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The fact that is for the highest of all stakes, a playoff spot, makes it all the more incredible. If they already had something locked up, or had no chance at the post season, it might lessen it somewhat.Quote:
Originally Posted by Spank_Me_Hard
But to give up FORTY ONE unanswered points in a row with a playoff spot on the line...just inexcusable.
I kind of like Wade Phillips too...
:( Poor Cowboys
Well, nothing left to do but go for my state team.
Goooo Cardinals.
I have to say as a Miami fan that I am stunned.
My expectations for this season were modest... 5-6 wins would have made me happy. And with trading one of their best players (Jason Taylor) I had even a harder time seeing any massive improvement.
But having seen what Parcells had done with the Patriots, Jets, and Dallas... maybe I should have known better.
This season to me has been unfathomable. And if there is any hope for Detriot fans next season, it should be Miami's turnaround.
I have been so used to Miami teasing me just to leave me crushed in the end that I was fully expecting a loss against the Jets today. I like that they'll have at least one home game... but I *KNOW* in my heart that I cannot expect too much from them. I think that they'll win their home game against Baltimore... but I think that's as far as they go. I refuse to allow myself to be deluded into thinking that they are better than they are.
Pennington has been a STUD pickup for them! What I thought initially to be a nice upgrade has been a godsend. He has been brilliant and should have made the Pro Bowl ahead of Favre. Rubber band arm be damned!
In stark contrast to last year, Miami's playcalling has been brilliant... keeping opponents off balance. And I still have no idea why the stupid "Wildcat" is so effective. It seems brainless to me to have your QB lined up wide. It almost looked like the Jets weren't even covering him. What I think though about it is irrelevant... it appears to be working and "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" as they say and I see other teams using it as well. It would have been interesting to see an Atlanta team with a guy like Michael Vick running it.
And what has happened to the Miami of old? It used to be that the 'Phins were unbeatable in September with that heat and humidity and that they couldn't win a game in December to save their lives. Now the polar opposite seems to be true.
I am shocked and happy. But I refuse to get too excited about their possiblities in the post season. This season is a success no matter what happens from here.
I am a very happy man. In fact, all my friends are happy. Both Bay Area teams won. The Raiders went back to Tampa, the site of the terrible and humiliating Superbowl loss, and kept Tampa out of the playoffs. It doesn't get much better then that. Bush was a monster. And Higgins looks like a WR. So the Raiders are winners, I am happy, and on the 1st, they will be undefeated and ready to restock. A high draft pick for a team that has glaring needs, a wierd owner, the not so soon to be be named new coach, a lack of General Mangaer, and a roster that needs a remake, probable loss of Lecter, but I am still full of unrealistic hope that we could be the next Miami. Its going to be a good year. Of course I think that every year. Being a Raider fan is a character building.
Stupid Broncos. It was pretty much the impossible that it would come down to this and then they blow it completely. But you know what they didn't deserve to be in the playoffs with all the mistakes they make in EVERY single game. I think they are at -21 or so on turnover ratio and finishing either 28th or 29th in total Defense. Terrible.
Lions, awesome. Go Chargers and Panthers!
Somewhere, Shannahan's head has popped.Quote:
Originally Posted by Snakespy
All the scripted plans for the next 40 years of his life couldn't get the Bronco's to hold onto the ball.
Capable of beating...yes of course. But the Eagles are just as talented as any team in the league, even the "star studded" Cowboys. If the Eagles stay committed to running the ball no team in the league overly frightens me. Things they need to do:Quote:
Originally Posted by Spank_Me_Hard
Run the ball and keep balance on offense. Even if the running game is not overly productive, the offense runs so much better when they keep it balanced. But Reid has a bad habit of completely abandoning it if they get stuffed a couple times early.
Use Buckhalter more. This poor guy makes big plays whenever he gets the ball, but he is completely forgotten in a lot of games. An example: the first Giants game he ripped off a 5 yard run and then a 19 yard run back to back...and then never stepped back on the field. Him and Westbrook should pretty much split the carries, and both should get on the field together fairly often too.
Not get too blitz happy. The Dallas gameplan was perfect. Sometimes we blitz too much and get sucked up and beat on draws and screens. I love when they walk up the linebackers and then they drop back in coverage at the snap.
Go down the field early a few times. In the middle of the season our offense played poorly and it was because the defense were jumping all the short routes. We would go whole games without trying to throw anything over the top.
To me... maybe "should have" beaten would be a better description. On paper, a more talented team I think. Of course... we all know that "on paper" doesn't count for anything.Quote:
Originally Posted by md1198p
I really thought that when Dallas traded for Williams that their offense would be unstoppable.
The Eagles still are a very good, and talented team. I hate to say it. They are a much better team than their record would seem to indicate.
I also think that maybe the single biggest problem with the Cowboys that game was carelessness with the ball... trying to do too much instead of making the safe play and protecting the ball. This carelessness resulted directly into points for the Eagles... and in places where the Cowboys themselves were on the verge of scoring... a double whammy.
I also think in that game the Eagles just wanted it much more than the Cowboys did.
I think that this can be said for many teams. Often a team with a stud RB and running game will abandon the run early. I don't know how many games I've seen where I've looked at the final results and a stud RB only has 8-12 carries.Quote:
Run the ball and keep balance on offense. Even if the running game is not overly productive, the offense runs so much better when they keep it balanced. But Reid has a bad habit of completely abandoning it if they get stuffed a couple times early.
The 'Skins lost yesterday, but I liked their commitment to sticking with the run... even though Portis only averaged like 2.8 per carry.
Like you... I think that even when you aren't getting big chunks of yards with the run... that it keeps the offense in balance.
I absolutely LOVE the blitz. And I don't think that teams use it often enough. I think that many defenses are far to conservative in when they choose to do it. In particular, when a big play is really needed when momentum has started to shift or when the game is starting to become a blowout (i.e. what do you have to really lose at that point... you have to try *something* different).Quote:
Not get too blitz happy. The Dallas gameplan was perfect. Sometimes we blitz too much and get sucked up and beat on draws and screens. I love when they walk up the linebackers and then they drop back in coverage at the snap.
I'd rather get pressure on a guy like Manning and put him to the ground and have him beat you for big chunks than have him upright all game sitting comfortably in the pocket and picking you apart all game.
Even with the vaunted "West Coast offense", I think that you have to go deep a few times a game. Again... as with the run... if only to keep the defense guessing.Quote:
Go down the field early a few times. In the middle of the season our offense played poorly and it was because the defense were jumping all the short routes.
I'm a big advocate of doing things unorthodox at times... going deep on 1st and ten on your own 20 early in the game. 4th and 1 late in the game at the 50 yard line? Play action naked bootleg. You'll either make it or you won't (and your QB may even decide to run it himself). And if you DO make it... you may even get much more than just a 1st down... could end up being a big play for a big chunk of yards or a TD.
This is maybe one of the biggest things that I'm seeing with Miami's playcalling this year... it's pretty unpredictable at times. As opposed to last year when it wasn't.
Football is often like one big game of poker and deception is often the name of the game.
I don't think anybody in the league is as talented as the Cowboys, and imo it's not really even close. If they could ever get over more than 4 players pointed in the same direction at once they would be really scary.Quote:
Originally Posted by md1198p
Which, of course, makes living in Dallas as an anti-Cowboys fan that much better. :D
Shanahan fired. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3800768
ouch. I don't know how I feel about this one. I mean I know the Broncos need a fresh start but I really don't think there is anyone that can do any better as a head coach for the offensive powerhouse the Broncos are and will be. Sure we need help on D and to get Dre Bly the hell outta here but firing Shanahan? That's a bit too sudden.
Quote:
Originally Posted by monroeski
My opinion is they have a lot of "stars", but also have a lot of holes. And teams will find and exploit weaknesses. I would have agreed with you last year, but this is the second year in a row.
Owens really fell off this year IMO. His numbers are still great and he is still very good, but he is not the game changer he once was. And after him there receivers are average at best. Their secondary is pretty bad, Pacman was a bust, Henry is kinda slow and Newman is overrated. Again my opinions. And their linebackers are good blitzers and good against the run, but suck in pass coverage. And finally they have horrible special teams play, something I can sympathize with because the Eagles lost 2 games last year due to not having a punt returned on the roster. Also Dallas was -11 in turnovers.
"average at best"? Say what? Jason Witten gets 1000 yards as a TIGHT END. Roy put up 1300 yards in DETROIT.Quote:
Originally Posted by md1198p
I have no idea why they haven't utilized Roy in Dallas but we'll see next year.
I can't think of a better receiving line in football. And they have the running beast of Marion Barber to keep the defenses guessing.
"Average" by no means describes the Dallas offense.
/FWIW I hate Dallas.
My thoughts exactly.Quote:
Originally Posted by MrDigital
"Average at best" N/A here.
They are a great team, ****ing underachievers!
The cowboys may have some good individual players, but the fact remains that they are not a good TEAM. Underachieving is not getting bounced in the 1st round of the playoffs 2 yrs in a row, and then failing to even make the ployoffs the year after that. That's a team displaying how good they really are. Romo can't handle the big games either which doesn't help. I think a step in the right direction would be to get a coach that can handle the team and for Jerry Jones to stop being Jerry Jones for a season.
In other news, there's football this saturday! I love sat games.
I'm saying they wouldn't have any holes at all if their players got their heads on straight. Practically everybody on their defense is a first round pick while their offense has so many stars it's not even funny.Quote:
Originally Posted by md1198p
They're not losing because they have talent holes. Giving up 150 rushing yards on two plays to a team that isn't even trying to actually score isn't a talent issue, it's a focus issue.
By receiver I meant wide outs, I understand and agree Witten is probably the best tight end in the game. That why I did not include tight end as a weakness. Owens is still very good, but not what he was. Williams has dropped off every year since the 2006 1300 yard season. I know he played on a crappy team, but he only has had one 1000 season in his career. He also has had 7 TDs in the last 2 years. I think you guys are grossly overrating him. He is very gifted physically but runs horrible sloppy routes and seems just lazy. After him I do not think there is any argument that Crayton is mediocre and after him there is nothing.Quote:
Originally Posted by MrDigital
Bottom line is I am tired of hearing every time they lose that the better team lost and all that crap. They have good players, but they are not so much more talented than the other teams in the league like people think. People put too much into name recognition and that crap.
I agree.Quote:
Originally Posted by md1198p
A guy like Pennington OWNED McNabb this year and yet McNabb is considered one of the best in the game where Pennington generally isn't:
http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorysta...2&d-447263-n=1
Donovan McNabb
Completion Percentage: 60.4%
Yards per Reception: 6.9
Touchdowns: 23
Interceptions: 11
QB Rating: 86.4
Chad Pennington
Completion Percentage: 67.4%
Yards per Rexception: 7.7
Touchdowns: 19
Interceptions: 7
QB Rating: 97.4
A slow, weak armed QB coming to a team that was 1-15 last year blows away McNabb statistically. Including all the categories that you place value in.
That is THE most recent data available. :D
You are correct that often too much goes into name recognition. Pro Bowl voting is indicative of this. But I don't think that is the Cowboys. Most of their "stars" are pretty young and are in their prime (30 years of age or less). Two notable exceptions being TO and Zach Thomas (whom I don't think anybody considers a "star" anymore).
I agree Pennington had a better year than Mcnabb. Neither made the pro bowl so that point is moot. But I also think Mcnabb is asked to do much more than Pennington, in the 10 years Mcnabb has been in Philadelphia they have been the most pass happy team in the history of the NFL. Its a lot easier to manage a game as a QB than to go out and have to win the game every week.Quote:
Originally Posted by Spank_Me_Hard
Also Miami has had a cupcake schedule and lost to almost every team they played with a winning record. Philadelphia posted wins over the Giants, Steelers, Cardinals, Falcons, and even the mighty Dallas Cowboys.
How this got to be about Mcnabb i have no idea anyway, especially since he is playing pretty good this year, very good the last month or so since we started to use our running game and balanced out the offense.
This is about the Cowboys and how bad they suck...and the most recent data available (44-6, 5 turnovers, missed playoffs even though they have an HBO show, and plain awfulness) shows this to be true.
Off topic...Speaking of pro bowls, how did Philip Rivers not make it? Biggest snub i can remember.
I think that mainly has to do with Philips Rivers being a GIGANTIC DOUCHE. Why would fans vote for that sideline temper tantrum throwing a-hole?
LOL i like himQuote:
Originally Posted by MrDigital
I agree that more is expected from McNabb than Pennington.Quote:
Originally Posted by md1198p
But as for the rest, it;s that old arguement:
Does McNabb's stats benefit from throwing a lot or suffer ultimately? There is a compelling arguement both ways. I don't know myself... it's a wash.
Absolutely. There will be no hiding in the playoffs though. No "weak" teams. I don't think that losing to any of these teams will be any real evidence as much as if they're competitive with these teams or not.Quote:
Also Miami has had a cupcake schedule and lost to almost every team they played with a winning record.
FYI, I expect them to beat Baltimore in Miami but lose after that.
I also think that "cupcake" teams is an overstatement to some degree. Miami beat San Diego who I think most would agree are a better team than their record indicates. They also beat New England quite badly who were a what... 11-5 team? And they were VERY competitive with New England the second game before the collapse in the 4th quarter... the score didn't tell the story of the game... it was massive punch countered with massive punch. Miami also can into the Lions den in NY *IN THE WINTER* (which used to be an automatic loss for Miami) and kicked the Jets in the stomach and took their lunch money.
So I do agree that Miami had a schedule that was pretty weak overall (i.e. KC, Seattle, and SF to name a few) but that they also ended up beating some good teams as well and being competitive with good teams in others.
It shouldn't be.Quote:
How this got to be about Mcnabb i have no idea anyway
I was just taking a cheap swipe at you based on your "players reputation" statement... :p
Seriously. Favre over either Rivers or Pennington shows just how big of a joke the Pro Bowl voting can be. And that they need to do it at the VERY END of the season after ALL the results are in.Quote:
Off topic...Speaking of pro bowls, how did Philip Rivers not make it? Biggest snub i can remember.
Quote:
Originally Posted by monroeski
Hey, everyone on their defense??? Roy williams got benched last season cause he couldn't cover. I'm sorry, he got SUBBED by whoever, I dunno what his name is. Roy Williams the safetu can't cover, its that simple. He may be able to hit, but thats about it. The rest of you can be brainwashed aout how good the cowboys are, MD is an eagles fan but at least he has a brain in his head. Whenever we disagree at least its based on football..... the rest of you cowboys fan on the "America's Team" bandwagon....enjoy yourselves as you nod your head with the so called ESPN "analysts".
Ive been with the cowboys through thick and thin, ever since i was 5 years old. I take offense when people call me a fair weather fan, or a bandwagon hopper.
I said last year that Roy Williams(safety guy, not WR) should play some WSLB, not safety. I think he would be a monster if he wasn't asked to cover top receivers, and tight ends.