I didn't see much of the game live, but on highlights of the San Diego Chargers and Seattle Seahawks monday night, it doesn't look like Phillip Rivers will be playing much football this year. From the highlights, he actually looked better than he usually does throwing the football, but his grimaces and noticeable limp in the pre-season isn't going to get better as the season goes along.
Billy Volek has proven to be a great back-up QB, an insurance policy that the Chargers will be cashing in by Week 2 unfortunately.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Friday, August 22, 2008
The Spread Offense-College's new trend
It has been said for a long time that the NFL is a copycat league. The 46 Defense of Buddy Ryan that led the Bears to a Super Bowl was copied until offenses figured out how to beat it regularly and it went away. Tony Dungy's (Monte Kiffin's) Tampa 2 has dominated the league for more than a decade and many have tried to produce similar results with it far away from Tampa, Florida. The Tampa 2 will be around for much longer, because it is a more sound way to play defense, but the same trend happened on the offensive side of the ball with the West Coast Offense--so called because Bill Walsh put it together in San Fransisco. It has taken on many forms as time has moved forward, so much that if a coach that passed by Bill Walsh at some time in the past, he is branded as running a WCO. Jon Gruden's offense is far from what Joe Montana was doing with Jerry Rice, John Taylor and Roger Craig in the 80's, but he supposedly is running the WCO.
In the college game, the spread option is the new West Coast Offense. When Urban Meyer took the University of Utah to an undefeated season a few years ago and it made Alex Smith the #1 pick in the NFL draft, it got plenty of attention. Others had been running completely shotgun offenses for some time (Jim Leavitt has had something similar as the University of South Florida has made its rise to national prominence since the program began in 1997). With Tim Tebow running Meyer's show and winning the Heisman as a sophomore, Dennis Dixon's success at Oregon and West Virginia's stay in the national title hunt, the spread continues to grow in popularity. The reason for this is the multiple dimensions that the defense has to defend. Colleges have been able to dominate other schools as only a few teams gathered the biggest recruits, but as we have seen a diversification of talent across the nation, physical size domination isn't always guaranteed and the spread gives more teams a chance to make big plays by created space on the field with different options for the football. Tim Tebow carried the load for the Gators on the ground in 2007, but they have improved their skill positions to have more options for him and may not need to pound their superstar so much this year, lest he end up on injured reserve. His threat to run the ball from the QB position gives the offense one more blocker to help up front, but also makes defenders commit to stopping the running QB, while opening bigger passing lanes when the runner stops and can toss accurate passes down the field. So, as usual, the critical player is the QB and to be sure, the spread offense won't be going anywhere anytime soon in college football, nor will it be coming to the NFL ever. Those spread QB's will still need to learn how to take a snap from center, drop back with good footwork and learn pocket presence if they want to make it in the NFL.
In the college game, the spread option is the new West Coast Offense. When Urban Meyer took the University of Utah to an undefeated season a few years ago and it made Alex Smith the #1 pick in the NFL draft, it got plenty of attention. Others had been running completely shotgun offenses for some time (Jim Leavitt has had something similar as the University of South Florida has made its rise to national prominence since the program began in 1997). With Tim Tebow running Meyer's show and winning the Heisman as a sophomore, Dennis Dixon's success at Oregon and West Virginia's stay in the national title hunt, the spread continues to grow in popularity. The reason for this is the multiple dimensions that the defense has to defend. Colleges have been able to dominate other schools as only a few teams gathered the biggest recruits, but as we have seen a diversification of talent across the nation, physical size domination isn't always guaranteed and the spread gives more teams a chance to make big plays by created space on the field with different options for the football. Tim Tebow carried the load for the Gators on the ground in 2007, but they have improved their skill positions to have more options for him and may not need to pound their superstar so much this year, lest he end up on injured reserve. His threat to run the ball from the QB position gives the offense one more blocker to help up front, but also makes defenders commit to stopping the running QB, while opening bigger passing lanes when the runner stops and can toss accurate passes down the field. So, as usual, the critical player is the QB and to be sure, the spread offense won't be going anywhere anytime soon in college football, nor will it be coming to the NFL ever. Those spread QB's will still need to learn how to take a snap from center, drop back with good footwork and learn pocket presence if they want to make it in the NFL.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Bears Go With Orton In Opener
I haven't seen a single Chicago Bears practice, but could have made a pretty good guess that in an open competition, Orton would be the final choice. One thing I learned through my years as an NFL quarterback is that coaches want players that play within the system. Great ability that is uncontrolled is not worth nearly as much as good ability that is dependable. While the Atlanta Falcons were willing to deal with Michael Vick's lack of consistency in the passing game because of his unbelievable ability in the scrambling game, not many other teams would have been. Offensive coordinators design plays to be executed according to design. The ability to improvise when the plan goes awry is a plus, but making the plan go awry too early drives a coordinator nuts!
Rex Grossman can make great plays, but as we have all learned over the years, the great plays don't outweigh the bonehead plays that cost games. Kyle Orton has better technique and mechanics than Grossman which usually contribute to more accurate, on-time passes within the design of the play. Orton can play his way out of the starting line-up, but around the league, count on the guy getting the ball out of his hand on time being the starter.
Rex Grossman can make great plays, but as we have all learned over the years, the great plays don't outweigh the bonehead plays that cost games. Kyle Orton has better technique and mechanics than Grossman which usually contribute to more accurate, on-time passes within the design of the play. Orton can play his way out of the starting line-up, but around the league, count on the guy getting the ball out of his hand on time being the starter.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Brett is Back
Brett Favre can't say goodbye. When he said to Terry Bradshaw that he wasn't sure he was the guy that wanted to the ball in his hand with two minutes left, I said he should go ahead and hang 'em up. Now the guy officially retires, lets the Green Bay Packers and Aaron Rogers, his heir apparent, move on with their lives. HOLD ON, not so fast, Brett has gone done to Biloxi or Hattisburg or somewhere in Mississippi and realized he does not want to live there full time quite yet.
This puts the Packers in a real tough spot. The organization was moving on after Favre ended his career on a high note, playing the best football he had in a few years. It was a feel good ending for everyone--Packer fan or Favre fan or neither. But now #4 just can't put the cleats away and walk away gracefully. Today it was announced that he officially asked for his release from the Green Bay Packers. A separation like this hasn't been seen since Joe Montana headed to the AFC's Kansas City Chiefs, but the potential of Favre playing for anybody but the Pack is of far greater shock than an oft injured Montana (with Steve Young in the wings) leaving the 49ers even with more rings than Favre has generated for Green Bay.
What is the motivation to return? Did he go back and check his legacy chart and see that Peyton Manning is on course to break his records if he stays healthy and want to make it just a little bit harder for Manning if he sticks around for another year or two? The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in the conversation for acquiring his services because they are always on the radar screen with Jon Gruden's love of every quarterback not on his roster.
There is so much to be lost for Brett Favre in his return as far as legacy and nothing to be gained. A few more yards, touchdowns and interceptions are not worth pictures of #4 in another team's jersey. Let's not kid ourselves with thoughts of adding another Lombardi trophy with a new team, so unless Michael Jordan personally told him it was a great ending with the Washington Wizards, then please Brett, please stay home and enjoy your incredible legacy!
This puts the Packers in a real tough spot. The organization was moving on after Favre ended his career on a high note, playing the best football he had in a few years. It was a feel good ending for everyone--Packer fan or Favre fan or neither. But now #4 just can't put the cleats away and walk away gracefully. Today it was announced that he officially asked for his release from the Green Bay Packers. A separation like this hasn't been seen since Joe Montana headed to the AFC's Kansas City Chiefs, but the potential of Favre playing for anybody but the Pack is of far greater shock than an oft injured Montana (with Steve Young in the wings) leaving the 49ers even with more rings than Favre has generated for Green Bay.
What is the motivation to return? Did he go back and check his legacy chart and see that Peyton Manning is on course to break his records if he stays healthy and want to make it just a little bit harder for Manning if he sticks around for another year or two? The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in the conversation for acquiring his services because they are always on the radar screen with Jon Gruden's love of every quarterback not on his roster.
There is so much to be lost for Brett Favre in his return as far as legacy and nothing to be gained. A few more yards, touchdowns and interceptions are not worth pictures of #4 in another team's jersey. Let's not kid ourselves with thoughts of adding another Lombardi trophy with a new team, so unless Michael Jordan personally told him it was a great ending with the Washington Wizards, then please Brett, please stay home and enjoy your incredible legacy!
Sunday, April 20, 2008
2008 QB Draft Preview
This year's draft class of QB's isn't very sexy. Matt Ryan made a big move up the board with a tremendous performance and great throw at the end of the game to be Virginia Tech. He has good skills, but not exciting and unless a team is in real need, may be a mid first rounder, even though I have heard many "draft gurus" talk very highly of him.
Brian Brohm is this year's Matt Leinart. He was annointed the first pick of next year's draft after his junior year, but his senior year fell way off. Leinart had a much better senior year, but Vince Young emerged with the national title trophy and had a heisman type night to show what athleticism can do for a team. I still believe Leinart is a better "quarterback" for managing his team and the game, but he still needs to grow up and become the team leader that Arizona desparately needs. Brohm, on the other hand, has even less physical tools than Leinart, but should still become a very solid player in the NFL, but he like Leinart gave up millions of dollars staying in college.
No one ever heard of Delaware's Joe Flacco, even after playing in the national championship game (Division I-AA). He is big and athletic and has a nice fluid drop and delivery and tight spiral. Could easily and probably should be picked ahead of Brohm for potential, that will be one to watch on Saturday night.
Chad Henne never impressed me in college. I didn't spend a lot of time evaluating him, but he never jumped out at me as a top prospect when I watched Michigan play and to lose to Appalachian State at home is a tough one to swallow.
Andre Woodson from Kentucky has a horrible throwing motion with elbows all over the place. Don't know who taught him that technique, but he needs to get with a good teacher and reconstruct that delivery and then let the big, athletic ability take over.
Colt Brennan may throw the tightest spiral in the draft, but his small size and shoulder level delivery make it tough for him to be successful unless he plays in a similar style as his college program. One big problem, no one in the NFL has a similar style and his poor mechanics were exposed against Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. He has impressed me on many, many throws, but probably won't get much of a chance for a while in the pros.
Brian Brohm is this year's Matt Leinart. He was annointed the first pick of next year's draft after his junior year, but his senior year fell way off. Leinart had a much better senior year, but Vince Young emerged with the national title trophy and had a heisman type night to show what athleticism can do for a team. I still believe Leinart is a better "quarterback" for managing his team and the game, but he still needs to grow up and become the team leader that Arizona desparately needs. Brohm, on the other hand, has even less physical tools than Leinart, but should still become a very solid player in the NFL, but he like Leinart gave up millions of dollars staying in college.
No one ever heard of Delaware's Joe Flacco, even after playing in the national championship game (Division I-AA). He is big and athletic and has a nice fluid drop and delivery and tight spiral. Could easily and probably should be picked ahead of Brohm for potential, that will be one to watch on Saturday night.
Chad Henne never impressed me in college. I didn't spend a lot of time evaluating him, but he never jumped out at me as a top prospect when I watched Michigan play and to lose to Appalachian State at home is a tough one to swallow.
Andre Woodson from Kentucky has a horrible throwing motion with elbows all over the place. Don't know who taught him that technique, but he needs to get with a good teacher and reconstruct that delivery and then let the big, athletic ability take over.
Colt Brennan may throw the tightest spiral in the draft, but his small size and shoulder level delivery make it tough for him to be successful unless he plays in a similar style as his college program. One big problem, no one in the NFL has a similar style and his poor mechanics were exposed against Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. He has impressed me on many, many throws, but probably won't get much of a chance for a while in the pros.
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