first 30 minutes! Oh, and
|
| something.
| |
| | Culpepper has already thrown eight
|
|
| |
| | interceptions (a feat he didn't
|
| * The Texans have only scored 14 points
| |
| | accomplish until Week 13 last season) to
|
| so far, but they have faced two of the
| |
| | go with no touchdowns. The Vikings have
|
| top five ranked defenses in the NFL
| |
| | turned the ball over on 12 of their 24
|
| (Buffalo, Pitt). The offensive line,
| |
| | possessions in 2005, and are the biggest
|
| which has given up 150 sacks since 2001,
| |
| | fraud since Dianetics.
|
| has already seen David Carr get dropped
| |
| |
|
| 13 times (that's a 104-sack pace for the
| |
| | * As I'm typing this I'm laughing
|
| year), causing Carr to chew them out on
| |
| | hysterically at all those guys who
|
| the sidelines last Sunday. And do you
| |
| | benched Donovan McNabb this week thinking
|
| know who Houston named to replaced
| |
| | he was injured.
|
| departed offensive coordinator Chris
| |
| |
|
| Palmer? That's right, offensive line
| |
| | * Dagger-Through-The-Heart Play of the
|
| coach Joe Pendry.
| |
| | Week: I have New Orleans getting 16.5
|
|
| |
| | points as part of a sweetheart teaser.
|
| * In Catholicism, Michael is the Angel
| |
| | They're down 27-10 with four minutes left
|
| of Sunday. If that's so, why is it that
| |
| | (after John Carney bounced a field goal
|
| just about every NFL head coach named
| |
| | off the uprights on their previous
|
| Mike (Tice, Sherman, Martz, Holmgren,
| |
| | possession) and Aaron Brooks has them
|
| Shanahan) is so shady? Buffalo head coach
| |
| | moving down the field. Brooks hits Joe
|
| Mike Mularkey is apparently trying to
| |
| | Horn along the sideline at about the
|
| break into that dubious group. I know
| |
| | six-yard line, and while he tries to
|
| where he was coming from when he benched
| |
| | stretch for the pylon, he loses the ball.
|
| J.P. Losman during the fourth quarter of
| |
| | It's a touchback and the Giants ball.
|
| their 19-3 loss at Tampa on Sunday
| |
| | Again, it was like getting kicked in the
|
| (change of pace, try something new, etc.)
| |
| | nuts while watching your girlfriend cheat
|
| but I don't agree with it. First, Kelly
| |
| | on you with the guy who just ran over
|
| Holcomb would've had to have been Jim
| |
| | your dog. Only worse. But again, that's
|
| Kelly in order to lead that comeback.
| |
| | why you don't bet the Saints.
|
| Second, all you've done is opened that
| |
| |
|
| Pandora's Box of a quarterback
| |
| | * When it comes to hamburgers I only
|
| controversy, crushed all the warm and
| |
| | have this to say: catsup = good, barbeque
|
| fuzzy feelings that had been built up,
| |
| | sauce = better, A-1 steak sauce = best.
|
| and forced Losman to start questioning
| |
| | No doubt.
|
| himself. You're going to lose games
| |
| |
|
| during the season, that's just the way it
| |
| | * At this point in the season, home
|
| is, but the long-term effects of
| |
| | underdogs are both 3-2 straight-up and
|
| something like this can linger and be
| |
| | against the spread. Home teams are 23-9
|
| much more harmful.
| |
| | straight up, and 20-12 ATS thus far.
|
|
| |
| | Also, the NFC is 2-1 SU and ATS when
|
| Keeping with the theme, how much longer
| |
| | playing the AFC.
|
| do you think Sherman and Tice will be
| |
| |
|
| hanging around this season? They both
| |
| | * I'm still not impressed with the
|
| just look completely lost on their
| |
| | Giants (even though Joe Theisman
|
| respective sidelines, and their teams are
| |
| | obviously is). Remember, they started 5-0
|
| playing with no kind of direction,
| |
| | last year before taking a complete and
|
| purpose or heart. Also, Martz was five
| |
| | total nosedive. They have impressed me
|
| yards and seven seconds away from a 0-2
| |
| | with their ability to move the ball - but
|
| start at the hands of the two worst teams
| |
| | we expected that. The defense is
|
| in football. When is somebody going to
| |
| | currently ranked 29th in the league and
|
| post odds on which one of these fools
| |
| | has yielded an average of 370 yards per
|
| gets canned first?
| |
| | game. And like I already mentioned, the
|
|
| |
| | Saints were seven combined inches from 10
|
| * Donald Trump singing Green Acres at
| |
| | more points.
|
| the Emmy Awards was definitely a
| |
| |
|
| highlight of the weekend. You could
| |
| | Questions or comments for Robert? e-mail
|
| actually see his arms. I didn't even know
| |
| |
|
| he had skin. I thought he was all suit,
| |
| |
|
| all the time. Regardless, it was classic.
| |
| | Doc's Sports Recent Articles:Super Bowl
|
|
| |
| | ringoffshore betting2006 Super Bowl
|
|
| |
| | predictionsDoc's Sports Handicapping
|
| * Anyone who thought that Kurt Warner
| |
| | Service
|
| was still an NFL-caliber starting
| |
| | 1-866-238-6696Since 1971 Doc's Sports
|
| quarterback (much less The Savior of a
| |
| | has been recognized as one of the leaders
|
| putrid franchise) just needs to go back
| |
| | and most trusted names in sports
|
| and watch the last 30 seconds of their
| |
| | handicapping information.
|
| game against St. Louis. Up 17-12, the
| |
| |
|
