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Ha! I posted the exact thing on a football forum I post at. So true, he sucks so much. Unfortunately Gumbel is still on for Saturday, but Marshall Faulk and Deion Sanders will be in the booth so that's a plus.Quote:
Originally Posted by Thief Silver
(I did a little write-up on that same forum, I guess I'll share it here. Especially as Biff brought up Derek Anderson.)
WEEK 14 THOUGHTS
Feel free to share yours, gang. Here's some of mine:
Ease up on the Kool-Aid, buckos
- Willie Parker of the Pittsburgh Steelers leads the league with 1,217 rushing yards, but that's because he also leads the league with 306 rushing attempts, a staggering lead of 41 carries over LaDainian Tomlinson who sits second in that category with 265.
Don't buy the hype, people. He's still the same old Willie Parker - minimal gain, minimal gain, big run, minimal gain, and so on. Only a pathetic 14.4% of his rushes garner first downs, and through Week 13, he's a miserable -4.7 in DPAR and -18.3% in DVOA (Football Outsiders' metrics which measure the value per play per situation, i.e. a 4-yard on 3rd and 3 versus an 8-yard run on 3rd and 10). And only DeShaun Foster, Clinton Portis, and Lendale White have lost more fumbles than Parker so far this season.
He'll probably get into the Pro Bowl, though. And we'll continue to suffer from homers telling us how he's better than he really is.
- Derek Anderson went from underrated before this season, having to be second on the depth chart behind Charlie Frye Sucks, to a bit overrated at the moment, I think. He's definitely a capable starter, which is more than some teams in this league have for sure, but he's not some great quarterback like some talking heads are making him out to be. Bigger keys to the offensive success in Cleveland is the offensive line and the weapons in Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow Jr.
I think my main concern with Anderson is probably his accuracy, highlighted by his currently completing 57.2 percent of his passes despite playing behind that line, and the countless number of times Edwards and Winslow have to go out of their way to bring in some of his throws, that is if Anderson doesn't sail the ball over them such that they can't bring it in. Credit to Anderson for throwing touchdowns in the red zone though, he's done well in that regard over the year as evidenced by his 26 passing touchdowns and the team scoring 27.7 ppg.
- Someone else who I have long thought is overrated is Maurice Jones-Drew. Now, I like Mo Drew a lot, but the guy pads his stats thanks to veteran Fred Taylor wearing down defenses and then Drew being inserted - especially near the goalline.
Let's be honest here, this is not a coincidence:
2007 season through Week 14
1st quarter: 30 rushes for 121 yards (4.0 avg), long of 21, 1 TD, 8 first downs
2nd quarter: 45 rushes for 196 yards (4.4 avg), long of 52, 3 TDs, 13 FDs
3rd quarter: 24 rushes for 107 yards (4.5 avg), long of 30, 1 TD, 4 FDs
4th quarter: 46 rushes for 231 yards (5.0 avg), long of 57, 3 TDs, 13 FDs
Mo Drew isn't a bum in the slightest, but he benefits massively playing with Freddie T and that mammoth offensive line made to run-block.
Who's the third-best team in the NFC?
- What's been a problem for the Tampa Bay Bucs all year, and especially reared its head this past Sunday in a loss at Houston, is converting third downs. They were poor on third downs, and gave up costly turnovers to further end two other potential scoring drives. Not the way to play if they want to accomplish something in January, and that goes for many teams in the NFC:
Team's points scored, points allowed, 3rd down conversion %, turnover +/-
Tampa Bay Bucs: 19.6 ppg, 16.5 ppg, 38%, +11
Seattle Seahawks: 24.4 ppg, 17.5 ppg, 35%, +13
NY Giants: 22.3 ppg, 20.8 ppg, 42%, -7
Minnesota Vikings: 23.5 ppg, 18.8 ppg, 33%, +10
New Orleans Saints: 23.1 ppg, 22.5 ppg, 50%, -7
Not the only runningback gem in town
- Ryan Grant of the Green Bay Packers will get the spotlight for the great story he's providing, but don't overlook the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Earnest Graham. He's grabbed the opportunity of the starting role since Week 6, in the 8 starts since then he's producing at an impressive average of 111.2 yards from scrimmage.
155 rushes for 651 yards (4.2 avg), 6 touchdowns
Per game average 19.4 rushes for 81.4 yards, 0.75 touchdowns
38 receptions for 238 yards (6.3 avg)
Per game average 4.8 receptions for 29.8 yards
I've liked Cadillac Williams since his days at Auburn, but Graham looks like he could be as good/effective. Dare I say, maybe even more so because of his receiving ability?
Quick thoughts
- Not to piss off the Titans posters on NFLDC who are a great bunch I like to post with, but I find it interesting that I continually hear every so often from other fans that that the Tennessee Titans defense may be the dirtiest in the league. And to be honest, that was a similar (though not as definite) impression I had watching them intently when they played the Colts around Week 2 or so. Something to keep in mind, I guess.
- Donovan McNabb started for the Eagles, in Philly, and the offense scored a total of 13 points. Absolutely no surprise whatsoever.
- Kansas City hasn't won in Mile High since 2000.
- Re: the Dallas @ Detroit nail-biter this past weekend:
Dallas Cowboys with 1:41 left in the first half: 7-play, 65-yard drive for a touchdown with 29 seconds remaining.
Dallas Cowboys with 2:15 left in the second half: 11-play, 83-yard drive for a touchdown with 18 seconds remaining.
- I'm unnaturally excited to see Kyle Orton start this Monday.
I always thought the bigger problem with Anderson was moreso his decision making, I think he tends to make some pretty bad decisions that lead to interceptions at times, particularly when he doesn't have to. He's got a fantastic arm but yeah he's off a bit sometimes, but I also think he puts the ball to places where he knows only Edwards or Winslow can catch the ball because he knows their skill, which I think comes back to decision making. Just because a receiver can make those catches doesn't mean they will everytime, and to always try and put the ball in those tough spots you're going to miss quite a few as well as get the big play, sometimes when you don't even need it.
It's less about the videotaping and the blatant disrespect on the part of Belichick to do it against a guy who not only knows about it but he has beef with. Seriously, keep the cameras under wraps that game.Quote:
Originally Posted by dave is ok
And if anything, the January incident was Belichick acting like a big fucking baby because he got beat at home and stopping Mangini from taking standard footage. Which makes Mangini look even more justified in calling him out for taping DEFENSIVE SIGNALS, not game footage.
The only beef Mangini had with videotaping is that the Pats told him not to.Quote:
Originally Posted by burgundy
Mangini was a 30 year old ballboy for the Cleveland Browns when Belichick gave him a shot, and gave him promotion after promotion until he was offensive coordinator. He owes him his whole livelihood, to show his appreciation, he sic'd the NFL on him and got him fined half a million dollars and a first round draft pick.
To be fair, ever since he became a coach it really doesn't look like Bellichik likes him, to help him become successful and then to show strong distaste for someone before this spygate stuff (AKA what is seemingly apparent everytime these two meet) It's like a father who disowns his child for achieving too much.
Mangini vs Bellichik will always be there and both of them have been douchebags to one another. We don't know the full story behind these two, we don't know if Bellichik got the idea of video taping them from Mangini etc etc.
This whole situation is personal between the two of them and honestly unless you're a media gossip whore should be ignored. All it comes down to is Mangini ratted out Bellichik this year, and now Bellichik is probably making a game plan to completely destroy them.
And if Mangini somehow pulled off this upset, I would imagine he would flip Bellichik the bird and it would be hilarious.
Green Bay. Seattle is second best right now. Hasselbeck is having the best year of his career, Alexander/Morris are 100x better than Grant, and they can actually defend the pass.Quote:
Originally Posted by Geo
If it weren't for bill bellichik, Mangini would still be handing out flyers in the press box.
Belichick has been a humongous douchebag to Mangini since he left the Pats. This is because Belichick is a humongous douchebag. You can love him for the success, but he is a terrible human being.Quote:
Originally Posted by dave is ok
That was funnier the first time I heard it, on SportsCenter last night.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bailey
Oh, I think Belichick is a miserable man, don't get me wrong.
But to call the NFL before the first game of the season like a little whistleblowing pansy makes me respect Mangini less.