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Monday, October 25, 2004
Saints, Packers still have a shot
<HR width="100%" noShade SIZE=1>By Joe Theismann
ESPN Insider
Joe ponders a handful of questions over his Monday morning cup: Were the Falcons and Giants exposed? What's the problem in Buffalo? Can the Jaguars dethrone the Colts? Who has been more impressive – Reuben Droughns or Mewelde Moore?
Down, but not out
The New Orleans Saints and the Green Bay Packers are the two teams that immediately spring to mind when you talk about four- or five-loss teams that still can recover to make the playoffs.
The Packers are very talented with QB Brett Favre, RB Ahman Green and a set of good receivers, but they are the Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde of the NFL. They've looked great the past two weeks after playing terrible football after their Week 1 victory over the Carolina Panthers. They've been so up and down this season that I wouldn't bet on them with someone else's money.
The Saints are a more talented offense then their record indicates. They've lost some close games that they probably should have won. They have the potential to score a lot of points through the air and on the ground, and because of the running game they can win anywhere. The defense has to continue to grow into itself with the addition of former Packers' CB Mike McKenzie. <OFFER>
In the AFC, the Kansas City Chiefs may have to run the table to make the playoffs as a wild card because of the toughness of the conference. Several teams are in a better position than the Chiefs to make a run. It's going to be an uphill battle, but I wouldn't count out the Chiefs and coach Dick Vermeil. As they proved against the Falcons and the Baltimore Ravens, this is a team with the ability to put up a ton of points quickly against any team in the league. As the weather gets worse, the Chiefs will get better, because they run the ball so well.
Falcons, Giants exposed?
I don't think it's fair to say the Giants were exposed by Detroit on Sunday. They just are a team that can't make mistakes. Against the Lions, they made a multitude of mistakes, including an interception in the red zone. The Giants did a horrible job of making the most of their opportunities, and not surprisingly, they lost the game because of them.
Opposing teams realize one thing: This is QB Kurt Warner's team, and the Giants are only going to go as far as he leads them. How he plays – and whether he makes mistakes – will determine the success of the Giants. The past few weeks he had been on a roll, and the Giants were rolling along with him. On Sunday, he hiccupped, and they lost.
Atlanta is one of those teams that is very fragile. The coaching staff has to be worried about its play against the Chiefs. It's one thing to lose a game, but it's quite another to get a butt-whipping like this one. To go out and lose by 46 points is embarrassing, and the way the Falcons bounce back will say a lot about them as a team.
Offensively, Michael Vick has been the guy making the plays, but if he's stopped from making plays with his legs, the Falcons are in trouble. He hasn't proven he can consistently make plays with his arm, and that has to be a worry for the Falcons in the long run.
Defensively, the Falcons are a boom-or-bust proposition. The unit is either going to sack the quarterback or give up big rushing yards. That's just the nature of its aggressive defense. The Falcons happened to face one of the best rushing teams in football and were absolutely killed. The Falcons faced an angry offense that was looking to express its frustrations.
Moore more impressive
Both Reuben Droughns and Mewelde Moore have been pleasant surprises at running back this season, but because Droughns just runs the ball, while Moore returns kicks, runs and catches passes, I'd give the edge to Moore in the "who's more impressive" debate.
Moore has done it all for the Vikings this season, while Droughns seems to be merely picking up where previous Broncos' running backs like Terrell Davis, Mike Anderson, Olandis Gary and Clinton Portis have left off. At some point it's hard not to pinpoint the Broncos' system as the reason he's doing so well.
In college, Moore was a double threat at Tulane University, and he's kept that going in the NFL. So far he has rushed 56 times for 347 yards (6.2 per carry) and has 26 catches for 212 yards. What's so surprising about Moore is he's rarely stopped in his tracks. He always seems to get a few extra yards after the hit, and that's huge to any team.
The Vikings have been lucky to get a plethora of running backs who are all very similar in their ability to run and catch the football. In a few weeks, injured starter Michael Bennett and suspended backup Onterrio Smith will supplant Moore in the backfield. I do expect the Vikings to keep Moore in the lineup by giving him some of Moe Williams' carries and also bringing him in to rest Bennett and Smith.
Next season he'll probably be in someone else's uniform, because there are a couple of teams that sorely need a running back, and Moore has proven he can get the job done.
Can the Jaguars dethrone the Colts?
After winning a huge game in Indianapolis, Jacksonville actually has a chance to wrestle the AFC South title from the Colts. Not many teams are able to take on the Colts when they play at home on artificial turf. This is a very fast team already, but their speed takes on a new dimension when they play on artificial turf.
Jacksonville is looking more and more like the 2003 Carolina Panthers. The Jags are winning games late on field goals and touchdowns. QB Byron Leftwich, in only his second year, is playing a lot like Jake Delhomme did last season. He's doing a similar job of managing the team's offense without making mistakes and occasionally making the big plays.
Don't forget – this is a team that very easily could be 2-5 and at the bottom of the AFC South instead of 5-2 and at the top of the division. The Jags have won some close games, and when young teams start to win close games, they become more and more confident, and that shows in their play. They start to figure there's a way they will win no matter if they are down late in the game or if they've played poorly all game. A team with confidence will believe there's still a chance and is more likely to make plays to win.
The Jaguars also are benefiting from a lack of major injuries at skill positions. In years past, they had to worry about RB Fred Taylor getting injured, but this could be the third consecutive season that he starts every game. When he's healthy, he has the ability to rush for 1,300 yards and six or seven touchdowns.
What's wrong in Buffalo?
QB Drew Bledsoe struggled last year, and he's struggling this year, so the fault is probably his and not that of Mike Mularkey and the new coaching staff. The problem is, the Bills have nowhere to turn to replace Bledsoe.
Rookie QB J.P. Losman was hurt during the preseason, and the team has only Shane Matthews behind Bledsoe on the bench. Bledose has been ineffective, but the Bills have no other options.
Bledsoe, Kurt Warner and Vinny Testaverde are all the same guy. They aren't mobile, and they rely heavily on the protection of the offensive line to help them win games. None of these guys has the ability to lead a team without great protection or schemes that will get the ball out of their hands quickly. Opposing defenses realize this and will just keep bringing pressure to disrupt their process and force them into making mistakes. That's what the Bills are currently facing.
It's impossible for an NFL team to give up opportunities to score on a consistent basis due to turnovers and expect to win. Bledsoe has thrown seven interceptions compared to six touchdowns while amassing a quarterback rating of only 73.6. He's also completing only 57.2 percent of his passes, which ranks him 23rd out of 33 eligible quarterbacks in the league. Those are terrible numbers and a main reason why the Bills have only one victory this season. Joe Theismann, who won a Super Bowl and an MVP award as a player, is a regular contributor to Insider.
Monday, October 25, 2004
Saints, Packers still have a shot
<HR width="100%" noShade SIZE=1>By Joe Theismann
ESPN Insider
Joe ponders a handful of questions over his Monday morning cup: Were the Falcons and Giants exposed? What's the problem in Buffalo? Can the Jaguars dethrone the Colts? Who has been more impressive – Reuben Droughns or Mewelde Moore?
Down, but not out
The New Orleans Saints and the Green Bay Packers are the two teams that immediately spring to mind when you talk about four- or five-loss teams that still can recover to make the playoffs.
The Packers are very talented with QB Brett Favre, RB Ahman Green and a set of good receivers, but they are the Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde of the NFL. They've looked great the past two weeks after playing terrible football after their Week 1 victory over the Carolina Panthers. They've been so up and down this season that I wouldn't bet on them with someone else's money.
The Saints are a more talented offense then their record indicates. They've lost some close games that they probably should have won. They have the potential to score a lot of points through the air and on the ground, and because of the running game they can win anywhere. The defense has to continue to grow into itself with the addition of former Packers' CB Mike McKenzie. <OFFER>
In the AFC, the Kansas City Chiefs may have to run the table to make the playoffs as a wild card because of the toughness of the conference. Several teams are in a better position than the Chiefs to make a run. It's going to be an uphill battle, but I wouldn't count out the Chiefs and coach Dick Vermeil. As they proved against the Falcons and the Baltimore Ravens, this is a team with the ability to put up a ton of points quickly against any team in the league. As the weather gets worse, the Chiefs will get better, because they run the ball so well.
Falcons, Giants exposed?
I don't think it's fair to say the Giants were exposed by Detroit on Sunday. They just are a team that can't make mistakes. Against the Lions, they made a multitude of mistakes, including an interception in the red zone. The Giants did a horrible job of making the most of their opportunities, and not surprisingly, they lost the game because of them.
Opposing teams realize one thing: This is QB Kurt Warner's team, and the Giants are only going to go as far as he leads them. How he plays – and whether he makes mistakes – will determine the success of the Giants. The past few weeks he had been on a roll, and the Giants were rolling along with him. On Sunday, he hiccupped, and they lost.
Atlanta is one of those teams that is very fragile. The coaching staff has to be worried about its play against the Chiefs. It's one thing to lose a game, but it's quite another to get a butt-whipping like this one. To go out and lose by 46 points is embarrassing, and the way the Falcons bounce back will say a lot about them as a team.
Offensively, Michael Vick has been the guy making the plays, but if he's stopped from making plays with his legs, the Falcons are in trouble. He hasn't proven he can consistently make plays with his arm, and that has to be a worry for the Falcons in the long run.
Defensively, the Falcons are a boom-or-bust proposition. The unit is either going to sack the quarterback or give up big rushing yards. That's just the nature of its aggressive defense. The Falcons happened to face one of the best rushing teams in football and were absolutely killed. The Falcons faced an angry offense that was looking to express its frustrations.
Moore more impressive
Both Reuben Droughns and Mewelde Moore have been pleasant surprises at running back this season, but because Droughns just runs the ball, while Moore returns kicks, runs and catches passes, I'd give the edge to Moore in the "who's more impressive" debate.
Moore has done it all for the Vikings this season, while Droughns seems to be merely picking up where previous Broncos' running backs like Terrell Davis, Mike Anderson, Olandis Gary and Clinton Portis have left off. At some point it's hard not to pinpoint the Broncos' system as the reason he's doing so well.
In college, Moore was a double threat at Tulane University, and he's kept that going in the NFL. So far he has rushed 56 times for 347 yards (6.2 per carry) and has 26 catches for 212 yards. What's so surprising about Moore is he's rarely stopped in his tracks. He always seems to get a few extra yards after the hit, and that's huge to any team.
The Vikings have been lucky to get a plethora of running backs who are all very similar in their ability to run and catch the football. In a few weeks, injured starter Michael Bennett and suspended backup Onterrio Smith will supplant Moore in the backfield. I do expect the Vikings to keep Moore in the lineup by giving him some of Moe Williams' carries and also bringing him in to rest Bennett and Smith.
Next season he'll probably be in someone else's uniform, because there are a couple of teams that sorely need a running back, and Moore has proven he can get the job done.
Can the Jaguars dethrone the Colts?
After winning a huge game in Indianapolis, Jacksonville actually has a chance to wrestle the AFC South title from the Colts. Not many teams are able to take on the Colts when they play at home on artificial turf. This is a very fast team already, but their speed takes on a new dimension when they play on artificial turf.
Jacksonville is looking more and more like the 2003 Carolina Panthers. The Jags are winning games late on field goals and touchdowns. QB Byron Leftwich, in only his second year, is playing a lot like Jake Delhomme did last season. He's doing a similar job of managing the team's offense without making mistakes and occasionally making the big plays.
Don't forget – this is a team that very easily could be 2-5 and at the bottom of the AFC South instead of 5-2 and at the top of the division. The Jags have won some close games, and when young teams start to win close games, they become more and more confident, and that shows in their play. They start to figure there's a way they will win no matter if they are down late in the game or if they've played poorly all game. A team with confidence will believe there's still a chance and is more likely to make plays to win.
The Jaguars also are benefiting from a lack of major injuries at skill positions. In years past, they had to worry about RB Fred Taylor getting injured, but this could be the third consecutive season that he starts every game. When he's healthy, he has the ability to rush for 1,300 yards and six or seven touchdowns.
What's wrong in Buffalo?
QB Drew Bledsoe struggled last year, and he's struggling this year, so the fault is probably his and not that of Mike Mularkey and the new coaching staff. The problem is, the Bills have nowhere to turn to replace Bledsoe.
Rookie QB J.P. Losman was hurt during the preseason, and the team has only Shane Matthews behind Bledsoe on the bench. Bledose has been ineffective, but the Bills have no other options.
Bledsoe, Kurt Warner and Vinny Testaverde are all the same guy. They aren't mobile, and they rely heavily on the protection of the offensive line to help them win games. None of these guys has the ability to lead a team without great protection or schemes that will get the ball out of their hands quickly. Opposing defenses realize this and will just keep bringing pressure to disrupt their process and force them into making mistakes. That's what the Bills are currently facing.
It's impossible for an NFL team to give up opportunities to score on a consistent basis due to turnovers and expect to win. Bledsoe has thrown seven interceptions compared to six touchdowns while amassing a quarterback rating of only 73.6. He's also completing only 57.2 percent of his passes, which ranks him 23rd out of 33 eligible quarterbacks in the league. Those are terrible numbers and a main reason why the Bills have only one victory this season. Joe Theismann, who won a Super Bowl and an MVP award as a player, is a regular contributor to Insider.
